The society is managed by an elected board of officers. The board is elected each year at the annual general meeting of the society. All members are permitted to nominate candidates and to vote.
Jennifer Pfaff is a longtime resident with an art background who learned to appreciate local history decades after sitting through spitball fights during uninspiring California History classes while in high school. She has a particular passion for trees and the role that they continue to play in the growth and development of Burlingame.
Russ Cohen has served on several Burlingame commissions and subcommittees as well as serving as a member of the Burlingame City Council. He has lived in Burlingame for over 30 years. His career has taken him from large advertising agencies where he created campaigns for Apple Computer, Visa, HP, Taco Bell and many more to being named Executive Director of the Downtown Palo Alto Business and Professional Association as well as serving as Creative Director for several Silicon Valley software companies.
Diane grew up in Burlingame and has served on the board for more than 20 years. She has spearheaded our “Passport to History” tours for third graders throughout the Burlingame schools both private and public. In addition she has served as Co-Chair of the Burlingame School District Budget Advisory Commission for Restructuring of Bonds and Finances 2003 to 2007. She is a CPA and owner of CW Financial Services.
Leslie McQuaide has lived in Burlingame for 50 years. Leslie was a Chair and member of the Burlingame Beautification Commission for 15 years and a member of the Future Of Burlingame Committee. Leslie has been part of the Burlingame Neighborhood Network as a CERT for 8 years. Leslie was the Vitamin Manager for 12 years at Earthbeam Natural Foods and 5 years at Mollie Stones.
Mary Griffith has been in and around Burlingame since 1988, her first stop after college. No longer commuting to San Francisco, she enjoys being connected to Burlingame via her work with the Burlingame Historical Society. She and her husband enjoy cars, grandchildren and traveling in that order!
Carl Martin has been a longtime resident of Burlingame, starting kindergarten at Lincoln School and graduating from Mills High School Class of 1977. He returned to the area after stints at UC Berkeley and living in Monterey County. Carl ran the Studio Shop Gallery with his wife Janet, an art and picture framing gallery and also the oldest business in Burlingame. He enjoys bicycling around the Peninsula and plays trombone in several local bands and orchestras.
Cathy Baylock has lived in Burlingame since 1991 where she, and her husband, Joe, raised their two sons. She was a member of the Burlingame City Council for 12 years and mayor twice. She served as the treasurer of the Historical Society from 1999 until 2016 and currently is the Social Media chair. She was named Burlingame Citizen of the Year in 2014. Outside her work with the Society, she is a member of the Burlingame Elementary School District Bond Oversight Committee. Her hobbies include skiing and working in her garden.
Mark Lucchesi has been a Burlingame resident for 65 years. While Mark and his wife Kathy were raising their three children, he worked in the supermarket industry for 50 years and was the General Manager of Mollie Stone’s Market for 30 years. Mark, with the help of the Burlingame Historical Society, has created and hosts the podcast Burlingame, it’s Small Town. Mark is also on the Board of Trustees with the Burlingame Library. In 2012 Mark was named Burlingame Citizen of the Year.
Joanne Garrison moved to Burlingame four decades ago and fell in love with the town. After she retired from her career as a lawyer, she has devoted much of her time to researching and telling the stories found in our local history. She is the author of “Burlingame Centennial: 1908-2010.”
