About Harbor House of Rochester
A Rochester Community Project of Caring
For many patients receiving medical care such as heart failure, organ transplant, or mechanical assist devices at the University of Rochester Medical Center, an emergency situation can arise and may last for months. This situation is often an emotional and financial hardship for the patients and their families.
Harbor House of Rochester Inc., founded in 2008, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping patients and families who are experiencing this hardship.
The mission of Harbor House of Rochester, Inc. is to provide temporary lodging for families of adult critical care patients who live outside the Rochester area and are receiving care at the University of Rochester Medical Center and other area hospitals. Harbor House provides a “home-away-from-home” environment of safe and supportive living that eases the emotional and financial burdens on these families.
Member of the National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses Incorporated (NAHHH) since May 2008.
Current Board Members
Robert Wackerman - President
Rob Wackerman recently retired after 25 years with Motorola Semiconductor (now Freescale Semiconductor) where he was a Global Account Sales Mgr. Rob graduated from Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA with a degree in Business Administration & Economics. He is a founding member and first Board President of the Harbor House of Rochester. He resides in Webster with his wife Peggy. Rob & Peggy enjoy spending time in the summer at Keuka Lake with their 4 adult children, spouses, and 6 grandchildren and winters in Sanibel, FL
Thomas Arcara - Vice President
Thomas Arcara is a Kitchen and Bath designer at Countryside Cabinetworks. He is one of the founding members and Vice President of the Harbor House of Rochester. Tom had a heart transplant at Strong Memorial Hospital in September 2005. He resides in Spencerport, NY, and has two sons who live in the area.
Gary Acker - Treasurer
Gary Acker has been in the financial services industry with Mass Mutual for 35 years. His recent-past outside activities have included serving on Brighton Little League board of directors and on Citizens Advisory Board for Recreation in the Town of Brighton. Professionally, he is a member of Rochester Area Financial Advisors. Gary had a heart transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in September 2000. Gary and his wife, Linda, have four grown children. They enjoy summers at Keuka Lake and live in Brighton.
Christine Arcara - Secretary
Christine Arcara is the Supervisor of Ambassador and Guest Services at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Christine graduated with a degree in Administrative Assisting and has worked at the Medical Center for the past eight years. Prior to her position at the University, Christine was employed in a private pediatric office. She is a founding member and Secretary of the Harbor House of Rochester. Christine serves as a volunteer and chairperson for many events and committees. She lives in Spencerport, NY, and has a daughter in Arlington, Virginia and a son attending Niagara University.
Dr. Leway Chen - Physician Advisor
Leway Chen, MD, MPH, is the Director of the Program in Heart Failure and Transplantation and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Chen has been at the University of Rochester since 1999, starting the heart transplant program in 2000. He is a founding member of Harbor House of Rochester. He resides in Pittsford, NY, with his wife, Marilyn Ling, MD (radiation oncologist) and their three children.
Rob Kochik - Board Member
Rob Kochik is the Executive Director of the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network, the local organ procurement organization that coordinates organ donations throughout the greater Rochester and Syracuse Regions of Western NY. Rob has been working in the field of organ and tissue donation and transplantation for the past 27 years. Prior to moving to Penfield, NY in December 2006, he worked in Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York City. He and his wife, Carole, have two sons who live with their families in San Diego, CA and Boulder, CO.
Charlie Pettit
Charlie Pettit grew up in the suburbs of Boston and graduated from Tufts University and Boston University School of Law. After a brief stint as an attorney, Charlie joined E.F. Hutton & Co. and has most recently worked for GE Capital and Oppenheimer Funds, where he has been employed since 1993. After living in New York City, Cincinnati, and San Francisco, Charlie moved to Pittsford in 1995 as VP, West NY region for Oppenheimer Funds. Charlie has 2 daughters, ages 21 and 20. Paige lives in Boston and is attending Boston Architectural School. Courtney graduated from Pittsford-Mendon High School and is a photographer. Charlie’s interests and hobbies include: collecting books and movie memorabilia, motorcycling and antique motorcycles, and hunting.
Geordie Robertson
Geordie Robertson came to Rochester New York in 1979 to play for the Rochester Americans Hockey Club. In 1989 he retired from wearing the red, white and blue to start his second career working in the financial services industry which he continues to do to date. He is an honored member of the Rochester American Hall of Fame (1993) and Frontier Field Walk of Fame (1998). Past outside activities include youth and junior college hockey coach, member of the T. Franklin Williams Foundation Board at Monroe Community Hospital, and serving with the C.F. Foundation and the School of the Holy Childhood. Geordie and his wife Pam are proud to raise their children Cody and Hayley in their adopted hometown of Rochester.