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History: Michael Stolpman Quick Links: Several board members who served with both men indicated that, over the years, Stolpman was certainly the driving force on the board, even though he never served as chairman. His influence was reflected in the recruitment of new board members leading several interviewees to comment on "all those Episcopals!" His influence was also felt programmatically - the Barnabas program, serving impaired clergy, was his idea. In fact, he had hoped to use the program as a model for other such diocesan-supported programs all over the country. Stolpman also influenced staff in a way that most board members do not. The board minutes reflect that, during his tenure as a board member, he was often on the payroll, serving in either a direct service or consulting role to the Barnabas program. This brought him into day-to-day interactions with other staff members. The minutes also reflect certain unease at the board level with his dual roles. Fr. Stolpman usually chose to relinquish his staff position at these times rather than give up his position of power on the board. His influence even extended to the art on campus - purchasing fine art works through Barnabas to create what he deemed to be the necessary ambiance for the patients being served though the Barnabas and other programs in place at RMH. Fr. Stolpman died abroad, quite unexpectedly, in 1990. There is a heartfelt resolution in the board minutes, memorializing his service to Rogers. A former staff member commented that Stolpman had become the "real power" at Rogers in the 80's. He went on to say that his "absence made way for the possibility of change in the future." |
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