Who We Are

Samaritans’ purpose is to alleviate despair, isolation, distress and suicidal feelings among individuals in our community, 24 hours a day; to educate the public about suicide prevention; and to reduce the stigma associated with suicide. 

The Samaritans of Boston was established in 1974. In 2005, we joined forces with our sister branch in Framingham to become Samaritans. Samaritans is a United Way of Massachusetts Bay affiliate and also a certified member of Contact USA. There are Samaritans offices in other regions of Massachusetts, the U.S. and the world, the first having originated in England in 1953. Samaritans branches share a common mission and philosophy, but operate independently of each other. Samaritans is a non-denominational agency and provides services to any individual, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, race, disabilities, sexual orientation or religion.

As the only suicide prevention organization in the greater Boston and MetroWest areas, Samaritans is an important resource to the community, providing a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week service that alleviates the isolation and emotional despair that can lead to suicide.

Samaritans Staff

Roberta Hurtig, Executive Director
Beth Schultz, Chief Development Officer
Ron White, Chief Program Officer
Eileen Davis, Director of Framingham Site
Debbie DiMasi, Director of Grief Support Services
Garrett Owen, Director Development, Marketing & Special Events
Nate Baum, Youth Services Manager
Danielle Bolduc, Program Manager
Kelley Cunningham, Education & Outreach Manager
Kirstie Crawford, Development Manager
Jonathan Grollman, Program Coordinator
Jeri Lea Kisala, Office Manager
Maggie Prisinzano, Chat Program Coordinator
Joellen Samojla, Program Coordinator
Cheryl Stokes, Program Assistant
Maeve Sullivan, Program Assistant
Mary Kate Thornton, Recruitment Coordinator

Samaritans Board of Directors

Peter Marsh/ATEX, Chair
Terrie Perella/Deloitte, First Vice Chair
Vin Capozzi/Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Second Vice Chair
Marc Bellanger/The Kessler Group, Treasurer
Joe Shapiro/Rum & Reggae Guidebooks, Clerk
Peter Bean/Newmark Knight Frank
Gary Beckmann/Integra Radionics
Tom Burke
Andrew Donovan/WickedLocal Media Solutions
Kim Gagnon-McNiff/Leone, Morrissey, Henriksen & Synan, P.C.
Donalda Hingston/Town of Brookline
Mark Horgan/CRICO
Samantha Joseph/Iron Mountain
Mary McDonagh/Deloitte
Steve Mongeau/OfficeMax
J. Brian Potts/Fiduciary Trust
Jane Quercia/Symmes Maini & McKee Associates, Inc.
Kathy Ruggiero/Patientkeeper
Lisa Sarno/Sierra Tucson/Aspen Education
Sarah Wheeler/Seaview Global Advisors
Jeff Zegas/Zurick Davis