Welcome New Foundation Board Members

EDWARD H. CHAPPELLE, JR., DDS, (GPR ’80) A Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American College of Dentists, Dr. Chappelle Jr. received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from Rutgers University and a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, and later completed two General Practice Residency programs, one at Eastman and one at Genesee Hospital. Dr. Chappelle is presently practicing general dentistry in Bowie, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C., with an emphasis in cosmetic dentistry. He is very active in organized dentistry and served as president of the Robert T. Freeman Dental Society, and has volunteered his dental services to the Demonte Driver Dental Project, Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures vans and participated in dental education through Career Fairs at local elementary schools.

THOMAS S. RICHARDS served as the elected Mayor of the City of Rochester from March, 2011 until December, 2013. He began his service to the City in January, 2006 as the Corporation Counsel. Before that, he was the volunteer founding Chairman of the Greater Rochester Enterprise, a public/private partnership dedicated to the economic development of the Rochester region.

From 1998 until 2002, he was the chairman, president and CEO of RGS Energy Group. He joined RG&E in 1991 and served as general counsel, sr. vice president for corporate services, sr. vice president for finance and then president and CEO. Previously, Mr. Richards was a partner in the Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle law firm for 20 years, where he specialized in civil litigation.

He also serves on the boards of the University of Rochester, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester Schools Modernization Project, Rochester Area Community Foundation, Canandaigua National Bank, and as a Trustee of the Seneca Waterways Boy Scout Council.

He has received the New York State Bar Association Root/Stimson Award, the Rochester Rotary Award and the Monroe County Bar Association Rodenbeck Award, each organization’s highest award for public service. Mr. Richards is a graduate of Bucknell University and Cornell University Law School. He served in the U.S. Navy, including a year as the Swift Boat Officer in Vietnam.