Robert Gentile’s Retirement as Executive Director of Mount Tremper Outdoor Ministries

It is with great excitement that we announce the retirement of Robert Gentile.   Bob has served our community for more than 27 years as the Executive Director of Camp Herrlich in Patterson, NY.  When Bob moved to Patterson with his four children and his wife Wendy in 1991, Camp Herrlich was Patterson’s best-kept secret.  Over the past 27 years Bob has moved the camp from a relatively unknown summer camp and environmental center for children from the five boroughs of NYC to an Educational and Recreational jewel of Putnam County that serves thousands of children and families annually in a myriad of both resident, day, education, recreation and childcare programs.  Bob and Wendy, supported by talented, dedicated full time staff and an active and caring Board of Directors, have been the driving force behind the growth, vision and mission as the camp has moved into a 21^st Century Learning Center. 

The Board of Directors is happy to announce that Dean Stichbury and Jessica Vanacoro, long time staff members and directors of Camp Herrlich have been chosen by the Board to succeed Bob as the Executive and Associate Executive Director, respectively.  Dean and Jessica bring a combined 36 years of Camp Herrlich, social work, facility, education, and childcare experience with them as they take on the helm at the camp. “What better way to leave your legacy, than to have two of the people you work the closest with, admire the most, and have the greatest faith in, follow in your footsteps” says Gentile.  All the children, families and staff at the camp are excited to see Dean and Jessica have this fantastic opportunity to continue this legacy.  “Our succession plan has been implemented.  Dean and Jessica are both highly motivated and Camp Herrlich is poised to achieve great things in the years to come,” says Brian Zwarych, Board Chair.

While we will all miss Bob and his wife Wendy, who has also played an integral part in the success of the camp, we feel incredibly blessed to have spent the past 27 exciting years in service with them.   We look forward to keeping the Camp Herrlich magic alive well into the future and thank Bob for his dedicated, caring leadership. We wish Bob and Wendy all the best as they move into the next phase of their lives.  Our community is far richer for their service.