Who We Are - South Whidbey at Home

HomeWho We Are

Judith Canfield, Co-President

Judy Canfield is a life long Registered Nurse, who retired after 42 years from full time Director of Surgical Service, Cardiac Cath lab, and Endoscopy. Currently Judy is working one day a week at Providence in the infection control department. Life as a registered nurse offered many opportunities for practice such as Intensive Care, Perinatology- Labor and Delivery area, Emergency Room, and the last 20 years as a Director of Surgery at Providence. There has been nothing but joy and excitement in this career! As a family- a sister, a brother and Judy, walked the Camino De Santiago 4 times over the past five years. The average walk was 400 plus miles as the family walked about Spain ending up in Santiago Spain and the most amazing, beautiful Santiago Cathedral. 2017 Judy attended EMT Academy and is a practicing volunteer EMT for South Whidbey Island Fire Department. Gardening is a major part of summer life, and the 2020 Victory Garden is planted. You’ll find her most days during the summer puttering about her garden. Judy has enjoyed playing her Viola for 40 + years and is a member of the Mukilteo Community Orchestra under the direction of Trevor Lutzenhiser. She also enjoys playing Chamber Music with a small group (4) of musicians down in Seattle. Recently, as a new board member of South Whidbey at Home, she has enjoyed meeting many members and sharing information for services during the Covid 19 pandemic.

Terry Welch, Co-President

Terry Welch recently retired from teaching middle school science at Coupeville Middle School. Besides teaching here on the island for 23 years, she taught high school biology in Colombia, South America for a couple of years, environmental education at various learning centers and basic astronomy to school groups at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ. She currently stays busy helping with several civic groups on the south end of Whidbey Island and also teaches English to ESL kids online. She stays involved in training new teachers as a Grand Canyon University Field Supervisor working with local collage students completing their student teaching assignments. Since 2001, she’s enjoyed being a volunteer EMT & Fire fighter with South Whidbey Fire/EMS. Terry loves to ride her bike, walk, and kayak in her spare time with friends and partner Neil Rixe. She aspires to ride her bike across America some day.

Judith Arnett, Secretary

An important value for me has been human connection. My most cherished connection has been in a family, especially as a wife, mother and grandmother.
My careers have centered around people. As a teenager, I was a camp counselor and a swimming teacher. Then, I became a reading specialist off and on for 30 years. I enjoyed a varied experience in both rural and urban settings with a rich diversity of students. Lastly, I taught juvenile delinquents in the Seattle area.
At age 50,1 earned my second Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I have practiced as a therapist and a supervisor of therapists for 27 years, which has brought me into contact with people of different cultures, races and sexual preferences.
I have spent many years hiking and climbing mountains, which kept me connected to the earth.
I view South Whidbey at Home as an avenue for people to stay connected. Being a participant on the board gives me an opportunity to continue a life long interest.

Steve Guss, Treasurer

Steve is a native son of Utah. Skiing was a passion in his youth. He has a BA in Government from the University of San Francisco and studied in a University of Utah Masters of Public Administration program. Fresh out of college he worked two years for the Easter Seal Society of Iowa primarily supporting the home bound handicapped. The next decade+ of his career was based in Utah within many dimensions of the meat industry. A portion of the business was national and international in scope. In 1985, he changed careers and became a licensed securities, commodities and insurance broker. Since then, he has worked extensively as a part of the investment and commercial finance industry including as a co-founder of Sound Investment Strategies, Inc.
He moved to Whidbey Island in 2005 thanks to Elizabeth (his spouse). Their two adult children remain in Utah. He has been a volunteer for the Whidbey Island Writer’s Association, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust and several other groups. He participates in many different ministries associated with the Church he attends. He is a part-time wine steward, at an excellent local winery.

Cheryl Keefe, Board Member

I have been in Real Estate almost 20 years and prior had a successful career as an executive at Nordstrom. I am highly organized and following through with what I commit to is extremely important to me. Having a busy schedule doesn’t always give me the flexibility however I am a scheduler and everything I do goes in my planner. I enjoy working with people I love being creative and coming up with ideas but I really thrive on getting things accomplished. I enjoy giving back and SW@Home is the group I like to work through doing that for my community.

I first believe in the concept of community supporting community. There are so many times along my real estate journey when you meet people in need of help. Many times we pull together as an office or even as an individual and help coordinate a solution, sometimes just taking on the task ourselves. Being in Real Estate we touch and are involved with many factors of the community, the building, handyman, landscape group, the financial group, the marketing and advertising groups etc. Networking and problem solving is what we do.

Barbara Bennett, Board Member

I moved to Whidbey in 2010 to be the Coordinator for WSU Island County Beach Watchers (which became Sound Water Stewards of Island County in 2015). I am currently in the process of embracing my "senior-ness" as I move to a smaller home on South Whidbey with an eye to maintaining my independence.

I worked all my adult life until I retired in 2015 and I now volunteer for a number of organizations: Trinity Lutheran Church, Island County Marine Resources Committee, Civility First, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ocean Acidification Research Team. I have always been passionate about environmental education and stewardship, and continue that focus in my volunteer work. My personal faith and my desire to build civility in community life are also passions that rise to the top in my volunteer work.

I have had multiple types of careers and find all of my work experiences helpful in my diverse volunteer activities. I am glad to draw on past skills developed as a Social Worker (20 years working with abused and neglected children and and their biological and foster parents), and focusing on adult education and community development (20 years working with employers and members of their workforce to build skills to meet changing work environments).

SW@Home is a good match for my background and my desire to be a part of building and sustaining a caring community here on South Whidbey.

Ross Godwin, Board Member

I have lived on the Island since 1984 and met my wife here a year later. She had two boys ages 2 and 4 and we have a daughter together. I am semi-retired doing home repairs and maintenance for customers, as my previous job was working in Oak Harbor for 27 years doing the same type work.

I have been on several Boards for the community starting with the Home Owners Association where we use to live, the South Whidbey Children's Center in Langley, and the Hearts & Hammers Board. I am a long-time volunteer for South Whidbey at Home, starting in 2016 when it first started and I have been doing mostly light repair work. I enjoy helping others by doing home repairs and maintenance so people can feel comfortable and safe in their homes.

John Monroe, Board Member

I have lived in Washington state my entire life. I went to Eastern Washington University double majoring in Biology and Chemistry. I then went to the University of Washington School of Dentistry graduating in 1992. I had an amazing career as a dentist and just semi-retired this year. My main reason for choosing dentistry is I am a caregiver and love to help others. Six years ago, we moved onto the island permanently and starting this year I started my new chapter in life in real estate. Being on the island full time I want to become more involved in the community to help give back anyway I can. Cheryl Keefe, a South Whidbey at Home Board member mentioned South Whidbey at Home, and it seemed like the perfect fit for what I would like to do. I am looking forward to being able to help care for those in need on the island any way I can. I hope to be an integral part in what your program can do for the community.

Susie Kanewske, Board Member

I have been looking for a volunteer position that would fit my life skills and experience, personal interest and be able to put to use my volunteer background. I also would probably be your “perfect client,” seeing as I fit the description of who you are looking to help!

My passions have been many, but being a Personal Stylist, is my biggest. I came out of the womb playing dress up! It’s not only just clothes, but anything visual piques my interest. Whether designing a remodel, to interior design, it’s the “designing” that brings me joy!

I started volunteering when my children were in preschool. I was on the Board of Directors for Salem Child Development Center for over 7 years. From there, I started volunteering for Dress for Success. At the time I was a personal stylist so helping women create wardrobes and building their self-esteem was right up my alley. I loved this position. I have owned my own business for over 35 years. My peak employee count was over 300! My strengths are my leadership skills, the deep desire to be of service, and knowing how to make things happen!

I was diagnosed in 2014 with FSHD, a muscle wasting disease, that has no cure or treatment. I moved to Whidbey in May of 2015 and was very mobile, but definitely showed signs of muscle loss. Now, I am currently in a scooter and an electric wheelchair, Amelia the Air Hawk. Once I was diagnosed genetically, I became very involved with the FSHD Society. I am the PNW Chapter Director of the FSHD Society which covers all of Washington and Oregon. I have held this position for 3 years . My duties include running quarterly meetings, acting as liaison between fellow Fshr’s and the FSHD Society, along with assisting in putting together our Annual Walk and Roll Fundraiser. I have been in many clinical trials, studies and registries to help find the cure. Personally, I would just like a treatment or to know we will find something to stop the progression! My youngest son, Colin is 37 and now lives on the Island. He was a caretaker for his 96 year old grandfather until last June, when he came to help me.

I am fascinated with humankind and want to give back as much as I can in “being of service!” to others.

Nancy Van Wormer, Board Member

I was raised in a small town in central Ohio where my Dad was a history professor at Denison University. We had a small gentleman farm where we raised chickens, goats, turkeys and a few cows which I milked every day. I raised my family of two sons in a similar environment in Michigan.

Living on Whidbey Island takes me back to the peaceful, rural nature of my youth and I feel very much at home here and impressed with the caring, supportive community. My religious background is Quaker. I attended Westtown Quaker boarding school where community service had a strong emphasis. This desire to be of service has been with me all of my life and I look forward to serving on the board of an organization that serves the needs of others.

My professional life was varied. I have a Bachelors in Education and a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI. I was an elementary school teacher, middle school teacher and middle school counselor for thirty years. I taught parenting courses, conducted small groups, designed and constructed high ropes courses for the school district and was named teacher of the year for my efforts. My students supported me in carrying the torch for world peace which went around the world during Earth Week. I also practiced therapeutic massage therapy with my own office for fifteen years and was an active pilot and flight instructor.

Since retirement and moving to Washington, I have served my new communities in several ways. I have been co-chair for the major bi-annual Spring find raiser at the Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett. I have been financial chair for the forty-five year old Northwest Holiday Art Show in Edmonds. I have volunteered at Good Cheer Food Bank, have served as president of my P.E.O Chapter (An international, philanthropic, educational organization whose sole purpose is to provide scholarships and low interest student loans for women to pursue education.) and have recently begun to volunteer for Whidbey Blanket Makers in Langley.

South Whidbey@Home feels like a wonderful opportunity to become involved in another manner as I help others and receive help as well.