The AOI Officers and Directors ~ 2023
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President: Dr. Cynthia (Cindy) Gueli
Cindy Gueli is a historian, author, and historical consultant for TV and film. Her academic teaching and research focuses on U.S. cultural, political, and women’s history with an emphasis on Washington, D.C. Her book Lipstick Brigade: The Untold True Story of Washington's World War II Government Girls has been optioned for television. Cindy holds a B.A. from Georgetown University and a master's in Communications and master's and Ph.D. in History from American University. Her family connections to D.C. go back several generations: her great-grandfather worked as a stonemason on the National Cathedral; grandmother graduated from Providence Hospital Nursing School; and father coordinated PADC development activity on projects such as the Willard Hotel (at which Cindy later created its history exhibit) and Old Post Office Pavilion.
Cindy Gueli is a historian, author, and historical consultant for TV and film. Her academic teaching and research focuses on U.S. cultural, political, and women’s history with an emphasis on Washington, D.C. Her book Lipstick Brigade: The Untold True Story of Washington's World War II Government Girls has been optioned for television. Cindy holds a B.A. from Georgetown University and a master's in Communications and master's and Ph.D. in History from American University. Her family connections to D.C. go back several generations: her great-grandfather worked as a stonemason on the National Cathedral; grandmother graduated from Providence Hospital Nursing School; and father coordinated PADC development activity on projects such as the Willard Hotel (at which Cindy later created its history exhibit) and Old Post Office Pavilion.
Vice-President: John Edwards
John Edwards is a native Washingtonian, with roots in Georgetown back to the 1820s, including a great-grandfather member of AOI. A product of Montgomery County public schools, he holds a degree in history & political science from UVa and an M. Arch from U Md., and is currently a principal with Bonstra Haresign Architects in the Shaw/U Street neighborhood, where his work includes multi-family housing, institutional and commercial projects with a focus on sustainable design. A longtime resident of Capitol Hill with his husband and son, he has been active over the years with Whitman-Walker Clinic, Washington Architectural Foundation, Capitol Hill Community Foundation, St. Mark’s Church Capitol Hill, AIA/DC, Capitol Hill Cluster School, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and the National Architectural Accrediting Board.
John Edwards is a native Washingtonian, with roots in Georgetown back to the 1820s, including a great-grandfather member of AOI. A product of Montgomery County public schools, he holds a degree in history & political science from UVa and an M. Arch from U Md., and is currently a principal with Bonstra Haresign Architects in the Shaw/U Street neighborhood, where his work includes multi-family housing, institutional and commercial projects with a focus on sustainable design. A longtime resident of Capitol Hill with his husband and son, he has been active over the years with Whitman-Walker Clinic, Washington Architectural Foundation, Capitol Hill Community Foundation, St. Mark’s Church Capitol Hill, AIA/DC, Capitol Hill Cluster School, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and the National Architectural Accrediting Board.
Secretary: Ric Marino
Treasurer: Carolyn Michell
Historian: Nelson Rimensnyder
Nelson Rimensnyder began his career with the Congressional Research Service in 1971 soon after arriving in Washington. There, he was assigned to work with the House Committee on the District of Columbia as it began writing legislation providing Home Rule to the District of Columbia for the first time in 100 years. Following enactment of this landmark law, Nelson was hired by Chairman Charles Diggs to serve as Director of Research for the Committee. Since retiring, Nelson has continued civic activism and advocacy in Washington on behalf of voting representation in Congress, historic preservation, and local government issues. He is currently cataloguing his unique collection of books, documents, government reports, and political memorabilia comprising the New Columbia Archives to prepare for their acquisition by the DC History Center.
Nelson Rimensnyder began his career with the Congressional Research Service in 1971 soon after arriving in Washington. There, he was assigned to work with the House Committee on the District of Columbia as it began writing legislation providing Home Rule to the District of Columbia for the first time in 100 years. Following enactment of this landmark law, Nelson was hired by Chairman Charles Diggs to serve as Director of Research for the Committee. Since retiring, Nelson has continued civic activism and advocacy in Washington on behalf of voting representation in Congress, historic preservation, and local government issues. He is currently cataloguing his unique collection of books, documents, government reports, and political memorabilia comprising the New Columbia Archives to prepare for their acquisition by the DC History Center.
Director: Kimberly Bender
Kimberly Bender is a cultural administrator and public historian who reinterprets established narratives. Over the last decade, she has transformed the Heurich House Museum into a vibrant and inclusive space that explores (im)migration, labor, and the American experience. Key to Ms. Bender’s work is her background as an attorney, which has not only helped her reinvent organizations, but assists in her DC history research. Her public history work currently focuses on the “lost” Chevy Chase neighborhood of Belmont and DC education leader, Myrtilla Miner. Kim is a current appointee of the DC Council’s Archives Advisory Group, and founder of the DC Archives Advocates, and is working to get a new purpose-built state archives for the District of Columbia.
Kimberly Bender is a cultural administrator and public historian who reinterprets established narratives. Over the last decade, she has transformed the Heurich House Museum into a vibrant and inclusive space that explores (im)migration, labor, and the American experience. Key to Ms. Bender’s work is her background as an attorney, which has not only helped her reinvent organizations, but assists in her DC history research. Her public history work currently focuses on the “lost” Chevy Chase neighborhood of Belmont and DC education leader, Myrtilla Miner. Kim is a current appointee of the DC Council’s Archives Advisory Group, and founder of the DC Archives Advocates, and is working to get a new purpose-built state archives for the District of Columbia.
Director: Ned Rich
Director: Marcia Rock
Marcia Nestingen Rock has lived most of her life in Washington since her family moved here during the Kennedy administration. She has a career in global health and has served on mission in several countries in South Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. Her civic engagement includes serving as a school board member, a Sunday school teacher, a therapy horseback riding counselor and hospice volunteer. She conducts an ongoing book drive to stock little libraries in low-income neighborhoods. Marcia currently works in education at Rosemount Center in Mt. Pleasant. She and her husband, also a member of AOI, have two daughters and live in the Crestwood neighborhood.
Marcia Nestingen Rock has lived most of her life in Washington since her family moved here during the Kennedy administration. She has a career in global health and has served on mission in several countries in South Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. Her civic engagement includes serving as a school board member, a Sunday school teacher, a therapy horseback riding counselor and hospice volunteer. She conducts an ongoing book drive to stock little libraries in low-income neighborhoods. Marcia currently works in education at Rosemount Center in Mt. Pleasant. She and her husband, also a member of AOI, have two daughters and live in the Crestwood neighborhood.
Director: Gary Scott
Past-President: William N. (Bill) Brown
Bill Brown is a 5-generation Washingtonian, a product of the DC Public Schools, and was graduated from American University with Ba's in Television/Film and Psychology. After serving as Program Director for WAMU-FM in the mid-70's he spent the next 26 years in law enforcement rising to the rank of Deputy Chief of Police for Fairfax County. Upon retirement he was a seasonal interpretive Park Ranger for the C&O Canal National Historical Park until the demise of The Georgetown canal boat in 2011. He has served as a trustee for the Historical Society of DC and continues to sit on the, now, DC History Center’s Collections Committee. He served for twenty years as President of the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columbia from 1999 to 2019. He currently serves as a Past-President of the organization.
Bill Brown is a 5-generation Washingtonian, a product of the DC Public Schools, and was graduated from American University with Ba's in Television/Film and Psychology. After serving as Program Director for WAMU-FM in the mid-70's he spent the next 26 years in law enforcement rising to the rank of Deputy Chief of Police for Fairfax County. Upon retirement he was a seasonal interpretive Park Ranger for the C&O Canal National Historical Park until the demise of The Georgetown canal boat in 2011. He has served as a trustee for the Historical Society of DC and continues to sit on the, now, DC History Center’s Collections Committee. He served for twenty years as President of the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columbia from 1999 to 2019. He currently serves as a Past-President of the organization.
Past-President: Jan A. K. Evans
Jan Evans is the granddaughter of renowned District brewer Christian Heurich; she spent her early years living the Heurich Mansion at 1307 New Hampshire Avenue, NW. She was for many years a US "Diplomatic" daughter and wife serving overseas in Japan and Cuba. Jan was not only the first female member of the AOI of DC but was elected the organization's first woman President in 2019.
Jan Evans is the granddaughter of renowned District brewer Christian Heurich; she spent her early years living the Heurich Mansion at 1307 New Hampshire Avenue, NW. She was for many years a US "Diplomatic" daughter and wife serving overseas in Japan and Cuba. Jan was not only the first female member of the AOI of DC but was elected the organization's first woman President in 2019.
Past-President: Thomas H. Neale
A native of Auburn, New York, Tom Neale came to Washington in 1965 as a student at Georgetown University. In 1971, he joined the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress, where he serves as a specialist in American National Government; his portfolio includes constitutional history and theory, the presidential election process, and Washington D.C. history. Always a history “buff,” Tom developed a strong interest in “the city beyond the monuments”: Washington’s natural and built environment, its people and institutions, and their history. He served on the AOI Board of Directors beginning in 2016, and as President from 2020 to 2022. During his tenure, Tom assisted the Board in coping with the impact of the covid epidemic on the Association, and in implementing measures to sustain and reinvigorate AOI. He lives in Glover Park, on land that was once part of Henry Kengla’s farm.
A native of Auburn, New York, Tom Neale came to Washington in 1965 as a student at Georgetown University. In 1971, he joined the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress, where he serves as a specialist in American National Government; his portfolio includes constitutional history and theory, the presidential election process, and Washington D.C. history. Always a history “buff,” Tom developed a strong interest in “the city beyond the monuments”: Washington’s natural and built environment, its people and institutions, and their history. He served on the AOI Board of Directors beginning in 2016, and as President from 2020 to 2022. During his tenure, Tom assisted the Board in coping with the impact of the covid epidemic on the Association, and in implementing measures to sustain and reinvigorate AOI. He lives in Glover Park, on land that was once part of Henry Kengla’s farm.