For our coastal community
The STAR AquaCenter is a long standing dream for the Town of Southampton. Originally conceived in 1989, the idea for a community aquatics center in the Southampton area has been carried since then by dedicated project champions. We now find ourselves at the culmination of these efforts. In no other time in history have we been as close to making this dream a reality as we are right now. There is just one component missing: you.
Our Mission
To enhance the wellness and water safety of our coastal community by providing an indoor pool and fitness facility–the STAR AquaCenter.
A Place for Water Safety
A Place for Health & Fitness
A Place for Our Community
Our Vision
Multiple
Generations
Offering programs and services to people of all ages, from infants to seniors.
Multiple
Demographics
Offering programs and services to people from all backgrounds and from all income levels.
Multiple
Organizations
Partnering with schools, health care providers, Parks & Recreation, Swim Clubs, and more.
Meet the Team
Joy Flynn
Board Chair
Joy Flynn
Joy, a retired Assistant Superintendent, Three Village Schools in Stony Brook, received her BS from Cornell U; MS from Michigan State U; and Ed.D, from St. John’s U. She is a swimmer and international senior competitor in track & field. For the past 8 years she’s been the president of the Southampton Democratic Club and Democratic committeewoman. Current VP for the Town of Southampton Dark Skies Advisory Board, a Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener, a Federated flower show judge, the past-president of the Westhampton Garden Club, and current WGC Conservation Chair, caring for the environment has always been Joy’s primary concern. For 7 years she has been taking 3 Mexican American children to weekly swimming lessons. Joy is committed to the STAR project because she believes in the power of swimming to transform and to protect the lives of children.
Allison Morrow
Vice Chair
Allison Morrow
Allison‘s professional experience is extensive and diverse. Serving as a former Trustee at the Parrish Art Museum, the First Presbyterian Church in New York City, and the First Presbyterian Church New York City Nursery School, her past board participation is exceptional. Her present involvements span healthcare as a Trustee at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, academia as a Trustee at Hobart College, and culture as a Bryant Fellow at the Metropolitan Museum. Allison’s career is in Debt Capital Markets & Foreign Exchange, and she is currently manager of several family offices. An avid swimmer, Southampton local, and co-chair of STAR’s Development Committee, Allison is a valued member of the STAR AquaCenter Board of Directors.
Tara Coady
Treasurer
Tara Coady
Tara Coady graduated from LIU Southampton, and has been a resident for nearly three decades. Growing up in New York City, she recognized the importance of indoor pool facilities and the essentiality of swim safety education. A mother of three, Tara is committed to water safety and that all children, regardless of background, should be provided the opportunity for early, positive exposure to water safety education
Jill Raynor
Secretary
Jill Raynor
Jill is a lifelong resident of Southampton who has shown a commitment to community and youth athletics throughout her life. She holds a dual BS in Movement & Sports Studies, and Psychology from Springfield College, a Masters in Physical Education from Hofstra University, and is a NYS certified Physical Education and Health teacher. Jill has taught swimming for over 20 years, and currently works as a Program Leader with i-tri Girls, a locally based 501(c)(3) empowerment program for middle school girls that culminates in a youth length triathlon. In addition to STAR, she currently serves as a volunteer board member for the Water Mill Community Club. Growing up surrounded by water, Jill is passionate about helping bring to our community comprehensive and accessible water safety, recreation, and rehabilitation programs for all ages.
Jimmy Mack
Jimmy Mack
Jimmy’s adult life has centered on the themes of water safety and enjoyment, and life-saving and health. Raised in Westhampton Beach, he has given his heart and soul to the Southampton community. A former ocean lifeguard; renowned top fundraiser as The Mermaid at the Polar Bear Plunge for Heart of the Hamptons; Southampton Volunteer Ambulance driver, EMT, CPR/AED/First Aid instructor, board member, and former chief; top fundraiser for The Edie Windsor Center for LGBT/HIV health care; planner for Sunset on the Harbor to benefit the LGBT Network of the Hamptons: these are just a few of Jimmy’s projects to benefit the East End.
Judi Roth
Judi Roth
Judi has lived in Southampton for 20 years. She is an avid year-round swimmer enjoying pool swimming at home and at the YMCA and open swimming at Big and Little Fresh Ponds in North Sea and in Peconic Bay at Long Beach. She wants an aquatic center for Southampton Town to provide all East End children and teenagers with safe water lessons and for our schools to have swim teams. Judi is a past-president and board member of the League of Women Voters of the Hamptons, Shelter Island and the North Fork and a member of the Southampton and East Hampton Trails Preservation Society. Judi’s career was in hospital administration at large academic medical centers in New York.
Josephine DeVincenzi
Josephine DeVincenzi
Dr. “D”, has been a resident of Sag Harbor for 34 years. Originally from Boston, she came to the East End to serve as Southampton High School principal following the completion of her doctorate from Columbia University. Her life’s work has been educating and supporting children and families. She became a member of STAR following the drowning deaths of two of her students; she made a promise then that she would stay involved until the dream of a public indoor aquatic facility would became a reality.
Sean Crowley
Sean Crowley
Sean retired from Sag Harbor Schools after 34 years as a Physical Education Teacher and Coach of Athletics. For decades, Sean has lifeguarded and taught swimming at four different Long Island municipalities. Since 1992, he has been the Chief Lifeguard of Town of Southampton east beaches including Sagg Main, Mecox, Scott Cameron, Flying Point and Long Beach. Since retiring, much of his time has been at the YMCA pool as an assistant coach of the age-group Hurricane Swim Team. Sean also swims and coaches with the adult Masters program, and gives swim lessons to beginning swimmers. He travels each summer to USLA Lifeguard National Championships with Hampton Lifeguard Association (HLA) as an assistant coach and age group competitor. As a Southampton town local, passionate swimmer, and swimming educator, he is committed to the development of the STAR AquaCenter for its list of community health and safety benefits.
Maria Greenlaw
Maria Greenlaw
A lifelong resident of Southampton, Maria’s family has been here for 4 generations. Maria is a local business owner and avid swimmer who became passionate about this project in order to promote swimming as not only a recreational activity, but also as a life skill that is essential to living on the East End, surrounded by water. Maria got involved in this project because she believes that it is an important & essential part of our community.
Bihn Douglas
Bihn Douglas
Binh is a Southampton native and a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation. Spanning a career of over 25 years, Binh has led the operations and opening concepts for dozens of successful restaurant, hotel and nightlife venues throughout the country. While his expertise is in venue openings, systems, operations and training, Binh grasps a global perspective of the hospitality industry.
As a leader in the industry, Binh has been tapped by many hospitality groups to lead teams to success. His experience encompasses: MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, BR Guest, SBE’s XIV by Michael Mina, 1 Hotel and The Guitar at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. A new chapter for him, Binh intends to use his vast experience to build DC Hospitality, his Southampton based Hospitality Group, into a world class brand focused on international cuisine, exceptional guest service and innovative concepts. As operator of the Coopers Beach Concession, Binh sees the STAR Aqua Center’s programming as imperative to help promote and build a safer community through water safety.
Deirdre McDonald
Deirdre McDonald
Deirdre has a BA from Fordham University, where she was a member of its swim team, and has been a lifelong swimmer. She has over 15 years of insurance industry experience in underwriting and brokerage and currently works for a leading professional services and consulting firm. As a former collegiate swimmer, Deirdre has experienced first hand the positive impact swimming has had on her own life. It has taught her innumerable lessons, helped her form lifetime friendships, and has contributed to her professional success. She has become involved in STAR to help ensure that.
Terry Wildrick
Terry Wildrick
Terry is a retired teacher and avid ocean and fitness swimmer. She has summered in Hampton Bays since 1957 and has been a permanent resident since 2016. As a member and coach of United States Masters Swimming, she recognizes the need for the STAR AquaCenter and has been eager to bring it to life. She serves on the board of directors of the League of Women Voters of the Hamptons, Shelter Island and the North Fork as co-chair of the Education Committee and Natural Resources Committee. She works with Neighbors in Support of Immigrants and Centro Corazon de Maria.
Susan Rumph
Susan Rumph
Susan was a music teacher in the Southampton schools for 30 years, during which she built a strong connection to both students and faculty alike, introducing her to STAR’s mission and project. Now eight years retired, Sue dedicates much of her time to fitness activities like swimming, biking, and running. As she currently travels to Riverhead all winter to swim inside, it’s clear that the Town of Southampton needs indoor swimming facilities for the benefit of all age groups. A Southampton local and lifelong swimming enthusiast, this project has long been a dream of Sue’s. She shares STAR’s mission to provide the local community with safe and accessible swimming facilities that will ensure enjoyment by all of the coastal activities Southampton has to offer.
