NOAH started because of people willing to volunteer their time and expertise to bring others with albinism together. What has evolved through many years of volunteer hours, is a connected community of people with albinism, their families, and the professionals who support them.
Some were only around briefly, but made important contributions, some gave their heart and soul to building NOAH or worked to evolve and grow the organization.
NOAH and the albinism community will forever be grateful for their contributions.
In Loving Memory of…
Dr. Carl Witkop, D.D.S
NOAH Co-founder
Dr. Witkop was the driving force behind the founding of NOAH. He was an invited guest at the first conference on albinism in Philadelphia. The night before the conference, he told the organizers that people with albinism needed a resource for support, similar to what the blind and visually impaired had in American Council for the Blind, National Federation of the Blind and NAPVI, National Association of Parents of the Visually Impaired. He even suggested the name NOAH.
Dr. Witkop was the head of Genetics at the University of Minnesota.
He participated in numerous NOAH conferences.
Margaret Mary Campbell
NOAH Board Member, Driving Force behind the creation of NOAH Family Camp
Margaret Mary Campbell was a woman with albinism and a long-time elementary school teacher. She served on NOAH’s Board of Directors for ___ terms. She presented at numerous conferences on the topic of bullying in schools. Her longtime dream of creating a camp for kids with albinism came true in 2007? At Beacon Lodge Lions Camp in Mt. Union, Pennsylvania.
Ruth Ryan
NOAH Co-Founder
Ruth attended the dinner with Dr. Witkop and along with her daughter and five others, accepted his challenge to start an organization to support people with albinism. After leaving the dinner, she drove home and created the membership form, in order to have available for people to sign up at the meeting the next day. Ruth served on the board of directors and along with Dennis Moore, co-created and designed NOAH’s original newsletter, NOAH News.
Dennis Moore
NOAH Co-Founder
Dennis’ connection to the albinism community was his bonus daughter, Lisa (Lee) Ryan. He served as treasurer and a board member. He co-created NOAH News, NOAH’s first newsletter with Ruth Ryan. He served as the editor and wrote many of the stories.
Nan Dempsey
NOAH Co-Founder
Nan Dempsey was a woman with albinism who dedicated her career to serving the blind and visually impaired working for the New Jersey Commission for the Blind. She was a co-founder of NOAH, served on the board of directors, and served as NOAH’s First membership secretary. Fun Fact: In her spare time, Nan worked as a tour guide in the historic part of Philadelphia, dressed in full period costume.
Trisha Ricci
NOAH Board Member
Trisha Ricci Was a woman with albinism who served on the NOAH Board of Directors and worked on the conference exhibitors and sponsors team.