Board of Directors
The Board meets the first Tuesday of each month at 11 a.m. (see calendar for location). The public is invited to attend. Contact us if you're interested in serving. Go here to view meeting minutes. Go here to for FODP's Founding Members.
Officers
Opie Bellas
Chair & Founding Member
Previously a professional singer, Opie is a volunteer with Daily Bread, which redirects excess food from local vendors to those in need. An avid tennis player, she helped shepherd the renovation of the Dimond Tennis courts, aided by then District 4 Council member Sheng Thao, who Opie lauded for her “can-do attitude and commitment to the Dimond neighborhood.”
Steve Ghidinelli
Vice Chair
In the 47 years living in the Glenview area, Dimond Park has been central to Steve and his family, including tennis on the Dimond courts, swimming at the pool, and walking along Sausal Creek. To Steve, Dimond Park is a treasured source of calm and community, and an excellent example of what a city’s green space can offer. This is why he volunteers…to help support this precious resource.
Bryan Richter
Treasurer
Bryan moved to Oakland in 2021, but didn't discover Dimond Park until 2024. While dealing with depression, he sought a volunteer opportunity with the Friends of Joaquin Miller Park. But a happy scheduling accident led him to Friends of Dimond Park instead. Inspired by the park’s beauty and the volunteer's strong sense of community, Bryan knew he wanted to continue helping preserve this vital resource for others to enjoy.
Susannah Sandow
Secretary
Susannah has been a Bay Area resident since going to Cal in the early 2000's and has been a Dimond District resident since 2014. She and her husband love the area and have enjoyed many a weekend morning for years playing tennis and walking around in Dimond Park. She looks forward to years of preservation and improvement for current and future generations to enjoy.
Board Members
Leslie Barron-Johson
Jean Bush
Suzanne Drolet
Lyn Hunter
Brett Johnson
Kathy Kenworthy
Cynthia Koo
Mary Mazzocco
Marilyn Miller
Riley O'Neil
Laurie Umeh
Founding Members
Friends of Dimond Park was founded in 2015 by Laurie Umeh, Opie Bellisis, and Marilyn Miller (pictured below, l-r), and Hayward (Hay) Blake Jr. (below right), who passed away in 2024. The group initially came together to improve accessibility at Dimond Park. ​Over the years, their work to support the park expanded, adding news members and volunteers along the way.
