About / Board Members

Christine O’Brien Beydoun
President

1st Vice President

Mae Wu was born and raised in Forest Hills and has been working in the financial industry for over 20 years. Mae is currently a Senior Vice President at Sterling Valuation Group, Inc., an independent valuation firm providing portfolio valuation services to hedge funds, private equity firms, banks, and other financial institutions in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Her area of focus is on derivatives, valuations of private companies, and bespoke investments. She married her husband Lawrence, who grew up on Harrow Street, and after they lived a few years in Manhattan, they decided to go back to their roots and start their family. In love with the beauty of the Gardens, Mae and Lawrence initially moved in 2014, to 10 Holder Place, where Mae served on its Board. After their second child, they moved to a home at their current location on Tennis Place.
Mae is an avid player at the West Side Tennis Club and serves on the Tennis Committee and New Membership Committee at the WSTC. Mae is honored to serve on the Forest Hills Gardens Foundation Board and looks forward to seeing her daughters grow up in such a beautiful neighborhood with a rich history.

Beatrice E. Hunt
2nd Vice President

Beatrice “Bea” Hunt moved to Forest Hills Gardens in 2002, but has been playing tennis here since 1971, when she joined the West Side Tennis Club. She joined the Foundation Board in 2021, and co-chairs the Archives Committee. Since the mid-1970’s she has volunteered on numerous WSTC committees and served on the Board as Governor, Secretary or VP. She currently co-chairs their Tennis History & Archives Council which recently acquired the Bud Collins Tennis Library, donated by his family. She also serves as Secretary on the Board of the Tennis Collectors of America. She hopes to expand the Foundation’s physical and electronic archives in order to document and preserve our great heritage for residents and researchers worldwide.
Bea is a principal hydraulic engineer at AECOM, where she specializes in bridge hydraulics. She has a BA in psychology from Franklin & Marshall College, and a BS and MS in engineering mechanics from Columbia University. She is a licensed Professional Engineer. Bea is a past president of the Metropolitan Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and has chaired or been a Board member of numerous civil engineering professional organizations.

Maureen Shillet
Treasurer

Maureen Shillet was a Senior Vice President, Worldwide New Business Director at Foote, Cone and Belding, one of the world’s largest global advertising agencies.  A long term Manhattanite, she and her husband Gary moved to Forest Hills Gardens thirty years ago when her son Sam was born seeking more space, tranquity and a child-friendly environment.  That was one of the best decisions of her life.
After leaving the frenetic world of advertising in 2007 to establish a small business, Maureen used her newfound time to become an active volunteer within the Forest Hills Gardens community.  For six years, she served as a Trustee on The Kew-Forest School Board where she Chaired the Marketing and Communications Committee and the Annual Fund.  She also served on the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation Communications Committee and is currently on the board of the Women’s Club of Forest Hills.  For two years, she was Second Vice President, Philanthropic Committee Chair of the Women’s Club and is currently Chair of the Evening Chapter.  She also serves on the Nominating Committee.  Maureen is an avid tennis and platform tennis player at the West Side Tennis Club and in 2018 served as the elected Chair of the Nominating Committee.  She is currently Captain of her platform tennis team and was formerly Captain of her tennis team.
She is honored to serve on the Forest Hills Gardens Foundation as Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair and looks forward to helping it continue its mission of preserving the rich history of the community we all love.   

Annaliese (Liese) Kambour
Director/Assistant Treasurer/Corporate Secretary

Annaliese (“Liese”) Kambour first discovered Forest Hills Gardens on a cold gray November day in 1995.  Not the loveliest day for a stroll around the neighborhood, but she had to explore.  Her previous experiences of Queens had consisted of airports, drives to and from airports, and the Science Museum.  Who knew Queens was hiding this gem?  Three years later, she was fortunate enough to be able to buy her favorite house from that first tour.
Prior to retiring in 2018, Liese was a tax partner at Paul Weiss and later global head of tax for Time Warner.  She has 2 kids (one of whom currently lives in the Gardens).  Other interests include training circus aerials, making Halloween costumes and building elaborate gingerbread houses.

Soraya R. Baharestani
Director

I came to the United State in August 1979, six months after the Iranian revolution. The trip was meant to be a one-month long visit to my siblings who were then university students in Boston. However, the political situation in Iran resulted in my staying here permanently and becoming a US citizen. I lived in Boston, Los Angeles and Darien and eventually married my husband, Frank, in 1981. Happily, he already owned our house in Forest Hills Gardens – where we had our engagement party. I have always loved living in this remarkable community, including its historic architecture and beautiful parks, with easy access to transportation and shopping areas.
I was a stay-at-home mom to three daughters until they were in high school. Although I have a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and was a second-grade teacher in Iran for two years, my work experience here has been as an office manager and bookkeeper. Along the way I took several accounting courses at Queens Community College. After other positions, I joined a private school in 2001, where I ran the business office and took charge of A/R A/P (account receivable/ payable). And then in November 2023, I promoted myself into retirement.

Kristen Cattell
Director

Kristen Cattell, a Senior Project Manager, delivers tangible experiences, both digital and physical, through her skills in brand identity and UX/UI design. Whether building an engaging website, guiding a workshop, or shaping a cohesive brand, Kristen thrives on organizing ideas with real-world impact.
A Forest Hills resident for over a decade, Kristen is drawn to the neighborhood's charming parks, unique architecture, and vibrant cultural events. She joins the FHGF board to help shape a thriving future for the community.

Ann Chamberlain
Director

Ann Chamberlain is a life-long member of the Forest Hills Gardens community. Her family lived at 10 Holder Place when she was born and later moved to Greenway Terrace. She attended PS 101 for Kindergarten, and Our Lady Queen of Martyrs from first through eighth grades, went away for high school, college and graduate schools, but moved back to Forest Hills in 1983 with her husband, Jim, and their two very young children, Colby and Elizabeth. Ann loved seeing her children enjoying the same neighborhood activities at the Community House and West Side Tennis Club, and annual Children’s Days and Christmas carols as Ann did growing up.
Ann was a corporate partner at two large law firms in Manhattan throughout her 35-year legal career, retiring at the end of 2015. Since her retirement, Ann has joined the Board of the Forest Hills Women’s Club, served on the Forest Hills Gardens Beautification Committee, and volunteers with Christine O’Brien Beydoun on a blueprint conservation project for the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation. She also volunteers for the Learning to Look Program, which teaches second through fifth graders at inner-city parochial schools how to look at and appreciate art.
Ann has graduate degrees in Art History (M.A. Columbia University), Library Science (M.S. in L.S. Catholic University) and Law (J.D. NYU Law School). She hopes to make a meaningful contribution to the mission of the Forest Hills Gardens Foundation drawing on her personal experience, her education and her deep connection to the people and places in the Gardens.

Bruce Eaton
Director

Bruce Eaton is a relatively new (since 1999) resident of the Gardens and has served as President of the FHGC (overseeing the effort to renew the Covenants) and as both Treasurer and President of the West Side Tennis Club. Bruce has long had an interest in history and architecture and was drawn to the Gardens because of the history and convenience of the Gardens. He is an avid tennis player at the WSTC.

Mina Malik
Director

James Ng
Director

James Ng is a longtime Queens resident, living in Forest Hills Gardens for over 10 years. Enthralled with the beauty and historical importance of Forest Hills Gardens to New York City, James welcomes the opportunity to be part of the Forest Hills Gardens Foundation to help preserve this rich history.
James’ professional background includes being a partner in a software development company, sales & marketing management for Sony Electronics Inc., and most recently a co-owner of a local UPS store.
His community efforts include being a co-founder of the Elmhurst History & Cemeteries Preservation Society, a board member of the Station Square Inn Apartments, a member of the West Side Tennis Club History & Archives Council, a Rego-Forest Preservation Council volunteer, a Queens Preservation Council participant, and a board member of the Newtown Civic Association.
James is honored to serve on the Forest Hills Gardens Foundation board and is looking forward to applying his professional experience and civic involvement to help execute its mission.

Anne Patin
Director

Anne has been a Forest Hills resident since 1997.  After moving to the Gardens in 2000, Anne has been raising her two sons who have been blessed with growing up in a unique New York City neighborhood that perfectly balances the best of urban and suburban living with immaculate architecture, parks and trees, proximity to the nation’s cultural and financial center, a diverse population and a distinct sense of community.  Anne graduated from Brown University with a dual concentration in urban studies and art history, and thereafter obtained a Masters of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University.  After graduate school, she worked as an urban planner and preservationist before attending Fordham Law School.  Anne was a partner at Seward & Kissel LLP, a financial services law firm, where she spent her entire 30-year legal career.  She practiced primarily employment law by counseling clients, litigating and supporting mergers and acquisitions regarding employment matters.  During her free time, Anne plays tennis at the West Side Tennis Club where she has been a member for many years.  In joining the Forest Hills Gardens Foundation board, Anne looks forward to giving back to the preservation movement after her hiatus from the field and meaningfully participating in the effort to maintain the history and integrity of Forest Hills Gardens for future generations.

Steven Silberberg
Director

Steve Silberberg has been a resident of Forest Hills for over 30 years, including 23 years in his home in Forest Hills Gardens. He cherishes the community’s rare blend of tranquility and charm, offering a peaceful, bucolic setting while remaining conveniently close to Manhattan and major airports.
Steve holds an M.B.A. in Marketing from Fordham University and a B.A. in Political Science from Grinnell College. Over two decades, he built a distinguished career in media, holding key roles in operations, sales, marketing, and strategic business development at major companies, including Showtime, ABC Television Network, and America Online (AOL). He later founded Silver Mt Media, Inc., where he refined his entrepreneurial skills and deepened his expertise in digital media.
Now retired, Steve devotes his time and talents to community engagement, applying his skills in digital photography, video, audio production, and web development as a dedicated volunteer. He contributes to several organizations, including the FHGC Communications Committee, The Reform Temple of Forest Hills, and the Neil & Yael Reich Memorial Scholarship.
As a member of the Forest Hills Gardens Foundation board, Steve is committed to preserving the community’s architectural legacy and historical narrative. He envisions a future where the Gardens’ archives are fully digitized and easily accessible, allowing residents, researchers, and future generations to explore and appreciate its rich history.
When he’s not volunteering, Steve pursues the elusive goal of becoming a better golfer, finding joy in both the challenge of the game and the opportunity to play beautiful courses across the country.

Michele Skettino
Director

Michele and her husband Ed Flamos moved to Forest Hills Gardens in 1998 from Manhattan. Introduced to the area by a friend, they immediately fell in love with the architecture and vibe of the Gardens. Since then, they have renovated and  lived in three homes, starting out on Burns Street facing Hawthorne Park, and eventually ending up on Tennis Place, where they currently live.
Professionally, Michele spent her career in communications and public relations within the advertising and media industries.  She has held leadership roles within the media rep firm Interep, the WPP-owned media agency MediaCom, and the ad tech firm Videology. Currently, she is Vice President of Communications for the advertising division of Comcast. She holds a B.A. in English from The College of the Holy Cross and an M.A. in communications from Emerson College.
As a new director, she looks forward to working with the Forest Hills Gardens Foundation to help showcase the history of our beautiful neighborhood for residents, visitors and future generations.

Annemarie van Roessel
Director

Annemarie first learned about Forest Hills Gardens as an undergraduate student specializing in the Arts and Crafts Movement. She had a second introduction to the Gardens during her junior year abroad in the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University while studying the architecture and urban planning of New York City. After graduation, she continued to nurture her love of architecture in Chicago, where she was an architectural archivist, guest curator, and oral historian at The Art Institute of Chicago for a decade. She then moved to New York City to work as the first full-time archivist at the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library at Columbia University, where she worked with archival materials from Grosvenor Atterbury and many other architects and designers. Since 2013, she has been the Assistant Curator of the Billy Rose Theatre Division at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. She has lectured and published widely on the built environment, performance history, and the care of archival records. When Annemarie finally moved into an Atterbury house in the Gardens in 2023 with her husband and daughter, it felt like coming home after a long journey. She is grateful for the warm welcome to a close-knit community where architecture and landscape design are cherished. Contributing to the Foundation's important work to preserve and share the history of this very special neighborhood is deeply meaningful to her.