Trustees of the Rosamond Thaxter Foundation

Beverley Armsden Daniel

Beverley grew up in Kittery Point, where her Godmother, Rosamond Thaxter, nurtured her passion for the area community – historic, scenic, and cultural. She has worked in colleges and universities in financial aid and development, and taught in both elementary and secondary schools. Recently retired, she has become reengaged with her town of Wayland, MA, but maintains an apartment in Kittery Point. Beverley is currently organizing the extensive photography collection of her father, Douglas Armsden, largely of the Seacoast area.

Jonathan Hubbard, Emeritus

Jon has enjoyed a varied career, having worked as a free-lance reporter in South America, a maintenance electrician in Chicago, a personal trust officer in Portland, and a financial communications executive in Boston. After his cousin Rosamond Thaxter died in 1989, he was appointed trustee of the Thaxter Foundation, where he has continued Rozzie’s commitment to support nonprofit organizations in the greater Kittery/Portsmouth area.

Melissa Paly

Melissa is the Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper with Conservation Law Foundation, where she works to protect and restore the rivers, bays and shore of the Seacoast region. She lives in Kittery Point with her family and is deeply committed to land conservation, sustainability, and climate action. She has served on the boards of Kittery Land Trust, Maine Island Trail Association, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, and the Yale School of the Environment Alumni Board. She has served as a trustee of the Thaxter Foundation since 2011.

John Rice

Born in Portsmouth, John Rice summered in Kittery Point where he knew Rosamond Thaxter and often visited her Smuttynose cottage. He is an active real estate broker and served as president of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors. His civic involvement includes chairing Portsmouth’s Historic District Commission, Planning Board vice-chair, vice president of Portsmouth Pro Musica and Portsmouth Rotary. John humbly assumes the position of trustee succeeding his late wife Joan Rice.

H.M. Payson

H.M. Payson is one of the oldest independent investment firms in the United States operating under its original name. Founded in 1854 by Portland businessman Henry Martyn Payson, the Firm originally specialized in financing public water companies, and became nationally known as an underwriter of America’s growing infrastructure. Since that time, our role has evolved to meet the changing needs of the clients we serve. Today, investment advisory, trust services and wealth management planning represent our core competencies. H.M. Payson has served as a trustee of the Thaxter Foundation since its inception.