Leadership
Board of Directors
The all-volunteer St. Vartan Park Conservancy is governed by a board of directors.
Stephanie Ogozalek, Kevin O’Keefe and Susan Burke (from left)
Officers
Stephanie Ogozalek
Secretary
Kevin O’Keefe
President
Susan Burke
Treasurer
Kevin O’Keefe
“St. Vartan Park Conservancy’s main goal, O’Keefe said, is to make the community happy.”
A highly active East Manhattan community leader, Kevin is the award-winning founder and president of St. Vartan Park Conservancy and president of Manhattan East Community Association.
Before he created the all-volunteer Conservancy to serve the park and its surrounding community, Kevin led an advocacy campaign that successfully opened the park’s city-owned garden to the general public after decades of closure. The Conservancy now serves as official steward of the green oasis in cooperation with NYC Parks.
In November 2024 with the addition of a fully accessible enhanced garden entrance and new pathway, the Conservancy completed a celebrated five-phase garden equity plan that Kevin established and managed.
In September 2025, the New York State Senate awarded O’Keefe the New York State Senate 2025 Commendation Award for O’Keefe’s leadership and advocacy for more publicly accessible green space and other community volunteerism.
An accomplished management, technology, marketing and media production professional, Kevin has led New York Sports Tours and other companies. His clients have included many prominent brands.
Also an independent writer, Kevin authored the nonfiction bestseller The Average American.
Kevin has served on East Midtown’s Manhattan Community Board 6 since 2019, including as chair of two committees, and on the NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue community advisory board since 2024.
In the borough, Kevin’s volunteer contributions also include his service as a trustee of the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association, a board member of the Stuyvesant Cove Park Association and an advisory board member of The Village Trip.
A former all-America athlete, Kevin runs the community basketball program Swish You Were Here. He has long served as a volunteer sports coach, including as head coach of a Manhattan school’s champion track and field program.
In 2024, Kevin’s achievements were the subject of a 400-word statement by United States Congressman Jerry Nadler read into the Congressional Record. Nadler’s proclamation notes that Kevin "has inspired many people to find a middle ground when talking with those with differing views."
Kevin and his wife and their three teenaged children live in East Midtown’s Stuyvesant Town, following many years as residents of Murray Hill and then Kips Bay.
“Kevin O’Keefe, a father of three teenagers and a member of the local community board, said ... the area is often filled with children going to and from five nearby schools. ‘This is a community, this is not the big fearful city,’ Mr. O’Keefe said.”
“After being gated off for years, the garden at St. Vartan Park will stay publicly accessible forever after a successful two-month trial ... the start of ‘a long and healthy public run for many generations,’ O’Keefe said ... The garden’s long-awaited opening was celebrated by many ...”
On September 22, 2025, in the St. Vartan Park garden, New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez revealed that St. Vartan Park Conservancy founding president Kevin O'Keefe (above right with Gonzalez at the garden gathering) is the district recipient of the prestigious New York State Senate 2025 Commendation Award (inset).
The senator, whose three-borough district includes the park, and Stuytown where O'Keefe lives with his wife and children, proclaimed that the honor was approbated by the State Senate and its Majority Leader because of O'Keefe's effective advocacy to open more green space in "one of the most starved for green space districts in the entire city"
Gonzalez told the audience (in attendance for the day’s addition of 17 trees and six shrubs at the park) that she had recommended O'Keefe for the award in part because of his "incredible leadership. Kevin a fearless leader."
O'Keefe successfully led a campaign that opened the city-owned garden to the public after decades of closure and continues to advocate for more publicly accessible open and green space for such places as locked MTA green space across the street from the garden, an Open Street next to the park and the largest undeveloped private parcel of land in Midtown Manhattan.
On September 15 at a public hearing, O'Keefe addressed green space for the private lot during his opposition to a since-rejected casino bid for the site.
“Kevin O’Keefe is ... ‘very much dedicated to more open and green space in Midtown East.’”
On April 13, 2024, in the St. Vartan Park garden, United States Congressman Jerry Nadler (third from right) bestowed on Kevin a U.S. Congressional proclamation. After remarks, Representative Nadler presented a 400-word statement about Kevin that the congressman read into the Congressional Record two days earlier.
Nadler's Congressional Record remarks begin, "Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tremendous accomplishments of Kevin O'Keefe, a dedicated community leader in East Midtown Manhattan." The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings of the U.S. Congress. A list of O'Keefe achievements follow in the statement, including leading a campaign that opened the garden to all after decades of closure and for work that "has inspired many people to find a middle ground when talking with those with differing views."
Also standing for the garden presentation were (from left) New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, New York Assembly Member Harvey Epstein,, New York City Council Member Keith Powers and New York State Assembly Member Alex Bores. A video of the presentation resides here.
“Kevin O’Keefe is the chair of Community Board 6’s Environment and Parks Committee, and when he was appointed to the job in November of last year, he started trying to figure out the story behind the locked garden ... The more he learned, the more frustrated O’Keefe became ... the garden will open...”
On April 25, 2023, at the Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club’s 70th anniversary gala at the National Arts Club in Manhattan, Kevin was the recipient of the Platinum Anniversary Award for Distinguished Service to the Community.
Kevin (pictured at the gala, introduced as the honoree alongside former United States Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney) was presented the award for his parks, sports, environment and other volunteer community service in East Midtown Manhattan.
On April 27, 2024, in the East Village, New York State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein (right) issued a state proclamation to St. Vartan Park Conservancy for "enduring and positive change" for community and in recognition of Kevin for having “successfully fought for the reopening” of park space.
“Kevin O’Keefe . . . noted that the new nets aren’t just a low-cost solution that makes basketball a more enjoyable game for the thousands of kids and even adults who use the hoops in the community ... Soon after one of the new nets was installed at Bellevue South, the basketball players nearby soon gathered on the court to play, saying that they cherished the ‘swish’ sound a net makes after a made basket.”
“O’Keefe ... the former college track star was the track coach of Epiphany School .. In his life as a public relations and communications specialist he worked with Nelson Mandela when he was first released from prison in South Africa.”
Susan Burke
St. Vartan Park Conservancy treasurer Susan Burke, in the St. Vartan Park garden with United States Congressman Jerry Nadler, serves as the opening speaker on November 23, 2024, at the opening of the garden’s fully accessible enhanced entrance and new pathway
Susan has held leadership positions on boards of various nonprofit organizations for more than two decades. The Murray Hill resident was appointed treasurer of St. Vartan Park Conservancy in 2024.
A well-respected schools and community advocate, Susan serves on the board of the Hudson River Park Mothers Group, a nonprofit that supports and serves as a resource for parents. In this capacity, she has produced an annual community preschool fair in Lower Manhattan for ten years.
Susan lives with her family and lovable Boxer, Brody.
Stephanie Ogozalek
St. Vartan Park Conservancy secretary Stephanie Ogozalek (right) moderated a children’s reading and art session in the park garden featuring award-winning author-illustrator Julia Mills at the annual St. Vartan Park Earth Day on April 26, 2025
A noted marketing and communications professional and seasoned leader on nonprofit boards, Stephanie has resided in Murray Hill for more than 30 years. She was elected secretary of St. Vartan Park Conservancy in 2024.
Stephanie currently manages corporate fundraising for The Skin Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in the Kips Bay-Murray Hill neighborhood.
Stephanie lives with her husband and son near St. Vartan Park. The family holds many precious memories of years spent in and around the park.
