Jacob Welch, President

Pure Waters Board Member since 2015

Residence: Seneca Lake Southwest quadrant

Jacob “Jake” Welch is a retired trial attorney who practiced in the Corning and Finger Lakes area for almost four decades. He and his wife Karen bought their cottage on Seneca Lake in the year 2001. They now live there full-time. Jake was the past Vice President of Operations for Seneca Pure Waters and helped to initiate its membership drive in 2018. He is also the head of the Pure Waters political action committee and interfaces with the Finger Lakes Regional Watershed Association.

Jake is an avid sailor and also enjoys fishing, diving and swimming on Seneca lake. In fact, he is in or on the water so much that his neighbors call him “Aquaman”. He loves being at his cottage; reason being , it’s simply the best place on earth for his friends and family to gather and enjoy the best in life.

While now enjoying the benefits of retirement, Jake’s years as a successful advocate in the courtroom are now needed to confront the serious two prong threats that global warming and increased nutrient loading pose to Seneca Lake. He truly believes, while an enormous undertaking, that even the biggest problems can be tackled by collaborative, energetic and intelligent effort. He sees Seneca Pure Waters, with its lake wide base and scientific bent, as a key player in finding solutions that will keep our lake the treasure it has been for countless individuals.

Rich Adams, Vice President of Water Quality

Pure Waters Board Member since 2019

Residence: Seneca Lake Northeast quadrant

After working in Pennsylvania for over 40 years on water quality regulations, assistance to watershed groups, and restoration projects, Rich and his wife Sandy have settled in on the Lake at Willow Cove where they would like to help make a difference in the future preservation and protection work with Pure Waters.  “This is a gift we must hold dearly, for our kids and grandkids. Our work today will be multiplied through generations:.

Frank DiOrio, Vice President of Operations

Pure Waters Board Member since 2018

Residence: Seneca Lake Southwest quadrant

Frank is a retired Service Vice President with experience both in the Field and in the Corporate Service environments.  His career included 32 years at Eastman Kodak Company and 10 years at Pitney Bowes.

Frank purchased his cottage on Seneca Lake in 1992 and has lived on the lake year round since retiring in 2015.  One of his major undertakings was to convert his small cottage to a year round home, doing much of the work himself.

The Pure Waters organization has been a big interest of Frank’s, since becoming a member in 1992.  After retiring, Frank’s assignments have included Stream Monitoring volunteer, Stream Monitoring Sub-Team Leader for the Outlet Trail, HABs volunteer, HABs Director, Board of Directors and now Vice President of Operations.

Frank very much enjoys being part of Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association.  First and foremost, he feels a real responsibility to preserve and protect this beautiful resource that he and his family have enjoyed for many years.  He wants to make sure continuous improvement of lake water quality is a way of life around the lake.

Frank and his wife, Nancy, enjoy lake living year round.  In the summer, boating and relaxing on their dock is what they enjoy doing most.  And of course, having the whole family and the grandchildren at the lake on a beautiful day is the all-time best. 

Frank is committed to do all he can to make sure our lake is there to enjoy for many generations to come.

Dr. John Cooley, Secretary  

Pure Waters Board Member Since 2020

Residence: Southwest quadrant

John Cooley is a family physician who moved from Rochester to Yates County in 1994 to work in the Dundee Family Health Center and Soldiers and Sailors Hospital in Penn Yan.  He continues to serve as school physician for Dundee Central School and lives nearby.   He has sailed his Penguin class dingy on Keuka and Seneca Lakes and on Lake George.    

Frank Case, Treasurer 

Pure Waters Board Member Since 2015

Residence: Northeast quadrant

Frank Case is a busy man, as he is the owner/operator of his own farm.  Frank spent 27 years as Varick Town Justice, and is also a retired teacher.  He is a past President of the Finger Lakes Federal Credit Union, and has sat on the Board of Directors for the Seneca County Cornell Cooperative Extension.  

Frank feels that without a doubt, Seneca Pure Waters' work is necessary in order to protect it's water quality, and feels the affects of the decline due to his proximity to Reeder Creek.