Kevin Comer - CHAIRPERSON
Mr. Comer’s love affair with Palm Springs began as many do, with a visit more than three decades ago with his husband, Rick Distel. During that visit they fell in love with the city, its people, its history and its architecture, and decided if their future ever evolved to permit having a home here they would jump at that chance. In 2011 just that happened when they found the perfect Alexander, with one original owner, and purchased it without hesitation.
Civic engagement has long been a part of Mr. Comer’s daily life. He has served and chaired the Board of Assessment Appeals in the State of Connecticut, his city’s Democratic Town Committee, the Civic Relations Committee for the German Village Society (the largest historic district in the country on the National Register and located in Columbus, OH), and is the founder of We the People, a nonprofit focused on the study of issues of importance to voters.
Since closing Beck Street Capital, the private equity firm he founded, Mr. Comer has focused his activities primarily on the exploration of better, and yet commercially viable, solutions for the problems facing the most critical - and most elemental - aspects of daily life: namely food and shelter.
Mr. Comer lives in Palm Springs, CA and Washington, CT with Rick Distel, his husband and partner of over 30 years, and their two rescue pups: Cooper and Dodger.
Patsy marino - VICE Chairperson
A native of San Diego, Patsy Marino is a graduate of the University of San Diego. After a 12 year career in communications and Internet start ups, Patsy committed to stay home, support her family and raise her children. Always having a passion for Contemporary Art, education and children, Patsy found purpose in her work as a community volunteer. She served as a Trustee at the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego. Patsy devoted six years to re-opening The New Children's Museum serving served on the Board for 5 years with two terms President. During her Presidency, she co-chaired a $10mm capital campaign to get the museum out of debt.
As part of the executive committee of the La Jolla Arts Community, Patsy’s current project is The Murals of La Jolla, a privately funded outdoor public art project on private property.
Since 2015, Patsy has served on the Board of Trustees at The Francis Parker School.
She recently started a Foundation based in the Coachella Valley to support visual artists in the early stages of their career.
Patsy resides in La Jolla and Palm Springs with her husband of 19 years and their two children.
LEDA POTENTE - SECRETARY
Leda Potente was born in Germany and grew up in Milwaukee, WI. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Although thoroughly “Americanized” she became a volunteer with the International Institute of Wisconsin, a non-profit organization that assisted immigrants with assimilation while maintaining their cultural roots.
After owning and selling a couple of businesses in Milwaukee, Leda and her husband of 40+ years, Pete, and their two children moved to Centerville, OH to pursue other business opportunities. While living there, Leda became president of their HOA.
In 2011 the opportunity arose to move to Vista Las Palmas and own the Vista Las Palmas home built by Pete’s grandfather in 1958. After volunteering in the past as Treasurer for a couple of non-profits in the desert, Leda now joins the VLPNF Board and looks forward to helping VLP maintain the neighborhood feel.
Leda enjoys playing tennis and walking Robby (who thinks he is the VLP Canine Ambassador) in our neighborhood.
Joe Vassallo - Treasurer
Joe Vassallo and his husband Doug have been regular visitors to Palm Springs since 1990, part-time Coachella Valley residents since 1997, and more recently, they are happy to be planting some roots here in Vista Las Palmas.
Joe describes himself as a "reformed techie". After 2 decades of successfully working in software engineering and corporate executive management, Joe discovered the importance of community and civic engagement by volunteering in governance roles at not-for-profit organizations focused on community economic development and public education reform, two areas he feels passionate about.
As a certified green building professional, he is committed to bringing sustainability to our community. He has developed a niche specializing in helping the many vacation homes in Palm Springs become more environmentally sustainable and better neighbors. A challenge he’s both overwhelmed by and motivated to impact.
You might meet Doug and Joe exploring the Palm Springs foodie and craft cocktail scene or walking their Weimaraner Kaia either in the neighborhood or on the Lykken Trail.
Joe and his husband Doug of over 30 years split their time between San Francisco, Palm Springs, and Puerto Vallarta.
Byron Hancock - MEMBER AT LARGE
Having met in Manhattan, Byron Hancock and his husband/partner now of 40+ years, author Len Handeland, enjoyed visiting Palm Springs many times when they escaped the summer “winter” of San Francisco where they lived for 24 years before moving to Sonoma for 10 years. The wildfires eventually drove them out of Sonoma and in February 2021, their final move was to Palm Springs where they found their mid-century-inspired dream home on West Stevens Rd with gorgeous views.
A native of Florida growing up in the restaurant business, Byron graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and worked in catering before entering wealth management where he continues today. Byron believes in giving back to his community and has served on various non-profit boards including as President of the 330+ unit HOA “The Brannan” in San Francisco and President of the 95-member Sonoma Valley Club of Rotary International.
Focusing on Membership for VLPNF, Byron is looking forward to expanding our strong and vibrant beautiful community and deepening neighbor relationships.
Byron & Len are year-round residents of Palm Springs with their 2 rescue cats, siblings Felix and Felicia.
BOB Gottlieb - MEMBER AT LARGE
Born and spending his first 25 years in Chicago, Bob Gottlieb started visiting Palm Springs in 1972 when his grandparents moved to Canyon Estates in Palm Springs. Always vowing to live in “beautiful and warm Palm Springs” he purchased that same Canyon Estates residence in 2002. Visiting regularly, he and his wife, Geri, became full time Palm Springs residents in 2020 and purchased their Vista Las Palmas house on W Stevens Road during the COVID craziness.
Being a dental health care professional with practices in two Washington state cities, Bob worked and promoted agendas to improve the healthcare provided to the communities through educational activities with practicing professionals while also serving on multiple boards of educational institutions.
Bob looks forward to working on the Vista Las Palmas Board to continue moving our community forward as well as the whole of Palm Springs.
His wife, Geri, who owns her own dental practice consultant business, and Bob have 7 children, 5 grandchildren and 2 Swiss Doodle dogs: Gerti and Greta.
Bryan beak - MEMBER AT LARGE
Bryan and his wife have lived in San Francisco, Chicago, Minneapolis and Seattle but always loved visiting Palm Springs. Vista Las Palmas biking tours were a highlight of their frequent trips, so after winding down their professional careers they bought a home in Vista Las Palmas in 2024. Bryan has volunteered for numerous organizations, and looks forward to advancing the mission of the Vista Las Palmas Neighbors Foundation.