Board of Directors

Julie Hirshan Hart is the digital editor for The Laconia Daily Sun in New Hampshire, where she creates opportunities for engagement with readers and the community. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in media production and journalism from Flagler College in St. Augustine. Julie worked in the nonprofit sector for 10 years, with organizations from Girl Scouts of the USA to Meals on Wheels. Julie serves as a captain for The Rising Suns team in the Community Challenge to benefit the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction, and as the media sector representative for the Laconia Youth Alliance. She is also a member of the mayor’s Homelesness Task Force in the city of Laconia. When she’s not reading and editing, she enjoys traveling, volunteering, yoga, and enjoying craft beer with her husband, Jeremy.

Stephen Turner is a stay at home parent of four children.  He is active in his Catholic parish, serving as the Parish Council chairperson and as a substitute teacher at the parish school.  Each summer since 1997, Stephen has volunteered for a week at Camp I am Special, which is a residential summer camp for children and adults with disabilities.  In 2007, Stephen graduated with an Educational Specialist degree in Counseling and Human Systems and worked as a School Psychologist for public schools.  Stephen hopes to serve the L’Arche community as board member.  His work and volunteer experiences have developed an appreciation for the L’Arche mission and the positive impact the L’Arche community can have on its members and the greater community.

Msgr. Haut is originally from Chicago, IL. He attended St. Joseph Academy and Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville and received a BA from St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester in 1964.  Msgr. Haut attended the Catholic University of Louvain and was ordained for the Diocese of St. Augustine on June 29, 1968. He received a Master’s degree in Social Work from Catholic University of America in 1973.

He has served in the following parishes: Resurrection Parish, Jacksonville, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, Christ the King Parish, Jacksonville, St. John the Baptist Parish, Atlantic Beach, St. Catherine Parish, Orange Park, and Blessed Trinity Parish, Jacksonville.

Msgr. Haut retired in 2013.  He has served as Diocesan Director of Catholic Charities, Dean, Vicar General, and member of the Diocesan College of Consultors, Priest Personnel Committee, and Presbyteral Council.

When Bishop Snyder came to the Diocese of St. Augustine he directed Msgr. Haut to start work on a plan to respond to the needs of disabled people in parishes. Sister Rita Baum took the lead and soon there were people wanting to open a residence for people in need. They were able to arrange for the Diocese of St. Augustine to offer what had been Saint Mary’s Home for orphaned children and Harbor House began. He has been a fan of L’Arche for a long time. One of his nieces is on the staff of L’Arche USA so it’s a family thing!

To come

Sarah joined the L’Arche Board of Directors in August 2022. She was a live-in assistant at L’Arche Jacksonville from 2010 to 2012 before leaving to pursue her Master’s in Social Work. Upon returning to Jacksonville, she worked as a hospice social worker, then a bereavement counselor. Sarah was an accompanier for L’Arche assistants and a volunteer at the community before joining the board. She is married to Joey and they have a wonderful baby boy named Robbie. The L’Arche Jacksonville community is dear to her heart and she’s honored to be able to serve on the board.

Frank was born in 1948 in Brunswick, Georgia to Frank and Josephine Tassone. He and his siblings were raised in Atlantic Beach, FL and attended St. Paul’s and later graduated from Bishop Kenny High School. He then attended undergrad at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina before graduating from the University of Florida Law School. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1973 before becoming an Assistant State Attorney under Ed Austin for 10 years and then as a Director of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Division. He then transitioned from prosecutorial work to private practice with a focus on Criminal Defense and Post Conviction Relief while also obtaining his Masters Degree in Theology from Loyola University – New Orleans. He humbly accepted appointment to the Board of L’Arche Jacksonville by Monsignor Haut. He is a proud father and grandfather who enjoys walks with his dog Luca and quiet mornings reading and saying his prayers with his many felines.

https://tassonelaw.com/frank-tassone/