Karen Lipman Steiger

Karen Lipman Steiger’s commitment to service, community, and compassionate leadership has touched countless lives across Northeast Ohio.

Karen currently serves as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of The Gathering Place and also serves on the Boards of Trustees of the Cleveland Jewish Federation of Cleveland and The Lawrence School.

Karen’s connection to The Gathering Place is deeply personal. Her mother, Sandra Lipman, was among the organization’s earliest supporters. In 2018, Karen began volunteering at the front desk, where she continues to welcome participants each week and witness firsthand the powerful sense of community and care that defines the organization.

In memory of her parents and sister, Karen made a generous gift that helped bring the HOPE Mobile Unit to life and has championed initiatives including the development of the Beachwood fitness center. Through her leadership, philanthropy, and compassionate service, Karen helps ensure that no one faces cancer alone.

An alumna of John Carroll University with a master’s degree in English literature, Karen has dedicated her professional and volunteer life to strengthening community connections. She previously served as Director of the Jewish Volunteer Network and Coordinator of the Chaplaincy Program at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. 

Lauren Rich Fine

Lauren Rich Fine brings decades of leadership in finance and strategic advising to both her professional and philanthropic work. A Partner at Beatrice Advisors and former Managing Director at Merrill Lynch, she has been nationally recognized for her expertise in equity research and investment strategy.

A dedicated civic leader, Lauren serves on the boards of the Cleveland Museum of Art, College Now Greater Cleveland, and University Hospitals’ Eastern Region Board, reflecting her deep commitment to education, the arts, and expanding opportunity.

Introduced to The Gathering Place nearly 20 years ago, she immediately connected with its innovative, sustainable model of cancer support. Lauren underwrote completion of Someone I Love Is Sick, generating ongoing revenue to sustain the organization’s free programs. Years later, she championed funding for the HOPE Mobile Unit, expanding access and ensuring support reaches families across the community.

Lauren remains a thoughtful advocate and generous champion of The Gathering Place’s mission.

Eileen Coan, MA, MLS

Eileen Coan, MA, MLS, has served as Medical Librarian at The Gathering Place since the organization’s founding, helping generations of participants access clear, trusted cancer information during some of life’s most overwhelming moments.

After beginning her career in nonprofit mental health, Eileen went on to establish Cleveland’s first consumer health cancer library at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital before bringing that same vision to The Gathering Place in 2000.

For many participants, Eileen is a lifeline-translating complex medical information, explaining treatment options, and helping individuals uncover research they may never have found otherwise.

“We meet people who are hungry for information and want to take an active part in their care,” she says. “Their passion fuels my passion.”

Through her decades of service, Eileen has helped ensure that knowledge empowers participants and that no one facing cancer feels alone.