John Edwards Announced as Chairman of the New England Board of Governors

John J. Edwards Jr., LNHA, of Purling, New York, has been elected Chairman of the Board of Governors for Shriners Children’s New England. John has been a Board Member since 2016, joining the executive committee in 2021 as vice chairman.

John was first introduced to the work of the Shriners in 1998. He instantly fell in love with the Shriners Children’s mission and jumped at the opportunity to join the fraternity that supports it. He became a Ziyara Shriner, based in Oneida County, New York, where he served as ritual director for many years.

As chairman, John plans to focus on supporting the talented staff at Shriners Children’s New England. He will maintain open lines of communication between the staff and the Board, especially as they navigate the location’s new identity as a licensed outpatient facility.

“Shriners Children’s New England has the talent and the drive to be the best facility of its kind in our healthcare system. I am excited to work with and learn from our amazing staff and Board of Governors in support of our mission and vision. It is a privilege to bear witness to the specialized care that is provided to children from throughout the Northeast and beyond," said John.

John has been a licensed nursing home administrator for 20 years, and is the current facility administrator for Mountainside Residential Care Center, a small nursing home in Delaware County, New York.

John and his wife, Jennifer, have three children – Nick, Aryah and Emma. He is an avid Boston Bruins fan and enjoys watching The Office. He also loves to travel, where he collects unique items found off the beaten paths of the places he visits.