Administration
Patricia B. Westmoreland
Executive Director
Patricia is a lifelong resident of Hammond, Louisiana where she resides with her husband Leo. Her background is rich in management having held administrative positions at Southeastern Louisiana University, Louisiana Developmental Center, and Louisiana Special Olympics. Aside from her work with the Richard Murphy Hospice Foundation, Patricia commits volunteer hours to many other worthwhile organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Home for the Holidays, Louisiana Special Olympics, the American Cancer Society, and United Way. Patricia has received several awards for her community leadership, including the 2004 Annie Award for her outstanding service in the field of business.
Patricia is the Executive Director of the Richard Murphy Hospice Foundation – a position she has held since 1985. Since Patricia took the reins of the organization, many operational enhancements to the Foundation have occurred. Most importantly, the Foundation moved from direct patient care to the current status of raising funds to pay other care providers. Through Patricia’s fundraising efforts, millions of dollars have been raised and dedicated to providing hospice services. It is Patricia’s professional and personal mission to improve the quality of life for indigent and uninsured terminally ill patients. She continues to raise money to ensure that compassionate care may be continually available for patients in need in the community.
Ricky Masaracchia
Richard Murphy Hospice
Foundation President
Ricky Masaracchia is a lifelong resident of Hammond, Louisiana where he resides with his wife Jessica. He graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1984 with a degree in Management and Finance. He has been employed with the Louisiana Department of Labor for 20 years and is currently the Labor Department’s Tax Manager for Southeast Louisiana. Ricky lends his volunteer services to many civic and non-profit organizations. He served as Chairman-Elect and serves as Board member of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce and is currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Leadership Tangipahoa. Ricky is also the City of Hammond’s Film and Television Industry Liaison. He developed and is Past-Chairman of HammondFest. Dedicated to volunteering his services to his community, Ricky has received numerous citations. Among these is the Patsy Barrett Service to People with Disabilities Award , the Hammond Chamber President’s Award, and in 2004, the Hammond Junior Auxiliary chose him as the “Man of the Year”. Ricky is a past-committee member of the City of Hammond Mayor’s 20/20 Commission and the Downtown Development District Design Committee.
Ricky has been associated with the Richard Murphy Hospice Foundation since 1986 and a member of its Board of Directors since 1992. He is currently the Foundation President – a position he has held for 6 previous terms. Ricky has also been Chairman of the Foundation’s Annual Fundraising Gala for many years during his tenure with the organization. In 1995, Ricky was instrumental in securing a “contract” with North Oaks Hospice whereby no individual, regardless of their ability to pay, would be refused full hospice care and services. This contract is still being honored to this day. Along with his fellow directors, it has been Ricky’s dream for many years to bring the Richard Murphy Hospice House to reality. Now that the dream has come true, Ricky serves as the Fundraising Chairman of the House Steering Committee.
Guy Recotta, Jr.
Hospice House Steering
Committee Chairman
Guy is also a lifelong resident of Hammond, Louisiana. He has served as the Clerk of Court of the City Court of Hammond since 1997. Prior to his current position, Guy worked in the Department of Education from which he retired after 20 years of service. Guy earned degrees in Speech Pathology as well as a Master in Education in Administration. He is currently Vice-Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for North Oaks Health System. Guy is one of the community’s most active volunteers having served as Chairman of the Southeastern Louisiana University Alumni Association, Chairman of the Hammond Sweet 16 State Girls Basketball Tournament Steering Committee, and Chairman of the Board of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce. Guy has received numerous awards for his community stewardship including the National Daily Points of Light Award, the D.A.R. Good Citizenship Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hammond Chamber of Commerce. He is also a past recipient of the Hammond Junior Auxiliary’s Man of the Year award.
Guy was a personal friend of Richard Murphy. He was instrumental in the development of the Foundation after Richard’s death in 1982. He has been a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors off and on since 1983. Guy was a member of the original Hospice House committee in 1992 when existing laws ultimately precluded the possibility of such a home. Now, with new direction, he has returned in the pivotal role of Hospice House Steering Committee Chairman to see the dream come to fruition.