Janet DeClark
Janet DeClark, a speech pathologist at Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, has joined the Board of Directors of the San Luis Obispo Symphony. DeClark relocated to the Central Coast two-and-a-half years ago from Edwards, Colorado, where she was very active in community organizations. She served on the board of the Eagle County Charter Academy, the first charter school in the Vail area; the Eagle River Youth Coalition, a collaborative youth programming organization in the Vail Valley; and SpeakUp ReachOut, Eagle County’s mental health and suicide prevention organization. She also volunteered as a domestic violence advocate, taking calls for the local domestic violence hotline.
“The Symphony Board of Directors is thrilled to welcome Janet. She has a life dedicated to public service and youth and we are happy she will bring her energy and involvement to the Symphony.” – Francie Levy, San Luis Obispo Symphony general manager
Janet has been a speech pathologist for 34 years. She began her career at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach and Winways in Orange, California, a post-acute rehab center for patients with traumatic brain injuries. She continued working with adult neuro and critical care patients at Vail Valley Medical Center and home health program in Vail, and Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. She did contract work through her private practice, working mostly with Spanish-speaking children and families in the 0-3 high-risk infant and toddler program. She is a long-time program consultant with Can Do MS, a non-profit wellness program for those with MS and their families.
Janet’s musical expertise is limited to that of aficionado. Growing up outside of Philadelphia, she was introduced to classical music in her public elementary school, which provided lessons, an instrument and many opportunities for her to play and perform. She began playing the cello at age 6 and continued until she was 17. Her passion waned after she moved across the country with her family and found no musical options or outlets. It’s for this reason that she is very excited about becoming involved in the SLO Symphony and learning more about the Youth Symphony.
Janet and her husband Richard have been married for 36 years. They live in Shell Beach, and have three grown sons, a beautiful daughter-in-law, and one perfect 10-month old grandson. They enjoy active travel, skiing, hiking and now ocean kayaking in their new home on the central coast.