We are saddened by the loss of our beloved friend and longtime colleague Lois Guarino, an artist and writer, mentor and coach, teacher and member of Omega's executive team, who passed away in September 2022.

Lois Guarino, Omega’s former chief experience officer, was a certified transformative coach and life mentor who brought the values of relational leadership to all her work. She developed the People and Culture department for Omega, with programmatic support from Ram Dass, providing an emphasis on compassionate service as a core curriculum of the staff experience. She was the first recipient of the staff-selected Jim Buglione Compassionate Service Award.

In addition to her leadership role, she was an artist, writer and teacher. She viewed creative expression as a spiritual practice and for more than two decades she taught classes that tapped into creativity, including courses at the International Center of Photography and New York University. She was the recipient of numerous awards and grants, including two fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts.

Lois Guarino authored Wonders Miracles & Magic, a catalog of her work, and Writing Your Authentic Self, a text on the many uses and forms of journal writing.