Cooney Joins Legacy Portfolio Management as Trust Officer

09:07AM / Thursday, March 12, 2009Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Legacy Portfolio Management (LPM) has welcomed Derek

F. Cooney as a Trust Officer according to an announcement by John Meyer, senior vice president of LPM. In this capacity, Cooney will manage and administer key aspects of clients’ trust account relationships, serving as a liaison among beneficiaries, accountants, and legal advisors. Additionally, Cooney will assist the division with new relationship development in Massachusetts and New York.

Cooney brings with him over ten years of trust banking experience, having most recently come from Dion Money Management where he served as Vice President and Portfolio Manager. Prior to that, he was with First Niagara Financial Group where he served as Trust Officer of the Trust Investment Services Group. In this capacity, he was a member of the Trust Management Committee. Derek Cooney (photo by Sandy McNay)

In commenting on his appointment, Meyer said, “I am pleased to welcome Derek to our team at Legacy Portfolio Management. He has the skill-set and experience necessary to manage our growing area of trust administration as well as the qualities essential in deepening meaningful client relationships.”

Cooney holds a B.S. in finance from the University of Massachusetts. Additionally, he has earned the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor designation and is working toward the Certified Financial Planner designation, which he is scheduled to complete this year. Cooney resides in Troy, NY with his family.

Legacy Portfolio Management, the asset investment and trust management division of Legacy Banks, serves private individuals and families, corporate and non-profit institutions and public pension funds.

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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction.

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.

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