RISING FAMILY ASSOCIATION
We exist to bring together all persons with the surname of Rising, Reising, Riseing, and Raizenne and their descendants for the preservation of family genealogy; to promote the social and historical interests of the association members and their families.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Donald Rising
President/Treasurer
Don currently serves a dual role as President and VP of Finance for the Association. He attended his first Rising reunion in Niagara Falls, NY in 1966 and hosted his first reunion in 1989 with his wife Rosita, in Anaheim, CA. Through the years his family, Jennifer, Natalie, Christina, and Rosita, have combined their family vacations with the Rising Reunions. Don enjoys meeting all those who attend the reunions with their families and he especially enjoys their family stories. Don presently works in the finance area for the Boeing Company and has been there for Thirty Three years. He also worked in operations for the Walt Disney Company.
Kimberly Wright Mastrofino
Vice President
Kim has been actively involved with the Rising Family Association since 2007 and enjoys serving as a member of the Board of Directors. She is dedicated in promoting the mission and values of our association, as well as the vision for our future. Family is an important part of her life and will remain in the forefront. Kim fondly remembers attending Rising Family Reunions through the years, especially reunions in Historic Deerfield.
Kim currently works for a local nonprofit, and has experience in grant writing, fundraising, and community outreach. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband Bob. She has one son, John, a daughter in-law, Megan, and a grandson, Leo. Kim is the daughter of Joyce Rising Taylor and the granddaughter of Earl Fredrick Rising.
Candace Casciano
Secretary
Candy joined the Board as Secretary in 2012. She attended her first reunion in Suffield, CT and has enjoyed connecting with family at reunions in the Northeast with a special connection to the Deerfield, MA area. She has always had an interest in history and has enjoyed becoming more involved with the Rising Family Association in her role.
Candy recently retired after 36 years in corporate and is enjoying spending time on her hobbies. She lives in Connecticut with her husband Nicholas and daughter Marisa.
Clark Matthews
Genealogist
Clark has been in his role of Family Genealogist since 2006. His love of history has influenced his efforts in the study and preservation of our family’s heritage. He was born and raised in Southwick Massachusetts where distinct family lines are entrenched with roots tracing back to James Rising. Twelve generations of Risings and six generations of Matthews originated in this area, and the descendants of James Rising still reside in Southwick and remarkably on the same street where Clark grew up.Clark, a pharmacist and presently a semi retired businessman, established the Louis & Clark drugstore chain with a former classmate. Together their business grew to success with the development of seventeen stores throughout Massachusetts. Today Louis & Clark is still in business and still family owned.Clark and his wife Linda are blessed with a blended family of ten children and twenty four grandchildren. They divide their time between Massachusetts and Florida.
Jason Matthews
Historian
Jason was raised and resides in Wilbraham, Ma with his wife Mary and children Emmalou and Liam. He enjoys watching the Red Sox, learning about history, listening to music, and playing the drums.
In 2012, he joined the Rising Family Board after attending many reunions since his childhood. Every reunion is a great opportunity to meet new family members and to visit unique places our Rising cousins once lived in and continue to call their home.
History and family connections to both places and events have always fascinated him, inspiring him to discover and learn about people who are related to one’s self and their journeys. Learning that a person shares a common descendant can demonstrate how truly interconnected the world is and emphasizes how we all can leave our own unique mark on our own journey through life.
Natalie Menegatti
Social Media Coordinator
Natalie is the daughter of Donald and Rosita Rising. She attended her first reunion at the age of 1 and has been to numerous reunions throughout her life. She always looked forward to her family's vacations, exploring areas around the reunion location. At the reunions it is so great to see familiar faces, meet new Risings, and hear our family's history. Since adding some new "Risings" to the family, Natalie hopes to take her whole family to a reunion soon!
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2020 was a different year, but we didn't let that stop our annual reunions. Having already taken a role in the social media platforms for the Rising family, Natalie stepped up to help with the virtual reunion. She, along with the other board members, hopes to reach and connect with even more Risings through social media.