Church Staff
|
Rev. Kaaren Anderson, Parish Co-Minister | email Kaaren is particularly interested in integrating the arts in worship and emphasizing the quest for boldness in our living and loving. Scott's ministry emphasizes the importance of spiritual development and is shaped significantly by his Christian upbringing which stressed the power of kindness, humility and service. As a team, they are committed to cultivating an "evangelistic" church culture in which members feel so grateful for what they've discovered in their spiritual community that they can't help but want to share it with others. In addition to their degrees in divinity, Kaaren has done graduate work in the arts and Scott has a family therapy degree. They are parents to three children – Nils, Solveig and Neva. Kaaren's book, Glad to Be Human, is available through the church bookstore. |
 |
Rev. Jen Crow, Associate Minister | email Jen joined First Unitarian as the Associate Minister in 2004 after graduating from Meadville Lombard Theological School - one of two Unitarian Universalist seminaries in the country. Passionate about creating a community where no one need walk alone, Jen focuses her ministry in Pastoral Care and Adult Spiritual Development. Jen also enjoys supervising our intern and student ministers and serving our larger movement as a district Good Officer and a member of the national Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association's Committee on Ethics and Collegiality. The founder of the Wellspring Program for Unitarian Universalist Spiritual Deepening, Jen draws on our own UU prophets for strength and inspiration, as well as her own daily spiritual practice of prayer and meditation. Jen graduated from Smith College in 1995 with a degree in Psychology and worked with children and adolescents struggling with mental health issues for several years before following her call to parish ministry. A mother of two young children, Jen lives in Brighton with her wife, Loretta. |
 |
Rev. Tina Simson, Director of Pastoral Care | email Tina believes that people are whole and worthy of grace no matter what circumstance has come their way, and that given the opportunity to listen deeply to their inner spark of life, they will find their way home to their true self. Tina Simson is an Interfaith Minister educated and ordained through One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York. She provides individual spiritual direction and counseling and is committed to respecting all faith traditions and to assisting individuals in navigating life's transitions in light of their spiritual needs and beliefs. Tina is a 20-year member of First Unitarian church. She is a facilitator and consultant for the UU Wellspring-Spiritual Deepening Program, and has held many volunteer positions at the church including membership on the Board of Trustees and executive committee 2007-2009. Tina has worked in the Rochester, NY community as an administrator for non-profit social service organizations, and as a counselor and workshop facilitator for 25 years. She travels this life with her soul mate Joe, her three children and her delightful dog Roscoe. |
 |
David Messner, Consulting Assistant Minister of Membership Development | email David's favorite ministry themes include how our spiritual commitments directly impact our choices, relationships and experience of living, and how church might make a meaningful difference in the lives of even devoutly 'non-religious' people. David was born and raised a UU and has been a part of a number of congregations in many places over the past 40-something years. He is a Candidate for the UU ministry; his training has included serving as a ministerial intern here at First Unitarian, as a chaplain intern at Strong Memorial Hospital and as a weekend minister with the Green Bay Area UU Fellowship. David's prior professional life was in business, primarily working in strategic planning and partnerships-relationships and growth remain part of David's core values in congregational development work. David earned his Master's in Divinity from the University of Chicago with particular emphasis on theology and religious ethics. His earlier education includes a graduate management degree from Yale University and an undergraduate degree in psychology from Reed College. David and his wife Jennifer live in the countryside south of Rochester with their two children and a large dog. They all love books, food, travel, and the outdoors. |
 |
Gretchen Weis, 2011-13 Ministerial Intern Gretchen Weis is a second year seminary student at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, on her path towards becoming a fellowshipped Unitarian Universalist minister. As part of her studies, Gretchen has joined us for a two-year part time ministerial internship. Her duties will vary over the next two years as she rotates through all aspects of parish life at First Unitarian, including, but not limited to worship, pastoral care, adult spiritual development, religious education, social justice, financial stewardship and other leadership and administrative activities. Gretchen is passionate about Unitarian Universalism and the freedom of religious choice we offer to develop our own paths towards spiritual growth and development. She is also passionate about church growth and the opportunity to spread Unitarian Universalism at a time when the majority of Americans identify themselves as being unchurched. We have much to offer a bruised, broken and hurting world. Prior to answering her call to ministry, Gretchen enjoyed a successful corporate career in public relations, media relations and marketing. Originally from Ohio and Wisconsin, Gretchen came to Rochester after living in Houston, Texas, for the past 32 years. She holds an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Gretchen is divorced and enjoys her three red-eared slider turtles, the oldest of which is 40 years old (and, yes has lived with her all of this time). |
 |
Sheila Schuh, Director of Religious Education | email Sheila served as Director of Religious Education for six years in Syracuse and has been with us since 2009. Fun Worship! Social Action! Sacred Stories! The Arts! These are her loves in the ministry. Supporting parents in their roles as spiritual guides is also a passion, especially in a culture of many forces which conflict with our UU Principles. Sheila is a licensed Creative Arts Therapist, has won awards for intergenerational worship, and is currently Vice Chair of the Seaway Chapter of the Liberal Religious Educators Association. To relax, she loves to run, play volleyball, write, picnic with her three children, and listen to 100.5 The Drive! |
 |
Suzanne McNair, Director of Youth and Early Childhood Programs | email Suzanne is very excited to join the 1st Unitarian Family as the Youth Coordinator. She has a true passion for working with youth and feels honored to be a support in their spiritual, emotional, and social development. She has spent over a decade working on social action activities in the inner city of Rochester and looks forward to continuing to foster more connections and opportunities for our youth to participate in our community in a variety of ways. Suzanne has a Master of Social Work as well as a Masters in Early Childhood Education. She has spent the past decade working in the not-for-profit world in the inner city creating and directing programs aimed at providing services to the most economically challenged neighborhoods in Rochester. In her free time, she loves to swim, read, listen to music, and spend time playing with her 3 children and husband, Steve, at home in Webster. |
 |
Aria Camaione-Lind, Childcare Lead Aria moved to Rochester with her family in 2004. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History and Secondary Education from Geneseo State University in 2001, and her Master of Arts in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program in 2003. Aria's professional experiences have centered on secondary education and not-for-profit fundraising & development. She has volunteered with the church on the Fundraising Committee and with the Religious Education ministry. Aria is also an active volunteer at her children's school in the Rochester City School District. She currently lives in Swillburg with her husband, Christopher, and their three children, Marion, Frances and Malcolm. |
 |
Hannah Lurye, Childcare Assistant Hannah has been a member of First Unitarian Church since she was an infant. She has worked as a childcare provider for the past 6 years in our infant and toddler rooms. Prior to being hired on as a staff, she was an active summer volunteer. Hannah is currently attending Monroe Community College. She is in her second year working towards her Bachelor of Social Work degree. |
 |
Edward T. Schell III, Minister of
Music | email Minister of Music Edward T. Schell III has directed our music program since 1978. (The honorary title was bestowed by this Congregation in 1998, on the 20th anniversary of Ed's service.) Ed is a founder of the Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network and is an Associate Professor of Music at the Rochester Institute of Technology |
 |
Mary Lyubomirsky, Music and Arts Coordinator | email
Mary has been at Rochester First Unitarian since 1992, except for two years spent in London, England with her family from 1999-2001 where they attended Notting Hill Unitarian Church. While at First Unitarian she has been involved in Choir, Drama Group, Soul Matters, and teaching church school. She is originally from Syracuse, did her undergrad in Potsdam, NY, and came to Rochester in 1986 to pursue a career at Xerox while completing her MBA at Simon School, University of Rochester. Mary currently lives near Powdermill Park with her husband, Robert, and kids, Alec, Michael & Katya. Mary’s spiritual practices include singing, praying, meditating, and hiking nature trails through all of Rochester’s gorgeous seasons with her big hairy Newfoundland dog, who is (rather conveniently) a therapy dog. Mary believes that music and art are essential for that which words just can’t express… |
 |
Lisa Marie Schmitz, Early Service Choir Director | email
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts in vocal performance from SUNY Fredonia, a post-baccalaureate degree in music education from Nazareth College of Rochester, and a Master's Degree in music education from Nazareth College . In addition to directing the Early Service Choir and the Children's Choir here at the church, she teaches elementary general and vocal music at the Discovery Charter School of Rochester "He who sings scares away his woes." - Cervantes |
 |
David Weygandt, 9:30 AM Sunday Soloist David is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a minor in Music Cognition at University of Rochester: Eastman School of Music. He is a native of Texas and a graduate of Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts. For seven years David toured the United States and Europe with the Texas Boys Choir. In 2008 David performed in Fort Worth Opera's productions of Turandot and Lucia di Lammermoor. Currently, David sings tenor with the Eastman Chorale. |
 |
Grady Bailey, 11:15 AM Sunday Soloist |
 |
John Barthelmes, Junior High Drama Coordinator John has been working as a director/author/producer/teacher in Rochester's theatre scene since he moved to Rochester in 1996. John is a regular performer with Nuts & Bolts Comedy Improv, Joey and Maria's Comedy Wedding with Great Lakes Productions and regularly performs in a two-man variety act titled "Solo." During the day John is an instructor of Computer Science and Acting at St. John Fisher College. John's greatest joy is working with children in theatre and his goal is to make sure children are having fun on stage while helping them discover and develop their own talents. |
 |
Timothy Burns, 9:30 AM Sunday Keyboard/Choir Accompanist From Philadelphia, collaborative pianist Timothy Burns started lessons at the age of six, and has since completed a BM in Piano Performance and MM in Collaborative Piano, studying with Carol Schanely-Cahn, David Allen Wehr, and Jean Barr. Mr. Burns is a versatile pianist with significant choral, vocal, and instrumental accompanying experience. In addition, Mr. Burns has given lectures in music theory and piano accompanying, and recently has participated in Francis Smith's documentary Columbia: America By Another Name, tracing the history of the US national hymn "Hail Columbia." Currently, Mr. Burns is earning his DMA in Collaborative Piano at the Eastman School of Music, continuing his studies with Jean Barr. |
 |
Stuart Burke, UU/Schools Partnership Coordinator | email Right after college and an army stint, Stuart taught in a Rochester inner-city school program. Now, after a career in commercial and educational film, video, and theatre, he is happy to close the loop and work in city schools again. A Unitarian for twenty-something years, he loves the natural outdoors and enjoys hiking, camping, and canoeing. Stuart and his partner, Janice Cook, create their sanctuary home by a pond in Perinton. |
 |
Chris Farnum, UU/Schools Partnership Cooordinator (interim) | email Chris began coordinating our church's Schools Partnership program in August 2011, while Stuart Burke is on a medical leave. The Partnership recruits, trains and supports church volunteers at Rochester's School 22 (Lincoln School) and School 15 (Children's School) and dates back to 1988. The program also raises money to pay for school supplies and student enrichment activities. A Rochester City School District graduate herself, Chris has been a long-time weekly volunteer in city schools with the goal of helping today's students succeed. She especially values the impact that one-on-one relationships can have on both a child and a volunteer. Her extensive volunteer experience also includes being a Big Sister and a summer camp counselor; leading teams to prepare/serve soup kitchen meals and coordinating Saturday-service greeters at our church. Chris' 23-year career as a journalist shapes her knowledge of the community. Chris and her husband, Tim Farnum, have been active church members since joining in 1996 and have found it a great place to help raise their now teenage son, Mark. |
 |
Clare Kerber, Church Administrator | email Clare joined the staff at First Unitarian Church in 1991. Clare lives in Webster, where "Life is Worth Living," and has three daughters: Madelyn, a nurse who resides in California; Jessica, who lives in Hawaii; and Katie, who is at school at Northeastern University in Boston. Clare enjoys home repairs, sewing, antiques, gardening and crossword puzzles. |
 |
Mary Gleason, Administrative Assistant | email Mary has worked as librarian for 27 years with the Monroe County Library System. She also holds degrees in Natural Resource Conservation and Horticulture from Finger Lakes Community College. She is proud to be a fifth-generation resident of Rochester, and feels a spiritual, as well as ancestral, connection to the region. She was raised in the Episcopal Church, and has been enriched over the years through participation in a variety of faith communities. Joining the staff of the First Unitarian Church feels like a natural fit, as well as a blessing, to her. Mary lives in the Highland Park neighborhood with her fiancé Mike and their cat Athena, and enjoys reading, walking and hiking, gardening, music, and spending time with family and friends. |
 |
Allen Gundlach, Finance & Database Coordinator
| email Allen joined us after 26 years with Kodak, Kodak subsidiaries and Kodak joint ventures. He has a MBA in Finance and a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Al lives on Cranberry Pond in Greece with his wife Laurie and daughter Emily. He enjoys water and snow skiing, volleyball, tennis and hiking. |
 |
Caroline Akwaa, Evening Administrative Assistant Caroline graduated from the University of Rochester in 2008 with a BA in Health and Society. This past summer she received her MS in Health Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology and will soon be heading back to school for her Doctorate in Health Education. Currently she works full-time at the Arc of Monroe as the Work Experience Assessment Coordinator and at First Unitarian part-time. In her free time she volunteers with the Red Cross and as an activities volunteer at St. Johns home. Caroline loves reading, music, sleeping and writing. |
 |
Terri Ward, Evening Administrative Assistant |
 |
William Hayes, Custodian William Hayes joined the staff in November 2007. He lives in the 19th Ward of the city with his grandson, Quamae. He has two children, William Patrick and Tiffany Ryane and two other grandchildren, Madeline and Stephan. He enjoys music, fishing, camping, woodcarving and working in the garden. |
 |
Muhend Hamad, Custodian Muhend Hamad joined the staff in September 2010. He lives near downtown Rochester and has two children, Sana and Haider. He received his B.Sc. in civil engineering (construction) from the University of Baghdad in 1997 and did lots of projects in Baghdad and Dubai, working as a construction manger and in quality control. He likes music and playing soccer. |
 |
David Chamberlain, Sunday Custodian David joined the church staff in October 2010. He and his wife of 40 years are the proud parents of two sons, Christian and Mathew and grandparents of Nathan. David is a native of Monroe County and is currently semi-retired. Licensed as a New York State Professional Land Surveyor, he has worked managing survey departments for several local engineering firms. He is also a member of the Planning Board for the Town of Gates. He enjoys music, reading, history, genealogy and gardening. |
January 11 2012