Kent Organ, Interim Pastor

Kent Organ is our new Interim Pastor. Kent has been pastor/head of staff of churches in Ohio, Iowa and Arizona. He also served as presbytery executive for the Presbytery of the Western Reserve in Cleveland. Since 2004, he has done interim ministry in Oregon and Chicago. He is a graduate of McCormick and Union (NYC) Theological Seminaries. He loves to preach, teach and assist churches in transition. His wife, Rev. Vicky Curtiss, is an associate pastor at Fourth Presbyterian Church. They live in downtown Chicago where they enjoy theater, concerts, and bicycling along the lakefront.

Anne Fisher, Interim Associate Pastor

Anne has been an Interim for the past 21 years serving a dozen congregations in times of transitions. Anne received her Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and her Doctor of Ministry from Louisville Presbyterian Seminary. Anne lives in Gurnee with her husband, Gregg Dana, a Presbyterian Minister and Pastoral Counselor for the Samaritan Center of the North Shore, their two daughters, Elizabeth a sophomore at New York University and Christina, a high school Senior. Anne loves walking the family Weimaraner dog, Gretta; reading, and traveling. She is excited to be a part of such a skilled and experienced staff at Deerfield.

Thom Cunningham, Dir. of Christian Education

Thom Cunningham is the Director of Christian Education. He has served as educator at this church since 1991. He has been involved in youth ministries and Christian education since 1987.

As a student at Elmhurst College in Illinois, he received undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Christian Education, with a minor in Psychology. In 1998, he graduated with a Master of Theology from McCormick Seminary. Over the past five years, Thom has been asked to serve on the Presbytery of Chicago and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) because of his knowledge and experience in both education and mission. He is currently serving on the Presbytery of Chicago's Education Council and the General Assembly's Mission Education Task Force Team. Thom has written two mission-centered Bible studies as well as an article for the Year of Education Mission Booklet.

Maren Olson, Director of Christian Beginnings

Maren is a visionary and true supporter of quality education for children. Her name is synonymous with Christian Beginnings. Her life has been dedicated to the development of the school, to the growth of the children, and to the fostering of the kind of memories upon which children can build their futures.

Her role at the school is multifaceted; nothing is too small or too large for her to handle. She cleans bathrooms, mops floors, puts supplies away, makes coffee, bakes pies, and cooks turkeys. She is a snowman, she dances with the children, listens to their words, reassures them, encourages them, feeds the ducklings, teaches classes, helps in the classrooms, talks to parents, and helps parents and children to make good decisions about the future. She makes things happen--for the children. She is a role model for all teachers and parents of children in the church.

Bill Crowle, Organist

Bill Crowle began piano study at the age of four, and violin at age six. While attending Deerfield High School, he accompanied the choirs, was musical director for stage plays, composed and arranged music for school productions and accompanied professional and community theatre. After graduation, he attended the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY where he studied composition with Joseph Schwantner, Samuel Adler and Warren Benson, and piano with Maria Luisa Faini. In addition he sang in the Eastman Chorus directed by Robert DeCormier. After receiving his Bachelor of Music degree, he pursued graduate studies at Indiana University, Bloomington. There, he studied composition with Frederick Fox and Bernhard Heiden among others, and piano with Enrica Cavallo-Gulli. In addition, he taught theory and aural skills as an Associate Instructor and performed on the New Music Ensemble. He was elected into the National Music Honorary Society, Pi Kappa Lambda, and received both Master and Doctorate degrees with high distinction.

When Bill was not at school, he studied organ with Richard Enright and Leon Nelson, and played at various churches until he obtained his first permanent position at Christ United Methodist Church, Deerfield-- a post he held for nine years before coming to First Presbyterian, where he has remained for the last six.

Bill has performed with the Waukegan Symphony Chorus and the New Oratorio Singers. He taught theory, composition and musicology at the American Conservatory. Bill has also performed with the Ars Viva Orchestra and Chicago Choral Artists (members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra) in solo recitals, with members of the Chicago Symphony Chorus on WFMT Radio, on WGN-TV, and at Orchestra Hall.

Original compositions include: Motets d'Enfants, a work for treble voices, piano, recorders and Orff instruments, commissioned by the Jubilate; Children's Choir Mass for SATB-Choir, flute, clarinet, english horn, bassoon, piano and organ; Polarities, a four-movement work for full orchestra (doctoral dissertation); he has also composed a number of other solo, chamber, choral and orchestral works.

Currently, Bill teaches piano at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois, and is organist at Lakeside Congregation for Reform Judaism in Highland Park, along with his work here at First Presbyterian. Bill also continues to play as a concert performer.

Mike Nelson, Music Director

Growing up in nearby Glenview, Mike attended Glenbrook South High School. He began taking violin and piano lessons at the age of six and later majored in violin performance at North Park University. He studied with Alan Heatherington at North Park, was concertmaster of the orchestra, and was a member of the University Choir.

Mike's first choral conducting position was at his home church in Glenview. He was the Director of Music at Glenview Covenant Church for three years before moving to Winnetka Covenant Church where he has served as Assistant Music Director for the past four and a half years. He is also a freelance violinist in the Chicago area, and teaches violin at the Creative Arts Center in Winnetka.

Mike lives in Palatine with his wife Amy and their two children. When he is not directing or singing in choirs, Mike enjoys playing basketball, baseball, and tennis, and collects classical CDs.

Tammy Santi, Office Coordinator

Tammy grew up in Munster, Indiana, and after spending a summer in Germany with the Indiana University German program while still in high school, she decided to attend and graduated from Indiana University with a BS in German. Tammy is the proud mother of two children, a daughter, Erin Schwab, who lives in Louisville, Kentucky, and one son, Jason, who attends the University of Illinois in Champaign. Tammy also has one precious, adorable granddaughter, Delaney Marie Schwab. In addition, Tammy has two stepchildren, Jessie & Jake. Two other residents of her household are Bosco, the chocolate Lab and B. J., a black and white Llewellyn setter.

Tammy and her husband, Jeff, own a printing business in Highland Park, where Tammy manages the accounting side of the business. Tammy is also proud for people to know that she is, as of 2003, a 10-year breast cancer survivor.

Tammy joined the staff at First Presbyterian three years ago and since that time she has been applying her experience and skills to every area of church life as she faithfully and joyfully serves the pastoral staff and the membership.

Terri Berardini, Christian Education Assistant

Terri Berardini joined the FPCD staff in October of 2006 as the Christian Education Assistant. She uses her degree in Journalism and her experience as a mother of four sons to support Thom Cunningham in all aspects of Christian Education. She enjoys the opportunity to interface with many different members through the C.E. Council and various committees.

Terri is also the Communications Manager at the Mothers Trust Foundation in Lake Forest. The Mothers Trust Foundation, established in 1998, is a nonprofit organization supporting social service providers throughout Lake County by offering immediate financial assistance to children in great need.

Terri and her husband, Don, live in Lake Forest.