Leadership

Rev. Jane O’Leary, Deacon

Jane came to St. John’s during the pandemic in 2020, after serving as Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. Jane was ordained in 1989 in the Diocese of Connecticut, coming to MD in 2002. She has served several parishes in both dioceses, most recently in Baltimore City. Jane is a licensed social worker and is retired after 50 years leading human service organizations in support of low income and vulnerable people. Jane and her husband Bill Mundy live in Baltimore County and have a blended family of 6 adult children and 7 grandchildren.

Patricia Hopkins, Senior Warden

Pat has been a member of St. John’s Havre de Grace for eleven years with her husband, David. She is the mother of three wonderful children and grandmother of four spectacular grandchildren. Pat is active on the ECW, leading some projects, and volunteers for St. John’s Cupboard. She was Junior Warden from 2016 – 2019 and Treasurer from 2019 to the present.

Irmgarde Brown, Junior Warden

Irmgarde Brown is an author, a semi-retired librarian/manager from Harford County Public Library, a long-time blogger, a photographer, a playwright and director, an active volunteer in the Havre de Grace arts community, and a friend to the Village of Hope, Zambia. Irmgarde has attended St. John’s since the Fall of 2019 and has lived in Havrre de Grace since 1985. In July 2023, she completed a two-year commitment to the Living School of Action and Contemplation (online) out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is a widow, the mother of three adoptees from Eastern Europe (now grown), and a grandmother of three. Her first novel, Sister Jane, launched in June 2021. A companion novella to this book, Sister Jane’s Lenten Journal, was released in 2022. In December, her third book, Children in the City of Czars: A Novel will be released. She is also the co-author of the memoir, Evidence Now Seen: How God Used One Couple to Touch the Lives of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in Zambia.

Sheila McCutcheon, Registrar

Sheila has been a member of St. John’s Havre de Grace since childhood. She was baptized and confirmed here, as were her children and six grandchildren. She has been married for 47 years and a foster parent for 33 years. She blessed us by becoming our Parish Administrator after 22 years working at APG. She also serves as Co-chair of St. John’s Cupboard with Nadine Anderson and Lori Gengenbach.

Garrett Hall, Vestry Member

Garrett (They/Them/Their) is a queer Episcopalian who grew up in the Episcopal Church, was baptized, confirmed, and married. Garrett joined St. John’s family in 2021 upon relocating to Havre de Grace. Garrett is a trauma nurse leader, educator, and biomedical informaticist. Garrett strives to be a catalyst for change by promoting ALL people’s inclusiveness, including Queer families and Queer children of God within the Episcopal Faith. Garrett and their husband Michael are excited about continuing to grow their radical faith of LOVE with the St. John’s family as we celebrate diversity, inclusion, equality, and faith. Garrett celebrates that God is LOVE and all are welcome at St. John’s.

Lori Gengenbach, Vestry Member

Lori Gengenbach and family moved to Havre de Grace in 1993. Lori’s husband, Mark spent 20 years active duty Air Force which took them to Loring AFB, Maine; Andersen AFB, Guam and Aberdeen Proving Ground. Lori and Mark have three adult children. Daughter Sarah, son Chris and life partner Scott, and son Matthew and wife Danielle along with grandchildren. Lori has served as Church Administrator, Junior Warden, Buildings and Grounds, Vestry, Altar Guild, Prayer Ministry Team, Grace Place, Co-chair of St. John’s Food Cupboard.

Keith Butler, Vestry Member

What a rewarding honor the past few years it has been to serve on Saint John’s vestry. As a vestry member, I’ve been able to experience the revitalization of not only our mission but of our facilities. The church has developed and sustained a food program and continues to serve Friday lunches during the covid pandemic.

I have enjoyed working with the public since high school. As a freshman at Delaware State University, I worked as a youth counselor at a Wilmington community center. After my freshman year, I had the unique opportunity to be part of a grocery store start-up and publish a weekly community newspaper.
I served in the U.S. Army as a weather technician in the Vietnam conflict obtaining the rank of Specialist 4 class.

I returned to school at the University, of Delaware after my military duty but wasn’t able to complete my studies.

I am the father of three lovely adult children. Sadly my oldest transitioned a few years back.
I am retired from the E. I. DuPont company where I worked as Research Technician in polymer products.
I was born in Wilmington, Delaware, and lived there until relocating to Havre De Grace in 2008. I’ve also lived in Brooklyn, NY; Jackson, Mississippi; and California.

In Wilmington, I was a member of Saints Andrew and Matthew Episcopal Church where I participated in a Sunday morning breakfast program and help to provide a Sunday morning church service for the homeless. I am involved locally with 12-step programs. I consider myself very lucky to be part of Saint John’s.

Cary Chabalowski, Vestry Member

Cary was born in Chicago but grew up in the suburbs of Milwaukee. He received a Ph.D. degree in chemistry at the University of Kansas, where he met and married his very patient wife, Molly. Early in his career he spent one year as a research professor at Johns Hopkins University, which was their introduction to Maryland. Cary and Molly enjoyed living on the East Coast, so in 1986 they moved from the Chicago area to Bel Air after getting a position at the US Army Ballistics Research Laboratory (now Army Research Lab.), APG. In 2003 Cary transferred to the DC area as a research administrator for the US Army, continuing until retirement in 2012. Upon retirement, Cary and Molly moved to their small lake home in Wisconsin, which they sold in August, 2021, and moved to Havre de Grace to be closer to their kids and old friends. Cary and Molly have two adult children who grew up in Bel Air and still reside in the area. Molly is a retired elementary school music teacher who taught in Harford and Fairfax Counties. Cary’s church experience includes serving on several vestries and trying his best to support other church activities as needed.

Frederick (Fred) Vesci, Vestry Member

Frederick (Fred) Vesci was born and raised in Philadelphia and brought up in the Catholic Faith, which included attending catholic elementary middle and high school. He graduated from Drexel University with a degree in Architectural Engineering. He has been with the engineering firm HNTB since interning with them in college (nearly 25 years). Fred has worked on rail, bridge, and infrastructure projects for his company in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Charlotte…and now Baltimore. He and his wife plan to stay in this area until their children, Charlie and Adele, graduate from high school (or longer)!

His wife, Renee Vesci, was born and raised in the Methodist Church in North Carolina. After visiting various churches and services, they decided that the Episcopal was the best blend and fit. Renee and Fred went through confirmation together in All Saints Episcopal in Salt Lake City. They were married at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Virginia City, Montana. Charlie was baptized at Saint Mary’s in Ardmore, PA and Adele was baptized at St. Alban’s in Davidson, NC. Their family hopes to make St. John’s their home church for many years to come.