Staff Biographies
Gregg Dana is a Parish Associate at Wildwood Church. He works with the Board of Deacons, preaches and leads worship, teaches in the Faith and Life adult class, and coordinates programs about Christian marriage and family life.
Gregg finished growing up in Carlinville, IL, where his father, also a Presbyterian minister, was a professor at Blackburn College. He went to Austin College in Sherman, TX, majoring in philosophy. Gregg graduated from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1971 with a focus in New Testament studies. He served as associate pastor of churches in Latrobe, PA and Springfield, IL, spending lots of time with their youth ministry programs. He did a year of Clinical Pastoral Education, learning to be a hospital chaplain, and that experience led him to pursue a master’s degree in pastoral counseling, graduating from the University of Illinois at Springfield in 1985. Now he is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor working for the Samaritan Counseling Center, with offices in Libertyville and Evanston.
Gregg is delighted to be married to Anne Fisher, a Presbyterian minister who specializes in interim ministry, serving churches during the transition between pastors. She has served churches from 100 members to 2000 members, in the city and in the country, and her work never fails to provide them interesting dinnertime conversation. She attends Wildwood when she is between jobs, or when food is served. Gregg goes to her church for special events, or when food is served.
Gregg and Anne have two daughters, Liz and Christina, both in college, at New York University and Rice University. Both of them are frustrated that it is so hard to find a church like Wildwood in New York and Houston. Gregg’s sons William and Robert live in Minneapolis, and a suburb of Washington, DC. They are married to Rachel and MaryAnn, and Gregg and Anne are "Gramps" and "Granne" to Henry, Charlotte, Caroline, Margaret, and James.
Gregg and Anne enjoy walking Gretta, their faithful Weimaraner. They love being on any vacation, but especially when they go to Anne’s family cottage on Lovewell Pond in Maine. Gregg is an enthusiastic cook, so eating good meals at home, together or with friends, is a frequent pleasure. He also thinks it is great fun to dress in blaze orange and stomp through woods and fields in search of pheasants.
Kathy Gillmore has served as Director of Christian Education at WPC since 1996. She is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a BS in Information Processing Systems. She will soon be a Certified Associate Christian Educator in the Presbyterian Church (USA), having completed a rigorous series of masters' level classes and projects.
Kathy has been a member of WPC since 1989, active in Christian education, personnel, and chair of the 1991 Pastor Nominating Committee. In 1996 Kathy took on the challenge of overseeing WPC's complete Christian education program. Under her guidance, the church has developed the Workshop Rotation Sunday School for grade school children, weekly Children's Worship experiences for the very young, a creative and exuberant Vacation Bible School, a monthly youth fellowship for 3rd - 5th graders, and a growing tradition of summer camp at the beautiful Presbyterian Camps in Saugatuck, Michigan. On the horizon for 2008 is LOGOS, a Wednesday night program of Bible study, fellowship, recreation, music, and supper.
Kathy and her husband Dale have a son and daughter who have grown up at WPC. For fun, Kathy sings in the church choir, works with puppets and the Wild Puppet Company, and quotes memorable movie lines - such as "as you wish" from The Princess Bride. In fact, "as you wish" describes the "can-do" faith with which Kathy approaches her work.
Sandy Grivett has been Director of Music at WPC since 1989. She began her college career as a music major at DePaul University. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin (Madison) with a degree in computer science, while also playing flute and piccolo in the orchestra and studying choral conducting.
Sandy has been a private flute teacher since 1995. She spends her summers as assistant director and flute section leader with the Waukegan Municipal Band.
Sandy Grivett and John Schwartz married in 1987 and began attending WPC in 1988. They are both active in the church: John as a middle school youth group advisor and tenor in the choir, and Sandy as director of both the adult and youth choirs. They enjoy reading, hiking, traveling and sampling wine from their cellar.
Darlene Isaac joined the WPC Staff in June 2011. Darlene and her husband, Walt, joined WPC in Feb. 2010, soon after relocating from Rochester NY.
Darlene has an M.S. in Education from Nazareth College, Pittsford, NY and a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College, Boston, MA. Early in her career she taught preschool, kindergarten – second grade. She and Walt raised three children; Emily, Peter, and their nephew Justin, and are now empty nesters. Darlene was also active in a variety of supportive and leadership roles in her children’s schools, church, and extra curricular activities.
Darlene’s passion for Christian Education and children and teen’s spirituality was sparked by training for Young Children & Worship and Godly Play in 1992. Since then she has gone on to be certified in both ministries and continues her work in teaching and training with a variety of churches.
From 2002 – 2009 Darlene was the Christian Education Director at a small Presbyterian Church in Pittsford, NY. There she worked with nursery age to 12th grade children and their families, leading and teaching Workshop Rotation, Confirmation, Jr. and Sr High Youth Groups, Teen Workcamps, children’s sermons, pageants & plays and the LOGOS mid-week ministry.
Darlene has completed the required courses in the Associate Christian Education Certification program through PC(USA) and is currently the LOGOS Director at WPC.
Darlene is honored to be Tiny Treasure’s Preschool Director at WPC. She is excited to encourage and support young children, their parents and families in the foundational and very important growing years of a child’s young life!
Rick Lowe has been organist/pianist at WPC since early 1991. Rick received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), where he played in the pep band at basketball games and studied piano performance with Claire Richards and piano pedagogy with Dr. James Lyke.
Rick's work experience includes employment as a chemist and a quality assuance technologist in the chemical and private label grocery products industry for over 20 years.
Rick's musical background includes work as a church musician (pianist, accompanist, choir director and organist), piano instructor, piano and organ accompanist for contests and recitals and adjudicator for local and state piano examinations. He enjoys teaching piano with people of all ages.
Rick is married and has two children. His favorite color is green.
Rick is delighted to be able to share his musical gifts with the congregation as they prepare their hearts each Sunday morning to receive the word of God.
Mary Lukenbill's is the friendly face you'll find in the church nursery every Sunday morning. She is dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming environment for infants and toddlers, giving all the personal care they deserve as children of God. In addition to raising three sons of her own, Mary is a licensed day care provider in her Wildwood home. In her spare time she teaches Sunday School and serves as a youth group advisor. Her chocolate chip cookies are legendary!