Staff

Our Staff

Rev. Stuart Hayes

After pastorates in Irondequoit and New Hartford, Stuart arrived at First Presbyterian Church in 1994.  Worship and teaching rank high on his list of professional priorities.  He loves music, playing jazz and ragtime piano.  In warm weather, bicycling and softball are the passions he pursues.  At Syracuse Home, Stuart serves as Protestant Chaplain.  His B.A. in Religion is from Hamilton College.  His M.Div. is from Yale Divinity School.  Stuart and his family live in the village of Baldwinsville.

Nancy Landon - Church Secretary

Originally from Pennsylvania, Nancy is now a Baldwinsville resident. She holds a B.S. degree in Health Sciences. Nancy left teaching to become a stay-at-home mom. After substitute teaching as well as working in Liverpool and Baldwinsville business offices, she began as church secretary in 1996.

With children all now grown, she and her husband enjoy living out in the country. In the office, it is her goal to maintain a warm and welcoming atmosphere while serving as a hub for the dissemination of information and facilitating programs and committee work of the church. Turns out, it's a lot of fun!

Rheta Jenks - Director of Music, Director of Choirs

Rheta grew up on a dairy farm in nearby Warners, NY. She began her music career during elementary school taking piano and pipe organ lessons from the Presbyterian Church organist, Virginia King.  Rheta sang in the Methodist Church choir as well as many school and amateur theater groups.  Her studies continued at Ithaca College where she graduated with B.S. and M.S. degrees in music education.

After 12 years of teaching music in public schools, Rheta made a career change to become a travel consultant.  She is the retired owner of B/R Travel in Baldwinsville.  She has been a member of the Presbyterian choir since 1975 and the choir director since 1994. She has also directed the Village Singers for over 34 years. Music is her passion.

Allen Winegard - Clerk of Session

Al grew up in the Albany suburb of Delmar, and graduated from Clarkson University with a B.B.A. degree in Industrial Management. He worked for the former Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. in various capacities for more than 31 years, before taking an early retirement. He has also been a member of this church for over 48 years.

Al and his wife Barb (currently a Deacon), live in Baldwinsville, and both serve on numerous church committees.

Bea Boak - Moderator of Deacons

Bea is originally from Southern California and has lived in Corvallis, Oregon and Ann Arbor, Michigan before coming to Baldwinsville in 1975. She has been a member of Baldwinsville First Presbyterian since 1980.

Bea retired after many years teaching Family and Consumer Science at Baker High School in Baldwinsville. In addition to travelling, one of Bea's retirement goals is to "give back" to the church. She enjoys interacting with other church members and values all that the church has to give her.

Bea and her husband, Harry, live in Baldwinsville.

Lee Johnston - Church Organist

Lee Johnston has joined us as our church organist in January 2015.  He grew up in the area, and his parents were from Baldwinsville.  Lee studied organ with George Decker, Will Headlee at Syracuse University, and David Craighead.  In addition, he studied viola da gamba with Alexander Raykov and was a founding member of the Frogwork Consort, a viol consort which performed regionally for many years.  Lee was the minister of music at First English Lutheran Church for 22 years.

Karyn Cavallo - Christian Education Coordinator     

Karyn became a resident of the Baldwinsville village in 2013 and began working as the CE Coordinator in the fall of 2016.  For the last 7 years she has been involved with Christian Education for both children and teens and is active in the community and volunteers with the Teen Ministry in Baldwinsville.

"I am here to serve you and your children in any way I am able.  I have a completely open door policy.  Your thoughts, ideas, and needs are of the utmost importance.  I invite you to contact me with any immediate concerns, questions or input." -Karyn