Please read the biographies for the 3 candidates that will be coming onto the vestry. Please join us in thanking our outgoing vestry members Barb Bratcher, Jill Kratzer, Kirstie Meyers.
Jimmy Diaz, Candidate Bio for 2023 Vestry
Jimmy was born and raised in Arizona. He graduated from NAU with a BS in Computer Science in 1979. Married the love of his life (Peggy) in 1978 and together moved to Seattle in late 1979 where he worked at Boeing for five years. Returned to Arizona in 1984 to be near family and Jimmy and Peggy raised three sons, one which was adopted. Jimmy worked for Sperry/Honeywell for 40 years as a computer engineer before retiring in 2019.
He began attending St. John’s around 1987 and has been involved with many ministries (youth group, children’s ministries, A/V support, serving the homeless to name a few) but his main ministry is music, leading the Joyful Noise Choir and the Praise Band.
He was a vestry member from 2003 through 2005 and is a Cursillo member. St. John’s has been his second home for nearly 40 years and he is very grateful for and blessed with his church family.
Henry Orth, Candidate Bio for 2023 Vestry
Tony and I just celebrated our one-year anniversary of living in AZ. Coming to Arizona for health reasons, we needed to find a new church family. We came from a very large Episcopal parish in Mission, Kansas. What we found was St. John’s parish. From the very first moment it was welcoming, vibrant and truly a church that serves. At St. Michael And All Angel’s, I was a chalice bearer, Eucharistic visitor to one of our senior living centers. For 3 years Tony and I, cooked 5 days a week for our parish day school, for ages 3-5 year olds. My early life came from a Roman Catholic background, specifically being a priest for 10 years.
What I see here at SJB is a church that continues to move forward in its many ministries, especially those within the parish and outside. While we are a small we are by far much larger than any other. I hope to continue to be a part of this Church that Serves.
Frank Pastula, Candidate Bio for 2023 Vestry
Frank Pastula was born last century in Passaic, New Jersey…April 18,1953. After graduating Clifton High School, he attended the New York Institute of Advertising in NYC. He married Cynthia Shumlas on June 23, 1984. They moved to Phoenix in 1987 and have been members of St. John’s since then. He has two sons, Jon & James; two granddaughters, Aryiah & Nixin; and two grandsons, Maddix & Jameson.
He has previously served as an usher, been a member of the vestry, volunteered in the Thrift Store, and has been active with the Veterans Ministry.
Frank is retired and enjoys golf, magic and wearing Aloha Shirts.