STAFF
STAFF
Rev. Judy Wang, Interim Pastor
Rev. Judy Wang is a lifelong member of the United Church of Christ. Baptized at the Congregational UCC in Elmhurst, IL, she was raised and confirmed at First Church Lombard. After graduating from Elmhurst College, she went to work for the Lyric Opera of Chicago for two years. Feeling the call to ministry, she enrolled at Chicago Theological Seminary, where she met her husband of 34 years, Rev. Bob Wang. She was ordained in 1989.
Judy has served churches in Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin. She completed the Intentional Interim Ministry training in 2000. Judy and Bob have lived in Bristol, WI for the last 22 years. They have two adult children – a son who lives in St. Paul, MN and a daughter in Portland, OR. The nest is empty, except for the cat, Sebastian, and the newly adopted Boston Terrier, Karl!
J. Paul Cochran, Organist
Dr. J. Paul Cochran is organist at St. John United Church of Christ. He has been hooked on church music since the age of six when he performed his first organ prelude. He has served as organist and/or choir director at numerous churches throughout his life. Paul received a Bachelor of arts in Chemistry/Math from Hanover College, a Master of Music in piano from the University of Redlands, and a Doctor of Music in Composition from Northwestern University. He remains active as accompanist, composer, and arranger and as a member of the choir and worship band. Paul appreciates the openness and welcoming spirit of the St. John community. Now retired from a career as an actuary, he resides in Arlington Heights with his wife Lana.
Janice Gilligan, Church Administrator
Janice has been the Church Administrator at St. John since February 2019. Prior to working at St. John, Janice worked at United Airlines for almost 32 years. Her last role at United was Project Manager in Human Resources. As an undergraduate, Janice studied psychology at William Paterson University of New Jersey. When she moved to Illinois after getting married, she earned an MA in Human Resource Management from National Louis University and an MS in Psychology from Roosevelt University. Janice truly enjoys working at St. John.
office@stjah.org
Alberto Mantovano, Choir Director
Alberto is an in-demand musician of great versatility in Greater Chicagoland. In addition to his responsibilities at St. John, he is also the Assistant Conductor and Bass Section Leader of the Elgin Master Chorale and is currently a teacher at Hampshire High School in District 300. He has performed music in a variety of capacities: as a clarinetist, he has performed in the Wheaton Municipal Band and at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic; as a vocalist, he was invited and called back for the Grant Park Orchestra Chorus and the Chicago Symphony Chorus; as a conductor, he has prepared and conducted masterworks by Brahms, Beethoven, Handel, Dett, and many others and was invited to be a Conducting Scholar for Chorus America’s 2019 Conducting Symposium. He made his professional conducting debut with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra in November 2023. In addition to continuing to freelance in his various capacities, he is also a burgeoning philanthropist. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra in addition to various other nonprofit committees and organizations in the Fox Valley and beyond. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Butler University in 2015. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, biking, exploring nature, and cooking.
Linda Styzek, Pianist
Linda is the pianist at St. John. She is a 35-year member of St. John and has been the pianist for 17 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois. She currently works as a Center Director at the Mt. Prospect Park District. In addition to being the accompanist for the Chancel Choir and Worship Band, she is also a member of the Handbell Choir and the Coffeehouse Band. Linda lives in Mt. Prospect with her husband, Frank, and has 4 children and 4 grandchildren.
Carin Zachar, Bell Choir Director
Carin is the director of both the youth and adult handbell choirs, and has been a member of St. John since childhood. She received a Bachelor in Music Education from Drake University, a Master in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois, and retired in 2011 after 34 years of teaching elementary band and orchestra. A life long flutist, Carin thoroughly enjoys making music with all of the St. John musicians along with friends and members of the Palatine Concert Band. Carin resides in Palatine with her husband, Steve, and has two grown children and one granddaughter.