Elders

Anne Bentzen

Anne and her husband Rick have been members of BPC since the mid 1990’s.  Anne served on the session in the early 2000’s. 
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While their sons were attending middle school and high school, Anne also helped out with the BPC Youth groups by participating as an adult chaperone on summer work trips to VA and Nicaragua and ski trips to Okemo Mountain. In 2018, Anne served on the interim minister search committee.  Recently Anne returned to serve in the current session as of November 2023. Anne is now co-chair of the Vision Committee.  She is also a long time member of the Senior choir. Anne enjoys participating in the quilting group and regularly donates her time at the Mistletoe Mart each December.
 
Anne and Rick are residents of Armonk where they raised 2 sons who now have families of their own in northern California and Denver Colorado.  Anne is retired from a long career as an occupational therapist and is now enjoying a second career running a small restorative wellness center  in Armonk where she is a Jikiden Reiki teacher and practitioner.  Together Rick and Anne enjoy visiting their 3 grandchildren, skiing with family, travelling and caring for their beloved Westie, Phoenix. 
 
Bedford Presbyterian Church has been instrumental in supporting their family’s personal growth and development of humanitarian values. Anne credits the pastoral leadership of BPC for supporting her personal spiritual growth with spirituality group activities, Kerygma Bible classes and thought provoking sermons over the years.  Mission work trips to West Virginia and Nicaragua were life-changing experiences which helped her family gain a deeper understanding of “who is our neighbor”.  When pastoral care was needed, BPC provided the support they needed during difficult times.  BPC’s welcoming, open attitude provides a safe, non-judgmental environment where their family can grow in faith and feel connected to a wonderful spiritual community.

Jessica Cunningham

Jessica lives in Cross River with her husband, Sean (former BPC Session member), their three children: Leah, Tate, Brynn, and Clumber Spaniel, Arthur…

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…Jessica and Sean joined BPC in 2002, after looking extensively for a home church and happily finding BPC. The congregation was immediately supportive and kind, offering warm and understanding glances when the Cunningham babies (at the time) were unsettled or fussing; Jessica and Sean knew they were in the right place, and among friends right away! Jessica was a Deacon six years, Moderator for three of those years. She is on the Vision Committee for the church, and is delighted to join the Session. Jessica is a local realtor and licensed home inspector.

Amy Drabek

Amy Drabek joined BPC with her daughter Chloe in 2018 under Paul Alcorn. She was looking for a church to answer my young daughter’s question: “Who is God?”
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She had come to BPC for holidays and always loved the interesting sermons, sense of community and all the friendly faces she encountered every time she came to a service.  Amy asked Paul if he could help her answer her daughter’s question and he said : “I can TRY!” That was it and she joined soon after. She considers it one of the best decisions I ever made. (We are still working on finding a concrete answer to my daughter’s question…..)

Dale Forster

Dale and her husband, David, joined Bedford Presbyterian in the late 90’s, when they moved from Manhattan to Pound Ridge, with their son, Graham, who grew up going to BPC Sunday School, singing in the Youth Choir, and traveling to Hurley, WV on a summer work trip.

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Dale grew up in New Jersey, where her father was the senior pastor of Watchung Presbyterian Church for 40 years, and where Minister Emeritus, Rev.Tom Hughart, was an Assistant Minister prior to his arrival at BPC.  That connection brought her to BPC originally, and helped establish a lasting bond, and feeling of connection, that has continued over these many years of membership. 

Dale served as an Elder for several terms in the 90’s and 00’s, and helped create the church’s first website.  Currently, she is a member of the Bell Choir and Vision Committee, and as of Sept 2024, has rejoined Session. 

Dale and David are the owners of Léron, a custom linen company founded by David’s grandparents in 1910. After decades in Manhattan, the business moved to New Canaan CT in 2020, allowing an easier commute from North Salem, NY, their new home since 2017.  Graham has recently joined the company, representing a 4th generation of family ownership.

Dale looks forward to finding new ways to help expand the BPC community and to introduce to others the value of a spiritual home in today’s complex society.

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Michelle Gosh

Clerk of Session

Michelle lives in Mount Kisco with her wife, Kim, and younger son, Brady.  Their older son, Kevin, lives in NYC.  The family’s three rescue pups, all named after presidents, keep things interesting.

 

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Michelle works as an administrator in a great school district in Putnam County.  

Michelle is honored to be able to serve Bedford Presbyterian Church, which has given her and her family so much.  The spirit of care and kindness, the purposeful work carried out for the betterment of others, and the approach to active Christianity are some of the many reasons that BPC has become a cornerstone in the lives of Michelle, Kim, and their family. They are grateful to be members of such a wonderful, spiritual community.

David Keeffe

David and his wife joined BPC in 1993. They have three children, Liz, Kate and Chris, who all grew up in the church. 

 

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Maria Andra Laverde

Maria Andrea (She/Her/Hers) lives with her husband Andres and two boys Lucas and Noah in Somers, NY. Maria Andrea has been a corporate attorney…

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…for over 17 years. She practiced both in the United States and in Colombia, where she was born and raised. She moved with Andres to New York in 2010. The family had been member of BPC since 2021. The family enjoys the warmth and welcoming environment of the church.

Judy Newton

Judy was born in Bedford and attended Bedford Presbyterian Church as a child. She and her husband, Simon, have two grown sons and five grandchildren.

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All of the Newtons are graduates of Fox Lane High School. Judy received a Masters of Occupational Therapy from Mercy College and, after working as a school-based pediatric therapist at PS 536 in the Bronx for 10 years, is now a retired.

As an adult, Judy’s commitment to BPC began with thechoir. She finds singing and listening to John play the organ a very healing and spiritual experience. As President of the Bedford Presbyterian Women’s Association, she is also the Chairperson for the Mistletoe Mart, the annual fundraising event. Proceeds from the Mart go to BPC as well as local charities. Judy previously served as secretary on the Deacons and chaired the Care Team for 6 years. Judy is excited to have the opportunity to serve on the Session.

Bart Tyler

President of Trustees

Bart and his wife, Diana, first joined BPC over 20 years ago. They got to know BPC through their involvement in the Midnight Run and…

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…Bridges to Community. They are residents of Katonah and perhaps best known as the owners of Kelloggs & Lawrence Hardware, in downtown Katonah, for nearly 25 years. They sold the store two years ago which has made it possible for them to attend more frequently and for Bart to join the choir and more recently the session. They resonate most with BPC’s mission and outreach.

Deacons

Kim Lapple

Chair

Kim lives in Mount Kisco with her wife, Michelle, two sons, Kevin and Brady, and their three pups…

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…Harrison, Teddy and Georgie. Kim is principal of H.C. Crittenden Middle school in the Byram Hills School District. At BPC, she has previously served as a deacon for six years and is the co-chair of the Rewarding Potential Scholarship.

Being a member of Bedford Presbyterian Church has been transformative. The spirit of care and kindness and the purposeful work carried out for the betterment of others are only two of the many reasons that BPC has become a cornerstone in the lives of Michelle, Kim and their family. They are grateful to be members of such a wonderful, spiritual community.

Jeanne Collins

Bio to follow.

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Kate Flynn

Bio to follow.

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Barbara Kanner

Bio to follow.

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Andres Meija

Andres (He/His/Him) lives with his wife, Maria Andrea, and their two sons, Lucas and Noah, in Somers, NY. He holds a degree in Economics and an MBA from Fordham University.

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Andres currently contributes to the mission of NYU Langone as part of the research and education IT team. His family has been members of Bedford Presbyterian Church since 2021, where they have found a welcoming and supportive community. The church has played a significant role in deepening Andres’ spiritual well-being and strengthening his relationship with God, making it a cherished part of their lives.

Polly Muller-girard

Bio to follow.

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Diane Palmento

Diane Palmento and Michael (Bruneau) joined BPC about a year into that worldwide phenomenon known as COVID. They watched Carol…

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…as she faithfully ministered to a small congregation week after week by zoom. Having known Carol from her last church position, they realized that she was happy and the people around her were also happy in spite of nature’s way of separating us from each other. Then they began coming in person and that was a game changer. They found a home where people smiled, shared and were immensely happy in their religious life, as well as their relationships. It is a home where they shall serve.

Lisa Sayre

Bio to follow.

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