Vestry

The Vestry is a group of volunteers that serves as the parish’s functional Board of Directors. Vestry members, who serve in three groups for five-year terms, provide leadership and oversight of the mission and ministry of the congregation, and manage the church buildings and property, finances, and personnel.

Membership on the Vestry is open to active participants at St. Ann’s who are baptized Christians and support the church financially. A nominating committee composed of members and leaders at St. Ann’s monitors who will rotate off the Vestry in future years and the areas of experience and expertise that will be most beneficial for Vestry service.

The committee identifies possible members and receives recommendations from parish members in order to build a pool of possible candidates. Conversations with committee members, as well as the Chaplain, Vestry members and officers, guide the creation of a slate of nominees each year. The slate is presented for election at the annual meeting each August.

 

Vestry Members

 

Shephard Hill (2025)

Senior Warden

Shephard Hill, his wife Kathy, son Eric and daughter Kaitlin have vacationed in Kennebunk/Kennebunkport for nearly thirty years. Their initial trip was for two blissful weeks in August and since Shep’s retirement he and Kathy spend half the year in Kennebunk.

When not in Maine, the Hills attend Washington’s National Cathedral and are members of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Great Falls, Virginia.

Shep retired from The Boeing Company in 2015 after nearly three decades of service, serving in a variety of roles, the last of which was as president of Boeing International and senior vice president of Business Development and Strategy. He is a board member of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Emeritus) a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a Red Cross Volunteer in the Capital Region.

Throughout all these years, St Ann’s has held a special place of meaning for Shep and his family. The beautiful setting and inspiring worship services provide a unique experience, and Shep is grateful to support the church’s important role in the community.

Fun fact:  Shep is a first-generation American; both his parents were born and raised in Northern Ireland.

Albert “Bert” Rodiger (2029)

My wife Jennifer and I along with our adult children Sam and Nate have appreciated worshiping at St. Ann’s for many years. As a fourth-generation parishioner I have had ongoing involvement with the church since childhood. This has included helping with the collection plate as a toddler, serving as an acolyte as a teenager, working as an assistant sextant for a summer job, and serving as a vestry member and junior warden in the early 2000s. Our extended family have enjoyed the Church for baptisms, weddings, memorial services, and as a final resting place for my parents. Over the years, I have learned a lot about the unique buildings and grounds that offer a sense of history and permanence to
both first time visitors and life-long residents.

When not in Kennebunkport Jennifer and I live in Boston, MA where I work as Vice President of the Schochet Companies, developers, owners, and managers of affordable senior and family housing throughout New England. The Schochet Companies partners with non-profit organizations on many projects including frequently with Retirement Housing Foundation, a national faith-based organization affiliated with the United Church of Christ. In the past I have served as a director of the Real Estate Finance Association (REFA) of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, a co-chair of the Housing and Economic Development Council of the Boston Chapter of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a director of the Lincoln School Elderly Apartments in Hingham, MA, and a director of the Kennebunk River Club.

Ana Senior (2027)

Ana and her husband Agustin Andrade were married by Peter at St. Ann’s in 2019 and quickly became active at St. Ann’s. They live in Boston and their first child, Charlotte, was born in the fall of 2020 and baptized at St. Ann’s last summer.

They now have a home in Arundel and spend weekends and as much of the summer as possible in Maine. Agustin is a real estate attorney who oversees asset management and investor relations with Boston Andes Capital.

Ana joined the Lubetzky Family Foundation this May as Director of Brand Communications, where she will build the PR and communications function from the ground up. The foundation is focused on fostering empathy and critical thinking to build resilient democracies and safeguard humanity. Ana will be focused on a new initiative incubated by the Foundation called Starts With Us, encouraging critical thinking, humility, nuanced communication, and forgiveness in the U.S.

Most recently, Ana led John Hancock’s public relations function, developing communications strategy and helping to move the needle, increase share of voice and build impactful results for the brand. Ana’s responsibilities ran the gamut, from strategy and traditional media relations to content development, influencer engagement, executive message training, crisis and issues management, executive visibility and thought leadership, and event planning and execution.

In her spare time, Ana enjoys giving back via various Boston-based nonprofits. She supported the Pan- Mass Challenge (PMC) for 7 years, including participation in PMC Winter Cycle, an indoor cycling event, for five years and riding 83 miles in the Pan-Mass Challenge, cycling from Wellesley, MA to Bourne, MA. Ana currently volunteers on the PMC’s marketing committee.

Fun fact:  Ana is a musical Broadway fanatic. She knows every lyric to Hamilton, Wicked and Hairspray, among others.

Beth Alling (2028)

Beth Alling has a long history with and affinity for St. Ann’s Church and the St. Ann’s community. This has been shared by Beth Alling with her family for over five generations.

Beth’s great-grandfather, John Bache McMaster, was a Founding Member of St. Ann’s; her mother, Gail Alling, served on the Vestry. Layman Bruner, John Allen, and Peter Cheney have taken services at St. Ann’s for the Alling family to include Beth and Brad Hildt’s wedding and the baptism of their son, Charley.

Beth is the President & CEO of the Quebec-Labrador Foundation – U.S. & Canada (QLF), a community service organization founded in the early 1960’s by an Anglican Minister and bush pilot. Over decades, QLF has expanded its purpose and reach with community-based conservation programs across Eastern Canada and 80 countries beyond North America that now contribute to a Global Conservation Initiative to build resilience in a changing climate, a defining environmental effort of our time.

Many members of St. Ann’s community have served with QLF; and the late George H. Walker was the Diplomatic Host of the QLF Congress held in Budapest (2006) during his service as the U.S. Ambassador to Hungary.

Brian Lavery (2029)

Born and raised in Northern Ireland, Brian moved to the United States after graduating from Queen’s University Belfast to take a job in Boston as a Software Engineer in 1998. In 2007, he was recruited to work for TD Bank in Portland and has been a year-round Maine resident since. He lives in Cape Arundel with his wife Julie and their three teenage daughters. Julie is a native of Maine and continues to display both patience and compassion toward Brian each summer when he eats lobster like it’s his first time, every time.

Church played a strong role for Brian in his youth. He was a member of his local St Anthony’s parish where he served as an altar boy. He attended St Patrick’s Grammar School and the adjoining St. Patrick’s Cathedral which are located in the ancient and ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, Armagh.

For Brian, hearing the graceful bells of St. Ann’s each day during the summer months provides a nostalgic reminder of those days, and the serene and beautiful setting for Sunday services at St. Ann’s creates space for quiet reflection and prayer. Having an opportunity to care for and steward such a special place for future generations to enjoy is a privilege.

Chris Mahoney (2028)

Chris Mahoney has been coming to Kennebunkport in the summers most of his life.

He and his wife Linda live in Charlotte, NC. They were married at St. Anne’s in 1992. They have twin daughters, Megan and Madison (age 26).

They have had a house in Kennebunkport since 2014. They are members of Kennebunkport River Club since 2008. Chris has spent his entire career (since 1978) in the financial management industry.

He is currently an Executive Vice President with Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC – Private Wealth Management. Chris is enthusiastic about being part of the future planning at St. Anne’s.

Eric Vaughan (2027)

Eric is retired and lives in Wells. He and his wife, Lynne (who died of cancer in 2017) have worshipped at the 8 o’clock service for years. Their children and grandchildren are often here on Sundays, as well.

Eric is very active in Centering Prayer at St. Ann’s, and at St. David’s in the winter. He is also on the Board of Contemplative Prayer of Maine.

Prior to his retirement, Eric worked as IT Site Manager with HUB International New England. HUB International is a vast network of specialists serving companies in the areas of risk, insurance, employee benefits, retirement, and wealth management.

Fun fact: Eric is an avid reader of mystery novels, especially by authors such as James Patterson, Stuart Woods and KD Mason.

Hal Himmelman (2026)

Hal and his wife, Bonnie, have been devoted members and supporters of St. Ann’s for many years. Both have served previously on the Vestry.

Hal joined the Beveridge & Diamond law firm immediately after its founding in 1974 and served as its first managing partner. He now serves as its Senior Counsel.

Hal has substantial experience in civil litigation of all types and in Alternative Dispute Resolution (as both an advocate and a neutral mediator and arbitrator).

Hal is Chairman of the Board of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation started in 2001 by baseball icon Cal Ripken, Jr. and his family in honor of Cal’s father, a long-time Baltimore Orioles coach and manager. The Foundation provides programming, builds Youth Development Parks across the nation, and partners with law enforcement to support underserved youth in our nation’s most distressed communities. 

Hal volunteers at St. Ann’s because he has a deep respect and affection for the mission of the parish. He also appreciates the peace and beauty of St. Ann’s setting, and is inspired to participate by the commitment demonstrated by all those who preceded him, by the spirit and friendship of the members, and by St. Ann’s deep involvement in outreach for those less fortunate than we are.

Fun fact: Hal keeps fit by integrating running backwards with his other exercises.

Karleena Stoner (2029)

Karleena Stoner and her husband Morgan met when they were just 12 years old in a seaside town similar to Kennebunkport, on the South Shore of Massachusetts. In 2015, seeing an opportunity in the newly emerging cannabis industry, they moved to Maine and started Stoner & Co (yes, Stoner is really their last name). They have two children, Wilhelmina and Vaughn, both were baptized at St Ann’s. This September, Karleena and Morgan will be celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary by renewing their wedding vows in the Stone Chapel. Karleena is on the board of directors at City Theater in Biddeford and has been known to grace the stage from time to time. Additionally, Karleena routinely coordinates service, improvement and impact projects in the community and is thrilled to have worked this past winter with past and present Vestry members and our sexton on the painting of the seaside chapel benches

Lea LeVines (2026)

Lea has come to Kennebunkport every year since 1998. She lives in Tampa, Florida but spends her summers working remotely from Kennebunkport.

Lea is a Managing Director with Fifth Third Wealth Advisors and focuses on business development and client services.

In addition to St. Ann’s, Lea volunteers with Hospice Women of Philanthropy, Moffitt Cancer Center Merit Society, the Tampa chapter of the American Red Cross, and the University of South Florida Women in Leadership and Philanthropy.

The love of Christ, love for this church, and a sense of connectedness between the people and the spirit are just some of the reasons Lea volunteers at St. Ann’s. She believes the parish community is a very strong one even though many people who attend are able to visit only sporadically.

Fun fact: Lea is taking lessons to learn how to play the piano.

Margaret Bush (2028)

Margaret Bush and her husband, Marvin, met at the University of Virginia and were married shortly after graduating.

She has been attending services at St. Ann’s for 43 years. Both of their grandchildren were recently baptized at St. Ann’s. Margaret has been involved in the community of this area for decades.

She currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Maine Medical Center, now entering her 11th year with the hospital. She spent many summers performing in live theatre at the Arundel Barn Playhouse.

She is delighted to join the Vestry of St. Ann’s and looks forward to working with this dedicated group of parishioners.

Nina Johnston (2026)

Nina was raised in Rochester, NY but has come to Kennebunkport her entire life. Her first visit was when she was 4 weeks old. Nina introduced her husband, Doug, to the town and St. Ann’s 40 years ago. They have two adult children, and their son was married at St. Ann’s in 2018.

Nina and Doug call Kennebunkport home, but work requires that they spend time in Boston, too. Nina has practiced as an independent Licensed Social Worker for many years and specializes in services for children, particularly in educational settings. Nina also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Social Work at Simmons University.

St. Ann’s has been part of Nina’s life since birth. It’s an anchor for her; it has been a place throughout her life where Nina can find peace no matter what is going on in the world—or her own life. Nina volunteers at St. Ann’s to demonstrate her gratitude for what she receives from the church and its setting.

Fun fact: Nina is a beginner glass blower. She was inspired during a visit to Murano, Italy, and now takes classes.

Paul Henderson (2028)

Paul Henderson has been coming to St. Ann’s for over 25 years.

After spending every summer of his youth at Goose Rocks Beach, Paul and his wife, Lisa, built a vacation house in Cape Porpoise in 2000 where they summered with their two, now grown, children. They moved there from Boston in 2019 to make Maine their full-time home.

Paul has spent his career as a product development and marketing executive at major technology companies and start-ups in Massachusetts and Silicon Valley. He now pursues his interests in sailing, technology, music, and real estate development, and looks forward to helping St. Ann’s achieve its goals in the coming years.

Pete Carlson (2027)

Pete has been an active member of St. Ann’s for well over a decade since his marriage to Susan Thigpen, a life-long member of the parish and a former Vestry member.

Pete and Susan met while serving on the vestry together at St. Mark’s Church on Capitol Hill in DC, and when they got married, the priest hailed them as “poster children for vestry service.” For the past several years, Pete and Susan have been active members of St. John’s Lafayette Square, where Luis Leon was the rector.

Pete is now retired, and he and Susan recently moved to Pinehurst, NC to be closer to children, grandchildren, and aging parents.

Pete sees his vestry service at St. Ann’s as an opportunity to deepen his ties to a community that has become his second home, and to a church that has become his spiritual home.

Fun fact: In high school, Pete was an all-American tuba player and toured Europe one summer, playing concerts on the Eiffel Tower and in Tivoli Gardens.

Robin Ellis (2025)

Originally a Buffalo girl, Robin and her husband Hap live in Boston where they raised their three sons. Robin has come to Kennebunkport every summer for 46 years and has worshiped at St. Ann’s just as long. Their son Christopher was married at St. Ann’s in 2012 and, to date, six of their eight grandchildren have been baptized at the church.

During the years of raising their boys Robin was an active member of the Boston community and served on a number of Boards.

Robin was on the Vestry previously and has continued to stay involved on a number of committees, especially Outreach. She also serves on the Altar Guild, has been a regular Sunday lector and usher and fills in as an acolyte when needed.

St. Ann’s is a special place for Robin — not only because of her family’s history over many generations but also because of the people who create the community of the church.

Fun fact:  When not poking around local antique shops in the summer, Robin loves working on puzzles. She is a Puritan and says only wooden versions will do.

Vicki Donaghy

Chair of The Altar Guild

Vicki is a born-and-bred Hoosier but she and her husband, Michael, have been full-time residents of Kennebunkport since 2001. She is a graduate of Indiana University and since 1995 has worked as the Paralegal/Office Manager for Flagg Law in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Vicki describes herself as more of a Martha than a Mary. She was Secretary at Trinity Episcopal Church in Hampton, NH, volunteered on the Flower Guild, and was a Sunday School Teacher and Altar Guild member and Directress at St. David’s Kennebunk.

Outside of church, the Donaghys are members of the Kennebunk River Club, Eagle Rock Yacht Club, and Arundel Paddle Club. They are parents of four (4) daughters and grandparents of six (6).

St Ann’s is a special place for Vicki’s family as Michael’s parents were parishioners for 52 years, she and Michael were married at St Ann’s and one of their daughters was baptized at St Ann’s.

Fun fact: Prior to her Paralegal career of 38 years, Vicki was a Paramedic in Indiana and Bronx, NY. She obviously has a love of the Para studies.