Staff

Our Staff

Thomas M. Getchell-Lacey, Pastor

Born in New York and raised in the Chicago area, Tom has lived in New England since the early 1980's. He received a B.A. in English from the University of New Hampshire in 1985. From there, he entered Harvard Divinity School, receiving his Masters of Divinity in 1988. Pastor Tom has pastored churches in Portsmouth, N.H. and Amesbury, MA prior to being appointed to serve the Milford United Methodist Church in 1997. He and his wife Wendy have two children, Emily and Daniel. In his spare time, Tom enjoys reading and playing guitar. Email Pastor Tom, Phone: Church (603) 673-2669, Parsonage (603) 673-7861

Leslie Coates, Ministry Director

Leslie received an Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) in Musical Theatre from San Diego State and a BFA in Theatre from Emporia State University in his home state of Kansas. He was the founding artistic director of the Gamaliel Theatre Company, and currently brings small-cast and solo theatrical presentations to churches. For the past five years he has been a full time painting contractor while operating various ministries both for his home church in Durham, NH and as a free lance performer and consultant. Leslie is also a part-time student at Andover Newton Theological School. He currently resides in Newmarket, NH with his wife Trisha and young daughter, Magnolia. Email Les

Carol Brooks, Office Manager

Carol grew up in Sidney, New York which is part of the Catskill Mountains. She moved to NH while a sophomore in high school and graduated from Milford Area Senior High. She has been a member of MUMC since 1980. Graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Gerontology. Since college her jobs have been in the human service and health insurance fields. After living in various parts of NH, she and her husband Don moved to Milford in the summer of 2005. Carol became assistant secretary here at MUMC in October 2005. Since then, they have been blessed with their daughter Beth. Carol enjoys the variety of tasks as assistant secretary along with serving our members and friends. No two days are identical! Carol enjoys gardening, reading, photography, scrapbooking and spending time with her family, (especially outdoor activities). Email Carol

Marian Kopp, Office support

Marian is a New Hampshire native, has been a member of Milford Methodist Church since 1942, lived briefly in Massachusetts, Virginia, Nevada and Austria with her late husband who was a government worker before returning to her family home in Milford that was purchased when her father died. She graduated from Nashua Business College, had business experience working in a bank and a high tech company and has been the MUMC church secretary for about 30 years starting as a part-time volunteer. Marian has always felt that her work was more of a mission than a job. She has been involved in every program of the church at one time and continues to be involved in the chancel choir and the finance committee. She has two daughters - Janice Hanson who is married to Craig and lives in Rochester, NY and Alison who lives with her in Milford along with an orange cat named Mandarin. Email Church

Michele Bossie, Praise Team Director

I have been a member of MUMC for almost 3 years and have been with the praise band for about 2.5 years. I have 15+ years of experience in musical theater with several different theater groups throughout New Hampshire. I'm excited about the opportunity and have great plans for the future of our praise team. Email Michele, Phone: 603-801-6345

Sally Landis, Organist and Chancel Choir Director

Sally has been a member of MUMC since the late 1970's when she and her family relocated from her home state of Pennsylvania. She quickly became involved in the music program, beginning as pianist for the Chancel Choir, then as Children's Choirs director, then organist, then Spirit Celebration coordinator and leader of the Praise Band and Choir, and now currently organist and Chancel Choir Director. Sally has also served on many committees, taught Sunday school, been a youth group leader and served in many other areas of the church. She was married to Don Landis with whom she raised two children, Julie and Zachary. In her spare time she enjoys playing and teaching tennis, gardening, and musical theater. Serving MUMC has been a blessing and a privilege, one she hopes will continue for many years. Email Sally, Phone: 465-7937

Nancy Tong, Choir Accompanist

Nancy has been a member of MUMC for almost 25 years, and has been involved in its music ministry in various capacities for most of that time, presently accompanying the Chancel Choir, co-directing the Youth Bells and playing in the Adult Bell Choir. She also spent several years involved with the Sunday School, and is presently one of the boosters for our camping program at Wanakee, Nancy is a life-long New Hampshire resident - she grew up in the Penacook/Concord area and then moved to Milford after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Music Education. She lives with her husband, Harry. Her son Matt is a graduate student at UC San Diego, and two adult stepchildren, Pam and Jeff, live in Nashua. Nancy teaches music at the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative Middle/Senior High School, and plays bassoon in the Nashua Chamber Orchestra and a local woodwind quintet. In her spare time, Nancy enjoys skiing, kayaking, traveling, and making music with friends. Email Nancy, Phone: 673-7180

Mary Tyler-Wall, Handbell Choir Director

    Mary directs the Adult Handbell Choir. She joined the Milford United Methodist Church in 1999. She also participates in the Chancel Choir, Sacred Dancers, Praise Team, Vacation Bible School and organizes the Sunday Afternoon of Music concerts.
    Growing up in Walton, New York, Mary began singing in church at the age of 7 and has been a church musician ever since. She studied music education at SUNY Fredonia and graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. She and her husband Jim live in Temple with their three daughters, Kathryn, Bronwyn and Emeline.
    In her spare time (what spare time?) Mary is involved in music! She plays the oboe in the Temple Band - the first Town Band in America, directs the Temple Dance Band and sings for fun. She occasionally writes grants and dabbles in gardening. She is very proud of her family. Email Mary, Phone: 878-0664

Vacant, Children's Choir Director

Kaleen Fortunato, Children's Choir Accompanist

Kaleen accompanies the Childrens Choir at MUMC, but has at times accompanied and even directed the Chancel Choir. She earned a BS in Psychology and Social Work in 1996 and an MBA with focus on Healthcare in 2000. Kaleen was born in Detroit, raised in Massachusetts, and finally moved to New Hampshire in 1984. She married her husband Jim in 2004 and has 3 children and 3 beautiful grandchildren. Her hobbies include playing piano, beading, quilting, and sewing.

Jim Fortunato, Custodian

Jim serves as a custodian at MUMC. He was born in Fitchburg and served in the Air Force for two years after graduating high school. He worked with his father in construction before working for GE for 25 years. Jim began attending MUMC in 2002, and married his next-door neighbor Kaleen in 2004. Jim loves to garden, hunt, walk in the woods, and play the saxophone.

Jim Lawler, Custodian

Jim serves as a custodian at MUMC, but has also served as a Trustee, co-layleader, Stephen minister. Jim was born and raised in Melrose Massachusetts, but moved to New Hampshire in 1968. He joined MUMC in 1995. He and his wife have 4 children and 3 grandchildren. Jim enjoys auto racing, camping, reading and helping people in any way he can.

Vacant, Infant & Toddler Teacher

Nicola Crosbourne, Preschool Teacher

John Millhouse, Webmaster (volunteer)

John was born in Milwaukee, Wis and grew up in Ohio. He has a BSEE from Ohio University and a MSEE from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He enjoys Macintosh Computers and playing his trombone. More information about John can be found on his website. Email John, Phone 672-2225