Father Bo is originally from Sacramento, California and grew up in Rochester, New York.
He attended the University of Rochester, where he participated in Air Force ROTC, graduating in 2012 with a BA in Political Science. He graduated from Union Theological Seminary in 2017 and was awarded The Hitchcock Prize in Church History. He was ordained priest in December 2017.
Bo served as curate and senior associate at The Church of St Luke in the Fields, Manhattan from 2017-2023. He and his husband Harry live with their two rescue dogs, DJ and Jasper.
Lauren began her time with St. Luke’s as a member of the Gingerbread Players, starting with “Pygmalion” in 2010 and most recently as Candida Morell in “Candida.” Over the years she’s been in a number of Gingerbread productions, and gradually began attending other parish events. She joined the staff in May 2021.
Originally from New Jersey and a graduate of Penn State University, Lauren moved to Forest Hills with her husband in 2007 on the advice of an article in Time Out New York magazine. (This is true!) She is a mom of two teenagers, an occasional member of St. Luke’s Choir, and is pursuing a career in television and film.
Olivia Grugan is a Forest Hills Native who grew up in the St. Luke’s family.
After getting her Bachelors of Music from Vanderbilt University and Masters of Music from Mannes School of Music, Olivia began working in concerts and theaters over the NYC area. In addition to her solo performing career, Olivia is an active member of the choral scene in Queens, where she is a frequent soloist with the Sacred Music Society of Richmond Hill, the Forest Hills Choir, and the Astoria Choir. She has performed with the early music ensemble Polyhymnia and is currently assisting in the development of a Compline series in Sunnyside. She runs a private voice studio in Astoria, and is the Production Manager of the International Vocal Arts Institute.
Zac Schurman, Organist
Zac Schurman is an American artist who has performed at organs in the United States and Canada, including appearances at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin (NYC), St. Ignatius Loyola (NYC), the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (NYC), and L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal (Montréal). He earned his Master of Music at The Juilliard School under Grammy Award–winning organist Paul Jacobs, and a B.A. from Trinity College, where he studied with Christopher Houlihan and completed minors in Hebrew, Greek, and Religious Studies. He was named the 2022 Presidential Fellow in Music and received the John Rose Organ Scholarship and Helen Loveland Morris Prize.
Zac has held appointments at Saint Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church (CT), Immanuel Lutheran Church (NYC), and Église St-Jean-Baptiste (NYC), St. Patrick-St. Anthony (Hartford), and Trinity College Chapel (Hartford). He has participated in masterclasses with Daniel Roth, Chelsea Chen, Faythe Freese, and Joshua Stafford. Born on Long Island, he studied with Mark T. Engelhardt at St. Peter’s-by-the-Sea (Bay Shore) as Organ Scholar.
Deacon Joe Occhiuto
Joseph J. Occhiuto was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; later his family moved to Middle Village, Queens. He was raised a Roman Catholic and was ordained a permanent Deacon for the Brooklyn Diocese on April 25, 1987.
In 1997 Joseph began his life as an Episcopalian at St. Paul’s in Whitestone, Queens, moved on to St. Paul’s in Carroll Gardens and finally discovered St. Luke’s in Forest Hills, Queens. On December 5th, 2015 Joseph’s Diaconal Holy Orders were received into The Episcopal Church by Bishop Lawrence C. Provenzano. Subsequently Bishop Provenzano assigned Joseph to Church of the Ascension.
Joseph graduated from Hunter College and began his 25+ year career in advertising at Grey Global Group where he was a Director of Finance. Joseph is now semi-retired, which permits more time for ministry, and is a manager at Trader Joe’s in Queens.
Ann Espenschied, Sacristan
Ann Espenschied is a life-long member of St Luke’s.
After attending Sunday School at St Luke’s, she became a teacher there and also in the nursery. In addition, she was a member of the Junior Choir and the St Luke’s Seniors. Ann was the youngest person in our parish history to have been asked to serve on the altar guild, and it is a ministry she continues to this day. Later, she was honored to be asked to serve as the Altar Guild Director (now Sacristan), and she works to coordinate and direct all volunteers who serve on the guild. You can often find Ann in the church as she maintains a level of excellence in caring for the vessels used in our worship. As she does so, Ann appreciates the quiet space as one of reflection and contemplation.
Joseph Dinas, Sexton
Wardens & Vestry
WARDENS
Diane Santana
Jennifer Hudson-Phillips
TREASURER
Liz Reynolds
Vestry Class of 2025
Paul Dinas
Jane Kettlewell
Christopher Nyberg
Vestry Class of 2026
Jyri Laatikainen
Robert Lin
Jonathan Wallin
Vestry Class of 2027
Ashley Curran
Chiara Rodriguez