Board of Directors
in memoriam
Frank D. Stella (1920-2010)
Entrepreneur and Business Leader; supporter of arts, education, business, community, politics and Church are all statements that can describe our founder, the late Frank D. Stella. As Founder, Chairman and CEO of The F.D. Stella Products Company, Detroit, designers and distributors of food service and dining equipment, Stella received numerous awards and worldwide honors for his accomplishments in all areas of his business, community and charity.
Of the many noteworthy projects championed by Stella was serving as founder and motivation for the Patrons of the Arts, Detroit Chapter. Frank Stella worked to inspire a successful organization and important presence for the Patrons in the Detroit metropolitan area. Seeded in his leadership, our organization continues to grow and strengthen and remain a valued Chapter supporting art restoration within the Vatican Museum.
On a personal note: Mr. Stella was unwavering in his faithfulness to the Catholic Church and esteem of his Italian American heritage. He was passionate about the arts and inspired others to preserve the history.
Gerard Andree (1950-2022)
Gerard Andree was a Senior Partner at Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton, PC where he practiced law for over 40 years. Gerard served the Michigan Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums as Board Member, Secretary and Legal Council. His dedication of service to the Church and community also included experience as President of the St. Hugo of the Hills Parish Council and member and Board Director of the Detroit Chapter of Legatus. He also was on the Board of Directors of the Catholic Lawyers Society and Trustee of the Oakland County Bar Foundation. Gerard was a member of both the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, and the American Association and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Gerard and his wife, Carolyn, have three children and shared a passion for travel and world history.
Board of Directors
Suzanne and Antonio Rea
Antonio and Suzanne Rea are members of St. Hugo of the Hills Parish, the Detroit Chapter of Legatus, the Patrons of the Arts of the Vatican Museum, and the Papal Foundation. Tony is an architect and works in commercial construction and real estate development through his companies A. Rea Construction, Inc. and Fairmount Properties. The Rea’s have 5 children, and 9 grandchildren. They reside in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Kristan and John Hale
John and Kristan Hale have five children, are life-long Michigan residents where they have a tremendous interest in the arts, particularly the sacred arts. Kristan and John are Board of Trustees of the Michigan Opera Theatre and John is a member of the Board of Directors.
John graduated from the University of Michigan and obtained his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. After a judicial clerkship with Justice Dorothy Comstock Riley, John practiced law at Bodman, LLP and Ford Motor Company before joining a family business where he serves as co-owner of Corporate Travel Service. Since 1965, the company has been a tour operator and traditional travel agency that organizes pilgrimage, cultural, music, and educational tours and cruises. The company also produces events, themed cruises, performance tours and music festivals.
Kristan earned her bachelor and master degrees in education and taught elementary school for 8 years and now works at home with their 5 children and is active in the family business and event planning.
Archbishop Allen Vigneron (Honory Member)
Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, the Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron was named archbishop of the Detroit Archdiocese on Jan. 5, 2009, succeeding Cardinal Adam Maida.
In January of 2003, Archbishop Vigneron was named coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Oakland, Calif. He served in that capacity for nine months before becoming the local ordinary (resident bishop). While in California, he oversaw the design and construction of a new cathedral, chancery, conference center and healing garden dedicated to those abused by clergy.
In Detroit, he was named an auxiliary bishop under Cardinal Maida in 1996.
Archbishop Vigneron served as rector-president of Sacred Heart Major Seminary from 1994–2003. He had studied for the priesthood there, returned in later years to teach philosophy and returned yet again as a dean. A native of Mt. Clemens, the archbishop was ordained as a priest of the Detroit Archdiocese in 1975.
Dianne Ahern
Dianne Ahern grew up in rural Illinois, has travelled extensively for business and pleasure, and now resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Medical Technology from Marian College (University), and a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Indiana University. After rewarding careers in laboratory medicine, hospital administration, and healthcare consulting, Dianne found her new love: researching and writing about the events that shape our lives.
It was after her first Vatican visit in 1999, when Dianne looked into the eyes of Pope (Saint) John Paul II, held his hand, and kissed his ring, that she felt called to write books for Catholic children and their families. As a Patron of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, Dianne uses her frequent trips to Rome and the Vatican to craft the plots of her adventure/mystery and sacrament books for children.
Dr. Lourdes Andaya
Medicine is both an Art and a Science and probably this is the reason why Lourdes loves the Arts and Music. She has been a member of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) since the early 70’s, and has been involved in Fundraising Events and Memberships Drive. Currently, She is an Associate Member of the DIA. Lourdes has been a member of Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT) since the early 70’s and currently a member of the Board of Trustees. She has participated in Fundraising Events and Memberships Drive through the years. She is also a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) since the early 80’s and have participated in Fundraising Events and Memberships Drive.
Lourdes is currently a certified Adult Neurologist at DMC Harper Hospital, Joint Conference Council/DMC Board member, Medical Executive Council member/Secretary Treasurer at DMC (2006-present), Harper/Hutzel Vice Chief of Staff (2006-present), and Clinical Assistant Professor Neurology at Wayne State University (1983-present). She was on the Board of Directors at Michigan State Medical Society (1998-2006), and was an Alternate Delegate at the American Medical Association (2002-2006). Lourdes was the past President of the Wayne County Medical Society (1998-1999), on the Board of Trustee (1998-2006), Executive Council (1997-present), Delegate (1990-present), and a Board Member (1998-present) and Secretary Treasurer (2012-present) at the WCMS Foundation.
Dale A. Chiara
Dale A. Chiara is a managing partner and owner of Design Systems, Inc., a large multi-disciplined engineering company headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, with family companies in Canada and Mexico, and employing over 300 people. Design Systems supports the automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, package handling, healthcare, steel manufacturing and other industries by providing program management, conveyor and paint finishing engineering solutions, and other consulting engineering services. Dale is a graduate of Michigan State University and has completed postgraduate work at both MSU and Wayne State University.
Kathleen Bordo Crombie
Kathleen Bordo Crombie is a wife, mother and grandmother and is also a writer and speaker on her personal Catholic faith testimony, religious iconography and prolife issues. Kathy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech from Northern Michigan University and a Master of Arts in Organizational Communication and Public Relations from Wayne State University. Her professional non-profit career includes Michigan Opera Theater, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and most recently as Director of Multicultural Outreach and Gift Planning for Right to Life of Michigan.
In a volunteer capacity, Kathy has served as a Steering Committee member for several Archdiocese of Detroit Women’s Conferences, been a board member for The Divine Mercy Center and Metro Crisis Pregnancy Center. She currently serves her parish, The Church of the Divine Child in Dearborn, as a Lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
Kathy is an accomplished iconographer. She has been a featured artist in both “Art for God’s Sake” sacred art exhibitions. Her icons can be found in several private collections, chapels and churches, including The Cathedral of The Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit.
Andrew H. Curoe
Andrew H. Curoe joined Bodman PLC’s High Net Worth Group in 1996 and for many years chaired the Practice Group. Mr. Curoe concentrates his practice primarily in representing high net worth individuals in estate planning, tax matters and business ventures. Mr. Curoe is a member of the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit. He is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Detroit Bar Association.
His dedication of service to community includes serving on the Board of Trustees of the Archdiocese of Detroit Endowment Foundation, and formerly on the Michigan Bankers Association Trust Counsel Committee. He is a member of Leadership Detroit XXIX and has chaired the Tigers Fundraiser Committee for Loyola High School. He is a former Chairman of the Board of Directors for Matrix Human Services.
When not in the office, he enjoys spending time hiking, exploring Detroit and traveling with his family.
Leonard Gayeski
Leonard Gayeski has been with Fenner, Melstrom & Dooling, PLC since 1975. Mr. Gayeski’s responsibilities include tax planning for individuals, business entities and trusts, as well as assisting in training personnel at Fenner, Melstrom & Dooling, PLC. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University, is a CPA, and gained expertise in the operations side of several businesses before the beginning of his career with a major accounting firm. Mr. Gayeski is currently an active member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, serves as the director/treasurer of the Detroit Legatus organization and more recently the Michigan Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. Additionally, he sits on the finance committees for the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception Churches.
When not in the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife and the families of his five children who live in Ann Arbor and Chicago and of course, playing golf.
Dr. Elizabeth Lev (Honorary Member)
Elizabeth Lev is an American-born art historian with the good fortune to live and work in Rome. After finishing her studies at the University of Chicago in 1989, she moved to Northern Italy to do her graduate work at the University of Bologna. Researching her thesis on the Church of San Giovanni and Petronio in Rome, she soon realized that like Queen Christina of Sweden before her, she couldn’t live another day if she didn’t live it in Rome, and became a denizen of the Eternal City in 1997.
She started giving tours in 1998 for a small cultural association and passed the licensing exam for guides in 2001. That same year she was hired to teach Art History at Duquesne University’s Italian campus, and has remained a member of the Rome faculty ever since. After a five-year stint teaching Renaissance Art at John Cabot University, she joined the teaching staff at the Pontifical University of the Angelicum in Rome, and more recently has begun teaching at Christendom College as well.
Writing opportunities soon followed the coursework, with numerous articles in Inside the Vatican, Sacerdos and First Things magazine, the College Art Association on-line as well as a regular column with Zenit News Agency. She was a contributor to AOL’s Politics Daily and her first biography, The Tigress of Forli: The Remarkable Story of Caterina Riario Sforza, was published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Press in 2011. She has since written two more books, one on the Roman station churches with George Weigel, and a book on the theology of the body with Father José Granados.
Elizabeth Lev lives minutes from St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums with her husband and three children.
Father JJ Mech (Chaplain)
Fr. Mech was ordained a priest in 1995 and is the Rector of The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit. He has served in various parishes throughout the Archdiocese, including Our Lady of Victory (Northville), Our Lady Star of the Sea (Grosse Pointe), Our Lady of Good Counsel (Plymouth), Our Lady of Loretto (Redford), St. Anastasia (Troy), Our Lady of the Rosary (Detroit), and St. Moses the Black (Detroit).
Fr. Mech is co-founder and serves on the Board of Directors of Mary’s Mantle, a home for pregnant homeless women, and is a Board of Trustee for Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Fr. Mech has held various positions within the Archdiocese: Formation Mentor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Priest Assignment Board, Archdiocesan Presbyterial Council, Archdiocesan Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus, Archdiocesan Worship Commission, and the Archdiocesan Architectural Review Committee.
Fr. Mech has a love of art and is an artist himself. He is very proud to have created and directed Art for God’s Sake, the largest sacred art show in Archdiocesan history. The event utilized its more than 400 pieces art from six countries to evangelize the thousands of attendees.
Because of his background in art and architecture, Archbishop Vigneron has commissioned him to develop the Cathedral, the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Detroit, into an Apostolic Center of Arts and Culture.
Elizabeth Moore
Elizabeth Moore….
Salvador Salort-Pons (Honorary Member)
Dr. Salvador Salort-Pons was appointed director, president, and CEO of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) in 2015. Prior to that he served as the DIA’s Executive Director of Collections, Strategies and Information. Dr. Salort-Pons joined the DIA in its curator division in 2008.
With the 2012 passage of a regional property tax to support the museums and the successful completion of the City of Detroit bankruptcy in 2015, Salort-Pons has focused on transforming the DIA into an active and useful organization, engaging the museum’s local and regional communities as well as advancing its international profile.
Prior to coming to Detroit, he was senior curator at the Meadows Museum of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, assistant professor at the University of Madrid and exhibition curator at the Memmo Foundation/ Palazzo Ruspoli in Rome. A native of Madrid, he is fluent in five languages.
Antonio Rugiero
Antonio Rugiero is President and CEO of Antonio’s Cucina Italiana Restaurants, Roman Village Inc., and Rugiero Management Group. He is founder and Chairman of the Rugeiro Promise Foundation providing means for giving to charitable organizations.
However, it is family and faith that remains his priority. Mr. Rugiero embraces traditional family values, Church and his Italian American heritage. He serves on various civic and charitable Boards including: Chairman of the International Heritage Foundation, Mid-West Chairman for the Italian Language Inter-Cultural Alliance (ILICA) and Board member for Michigan Opera Theatre, Italian Film Festival USA, 13th District Finance Chairman Republican Party, Veteran’s Court for Southeast Michigan.
Anthony and his beautiful wife Sabrina have four children, two boys and two girls. They are founding members of the Patrons and enjoy sharing with their children all the wonderful opportunities offered by the Patrons to learn about fine arts and art preservation within the Vatican.
Maureen Soens
Over 20 years of experience and expertise has kept artist, author and product developer, Maureen Soens, on the leading edge of decorative paint design. She resides in Rochester Hills with her husband Ken and has two grown married children. Having studied with renowned experts in the art of decorative finishes from all over the world, her skills and talents are utilized to create realistic and fantasy finishes. She has extensive background in residential as well as commercial work including healthcare facilities, offices, banks, retail stores and churches.
Maureen has designed and conducted continuing projects for 16th century Naworth Castle in Brampton, England, where she leads a group of American artisans in decorating this ancient gem for the Honorable Philip Howard and family.
She has been invited as a keynote speaker in the field of decorative painting for national organizations in the arts of preservation and contemporary painting, has authored a book “Italian Plaster Techniques.” Her work has been published in magazines and books, and has been featured on television in both the United States and Great Britain.
Recently, she and her husband were issued a patent for their work in creating a paint release product that is marketed by Fauxline Products.
After visiting the Vatican Museums in 2009 with the Michigan Patrons , Maureen’s passion for the arts was further fueled. She returned home with an enthusiasm to share the excitement of preserving these precious gems and to create an awareness of the work of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums.
Jeanne Stevenson
As an art director and graphic designer for 30 years, Jeanne has created marketing and design materials for clients in the automotive, healthcare, and educational industries as well as for many small businesses. She has created promotional materials for Catholic organizations including: The Divine Mercy Center, The Catholic Biblical School Michigan and Catholic ministries. She is Creative Director for the Communications Team for Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth, Michigan, where she is also a parishioner. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan, promoting the arts has always been a passion and after a 2004 pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, promoting the sacred arts has been even more on her heart. After this pilgrimage, Jeanne launched her company, CARDS FOR HIS GLORY, where her goal is to spread the Word of God and the richness of the Catholic faith through the message and beauty of her greeting cards. Her cards combine striking photography and art with inspiring quotes and greetings, and have a contemporary feel, while portraying the tradition of the Church.
In the community, Jeanne has volunteered her art knowledge and expertise in area schools and for faith-related organizations. For the Michigan Patrons, Jeanne designs the Chapter newsletter as well as invitations and promotional pieces for events.
Jeanne resides in Plymouth, Michigan with her husband Tom and their four children. At her church, Jeanne and her husband lead the transformative Living in Love marriage enrichment program.
Teresa Tomeo (Honorary Member)
Teresa Tomeo is an author, syndicated Catholic talk show host, and motivational speaker with more than 30 years of experience in TV, radio and newspaper and spent 19 of those years working in front of a camera as a reporter/anchor in the Detroit market. In the year 2000, Teresa left the secular media to start her own speaking and communications company, Teresa Tomeo Communications, LLC. Her weekday morning radio program, Catholic Connection, is produced by Ave Maria Radio in Ann Arbor, Michigan and now heard on over 200 Catholic stations nationwide through the EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network and is also carried on Sirius Satellite Radio.
Teresa is a columnist and special correspondent for the national Catholic newspaper Our Sunday Visitor and appears frequently on the EWTN Global Catholic Television Network. Teresa co-hosts the EWTN television series, The Catholic View for Women, and is the field reporter for their annual March for Life coverage in D.C. Teresa has also been featured on The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News, Fox & Friends, MSNBC, and the Dr. Laura Show, discussing issues of faith, media awareness, and Catholic Church teaching, especially as it relates to the culture.
Teresa has authored several books. Her book Extreme Makeover: Women Transformed by Christ, Not Conformed to the Culture was released in October of 2011 from Ignatius Press and has been named “required reading” by Dr. Laura Schlessinger. Noise: How Our Media Saturated Culture Dominates Lives and Dismantles Families, published by Ascension Press, is in its third printing.
Michael Watkins
Michael grew up in Washington, Missouri, and graduated from Ave Maria University in 2014 with a Bachelors of Arts in Theology. Upon graduating, Michael was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, and served on active duty for four years. After concluding his active service, Michael obtained his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
Michael currently practices corporate law at Jones Day in Detroit, and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for Regina Caeli Academy. Michael and his family are parishioners at the Detroit apostolate of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, St. Joseph’s Shrine.