DR. PAUL STELZER | Elder
About Us
Paul and Mary Delle first came to the New York in the summer of 1968, newly married, just graduated from Abilene Christian, and ready for medical school at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons. Because Mary Delle's uncle, James Hance, was an elder at the West Islip Church, we initially commuted to worship with them for the first few months. Our first visit to the Manhattan Church was on the day the current building was dedicated. We found many fine people here. We also learned of a small work on east 83rd Street, originally begun as an outreach of the Manhattan congregation as part of the Shiloh ministry. We found this small group of people in need of our support and began a long relationship with the Eastside Church which would extend through 1985. The location changed in the 70's to the lower east side and while we were in Oklahoma for a few years, the church itself changed. When we returned in 1989, we found our new home with old friends at the Manhattan Church.
We've been here ever since.
Stephanie was born in 1975 and proved herself a wonderful student with a gift for languages. She loved Latin, mastered French, then German, and picked up Italian on the side. She graduated at the top of her class from Trinity High School here in Manhattan and then went on to graduate Cum Laude from Yale University in New Haven. A year later she married Bryan Rigg, an athlete-turned-historian who now holds a PhD in History from Cambridge University in England. His doctoral thesis has become a fine book which is now available in German, French, and Portuguese as well as English. Two other books are due to be published by the Yale University Press next fall. He teaches and lectures from a base in Dallas where Stephanie takes charge of Sophia (3), and Justin (9 months) with (hopefully) frequent trips to New York to see grandparents.
Stuart arrived in 1977 and had a rough time getting life started. Surgery at one day of age and then a form of kidney cancer at 9 months (two more operations and 2 ½ years of chemotherapy) gave us a whole different kind of medical education. God showed us just how much it can hurt when the life of your only son is at stake. He's still on a journey to find his goal in life, but art seems to be his love. He is currently a student at the School of Visual Arts here in Manhattan pursuing a BFA.
Mary Delle started out as a teacher and came back to this calling after many years in the business world as an executive with AT&T and a little time as director of an art museum and independent arts consultant. Her second grade class plays at Buckley were amazing. She currently has a major interest in Sophia and Justin as well as a public school on Houston Street.
One of my particular interests all my life has been in music and the worship ministry of the Manhattan Church is of major importance to me. Working with Larry and the Praise Team as well as the Chorus has been a very rewarding experience in trying to enhance the worship of the whole church family. We are blessed with many wonderful voices and a building with great acoustics that make singing together a small taste of heaven itself.
Serving as an elder has given me a deep appreciation for the talents that God has given this part of His family that worships here. So many people have gifts that are deep and diverse and we find great joy in helping to encourage and empower the use of those gifts whenever we can. The harmony and unity of the Spirit that pervades the eldership is also a wonderful blessing that makes serving in this way a wonderful experience.
As if there were not enough music at church, I also enjoy singing every week with three other men in a close harmony quartet. From spirituals to Billy Joel, we have a great time. Vacations are special, too, usually traveling with family. A jigsaw puzzle and a Sci-Fi novel make it complete. Favorite places to go - Italy, and the Caribbean.
Daytimes, and a few nights, are spent in the operating room caring for folks with heart disease. My specialty is cardiac surgery with particular interest in valve disease. I have been blessed with the opportunity to do a large number of Ross Procedures, which is a very difficult, but gratifying operation done in young people with aortic valve problems.
I have been working at Beth Israel Medical Center here in NY since 1996.
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DR. PAUL STELZER
pstelzer@mindspring.com
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