I was born in Akron, Ohio, and since age one, was raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with my parents and younger brother, David. My Catholic upbringing was after Vatican II at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary School and Saint Thomas Aquinas High School.

I am married to my high school sweetheart, Joe, who is a pharmacist at Shand’s Hospital UF. We moved to Gainesville in 1989 and fell in love with both the city and the Spirit at Queen of Peace! We have two children, Rachael, born in 1987, and Joseph who was born in 1991.

I have my Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education; having taught in Broward County in grades Kindergarten and pre-First. I homeschooled my children for six years and am a certified Youth Minister, having served at Queen of Peace for two year beginning in January 1996. I have continued on as a staff member and am currently the Parish Administrator. I have my Master’s of Pastoral Studies from Loyola University New Orleans, and am currently working towards my Doctorate in Ministry from Barry University, Miami Shores.

If you haven’t experienced the Spirit alive at Queen of Peace, you don’t know what you are missing! Please join us and witness for yourself! Peace.

Mari Hamilton joined the QOP staff as our Fiscal Administrator in March of 2008. Mari grew up in Gainesville, graduated from Buchholz High School and received her BSBA from the University of Florida in 1985. She worked in the insurance/financial industry in Gainesville for over 15 years before coming to QOP. She and her husband, Fred, enjoy hiking in Colorado, attending Gator games and going to Disney. Mari is also very active with her UF Sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma.

I was born in Wakeegan, Illinois and moved often as a child. As we moved from state to state, the first thing we always did was find our local church home. After moving to Fort Lauderdale, I married Lee and we moved yet again to New Jersey. While in New Jersey I worked as the Music Minister of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. There God blessed us with three children, Brian, Joshua and Savannah. Our family moved to Gainesville in 2005. After being a stay at home mom for so many years I felt it was time to go back to work, and God in His wonderful ways, lead me to this postion. God is good all the time!

Ronnie Eisele has been involved in youth ministry at queen of Peace since 1994. Ronnie was born in New York City, and has lived in Gainesville since 1991. She is married to Danny and they have two children, Stephen and Jennifer, and has wonderful grandchildren.

She is a graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans with a Masters in Pastoral Studies. Ronnie is also a registered nurse and has been in that profession since 1978. She has a Bachelors in Nursing from Barry University.

Lisa McQuagge was born and raised in Rome, Georgia and moved to Gainesville with her husband Joel in 1987. They soon discovered Queen of Peace and have been raising their two sons and daughter in our parish community ever since. Lisa has been a part of the Faith Formation Ministry since 2000. She enjoys spending her free time taking care of their many animals and working with Alachua County's 4-H Horse Show Program.

I was born and raised in Madras, India. I came to the U.S in 1994 to work for Carnival Cruise Lines. Since then my career path has taken me in different directions in hospitality, and finally God placed me where I belong “Here at Queen of Peace” where I coordinate all liturgical events. My beloved is Tammie and our two girls are Nadia and Anjali. See you at church. God Is Good All The Time!

Gary is a native of Pennsylvania and arrived in Gainesville in 2003. Gary is thrilled with the chance to share his God given gifts with this Parish Community. Following graduate school, Gary toured with the international group "Up With People" as the keyboardist for the Western Europe Cast. After a brief stint teaching music in elementary, middle and high school, he found his passion for God and His music. He has been a full time Director of Music Making since 1991 serving 4 different parishes. Happily married and the father of 2, Gary is thankful for the opportunity to pray and praise with all the awesome music makers at Queen of Peace.

Erica was born in Massachusetts and moved to the Chicago area as a teen. In 1993 she moved to Gainesville and enjoyed a long career as a Commercial Loan Officer with a community bank.

Although very detailed and analytical, her passion has always been to meet, engage and care for people. Her career required learning of someone's needs and desires and finding the right fit to help them make progress toward their goals. Now she is blessed to use those skills to invite others to a more intimate life with Christ through participation in ministry. Since joining the Queen of Peace team in 2008 she has also worked on improving her Spanish. She is married to Gary and they have three children, Rachel, Adam and Matthew. Erica is delighted to speak with anyone who may have questions about becoming involved in our dynamic parish.

I was born and raised in New York City of Puerto Rican decent, the youngest of 10 children. My vocation to lay ministry in the church was born through involvement in parish prayer groups, music ministry and youth ministry. While I contemplated the priesthood for a couple of years, I realized that the church of the 21st century would be one in which well trained lay ministers would be necessary. After courting Helen, who would be my wife, I ventured to procure a Masters Degree in Theology as well as a Masters of Education. Our stewardship journey has brought us to live in Ohio, Puerto Rico and Connecticut which has allowed us to observe many models of church development. My wife, four children and I are privileged to be a part of what God is doing here at Queen of Peace through our wonderful church and Academy.

I am a native Floridian, born in Miami. I moved to Orlando in 1991 and recently moved to Alachua. I have two daughters and four grandchildren who all live in Florida.