Clergy and Staff

The Rev. David Erickson

Rector
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David comes to St. Mary’s with training, experience and energy to lead and grow our parish. Most recently, he served as Canon for Congregational Ministries at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, in Jacksonville, Florida. Earlier, he was an Associate Rector at St. Cross Hermosa Beach, California and, prior to that, he served as lay Youth Director at All Saints, Pasadena.

David’s non-church background is diverse. He has a degree in theater and worked as a restaurant manager. He has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lily School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.

David and his wife, Heather, met in church — at All Saints, Beverly Hills. After their marriage, they both discerned calls to ordination, enrolling and graduating together from Virginia Theological Seminary. David has two children ages 8 and 5.

Mike Stafford

Interim Associate Minister and Youth Minister

Mike is excited to be working as the Interim Associate Minister for St. Mary's starting in June 2021. Mike began volunteering in Youth Ministry at St. Mary’s in 2009, and has been the Director of Youth Ministries since 2012.

Mike grew up in the Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia. He graduated from Yale with a degree in History, and got his Masters in Education from UNC Chapel Hill. Previous to this role at St. Mary's he taught middle and high school history for 20 years. He has attended St. Mary’s with his wife Margaret since 2008, and they have two daughters, who are also all active in the life of the parish.

The Rev. Nancy Bryan

Deacon
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Nancy attended the University of California at Berkeley where she majored in Art History. She and her husband became active at St. Mary’s over 40 years ago, where all three of their children were baptized and attended Sunday School. Nancy helped to create the original “Friendly Visitors” for seniors. She obtained a Bachelor of Theological Studies at the School for Deacons in Berkeley and was ordained at Grace Cathedral in December of 2005. Nancy served in a number of ministries around the Bay Area following her ordination and returned to St. Mary’s in 2009. She currently coordinates the Pastoral Care Team and takes communion to communities around the city.

The Rev. Tim Smith

Deacon
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Tim joined St. Mary the Virgin as deacon in June 2015 after graduation from School of Deacons in Berkeley in May and ordination at Grace Cathedral in June. Tim and his wife Ilia have been active parishioners at St. Mary the Virgin for over 36 years including his time at School for Deacons. Their son was baptized and confirmed there. A former attorney, risk management consultant, and insurance broker, Tim retired in 2012 and immediately entered School for Deacons. He feels that God has called him to a servant ministry in Jesus’ name. In particular, Tim feels called to serve as a deacon whose role is interpreting to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world, facilitating, encouraging, and motivating sisters and brothers in Christ to live out their baptismal vows, and serving and ministering with others particularly the marginalized outside the walls of the church. His educational background includes an undergraduate degree from Princeton University, graduate degrees in law and business from Columbia University, a Fulbright Scholarship in Germany, and a bachelor’s degree in diaconal studies from School for Deacons in Berkeley.

Natalie Hala

Parish Verger and Liturgist
415.921.3665​ | Natalie Hala believes that “the pearl is within you” and that practicing an embodied worship and prayer life can lead to self-discovery and an abundant relationship with God. Natalie’s call to lay ministry with a specialty in liturgy and worship came after a full career as an arts administration senior executive in both public and private sectors. In her role at St. Mary’s she is responsible for overseeing St. Mary’s communal worship and liturgy. Working in partnership with clergy and laity she works to strengthen the spiritual dimension of worship and broadening the life of the church through the words and example of Christ Jesus. In 2014, she was commissioned as a verger by The Verger’s Guild of the Episcopal Church and was recognized at ceremonies in Burlington, Ontario, Canada as the 282nd International Fellow. Natalie holds the distinction of being the first fellow in the Diocese of California and only the second in the state of California at the time of her commissioning. Natalie is a practitioner and student of contemplative prayer practices and Wisdom paths. Her Christian-based formation continues with advanced studies with the Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Contemplative and Wisdom Learning Centers. She currently serves as a member of the Diocese of California Liturgical Commission and leads training and certification workshops for Eucharistic Ministers and Eucharistic Visitors throughout the Diocese. Natalie is a graduate of Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa and holds a master’s degree in the history of art and architecture from the University of Kansas. Natalie and her spouse, David Crosson, have been active members of St. Mary’s since 2006.

Eric Choate

Director of Music
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Eric Choate is in demand as a choral and orchestral conductor, composer, and organist. In addition to his service at St. Mary the Virgin, he is the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Boys Chorus, Professor of Choral and Organ music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and often prepares choruses for the San Francisco Symphony and Berkeley Symphony. As an award-winning composer, his music has been performed by renowned artists including VOCES8, Vancouver Chamber Choir, The Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge, Brian Thorsett, Emil Miland, John Churchwell, Friction Quartet, Areon Flutes, One Found Sound, and others. His music is published by E.C. Schirmer and Augsburg Fortress. Eric is an active organ recitalist and has been a visiting artist at major universities, including a recent residency at Virginia Tech University.

Graduating with Departmental Distinction, Eric earned his Bachelor of Arts in Composition from St. Olaf College, where he studied with Timothy Mahr and Justin Merritt. He was awarded a fellowship to study harmony and counterpoint at the European American Musical Alliance in Paris, France. He then went on to earn a Master of Music with David Conte at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Having served as an officer of the San Francisco American Guild of Organists Chapter, he remains an active member of both the AGO and the Association of Anglican Musicians (AAM).

Marla Perkins

Music Associate

Marla is a pianist who brings to St. Mary’s an extensive background in piano performance and music teaching. She fell in love with music as a preschooler singing with her mother at the piano. Piano studies began at age 5 leading to an Assoc. with The Western Board and B. Mus. from Brandon University, Canada. She received her M.M. from Hartt School of Music, Univ. of Hartford, studying under Anne Koscielny and Raymond Hanson, and Prof. Studies Diploma from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under Paul Hersh. Additional training was at the Guildhall School, Internationale Sommer Akademie Mozarteum, Johannesen Int’l Summer School, The Banff Center, and private study with Diana Lawton and Sir Kendall Taylor.

Marla has performed as soloist, piano duo partner, chamber musician, and accompanist for professional instrumentalists and singers, choirs, and ballet classes. She has also enjoyed work in musical theater. Marla has taught piano and music since age 17 to students of all ages in private lessons, theory classes, ensemble coaching, a vibrant nursery school program, and for those with learning differences. While raising her family in San Francisco she worked with young musicians through Villa Sinfonia, ACT, SFCM’s Summer Music West, several private schools, and her own studio.

Her music has been influenced by years of figure skating, love of nature, a keen interest in mind-body-spiritual connection and healing, and Eastern practices. Marla and Barry are grateful to have had the nurturing community of St. Mary’s in raising their two children to adulthood.

Nancy Clark

Sunday School Director

Nancy Clark has been a member of the parish and Sunday school director for over 40 years. In that role she has created curriculum, designed projects and recruited and guided teachers.

Nancy is a career educator having been a history teacher at Katherine Burke School and at Lick-Wilmerding High School.

She was also the Dean of Students at Lick-WIlmerding and most recently was head of the upper school at San Francisco Day School.

Jackie Schroeder

Nursery Director

Ashley Ryan

Parish Administrator
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Ashley grew up in El Dorado County, California and has studied business administration at Chico State University as well as International Business at KEDGE University in Marseille, France. Most recently, she worked as an office manager at a hotel in Big Sur. Ashley loves children and teaching and has formerly been a Kindergarten teacher and nanny.

Ashley enjoys music and learning new instruments and skills. In addition, she likes to read, dance, and roller skate. Interacting with people brings her great joy and she appreciates being a part of St. Mary's where so many people are eager to spread the love and grace of God.

Manny Gabiana

Associate Administrator
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Manny has been at St. Mary's for over 25 years as Sexton and Associate Administrator. He keeps the premises in good repair and ready for any event scheduled.

Betty Hood-Gibson

Treasurer

Betty Hood-Gibson and her husband, David Gibson, have been attending St. Mary’s for over 35 years at the 9:00 a.m. service. They find the warmth, vibrancy and inclusiveness of St. Mary’s community very important in their lives and do, in fact, find at St. Mary’s “that which feeds their souls.” Betty is currently serving at Treasurer of St. Mary’s and is a member of the Legacy and Endowment Board and the Finance Committee. Betty is also a member of St. Mary’s chapter of the Daughters of the King. Betty has served three times on the Vestry, twice as Finance Chair and once as Senior Warden.

Betty is a recently retired CPA. She has served as an auditor with Ernst & Young and held other positions in the financial area, including real estate management in the Bay Area. Betty was raised in Fort Worth, Texas and “grew up” in the Church of Christ there. She moved to San Francisco in 1974 and began attending St. Mary’s after she met David, joining the church following their marriage in 1978. She has a BBA in Accounting from Texas Christian University and an MBA from Pepperdine university. Betty has taught as an adjunct professor at Golden Gate University. She previously was chair of the board of the Shih Yu-Lang Central YMCA in San Francisco and Chair of the board of Saybrook University.

Nancy Svendsen

Events Coordinator

Nancy was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. After graduating in theater from Queen’s University, she pursued acting in New York and at the same time obtained a MA in Elementary Education. Nancy has enjoyed many occupations; actress, television game show writer, events company owner, teacher to name a few. Her favorite has been raising her two daughters who now pursue their dreams in San Francisco and North Carolina. Nancy is a regular substitute teacher and admissions assistant at Hamlin and Burke’s schools. She was received into the Episcopal Church in 2019 and completed her Stephen’s Ministry training this past February. As the parish Events Coordinator, she finds that working with families and the clergy in coordinating weddings and funerals very fulfilling. Teaching Sunday school is also a joy!

Nancy Clothier

Webmaster

Nancy began attending St. Mary's in 1993 with a focus on outreach and adult education. In 1999, she volunteered to provide a website for the church and has been webmaster ever since. Nancy has also participated in Pastoral Care, is a member of the Altar Guild and a member of the vestry.