Meet he Crew

Fr. John P. Gatzak
Executive Director, ORTV, Inc.
General Manager, WJMJ-FM
Television Mass Executive Producer

Fr. John fulfilled his seminary studies at St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield, Connecticut, where he received an A.A. degree; St. John Seminary, Brighton, Massachusetts, where he received a B.A. in Philosophy; and he completed his priestly formation at the Pontifical North American College, Rome, Italy. While in Rome, Fr. John earned his S.T.B. degree and an M.A. in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. On June 29, 1975, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Fr. John was ordained to the priesthood by the Holy Father, Paul VI (now Saint Pope Paul VI) in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

In 1980, Fr. John received an M.A. in Corporate and Political Communications from Fairfield University, Fairfield, Connecticut.

From August 1975 to November 1975 he served as assistant pastor at St. John the Evangelist Parish, New Britain, Connecticut.

From 1975 to 1979 he served as associate pastor at Holy Infant Parish, Orange, Connecticut.

From 1979 to 1987 he served as Catholic chaplain to Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, and The University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut.

From 1984 to 1987 he served as assistant Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Hartford. 

On November 12, 1987, Fr. John was appointed the Executive Director of the Office of Radio & Television.

In addition to his duties as executive director of ORTV, Inc. (Office of Radio & Television) Father John has served in the following positions:

In April 2008, then Archbishop Mansell tasked Father John with the oversight of WJMJ-FM, and in August 2008, upon the retirement of WJMJ's then general manager, Father John became WJMJ's general manager.  In January 2009, the administration, operations and staff of WJMJ-FM were merged into the Office of Radio & Television.

e-Mail: ortv

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Mark Andrews
WJMJ Rock 'N Roll Revival Host, Saturday 8 p.m. -midnight and Catholic High School Football Play-by-Play Announcer

Mark took to the WJMJ airwaves in September 2009 with its first LIVE Catholic high school football broadcast..  More to come.

e-Mail: AndrewsM

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Glenn Colligan
WJMJ Weekday Mid-day Host, Noon-3 p.m., Saturday Afternoon Host, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.

Glenn took to the WJMJ airwaves in May 2009.  More to come.

e-Mail: ColliganG

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Kaelee Collins
Reporter/Writer

Kaelee, joined the ORTV crew in March 2019 as a part time reporter and writer for Crossroads Magazine™.  She also performs duties as a writer and producer for other radio, television, and special productions and writes and reports religious news for WJMJ.  Kaelee became a full time crew member in December 2019.

e-Mail: CollinsK

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Larry Dasilva
WJMJ Sunday Mid-day Host, noon-2 p.m. and fill-in Announcer

Larry took to the WJMJ airwaves in March 2019.  More to come.

e-Mail: DasilvaL

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Kyle Katin
Production Assistant

Kyle joined the crew, part time, in February 2019.  Kyle's duties are primarily with the production of the daily television Mass but he also assists with other radio and television productions.

e-Mail: KatinK

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Jerry Kristafer
WJMJ Weekday Morning Host, 5:30 a.m.-10 a.m.

Jerry, a legend on Connecticut radio took to the WJMJ airwaves in November 2013.  More to come.

e-Mail: KristaferJ

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Gary Mehalik
Operations Manager

Gary joined the crew in October 2013 and assists Father John with the day-to-day management of the radio and television production operations.  More to come.

e-Mail: MehalikG

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Scott Parmelee, CPA
Business Manager

Scott is a 1984 graduate of Central Connecticut State University with a B.S. in Business Administration.  He earned his CPA that same year.  Scott worked in public accounting for 5 years with a "Big 8" accounting firm and two years in internal auditing with a major insurance company. 

Scott started as a volunteer with ORTV in 1989 and became a staff member in February 1992.  Scott was also the business manager for The Catholic Transcript from 1993 to 1997.  Scott is an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for St. Anthony Parish in Prospect.

Scott is responsible for all ORTV business functions, budgeting, accounts payable, HR, payroll, etc.; maintaining our computer systems and this web site; and he coordinates all the pilgrimages and tours sponsored by the Office of Radio & Television and WJMJ Radio.

e-Mail: ParmeleeS

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Tony Purcaro
Production Assistant

Tony rejoined the crew, part time, in March 2006.  Tony's duties are primarily with the production of the daily television Mass but he also assists with other ORTV special productions.

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Tom Ray IV
Radio Producer/Production Assistant

Tom went from an intern to part time employee to a full time crew member.  Tom's primary responsibilities are in radio production, and you sometimes hear him on WJMJ filling in for Father John "In the Afterglow".  Tom also helps out with the production of the daily television Mass and other radio and television productions.

e-Mail: RayT

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Steve Savino
Program Director and WJMJ Weekday Late Morning Host, 10 a.m.-Noon

Steve joined ORTV and WJMJ in October 2017.  More to come.

e-Mail: SavinoS

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Mike Stevens
WJMJ Saturday Mid-day Host, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday Afternoon Host, 2 p.m.-6p.m. and fill-in Announcer

Mike took to the WJMJ airwaves in September 2018.  More to come.

e-Mail: StevensM

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Lauren Szabo
Senior Administrative Assistant

Lauren joined the crew in July 2018 as Senior Administrative Assistant.  As Father John's assistant, she is tasked with keeping him on schedule.  Together with the business manager, Lauren assists with overseeing ORTV's various administrative and fundraising functions.

e-Mail: SzaboL

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Lynn Townshend
WJMJ Overnigt Host, Midnight-5 a.m., Writer/Reporter

Lynn joined the crew in June 2019 as a Writer/Reporter for Crossroads Magazine™ and That's the Spirit™ and also reports the religious news on WJMJ.

In addition to those duties, Lynn is host of WJMJ's overnight program A Light in the Dark from midnight to 5 a.m. and also serves as a substitute announcer.

e-Mail: TownshendL

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Zachary Wehner
Videographer and Video Editor

Zach joined the crew part time in November 2016 and became a full time crew member in March 2019.  He performs duties as videographer and video editor, and various production duties for the television Mass other productions and special projects, and for Crossroads Magazine™.

Zach also hosts WJMJ's Christian Music program on Sunday evenings 8 p.m.-10 p.m.

e-Mail: WehnerZ

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Floyd Wright
WJMJ Weekday Afternoon Drive Host, 3 p.m.-7 p.m.

Floyd joins WJMJ from WDRC and took to the WJMJ airwaves in October 2014.  More to come.

e-Mail: WrightF

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Tom Zarecki
WJMJ Saturday Morning Host, 6 a.m.-10 a.m. and fill-in Announcer

Tom took to the WJMJ airwaves in December 2010.  More to come.

e-Mail: ZareckiT

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Sara Ziegler
Senior Videographer and Video Editor

Sara joined the staff in December 2005. Sara performs duties as videographer and video editor, and various production duties for the television Mass other productions and special projects, and for Crossroads Magazine™.  Sara also assists with the Closed Captioning duties for the various television programs produced by the Office of Radio & Television.

e-Mail: ZieglerS