YOUNG AT HEART IS JUST WHAT THE YOUTH GROUP NEEDS

Joe Marrine, who was raised as a Roman Catholic here in Hyde Park, attended Hyde Park schools (where his wife is now the High School Principal) and Dutchess Community College, before moving just north of Albany to attend Siena College, where he ma- jored in marketing and business management. Joe puts these skills to work as a project manager at IBM and also as HPUMC’s Director of Sunday School AND Youth Ministry. Yes, Joe very capably and admirably handles the wide scope of responsibilities for both these positions.

Joe has two children Lauren and David from a previous marriage. It was during his divorce that he began to ques- tion some of his early education. His brother’s invitation to attend the Poughkeepsie UMC brought the answers. Joe started helping out with the youth group. He had had ex- perience with the Big Brothers organization. When a position for Youth Leader became avail- able, Joe took over and held the position for five years.

In the process of finding a piano teacher for his daughter, Joe met his wife. You guessed it—our Contemporary music director, Barbara was the piano teacher! Although her student list was full, something told her to accept this new pupil—Joe and Barb married in 1999.

In 2002, Joe accepted the position of youth director and he and family, which also includes Barb’s son Paul and daughter Amy, joined HPUMC.

Joe can be found around the church on various days and times—from as early as 7:30 on Sunday mornings rehearsing with the contemporary band, or around Fellowship Hall during Sunday school, or at lunch time taking care of paperwork, or leading the numerous youth weekends which may require being up as late as two in the morning—yet always you can be sure of his smiling face and Christian heart keeping up and giving a fine adult example to our large and active youth group.