Youth Advisor Staff

Kurt "Gus" Zitzner, Director of Youth Ministries

Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Movies: Dumb and Dumber, Tommy Boy, Big Daddy,
Email: KZitzner@FairmountChurch.org
Office: 216.321.5800 ext. 123
Direct Line: 216.402.0289
AIM: KurtGZitzner
Favorite Bible Quote:  Luke 12:48 “to whom much has been given, much is required”

Kurt grew up in South Euclid, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland and has attended Fairmount Presbyterian Church since he was just an infant.  In 1998, he became a member of Fairmount with in his 9th grade confirmation class and served as a youth Deacon in 2000 and 2001.  When he was a student here he was remembered as always looking to organize activities, fundraisers, the Strawberry Festival, and even a High School Sunday School program.

In 2001, Kurt moved to Ithaca, New York, where he attended Cornell University and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality and Business Management in 2005.  After graduation, Kurt returned home and opened his own restaurant in Kent, Ohio, named Mugzee’s Wings and More.  The restaurant specialized in 45 flavors of chicken wings. During this time Kurt volunteered here as a Youth Advisor for CHEER and a teacher in the Confirmation Class.

In 2006, Kurt took a temporary, part-time position on our staff to help organize activities for the high school students. He has been with us ever since and now oversees the entire youth department from grades 7-12 including Sunday school programs, youth groups, mission trips, camping and canoe trips, etc.

Kurt believes strongly that God’s grace is something that must be shared with everyone regardless of age, color, race, religion, etc. His faith journey has taken him on all sorts of mission projects across the country and even abroad.  He enjoys volunteering with organizations which work to improve the life of families in need (Bethany Soup Kitchen, Fairmount’s Project Renewal,  E City, Habitat for Humanity, among others).

Rev. Eric Dillenbeck
Associate Pastor for Congregational Life and Faith Formation

Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Movies: Stranger than Fiction, Juno, Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Life of Bryan. 
Email: edillenbeck@FairmountChurch.org
Office: 216.321.5800
Direct Line: 216.224.8492
AIM: ericndpc
Yahoo: ericndpc

Favorite Bible Quote:  Romans 8: 38-39 - "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Eric grew up in Mount Pleasant, SC a suburb of Charleston.  It was a great to grow up so near the beach and so close to the many rivers that wind through the Charleston area.  He went to college at Clemson University where he met his wife, Amy.  It was while at Clemson that Eric first joined the Presbyterian Church and was called into ministry.  Each and every day Eric tries to remember that we have been blessed to be a blessing.   We have not been placed in this world for our own purposes, but for the opportunity to be in relationship with God and one another and Eric looks forward to getting to know the folks here at Fairmount and in the Cleveland area. 

Eric loves to water ski, play volleyball and toss the frisbee.  He also loves to read and spend time with his family and friends.