Nicci began as the DLRE (Director of Lifespan Religious Education) at Westside in August of 2019. She has served in Faith Formation roles for over 15 years and has a deep appreciation for families that intentionally and intergenerationally gather. Nicci grew up active with her family in a congregation and understood at a young age the importance such a community truly is. She is a Fort Worth native and happy to be in Fort Worth with her family; parents, sister and brother-in-law; most notable are her nieces and nephews that call her NINI!
Nicci enjoys being out under the stars (especially camping), experimenting in the kitchen, currently learning how to roast coffee beans, is addicted to Sonic Ice, and has four chickens: Suey-mama, HeiHei, Yo Landa, and the Other One - they keep her giggling daily.
Linda Ice is Westside's office administrator. A long time member and friend of the church, Linda is a great asset and a wonderful addition to our team.
Linda Ice and her husband, Myron, have been active members at Westside since the fall of 2007. Linda has been involved in many leadership aspects of church life including serving as president on the board of directors, worship team, Humanist Seminar, social, stewardship, multiple musical ventures, aesthetics and building use, and chair of 5 fund-raising auctions from 2011 through 2019 with Myron being the creative force and inspiration! She is thrilled to hold this position at Westside and to contribute to its continued growth and presence in the wider community.
In her spare time she is actually a professional music educator. Linda was a choir director in a middle school choir room for 30 years and then upon retirement from the classroom immediately returned as a private voice teacher at Young Junior High in Arlington where she has made her school home since 1996. She continues to teach at Young with the students that keep her young and filled with energy as well as serve as a clinician and adjudicator for choral activities around the state. Linda and Myron are the proud godparents of Connor (also a professional vocal music educator) and Bodhi, whose father, Mark, was a member of the Westside community. Linda and Myron share their home with the sweetest muddled orange kitty - Elliott!
A native of Japan, Yuki Kumamoto just graduated with her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in piano performance at the University of North Texas, where she studies under Vladimir Viardo, winner of the 1973 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Kumamoto has performed internationally in countries including the United States, Japan and Germany. Recently she was invited by the city of Koga, Japan to give a solo concert and master class, and gave a lecture recital sponsored by the city of Tsuyazaki, Japan. She has appeared as a featured soloist with Tokyo International Association of Arts Philharmonic Orchestra
Yuki has won the third place in the 8th Petroff Piano Competition and was winner of the SFA Concerto Competition. She was a prizewinner in the 12th and 13th Young Artist Piano Competition in Tokyo, the PTNA competition, and JPTA piano competition and MTNA competirion.
Yuki completed her Master of Music degree in performance at Stephen F. Austin State University, where she studied under Dr. James Pitts. Previously, she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance at Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo, where she was selected to study under Konstantin Ganev, a pupil of Heinrich Neuhaus.
Yuki is a member of the U.S.-Japan Council and is an active educator to help cultivate the arts in the next generation. She has served as an adjunct piano professor at Tyler Junior College, and as faculty of the Music Preparatory Division at Stephen F. Austin State University.
Ryan Reigel is Westside UU's newest addition. Ryan is the church Sexton. He handles upkeep and maintenance of our building and grounds. He can most often be found at the top of a ladder.
Dr. Russell K. Elleven served as Westside’s minister from 2005 to 2013. He began as a contract minister and was then called, first to part-time, and then to full-time service. Previously, Russell had worked for 17 years in higher education as an administrator and professor, having earned degrees from TCU, Vanderbilt, the University of North Texas, and Meadville Lombard Theological School. After two years in Puerto Rico, Russell currently serves as the Executive Director of The Genesis 1:29 Project in Chicago. He and his spouse, Gayle, enjoy traveling, sharing new experiences and learning about other cultures.
