People

People

Deacon

Juan Valle

Juan is most at home with his Covenant Church family. He was born and raised in San Jose and is married to Norma. He is a Road Maintenance worker for the County of Santa Clara. They have been members of Covenant since 2009 and have a blended family of eight grown children and five granddaughters. In his spare time he likes to read, exercise, and view Mixed Martial Arts and boxing matches. By the grace of God, Juan says he discovered…
Deacon

Steve Trigero

When he’s not busy doing diaconal work for Covenant, Steve is employed as a software engineer by Xicom Technology. In his limited spare time he enjoys gardening and playing video games in between reading history, theology and mystery/spy novels. Steve can be found as the “man behind the scenes” at most of Covenant’s functions. Steve and his wife Melissa have attended Covenant since 1998. He is the father of five children and eight grandchildren.
Deacon

Jack Frahm

Jack grew up in San Jose and has spent most of his life at Covenant OPC. He and his wife, Michelle, have three children – Caleb, Ethan, and Grace.  His favorite activities include reading, being outdoors, riding his motorcycle, and spending time with his family. His most fervent desire is to be a servant of Christ and the Church.
Deacon

Miguel Alvarado

Miguel is the father of three beautiful children. He and his wife, Jacquelyn, both grew up in San Jose. Miguel has many fond memories of attending White Road Baptist Church as a kid. He is an electrician by trade and has been attending Covenant since 2014. Miguel has been deeply impacted by the truths of Scripture in his own life and has had many opportunities among us to share both his struggles and his insights. A self-declared introvert, somehow and…
Elder Emeritus

Don Jamieson

A retired school principal, Don is a self-employed handyman and performs the duties of clerk of the Presbytery of Northern California and Nevada. Don and his wife, Beverly, have six children, many grandchildren, and an ever growing number of great-grandchildren. Don enjoys gardening and reading and loves traveling and has lead historical tours in the British Isles. One of Don’s favorite passages is Ephesians 2:8, 9. “It demonstrates the necessity of faith, that faith is a gift, and that good…
Elder

Rick Vander Kam

After growing up on a midwestern farm, Rick set out on a path that would trace most of historic Route 66, stopping in Albuquerque before settling in California. He met his wife, Hatsumi, at Stanford University, and has worked in telecom software development for over 20 years The addition of their son Joshua to the household has been a great joy and blessing. As an instrument-rated pilot, Rick also enjoys sharing with friends the experience of flight and its unique…
Elder

Gary Thompson

Gary and his wife Lori are often two of the first people you will meet when visiting Covenant Presbyterian Church.  Gary has been a member at Covenant since 2009. He grew up in the Bay Area after moving here from Seattle, Washington as a boy. He is a retired civil engineer; most of his career was working for the City of San Jose. He and Lori were married in 2015, and their family includes four daughters and three grandchildren. Gary…
Elder

Richard Neff

A native of San Jose, Richard grew up in the church where his father played piano and organ and his uncle served as pastor. As Richard notes, “We have such a rich heritage that is built on the truth of God’s word.  That is something to be treasured.”  In the professional field, Richard has enjoyed a long retail management career in work footwear.   Richard follows in the footsteps of his family by serving others. While photography is a hobby, he…
Elder

Jack Ferrante

Jack has been a school administrator and teacher for the past 25 years.   He is also involved in leading a weekly Bible study in Juvenile Hall.  In his spare time, Jack enjoys reading biographies and adventure stories, baking, traveling, and listening to classical or jazz music.  He was born and raised in San Jose, continuing to live in the city with his wife Lori and their three sons. He and his family have been part of the Covenant community…
Elder

Randy Franklin

Randy works in corporate finance. Originally from Seattle, Randy moved to San Jose when he was in grade school and has been a part of the Covenant OPC family since 1968. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, working around the house and reading – especially history. Randy’s wife Nancy is a teacher at Valley Christian. They are the proud grandparents of four beautiful grandchildren.
Pastor

Pastor Robert Starke

A graduate of San Jose Christian College and Westminster Theological Seminary in California, Rob Starke is an ordained teacher for Covenant OPC. Rob and his wife, Janet, have two grown children. Rob is currently serving as “Campus Pastor” for The King’s Academy in Sunnyvale. Along with teaching classes, he is the department head for both Spiritual Life and Bible. In his spare time he enjoys reading, working on his home, and his 1948 Ford pickup. You can email Rob Starke at: [email protected]
Pastor

Pastor Brian Tsui

Reverend Brian Tsui has been the associate pastor since 2022. Brian grew up in the South Bay Area and attended Lincoln Elementary, Kennedy Middle School, and Monta Vista High School. He then attended UCSB where he received his B.S. in Bio-Psychology and met his wife, Nicole. After working for two years in the private sector, Brian went to Redeemer Seminary in Dallas, TX where he received his Master of Divinity. Brian’s first call was as an assistant pastor for a…
Pastor

Pastor Jeff Landis

Pastor Jeff Landis has been the pastor of Covenant since 1986. Born into a Christian family in Indiana, Jeff moved to California when he was a teenager and met his wife Donna in high school. After graduating from Reformed Bible College with a BRE, Pastor Landis continued his education at Westminster Seminary in California earning both MAR and MDiv degrees. He has also completed his Doctor of Ministry at Reformed Theological Seminary. Jeff and Donna have two married adult sons…