Rev. Fr. Andrew J. Lesko is a native
of New Jersey. He was born on June 5, 1951, in New
Brunswick, NJ. He completed his elementary and secondary
education from Woodbridge Township, NJ public schools, and
he graduated from Rutgers University in 1973 with a BA in
History and a lifetime secondary teaching credential in
Social Studies. That same year her received a commission
as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force and
married his college girlfriend, Karen Mary Wendt. After
completing tech school at Vandenberg AFB, CA the Lesko’s
were stationed at Whiteman AFB, MO where their son, (Dr.)
Timothy M. Lesko was born. While at Whiteman Fr. Andrew
received a MBA from the University of Missouri in 1977 and
completed both Squadron Officer’s School and Air Command
and Staff College. Fr. Andrew was then transferred to
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH where their daughter
Rebecca Ann was born. Fr. Andrew was awarded his second
masters degree, a MS in Logistics Management from the Air
Force Institute of Technology in 1979. The family then
moved to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. Father Andrew was
promoted to Major just prior to leaving the service in
1984. In 1986 Fr. Andrew and his family relocated to
Redlands, CA. From 1986 until 1993 Fr. Andrew worked as a
defense contractor at the Ballistic Missile Office at
Norton AFB, CA working as a program manager in support of
acquisition logistics.
With the closing of the Ballistic
Missile Office in 1993, Fr. Andrew went back to the
University of California – Riverside and obtained teaching
credentials in Social Science, Learning Handicapped,
Resource Specialist, and Pupil Personnel Services. He
devoted his efforts to helping “At Risk” students. He
taught Emotionally Disturbed students as well as those
students with Specific Learning Disabilities. For the
past five years he has served as the head guidance
counselor at Slover Mountain Continuation High School in
Colton, CA.
As a working priest, Fr. Andrew has
had to combine his religious education with his secular
jobs. He was ordained a sub deacon by then His Grace
Bishop Anthony. As a sub deacon Fr. Andrew served as the
administrative assistant for St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox
Church in Tucson, AZ. Fr. Andrew served at St. Elias
Greek Orthodox Church in San Bernardino, CA from 1986
until 1989, before being transferred to St. Anne Romanian
Orthodox Church in Pomona, CA. Fr. Andrew completed his
theological studies through the Late Vocation program of
the Pacific Deanery of the Diocese of the West, OCA and
St. Tikhon Orthodox Theological Seminary. At St. Anne’s,
Fr. Andrew was ordained a deacon in December 1994 and to
the Holy Priesthood in August 1998. Fr. Andrew has served
10 years as a priest at the St. Sophia summer camp and was
the first Orthodox priest allowed on site after the
terrible flood that occurred at the camp. Fr. Andrew has
served six years as a Sheriff’s Chaplain for the San
Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department years and is the
Chaplain to the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Division.
In this capacity he serves the needs of the department and
serves as a witness to the Orthodox faith.
