03/28/2026
The Starkenburg Family – Putting Faith into Action!
IVC of the National Capital Area is delighted to have Nancy Shea-Starkenburg and her husband Bruce as members – with the added bonus that their son, Robert, is on staff at IVC partner agency Father McKenna Center – where Bruce serves!
Nancy, a retired elementary school teacher and reading interventionist, is currently in her fourth year serving at IVC partner agency St. Joseph’s Regional Catholic School in Beltsville. “I feel blessed to be able to use my teaching skills in my service placement,” she says of working one-on-one or with small groups of students in need of reading support. “It’s a very powerful tool for teaching kids to read, because you can tailor the lesson for exactly what they need.”
Nancy serves two days per week at St. Joseph’s, and feels rewarded by seeing progress in her students’ reading abilities. “I’m still seeing the effects of the pandemic on some who lost ground with their reading skills. If you don’t learn to be a fluent reader by third grade, it’s difficult to catch up after that.” The school also has a significant Hispanic population, and Nancy tutors some native Spanish speakers over the course of a few years as they learn English.
A native of Long Island and an alumna of St. John’s University, Nancy learned of IVC after reading about the organization and thought “this is what I want to do in retirement.” She loves getting to know IVC members because “to a person they have all had very impressive careers and they are choosing to give back in some way. They are full of gratitude for blessings given in their life, and are such humble people, and interested in sharing their faith with others – and giving their time to help the marginalized.”
Bruce, who retired last year following a career in IT with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, has been with the Father McKenna Center since joining IVC early in 2026. As a family, the Starkenburgs previously volunteered together there a few times, even once on Christmas morning. These experiences served as an incentive for his placement.
Every Friday, he performs a variety of assignments – including washing dishes, serving meals to guests and sorting food in the pantry. “I really enjoy the people here, both the staff and the guests, and it’s a chance to give back a little bit to people who need a ‘leg-up,’” he said. He joins fellow IVC members Mary Cahill, Don Kisicki, Abbe Nuccio and Joe Kenny in service there.
Bruce, a Florida native, received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from The Catholic University of America. He learned more about IVC through Nancy’s experiences, and also about others and the great work they do, so it was a natural fit for his post-retirement career. “It’s wonderful to see the generosity of heart that IVC members show in their ministries. Everybody serves in different ways, and we all celebrate one another’s successes.”
Their son, Robert, has been on staff at the Father McKenna Center since 2024, where he serves as both the intake and hypothermia program coordinator. His responsibilities include managing the front desk area, the day program and keeping track of food donations to the pantry. From November to March, he oversees the hypothermia program for about ten men, ensuring overnight accommodations at the center. A graduate of Gonzaga College High School and the University of Maryland, Robert also served with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Scranton for one year. “I learned at Gonzaga to be a man for others and it’s something that I strive to do in my work here.”
