Portraits Magazine | Fall/Winter 2021

THE AMAZING IMPACT OF DAN FORBES ’81

HIDDEN SAINT ANSELM

FAITH IN THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN COMES TO A CLOSE ANSELMIAN NETWORK FOR RACIAL JUSTICE

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THE AMAZING IMPACT OF DAN FORBES

Dan Forbes ’81 has inspired, supported, and connected thousands of students with service opportunities through the Meelia Center for Community Engagement—helping make the college, New Hampshire, and the world a better place.

By Laura (Rossi) Lemire ’06

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HIDDEN SAINT ANSELM

While none of these gems are actually hidden, we highlight places and things you may walk by every day but never notice, or know the story behind.

By Kate Grip Denon

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DEPARTMENTS

4 On the Hilltop

12 Scene on Campus

40 Philanthropy

42 Focus on Faculty

44 Faculty Retirements

46 Alumni News

52 Milestones

56 End Note

On the cover:

Dan Forbes ’81 stands outside the Meelia Center for Community Engagement.

Photo by Leah LaRiccia

Inside cover:

The return of students to the Hilltop this fall was a welcome sight for all.

Photo by Gil Talbot

This page:

One of the many “hidden” gems on campus, this recent acquisition for the Paradis Archives & Special Collections in the Geisel Library is Jeanne la fileuse (1878), the first FrancoAmerican novel published in French in New England.

Photo by Lori Pedrick

Thank you to the following staff, students and faculty who contributed their time and expertise in uncovering the many hidden gems of Saint Anselm.

Eric Berry, Ph.D., professor, biology

Gary Bouchard, Ph.D., professor, English, director of the Gregory J. Grappone Humanities Institute

Kimberley Britton, grounds supervisor, Physical Plant

Keith Chevalier college archivist

James Flanagan, senior vice president, chief advancement officer

Nicole Gugliucci, Ph.D., assistant professor, physics

Brother Celestine Hettrick, O.S.B.,

Saint Anselm Abbey

Sam Jette ’20

Laura (Rossi) Lemire ’06, director of content strategy

Neil Levesque, executive director, New Hampshire Institute of Politics

Father Iain MacLellan, O.S.B. ’78, director, Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center

Don Moreau, director, Physical Plant

Jay Pitocchelli Ph.D., professor, biology

FAITH IN THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN COMES TO A CLOSE

The historic campaign exceeded expectations, helping transform the Hilltop for generations to come.

By Paul Pronovost ’91

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ANSELMIAN NETWORK FOR RACIAL JUSTICE

The Saint Anselm College community’s response to turning empathy into action.

Paul Pronovost ’91, chief communications and marketing officer

Visit the website at www.anselm.edu/portraits

Portraits is published two times a year for the alumni, college community, and friends of Saint Anselm College. The magazine is produced by the Office of College Communications and Marketing (603-641-7240) and published by Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, N.H. 03102-1310. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and (except for editorials) do not necessarily reflect the position of the college or the editors. Email: magazine@anselm.edu

Safe practices were followed for all photography in this issue. Some photographs were taken prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Portraits

THE MAGAZINE OF SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE

Volume 23 Number 1 Fall/Winter 2021

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Paul Pronovost ’91

EDITOR

Kate Grip Denon

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Annee Newton Giard

DESIGNER

Melanie deForest-Malloy

COPY EDITOR

Barbara Coles

CONTRIBUTORS:

Anna Brennan-Curry

Laura (Rossi) Lemire ’06

Laurie D. Morrissey

Lorraine Parr

MAGAZINE ADVISORY BOARD:

Jennifer (Plunkett) Alban ’96

Alumni Council Representative

Fr. Anselm Smedile, O.S.B. Monastery Representative

Dr. Gary Bouchard

Faculty Representative

James F. Flanagan

Senior Vice President for College Advancement

Bridget (Martin) Lazzara ’11

Alumni At-Large Representative

Patrice Russell ’93

Assistant Vice President of Alumni

Relations and Advancement Programming

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

MARCH 28: Alumni Easter Egg Hunt

JUNE 4–6:

Reunion Weekend

JUNE 21: Alumni Scholarship Golf Tournament

For more events, visit www.anselm.edu/alumni

Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center

SPRING SEMESTER 2021

ArtSurround: Paper Palaces

An interactive viewing of works on paper, and how works on paper create room, as well as space for ideas, thoughts, inventions, dimensionality, and remote possibilities. Visit www.anselm.edu/artsurround

Dana Center for the Performing Arts

Rescheduled Performances

JANUARY 30:

Mairead Nesbitt

APRIL 16–17:

Aaron Tolson Presents

We love letters!

Thoughts, comments, and opinions on topics relevant to Saint Anselm College, 300 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length, grammar, and clarity. Include your name and telephone number or email address.

Email your letter to: magazine@anselm.edu or post to: Editor, Portraits

Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, NH 03102-1310

MAY 1:

Aardvark Jazz Tribute to Duke

MAY 8:

Mutts Gone Nuts

The Dana Center respects and adheres to Covid-19 Safety Guidelines. Our patrons’ and staff’s safety is our priority. We are operating at a 25-50 percent capacity to ensure proper distancing. Learn more about our new-in-theater, socially distanced seating chart and full guidelines by visiting: www.anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities

Dear Friends,

So much of the past year has been buffeted by Covid-19, and certainly that is true here on the Hilltop. We have worked hard to reimagine nearly all aspects of campus life and we came together as a community to ensure a safe and rewarding on-campus experience. A tremendous amount of ingenuity, compassion, fortitude and student-centered decision-making went into creating a successful fall semester, and as I write this letter, we are well into our plans for a spring semester that promises to be even better.

As the countdown to Thanksgiving approached, a time when students would be returning home for the winter break, I was struck by how our months-long efforts to confront an unprecedented health crisis were informed by our core principles and our uniquely Anselmian qualities. While Covid-19 has forced us to rethink many things, it also has occasioned reflection about how we carry our mission into the future. Indeed, it has awakened us to how much our mission of community and hospitality, inspired by our Benedictine values, makes us distinctive among institutions of higher education. Yes, we provide a rigorous educational experience, but we do so with care and compassion. Never have care and compassion been needed more than in this moment!

This issue of Portraits is a reflection of our values, as seen through a lifetime of service by Dan Forbes ’81; and through the substantive work on racial equity by the Anselmian Network for Racial Justice; and through the inspiring support by alumni, the college community and friends for our Faith in the Future campaign. Throughout the magazine, you will see that, while life has been disrupted by the pandemic, we have persevered as a family and have even grown stronger in the face of many unique challenges.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to our students, faculty, staff and members of the monastic community for continuing to deliver a transformative curricular and co-curricular experience that is the hallmark of Saint Anselm College. And I sincerely thank all of you for the continued and steadfast support of our mission—today and always.

In this moment of uncertainty, it is reassuring to know that our foundation has remained unshaken. I hope you enjoy this issue of Portraits, which provides a unique window on the Hilltop during this most interesting time.

Sincerely,

Joseph A. Favazza, Ph.D. President

Photo by Leah LaRiccia

COLLEGE DEDICATES THE SAVARD WELCOME CENTER

On Friday, September 18, a little over a year after first breaking ground, members of the Anselmian community gathered to celebrate the opening of the Savard Welcome Center.

“The Savard Welcome Center serves as the front porch of the college and signifies the arrival into our Anselmian community,” said Dr. Joseph A. Favazza, college president. “Visitors will now experience our Benedictine hospitality as soon as they step foot on campus.”

As the first place prospective students will visit on campus, the Savard Welcome Center will provide

an easily accessible visitor space on campus, with air conditioning and, more importantly, the college’s homemade chocolate chip cookies. It includes an event room, outdoor patio space, the Sherwood C. Blake ’50 Presentation Room, and offices for admission staff and ambassadors. The Welcome Center also will be home to function space available for alumni reunions, homecoming, and other community events.

The Savard Welcome Center is named to honor the generosity of Robert and Susan Savard. During the event, Robert F. Savard, Jr. ’71 shared

his memories of his time on the Hilltop and how they changed him. In a call to action to encourage more people to support the college they love and value, he reflected, “We came seeking wisdom, we left with an appreciation for mankind.”

The ribbon cutting opened with a prayer by Fr. Jonathan P. DeFelice O.S.B. ’69, president emeritus Richard (Rit) Flandreau ’22, Saint Anselm College’s student body president and an admission ambassador, greeted the guests and reminisced on his first visit to campus. After remarks from Dr. Joseph A. Favazza, Steve Goetsch,

Photo by Gil Talbot

vice president for enrollment, Robert Savard, and Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. ’71 conducted the dedication and blessing.

“From their beginning, over 1,500 years ago, Benedictine monks have made their presence known in the world, in good part, through their offer of hospitality,” said Abbot Mark. “It is in this spirit that we dedicate the Savard Welcome Center—a tangible expression of our Benedictine hospitality.”

Earlier in the day, the college dedicated the presentation room in memory of Sherwood C. Blake ’50,

ROBERT AND SUSAN SAVARD

Last fall, Robert F. Savard, Jr. ’71 and Susan Savard attended the groundbreaking for a new Welcome Center as part of a weekend visit to the Hilltop. During the ceremony, Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer James Flanagan joked with the Savards that the Welcome Center needed a name. Afterwards, Susan sent Bob to the refreshment table to get her a cupcake. When he came back, she told him, “We are going to do this.”

A longtime supporter of his alma mater, Bob graduated from Saint Anselm in 1971 with a bachelor of arts degree in history. During his time on the Hilltop, Bob participated in the Abbey Players, volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and competed with the varsity ski team. Bob is the founder of The Desmond Group, a boutique executive search firm, which he operated until his retirement in 2018.

Their $1 million gift to Saint Anselm is the latest in their long history of philanthropy at the college, including support of the Career Development Center and the Robert F. Savard Annual Scholarship.

whose legacy gift made the Welcome Center possible.

Many people were involved in the construction of the new Welcome Center including: Bill Furlong, vice president of finance & chief financial officer; Jonathan Woodcock, project manager; John Deloia, vice president of Eckman Construction, Dennis Mires of Dennis Mires—The Architects; James Flanagan, senior vice president and chief advancement officer; the Office of College Advancement staff; Michael Iorio ’07, assistant vice president of enrollment and director of admission; and the entire Office of Admission staff.

“Bob’s generosity will continue to inspire our entire community and we are eternally grateful for his remarkable commitment to Saint Anselm College,” said Ann Catino, Esq. ’82, former chair of the Saint Anselm Board of Trustees.

From left: Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. ’71, Joseph A. Favazza, Ph.D., Robert F. Savard, Jr. ’71, Richard (Rit) Flandreau ’22, Susan Savard, Ann Catino, Esq. ’82, and James Flanagan.

Photo by Kevin Harkins

Susan Savard and Robert F. Savard, Jr. ’71

Photo by Jeff Dachowski

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Saint Anselm College recently announced the appointment of 12 new trustees to the Board of Trustees. The new members bring “a diversity of experience and a shared interest in the perpetuity of the College,” said President Joseph A. Favazza, Ph.D. “We look forward to working closely with our Board as we advance the interests of Saint Anselm, with a keen focus on providing a transformational education for our students.”

Susan M. Connelly ’92 is chief communications and public affairs officer at Darden Restaurants, an American restaurant operator. Darden’s

brands include Longhorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, and Olive Garden. Prior to Darden Restaurants, Connelly gained considerable marketing and communications experience in the public and private sector. In addition to a B.A. in English from Saint Anselm, she holds an MBA from Suffolk University.

Robert P. Connor worked in the financial services industry in New York City for 46 years and is now a consultant living outside of Charleston, S.C. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College and a master’s degree from Pace University. Connor was a member of the Board of

Trustees from 2000 to 2018 and joined the Board again in October 2019.

Jeannette M. Davila ’83, H.D. ’99 served as director of strategic partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions at the Fedcap Group, a global network of nonprofit agencies dedicated to advancing the economic and social well-being of the impoverished and disadvantaged, based in New York. Prior to Fedcap, she was chief development officer at Easter Seals New Hampshire. She was the commencement speaker in 1999, receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters, and she received the President’s Award in 2011.

Fr. Mathias D. Durette, O.S.B. has been a member of the monastery since in 1987. He has held numerous positions at the college, including in the business office and as assistant dean of students. He currently is serving as a campus minister. Before entering the monastery, Fr. Mathias worked for Atex, Inc., a subsidiary of the Eastman Kodak Company. He earned a B.A. in marketing from New Hampshire College.

Margaret A. (Joseph) Emmons ’75 is a nurse practitioner at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., where she specializes in cardiovascular medicine. She also

serves as an instructor in medicine at Dartmouth College and assistant professor at UMass Medical School. Three of the couple’s four children are Saint Anselm College alumni: Meaghan, Class of 2000; Joseph, Class of 2004; and Matthew, Class of 2007.

Sheila A. (O’Donnell) Evjy ’74, H.D. ’19 is the former vice president of nursing at Elliot Hospital, where she spent her entire nursing career. She received an honorary degree from Saint Anselm in 2019. She and her husband, Jack, a retired medical oncologist, live in Bedford, N.H., and Harpswell, Maine. She joined the Saint Anselm College Board in June 2020.

Laurence R. McCarthy ’66 has been an operating partner at Ampersand Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity firm, since 2007. He is also president of Scientific Technologies & Solutions, a consulting firm. He holds a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of New Hampshire and served on the faculty at Johns Hopkins, the University of North Carolina, and Weill Cornell Medical College. Larry has three brothers who are Saint Anselm College alumni: Charles, who is deceased, was in the Class of 1960, Robert and Malachy (a former monk), were both members of the Class of 1970.

Michael J. Riegel ’92 is the president of CloudFactory USA in Durham, N.C., an IT services company. He has more than 20 years of experience in the IT field, and previously was an economic advisor and IT leader for the U.S. House of Representatives. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have three children. He joined the Saint Anselm College Board in June 2020.

Ray A. Rothrock has been chairman and CEO of Redseal Inc. in San Jose, Calif., an enterprise cybersecurity company, since 2014. He is an active angel investor, primarily in cyber companies. He holds a B.S. in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M University, an M.S. in nuclear

engineering from MIT, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He also was a 19-year board member of Woodside Priory School, a Benedictine school in Portola Valley, CA. including five years as chair.

Robert F. Savard, Jr. ’71 is the retired founder and managing director of The Desmond Group, LLC, a boutique retained executive search firm serving clients with a focus in the corporate retirement services industry. Prior to that he was a managing director with several international executive search firms; within these firms he was co-chair of the financial services and diversity practice groups. Before beginning his executive search career in 1990, he spent 18 years with Aetna Life & Casualty, where he held management positions in a variety of line and staff areas. He graduated in 1971 from Saint Anselm with a B.A. in history.

Matthew J. Steinaway ’90 is a senior managing director of State Street Global Advisors and is the chief investment officer of the firm’s Fixed Income, Currency and Cash Group. Prior to his current role, he served as the chief risk officer for State Street Global Advisors and as the head of Global Cash Management. He received an MBA from Bentley College. His wife, Erin (Kelly) Steinaway, is a member of the Class of 1990, and the couple’s daughter, Hannah, is a member of the Class of 2021.

William Withington ’92 is the senior vice president of North American Operations at Enterprise Holdings Inc., in St. Louis, Mo., overseeing the company’s three car rental brands— Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, Alamo Rent A Car—in the United States and Canada. Prior to his current role, he oversaw the company’s Midwest, Canadian and West Coast Operations. He also served on the boards of SF Travel and the United Way of the Bay Area, and was a former board member of Visit California. He joined the Saint Anselm College Board in October of 2019.

Photo by Jeff Dachowski

On the Hilltop O’BRIEN NAMED FATHER BERNARD HOLMES SCHOLAR

Connor O’Brien ’21, an economics major, minoring in psychology from Westminster, Mass., has been selected as the Father Bernard Holmes, O.S.B., Scholar for the 20202021 academic year.

The award is presented annually to an incoming senior, and provides a full tuition scholarship for the student’s final year at Saint Anselm College. Bernard Holmes scholars show concern for and work to provide assistance to others, demonstrate leadership potential, and actively participate in the life of the college.

“It was a wonderful moment,” says O’Brien about his conversation with President Dr. Joseph A. Favazza, who delivered the good news. “I was full of such gratitude, shock, and I was so honored to be chosen, like really truly honored.”

O’Brien is deeply involved in the life of the college where his activities range from secretary of club affairs in student government to a student alumni ambassador to welcoming new students to campus as an orientation leader.

“It all started out in my freshman year when I walked into campus ministry and I started being an altar server and Anselmian 360 leader and from there things just kept rolling on and on. I found myself saying ‘yes’ to things and by my sophomore year I had a very full day,” says O’Brien.

Considered a force on campus, O’Brien’s work also includes room & board committee chair for student government; alter server, WBA participant and member of the liturgy committee for Campus Ministry; Anselmian 360 board member; and member of the Red

Key Service Society and Knights of Columbus.

“If anyone could measure up to the model set by Fr. Bernard, it is he. For his service, his very sharp intellect, his modest and respectful way of relating to others, for his sense of humor, but mostly for being a force and influence for good on campus, Connor deserves to receive the Fr. Bernard Holmes award.” says Brother Andrew Thornton, O.S.B.

O’Brien’s service and leadership extends beyond New Hampshire. In his home town he is the director of a free summer camp where he deals with many children of different backgrounds, as well as their parents, and oversees a staff that assists him. O’Brien and his parents also volunteer at his church with children’s liturgy classes.

Registrar, Tracy Morgan, further described his leadership among peers when she needed dependable flag bearers for the

2019 commencement ceremonies. “Connor was first to come to mind. He expressed humility at being asked, he took it upon himself to find other Red Key members who would also take the role seriously. He took a leadership role making sure they were all punctual and helped make commencement run seamlessly with this group.”

O’Brien is not sure yet where his path will lead to after graduation in May, however, he hopes to pursue a career in higher education.

College President Joseph A. Favazza, Ph.D., and Chancellor Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. ’71, presented O’Brien with a certificate in recognition of his award during the college’s opening Mass on August 18, 2020. The scholarship was established through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Davison, in memory of Fr. Bernard Holmes, O.S.B., former president of the college.

Photo by Laura Lemire ’06

MELUCCI SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO TWO MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2021

Seniors Eleni Rizos and Matthew Ward have been selected to receive the 20202021 Thomas A. Melucci Jr. Memorial Scholarship, an award that annually provides full tuition to two seniors who have demonstrated significant spiritual and personal growth throughout their time at Saint Anselm College.

Rizos is a nursing major from Wakefield, Mass. She welcomes prospective students to campus as a tour guide and serves as the Student Orientation Chair and as an orientation leader modelling the hospitality that is a hallmark of Saint Anselm’s culture, and ensuring that new members of the community feel as connected to the school as she has.

“The moment I stepped onto this campus, there was this overwhelming feeling of being home,” says Rizos. “The Anselmian community, with its Benedictine values, the life and the culture we represent, is not one you can find anywhere else.” She doesn’t stop

there, as she is involved in additional activities across campus serving as an Alumni Ambassador, a member of the Family Weekend Committee, and on Student Government. She has participated in spring break alternative trips to H.O.M.E in Orland, Maine and St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia, Pa., been a Crisis Line Volunteer for the YWCA, and is a member of the Koinonia Society. When she is not on campus, Rizzo works as a patient care associate at Massachusetts General Hospital. This summer she also participated in a summer nursing preceptorship, giving her valuable experience that will help her in the future. Ward, a business and finance major from Shrewsbury, Mass., has also spent his time on campus working to leave an impact. He currently serves as the president of the Red Key Society, captain of the men’s lacrosse team for his junior and senior years, an Orientation Leader since his sophomore year, and is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

In addition to these activities, Ward has completed internships at Alku, Northwestern Mutual, and Rise Private Wealth Management. He plans to work as a financial planner after graduation, and has already begun taking the tests and receiving certifications that he will need to be successful.

“Receiving the Melucci scholarship is an honor. I’m really humbled a to receive it. I’m thankful to the Melucci family,” says Ward. “It makes me feel like I’ve left my footprint on Saint Anselm College in some kind of way, and to some people there.”

The Thomas A. Melucci Jr. Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established by Thomas and Gail Melucci as a memorial for their son, Thomas, who graduated from Saint Anselm in 1988. Mr. and Mrs. Melucci remain closely involved with the scholarship, serving on the committee that selects recipients each year. Mr. Melucci is a former trustee of the college.

Eleni Rizos ’21

Photo by Gil Talbot

Matthew Ward ’21

Photo by Gil Talbot

FATHER FRANCIS MCCARTY, O.S.B. ’10 ORDAINED TO THE DIACONATE

During the Rite of Ordination, Bishop Libasci instructed Father Francis regarding his new ministry: “As a deacon you will serve Jesus Christ, who was known among his disciples as the one who served others. Do the will of God generously. Serve God and mankind in love and joy.”

In reflecting on his ordination, Father Francis noted, “The ministry of a deacon is a ministry of service, a service rendered through the preaching of the Gospel in both word and action. I am so excited to take on this additional ministry for our community and for the universal Church.”

Francis Ryan McCarty, O.S.B. ’10, a member of the Saint Anselm monastic community, was ordained to the Diaconate by the Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester, on October 2, the Feast of the Guardian Angels, in the Saint Anselm Abbey Church. Following his ordination and according to monastery custom, he is known as Father Francis.

As a transitional deacon, Father Francis is now a minister of service for Saint Anselm Abbey and the wider

Church. Among his many duties he will assist priests with the administration of the Sacraments.

Father Francis was presented for ordination by Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. ’71.

After Bishop Libasci received his promise of obedience, Father Francis was vested with the stole and dalmatic, signs of his station within the Church, by his uncle Deacon Kenneth Angell, a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Washington.

WELCOME BROTHER AMADEUS CUNDIFF, O.S.B.

On August 17, 2020, Brother Anselm Daniel Cundiff, O.S.B. was received into the monastic community to begin a probationary period before transferring his stability to Saint Anselm Abbey. Brother Anselm comes to Saint Anselm from Mary, Help of Christians Abbey in Belmont, N.C. Following established custom, Brother Anselm received a new monastic name and patron. Brother Anselm will now be known as Brother Amadeus. His monastic patron is Blessed Amadeus of Lausanne, a 12th century Cistercian abbot and bishop. The transfer of stability is mentioned in Chapter 61 of the Rule of Saint Benedict.

Brother Amadeus is a native of Denton, Texas. He received a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Dallas. He took vows as a Benedictine monk in 2014. He teaches in the Saint Anselm College Conversatio Program.

Originally from North Smithfield, R.I., Father Francis graduated from Saint Anselm College in 2010 with a bachelor of arts degree in history with a minor in Catholic Studies. After graduation, he served as a teacher at his alma mater, Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket, R.I. He joined the monastic community as a postulant in July 2015.

Father Francis professed his solemn monastic vows on February 2, 2020. He is in his fourth year of theological studies at Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton, Mass. He will be ordained a priest following the completion of his studies this year.

Father Francis McCarty, O.S.B. ’10 (left) and Bishop Peter Libasci

Photo by Father Mathias Durette, O.S.B.

Photo by Father Francis O.S.B. ’10

BROTHER CELESTINE PROFESSES SIMPLE VOWS

Brother Celestine Benjamen Hettrick, O.S.B. professed temporary vows as a monk of Saint Anselm Abbey on September 14, 2020, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. ’71 presented Brother Celestine with the full monastic habit and a copy of the Rule of Saint Benedict.

Through his temporary profession of vows, Brother Celestine embraces the vows of the Order of St. Benedict: obedience, stability, and conversatio morum (fidelity to monastic life) as cited in chapter 58 of the Rule of Saint Benedict. Upon completing three years as a junior monk, and after careful prayer and deliberation, he may petition the monastic community to profess solemn vows and become a permanent member of the monastic community.

Brother Celestine is a native of Salem, N.H. He attended Holy Family Academy in Manchester and The International Theological Institute in Trumau, Austria.

A MASK, GET A MASK” CAMPAIGN SUPPLIED A MASK TO

EVERY STUDENT

During the month of September, the Department of Athletics and the Office of College Advancement partnered to host the “Give a Mask, Get a Mask” campaign to supply every Saint Anselm student with a branded face mask while also raising money for important campus programs.

“The ‘Give a Mask, Get a Mask’ initiative offered alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends of the college the opportunity to support students and student-athletes,” said Daron Montgomery director of athletics. “It is exciting that all students will receive a custom, Saint Anselm-branded mask

when we reach our goal.”

Thomas and Gail Melucci

Donors who contributed $25 before September 30, 2020 provided one student with a Saint Anselm Hawks facemask and received one mask for themselves, while also benefiting the fund of their choice. Options included the Saint Anselm Fund, the Ernie Thorne ’34 Scholarship Fund for Racial Equality, the Anselmian Student Relief Fund, the Hawks Soar Higher Fund, or the sport of their choice.

The “Give a Mask, Get a Mask” campaign saw 1,510 members of the Anselmian community raise more than $85,115 and donate 2,779 masks.

COLLEGE TO HOST 2023 NCAA DIVISION II FIELD HOCKEY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The NCAA recently announced Saint Anselm College has been selected to host the 2023 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship. Grappone Stadium will facilitate the national semifinals and championship games.

“We are thrilled to be given the opportunity to host the NCAA Division II National Championship in November 2023,” said Carolyn King-Robitaille, who serves as both the head field hockey coach and assistant athletic director at the college. “We know how special Saint Anselm and the greater Manchester community is and we cannot wait to showcase both to the competing teams and fans from across the country in 2023.”

“GIVE

Brother Celestine Hettrick, O.S.B., Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. ’71

Photo by Father Mathias Durette, O.S.B.

Photo by Jason Kolnos

1: Fine arts faculty members Assistant Professor Andrew Haringer (piano), Lecturer Heather Braun-Bakken (violin), and Lecturer Kate Jensik (cello) held a concert for students, staff and faculty inside the Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center. 2: This fall, the college’s 17 varsity sports adapted practices and training opportunities to follow all NCAA and local health regulations. Josh Callinan ’21, a member of the Hawks’ football team, participates in a socially distant practice. 3: The grilled cheese sandwiches from Roxy’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese truck were a hit at Homestaying Weekend. 4: Road for Hope was modified this year to a 9-mile hike on campus—honoring each of the nine charities the walk annually supports. 5: A welcome Mass was held outdoors this year during orientation weekend. 6: The annual display of colors did not disappoint this autumn. 7: The Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center received second prize for Exhibition Collateral Materials in the AAM Museum Publications Design Competition, featuring A Moment of Time sculpture by Nick Hollibaugh. Design by Annee Giard, director of integrated creative and web services. Project manager, Maggie Dimock. 8: Whenever possible, students and faculty moved to the quad for outdoor classes. 9: For indoor learning, classrooms also took on a different look this semester. 10: Students participating in the Transitions Program—a program helping first-year students transition from high school to college—took part in team-building activities and community-service projects. 11: Members of the NHIOP’s Kevin B. Harrington Student Ambassador Program handed out voter registration information to students, along with Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, in celebration of National Voter Registration Day.

Photos by Zach Elliot ’21, Ryan Heath ’22, Jason Kolnos, Gil Talbot, and courtesy of Cade Tompkins Projects, Providence, R.I.

THE AMAZING IMPACT OF DAN FORBES

During his more than 30-year career on the Hilltop, Dan Forbes ’81 has inspired, supported, and connected thousands of students with service opportunities through the Meelia Center for Community Engagement—helping make the college, New Hampshire, and the world a better place.

BY LAURA (ROSSI) LEMIRE ’06

PHOTOS BY LEAH LARICCIA

Forbes agreed. Although the college’s new Volunteer Center (which would go on to become the Meelia Center for Community Engagement) had just opened that very morning, within a few hours Forbes and a group of students were planning the organization’s first volunteer event— cleaning local parks to raise money for the American Red Cross in support of those impacted by Hurricane Hugo.

Working with Manchester Parks and Recreation Department, the Volunteer Center had identified four to five parks to clean, with Forbes making screens to filter out the glass in the playground sand. For every 50 volunteers the college placed in city parks, members of the Manchester community would donate $1,000 to their cause. Volunteer numbers were staggering and, ultimately, the students raised $4,000.

Forbes learned two lessons from that first volunteer effort, which proved invaluable in managing and growing the Meelia Center for Community Engagement. “It communicated we have a responsive campus—that we had 200 students say, ‘Yes!’ and, two, a student voice was present,” says Forbes.

That student voice would become one of the driving forces of the college’s volunteer service efforts. “You don’t need to wait long for a student to come along with one of their ideas, which, of course, is one of my favorite things,” he says.

This passion for new ideas, helping others, listening to students, and putting it all together is why the Meelia Center for Community Engagement has become a staple of the Saint Anselm College student experience. While Forbes entered into semiretirement this past spring, stepping down as the founding director of the Meelia Center, he leaves behind a legacy of service work and volunteerism that has become a signature Anselmian attribute.

FINDING A PATH, FILLING A NEED

It’s hard to imagine Saint Anselm without Dan Forbes, but his path to the Hilltop was not a direct one after high school. Instead, before deciding on a college, he held a variety of jobs, from working at a mill in Ashland, N.H., to becoming a sales trainee and then later a plumber’s helper. He even hitchhiked to southern California where he worked at a tree nursery. He jokes it was working for his father at a car dealership that finally drove him to enroll at Saint Anselm in 1978. He was 22.

Forbes majored in criminal justice, but he took as many sociology and psychology courses as possible, explaining he never saw himself in law enforcement, but was very interested in the corrections field. While in school, he worked three part-time jobs: at the county jail, in the state prison system, and at a group home.

“The longer I worked with adults, the more I realized I needed to get started earlier in the community,” says Forbes, who went on to support youth at the former Friends program in Concord after his graduation in 1981. “Which led me to youth-based programs in the community.

IN THE FALL OF 1989, after Hurricane Hugo tore up the South Carolina coastline with the highest tides ever recorded, a Saint Anselm student visited Dan Forbes ’81, director of the Volunteer Center, in the basement of the Cushing Center and implored: The college needed to “do something.”

Now you’re working with kids who had significant challenges.”

Forbes went on to earn a master’s degree in social work from Boston College. In 1985, a call from sociology Professor Michael Dupre ’66 led him back to the Hilltop as a full-time faculty member teaching social work courses. It was during those early years teaching that Forbes recognized the difficulty his students were having applying their classwork. “They needed more reallife situations to unpack the classroom material,” he says.

Having been introduced to a member of the Manchester Community Action Center, which is responsible for city volunteering, he realized partnering with city agencies could be the solution for his students.

Forbes met with Fr. Peter Guerin, O.S.B., then academic dean, and developed a four-part model that would become the parameters for the college’s service-learning program: It would be another form of learning, require a reflective component; needed to connect with the coursework; and be a small part of the overall grade.

Working with community partners in connection with his social work courses, Forbes sent his students into the Manchester community and found the experiences engaged his students in whole new ways.

“My students came back and had all

FROM THE ARCHIVES

these questions,” says Forbes. “They’re thinking on a totally different level, they were unpacking their own baggage, and saying, ‘I’m working with at-risk kids and I didn’t think they cared about school, but they really do care, and they are bright, but they’re just not making it in the way that the classroom is being delivered.’” This was exactly the “aha” moment Forbes had been hoping for.

And it was only the beginning: Having shared the positive results with his colleagues, several faculty members followed his lead—introducing service opportunities as part of their coursework as well.

Forbes believes Fr. Peter’s trust in him allowed the model to extend beyond his social work courses. “I had both tremendous support and freedom to create,” he says. “Back then there wasn’t a model or a template to follow; we were collectively creating the template and they [the college] were tremendously flexible in allowing me to be creative and to go forward.”

Since it began in 1987, service-learning has grown exponentially—33 years later, in the fall 2020 semester, the college connected 260 students in 20 courses across disciplines. Now, service-learning is generally recognized across higher education as an effective pedagogy. Sometimes an optional assignment, and sometimes built into the fabric of the course for all students, service-

learning deepens the understanding of course material and builds student skills while generating significant positive community impact.

HIS LIFE’S WORK

Forbes had been teaching for four years when Fr. Peter asked him to split his time between teaching and the new center for volunteers. “I loved the work and they fit together nicely,” says Forbes.

Starting with just five community partners, Forbes opened the doors and immediately began to experience the full weight of student engagement. From the beginning, eager students came to the center with ideas for volunteer opportunities; they voiced their opinions, developed their own programs, and sought out new partnerships.

“The college was early in the process of community engagement, 1989 was really early—when I was director of the Volunteer Center at the time there were few positions like that,” he says. “And all I had to do was say to students, ‘We have this opportunity, what do you think?’ and they came in and took the opportunity or told me what they thought.”

In the early ’90s the work was growing; the need in the community and the desires of the students to serve was outpacing the center’s operations. Forbes needed help and, of course, it came in the form of student leadership,

LEFT: Forbes stands with Kristen (Richardson) DeYoung ’96 at the Valentine’s Day Dance.

RIGHT: It’s hard not to form lasting friendships while working at the Meelia Center. From left, Tyler Lindsay ’16, Raquel Johnson ’16, Nancy Nguyen ’16, and Forbes.

Photos courtesy of Dan Forbes ’81

which he says changed everything.

“What a blessing to be at an institution where this is what I needed most [student leaders] and this is what students freely gave: their leadership,” Forbes says.

Alumna Elizabeth Condron ’04 was one of those student leaders. According to Condron, when she was a freshman she was homesick until Forbes reeled her into the Meelia Center where she volunteered at the Sununu Youth Services Center in Manchester, formerly the Youth Development Center (YDC). The criminal justice major became the center’s student assistant director her junior and senior years.

“He totally changed my ability to believe in myself and in what I could do, and really helped shape my identity,” says Condron. “What I grew into was all because of Dan. He saw in me what I didn’t, he believed in me. It turned into my career trajectory.”

Condron is now the associate director of emergency shelters at the Pine Street Inn in Boston. She explains that Forbes, who is still a mentor and friend, helped her develop important leadership skills.

“Dan is an idea man and trusts others to execute,” she says. “As student leaders, that’s a big responsibility—so to have someone believe in you builds confidence.”

Sociology major Nicole Lora ’06 was in Forbes’ social work classes and also heavily involved in the Meelia Center as a student, holding the student assistant director position her senior year.

“I feel like I left here not only with an intellectual understanding of the core principles and beliefs of my profession but how to live them out and put them into practice and to continue to grow in them,” Lora says. “I had this skill and capacity to reflect on them, that a mentor, Dan, helped me create.”

In May 2020, Lora was named the new director of the Meelia Center following seven years as the center’s assistant director. “I am one of many in a lot of ways,” says Lora of the alumni who looked at Forbes as a mentor, social worker, fatherly figure, and friend. “It feels like an honor to be taking over Dan’s life work.”

THE MEELIA CENTER BECOMES A COMMUNITY PILLAR

Forbes says there is one other event in the history of the center that changed its outcome and continues to make a significant difference in the center’s impact: the philanthropy of alumnus Rich Meelia ’71 in 2000.

“The ultimate game changer was Rich Meelia. He believed in us right away and that changed everything. Now we have the resources available and it continues to this day,” says Forbes.

In 1992, the center had 12 student employees but with Meelia’s support it continued to grow. Now it employs 63 student leaders, who manage more than 50 community partnerships including Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Easterseals, and Manchester’s VA Hospital. The students plan monthly programs like Foster Parent’s Night Out (FPNO) and annual Anselmian traditions like the Children’s Holiday Festival, Valentine’s Day Dance, and Dance-a-thon.

Through Forbes’ latest brainchild, Access Academy, an after-school academic program, Saint Anselm students teach and support underrepresented Manchester high school students in courses ranging from Intro to Web Design to Environmental Science to Youth Activism. More than

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The Meelia Center’s Valentine’s Day Dance has become an Anselmian tradition.

150 high school students earn academic credit through the academy each year.

Hundreds of students volunteer through the Meelia Center every year, meaning thousands of students have become connected with volunteering through the Meelia Center during Forbes’ tenure—which is much more than the current population of Forbes’ beloved town of Barrington, N.H., where he and his family reside.

“It would be difficult to overestimate the profound impact the Meelia Center has had on Saint Anselm students, faculty and staff, and the surrounding

From left, Maggie O’Connor ’19, Luke Testa ’19, Nicole Lora ’06, Forbes, Maggie Walker ’17, and Cara Onyski ’19.

Photo courtesy of Dan Forbes ’81

“THOUSANDS OF LIVES HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER BECAUSE HE HAS SHOWN US THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN BE A FORCE FOR GOOD AND THAT, AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY... WE CAN LIFT EACH OTHER UP.”

—MARK CRONIN, PH.D., DEAN OF THE COLLEGE

community,” says Dean of the College Mark Cronin, Ph.D. “Thousands of lives have been changed for the better because he has shown us—through his leadership and his good works—that individuals can be a force for good and that, as members of the community that surrounds us, we can lift each other up. Indeed, it is our responsibility to do so.”

Rich Meelia continues to support the center because of the impressive work it accomplishes. “Dan is just from another planet with the ideas he thinks about to have an impact on the Manchester community,” says Meelia.

Forbes admits he’s “kind of a big dreamer,” so it comes as no surprise that his expectations would be big and the impact of his work would be monumental.

THE NEXT CHAPTER

Of course, Forbes would never retire outright—there is too much work still to do. Instead, he is working part-time as Meelia’s coordinator for program development managing two programs: the Remote Learning Collaborative, an initiative in partnership with the Manchester School District to support the city’s students through tutoring, and a program with the Manchester Housing Authority’s family units at Elmwood Gardens and Kelley Falls.

Lora says program development is one of the things he does best because he recognizes the need. She cites Access Academy as a perfect example, where Forbes went to Manchester’s ethnic communities first so that the program was crafted based on their priorities.

“That’s the thing about Dan,” says Lora. “He has this unique skill set, the ability to see this is something positive, even though he’s not part of the community that would be directly impacted—instead of telling the community that’s what they need, he works with them.”

Working from home during the pandemic has given Forbes the opportunity to spend more time with his family and grandchildren. He is still working directly with a few students but admits he does miss being on campus,

working with his colleagues, and seeing all the student volunteers coming and going through the center.

His dream for the Meelia Center is for it to continue to mature even as he acknowledges how far it has come. He sees how in recent years the center is having deeper, more meaningful conversations with students about their community engagement. It also has developed an Impact Fellows program for multicultural students to have more leadership positions. He hopes the Meelia Center will continue on the path toward community problem-solving bridging the gap between classroom lessons and realworld change, and providing opportunities for faculty and student research and scholarship within the community.

Either way, he believes the center is in very good hands with Lora. “In order to stay at the forefront of campuscommunity engagement, the center needed to constantly challenge itself, and grow to meet the times,” Forbes says. “Nickie’s work at Meelia for the past seven years convinced me she has the knowledge, skills, and energy to meet that challenge, and that I could play a support role as needed.”

Forbes is often called an “idea man” and “a visionary” by his former students, alumni, and colleagues. Yet, he still does not hesitate to roll up his sleeves and do the work. Thirty-six years at Saint Anselm College is proof of the mark he’s left. Led by his social work values and beliefs, he has impacted the lives of innumerable individuals.

“[Dan] is so humble,” says Lora. He doesn’t take the time to acknowledge his role in this beautiful story. When he tells a story, he plays down his role or leaves it out when he is one of the main characters.”

Dean Cronin relays, “The Rule of St. Benedict instructs us, ‘All guests … are to be welcomed as Christ, Chapter 53.’ This Benedictine notion of hospitality, service to others, and the fundamental recognition of the value and humanity of every individual is embodied in the person of Dan Forbes. He reminds us that we all have a best self that we can aspire to.”

DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE AMAZING

During a virtual retirement celebration held last spring, Elizabeth Condron ’04 shared this toast—expertly summarizing the impressive career of Dan Forbes ’81.

chevron-circle-right 36 years

chevron-circle-right 1 career

chevron-circle-right An estimated 600 student volunteers annually; more than 21,000 student volunteers during his tenure at Saint Anselm

chevron-circle-right Millions of bedbugs eliminated in the greater Manchester area

chevron-circle-right 25 Whiffle ball tournaments

chevron-circle-right 150 high school students earning academic credits each year through Access Academy

chevron-circle-right 3 pickup trucks used to move donations

chevron-circle-right 28

Valentine’s Day Dances

chevron-circle-right One Dan Forbes who has passion that is infectious. His service to others is indescribable. His belief in young leaders is palpable, and his conviction that the world can be a better place is inspirational.

Dan Forbes, a mentor, leader, professor, and family man. To Dan on your retirement, we leave you with your famous words: Don’t be afraid to be amazing.

HIDDEN SAINT ANSELM

While none of these gems are actually hidden, we highlight places and things you may walk by every day but never notice, or know the story behind.

By Kate Grip Denon • Photos by Lori Pedrick

Stations of the Cross

This rock archway located behind the monastery marks the beginning of a serene wooded pathway leading visitors through outdoor Stations of the Cross. Although sometimes a challenge to access during rainy months, the Stations of the Cross are worth a visit any season, but especially in late spring when the approximately 400 rhododendron bushes found along the pathway are in bloom.

The Grotto

You may know of the Grotto—but you may not know that first-year students gather at the statue of Mary during their orientation to write messages to their senior selves, which are delivered to their mailboxes when they become seniors.

St. Leander’s Cemetery

Not everyone may know of this final resting place for members of the monastic community. The cemetery, which dates to 1913, is located behind the monastery. According to College Archivist Keith Chevalier, it was named in memory of Brother Leander Schieber, O.S.B., (1867–1926).

Off the Beaten Path

Just beyond St. Leander’s Cemetery, you’ll find a sign pointing you toward cross-country ski trails. Miles of these trails can be found and explored around campus.

A Ginkgo Biloba Tree Grows on Campus

An unassuming sapling located behind Joseph Hall marks a remarkable connection to World War II. The sapling is a spawn from a 250-year-old ginkgo biloba tree that survived 1,500 yards from the 1945 atomic blast of Hiroshima. While this is not the only ginkgo biloba tree found on campus, it is the only one with this link to the past.

the pond

The first photographs of the Pond (which has held several different nicknames throughout the years) appear in the 18981899 college Catalogue. The pond was used for swimming in the summer and ice hockey in the winter. According to College Archivist Keith Chevalier, in the early 1940s, the Army Air Forces detachment on campus drained it and poured a partial concrete foundation. This was modified by the physical plant in the 1970s, and today serves as a retention pond.

Look to the Sky

Unless you’re a science student, you may not know there’s an observatory on campus. The J. Henry Izart Observatory has been a campus fixture since 1978. Located in the back fields, the observatory, according to Assistant Professor Nicole Gugliucci of the physics department, is mostly used for the Astronomy PS 101 course, and as requested by other courses.

TIP: According to Professor Jay Pitocchelli of the biology department, the observatory also is a great place to see and hear American woodcock displaying in March and April.

A Tribute to the Sisters of Joan of Arc

Look closely at the granite Cross of Lorraine monument located outside Joseph Hall. At its base you will notice it is dedicated to the sisters of Saint Joan of Arc. Arriving in 1928, the semi-cloistered sisters prepared meals and provided the monastery with domestic support. Joseph Hall is the former convent building the sisters lived in from 1955 to 2008.

Windows to the Past

Another hidden gem from Joseph Hall’s time as a convent—beautiful stained glass windows found in the first-floor stairwell, where the convent’s chapel altar was once located.

Do You See a Dragon?

There’s no hidden history here, but if you look closely at the Bell Tower of Alumni Hall, you can see the shape of a dragon’s head looking at you.

Moose on the Loose

Bennie the moose was a familiar fixture on campus in the early 2000s, but he’s spent the last several years hibernating in a cozy undisclosed location. But you never know, Bennie may decide to come out of hiding soon.

Echo Location

what's

An Herbarium in our midst

Indoor plants take on new meaning in Goulet. The biology department houses an herbarium, a collection of preserved plant specimens. According to Professor Eric Berry of the biology department, the college has thousands of herbarium sheets with plants collected from all over the world, some dating back to the 1800s. There are a few sheets on display in the cabinets across from Perini Lecture Hall, while the rest are kept safe in large cabinets in Goulet.

Storage Room Surprise

If you’re lucky (or brave) enough to gain access to the storage room in the basement of Goulet, brace yourself for some fun finds. It’s hard to miss the assortment of stuffed birds, owls, reptiles, and a skeleton or two.

Rare Reads

The Geisel Library is a treasure trove of literary finds, but also some very rare and historic reads, especially in the Paradis Archives and Special Collections. A recent acquisition for the O’Rourke Saint Anselm Collection is the first edition of St. Anselm’s Opera [et] Tractatus published in 1491. According to College Archivist Keith Chevalier, it is the first attempt at using the printing press to publish a collection of his works (prior to this, these works were copied by hand).

Also according to Chevalier, the library has other incunabula, books printed in the first 50 years following Gutenberg (~1450). The new acquisition complements volumes already in this collection: a third edition of Opera from 1497 and a circa 1474 copy of a single work, Cur deus homo. The O’Rourke Saint Anselm Collection supports the work of the college’s Institute for Saint Anselm Studies.

no postage necessary

Tucked inside the Ann and Paul Harvey Conference Room of the NHIOP hangs an important piece of history—a framed handwritten letter and envelope signed by statesman and congressman Daniel Webster. Look a little closer to see what isn’t there: postage. Ever since the First Continental Congress adopted it in 1775, members of Congress have had what is called the “franking privilege,” allowing them to send mail with just their signature.

Toast to a Past President

Look for this champagne glass former president Ronald Reagan held up after his 1980 Nashua, N.H., debate win over George Bush.

A Piece of Camelot

More Books to Check Out

There’s more than one impressive library on campus: The Young Presidential Library located at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics (NHIOP) houses 2,800 volumes dedicated to the presidency in the Arthur P. and Patricia F. Young Collection.

The podium used by former president John F. Kennedy while visiting New Hampshire on November 7, 1960, can be found on display in the NHIOP, next to a large photo of him speaking from the same podium.

It’s easy to get lost in the beauty found inside the Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center, but don’t overlook a stunning architectural detail found just above the entryway. Glance up to view an exquisitely detailed plaster relief symbolizing the Eucharist, dating back to 1924 when the chapel was completed. While coming and going, also take note of the four panels of stained glass on either side of the entrance. Each panel represents one of the four evangelists.

The historic campaign exceeded expectations, helping transform the Hilltop for generations to come.

BY PAUL PRONOVOST ’91

FAITH IN THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN COMES TO A CLOSE

THE LARGEST

PHILANTHROPIC effort in the history of Saint Anselm College concluded on June 30, 2020 having raised $75.1 million.

“Faith in the Future” was launched in 2018 with the goal of advancing the college’s Catholic and Benedictine liberal arts mission and tradition with a focus on five building blocks: community, mission, faculty and students, “Hilltop Home,” and Saint Anselm today.

“Even as we celebrate the rich traditions and heritage that make Saint Anselm the very special place we all love, we have a responsibility to ensure the advancement and perpetuity of the college,” said Dr. Joseph A. Favazza, president of Saint Anselm College. “The ‘Faith in the Future’ campaign is Anselmian to the core, putting a strategic emphasis on maintaining our identity while positioning us for growth and opportunity.”

Photo by Cory Klein Photography

FAITH IN THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN COMES TO A CLOSE

A total of 25,136 donors contributed to the “Faith” campaign, including 42 percent of the college’s alumni. The $75.1 million far exceeded the original fundraising goal of $60 million.

Rich Meelia ’71 H.D. ’14, the chair of the “Faith in the Future” campaign and former member of the Board of Trustees, credited the advancement staff and Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Jim Flanagan, along with the campaign steering committee and the Board of Trustees, for putting together a fundraising strategy that resonated with the college’s supporters.

“To see the enthusiasm, every year seemed to get a little easier,” Meelia said. “People want to be part of the St. A’s story.”

Flanagan said that Meelia, along with Advancement Committee Chair Frank Pfeffer ’76, former Board of Trustees Chair Ann Catino, Esq. ’82, and the campaign steering committee, was the ideal team to lead such an important fundraising campaign.

“Rich’s passion and loyalty to his alma mater and to the students, faculty and staff was the spark that motivated so many friends of the college to make generous commitments,” Flanagan said. “And the fact that our campaign exceeded the stated goal by over $15 million speaks to the incredible leadership of our campaign committee, to Ann and Dr. Favazza, and to the extraordinary generosity of our trustees, alumni, parents, and friends.”

The five fundraising priorities each targeted an important aspect of the college:

“The fact that our campaign exceeded the stated goal by over $15 million speaks to the INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP of our campaign committee, to Ann [Catino] and Dr. Favazza, and to the extraordinary generosity of our trustees, alumni, parents, and friends.”

—SENIOR

VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER JIM FLANAGAN

Photo by Gil Talbot

Rich Meelia ’71, H.D. ’14 talks with students.

Photo by Kevin Harkins

“Faith in our Mission” strengthened distinctive programs such as the New Hampshire Institute of Politics (NHIOP) and the Center for Ethics in Business and Governance (CEBG).

“Faith in our Community” bolstered experiential learning opportunities such as the Meelia Center for Community Engagement and the International and Study Abroad programs.

“Faith in our Faculty and Students” supported student scholarships, including 131 new ones; endowed chairs; faculty and student research programs; the Anselmian 360 program for firstyear students; and the Gregory J. Grappone ’04 Humanities Institute.

“Faith in our Hilltop Home” funded the renovation and expansion of campus buildings such as the Roger and Francine Jean Student Center Complex, the Savard Welcome Center, the Salamone Family Athletics Hall of Fame, the overall learning environment and classrooms, and athletic facilities.

“Faith in Saint Anselm Today” focused on the college’s annual fund, The Saint Anselm Fund, which provides immediate support to every aspect of

an Anselmian education.

The college’s endowment grew by more than $30 million as part of the campaign, which Meelia pointed to as an important factor in the college’s healthy future, particularly when facing challenging times like those brought on by Covid-19.

“A healthy endowment lets you weather storms; it keeps you from getting

swamped,” Meelia said.

Walking on campus, the “Faith in the Future” campaign’s impact is unmistakable: The Roger and Francine Jean Student Center Complex is the hub of student activity and the Savard Welcome Center is the first impression of the college for prospective students and families.

Salamone Family Athletics Hall of Fame

Photo by Jim Stankiewicz

The Savard Welcome Center

Photo by Jeff Dachowski

FAITH IN THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN COMES TO A CLOSE

Less evident but of equal importance, the campaign has provided significant resources for a variety of scholarships and has planted the seeds for many signature programs at Saint Anselm.

Max Latona, a philosophy professor and the executive director of the Center for Ethics in Business and Governance, said the CEBG “owes its very existence to the ‘Faith in the Future’ campaign.”

“Without the visibility, community support, and funding that the campaign provided, the Center would not be where it is today—a vibrant, signature, and growing community resource at Saint Anselm,” Latona said.

The Meelia Center for Community Engagement partners with the Manchester community through more than 50 nonprofit agencies, with students participating in a wide range of service activities. The volunteerism that was fostered in the early 1990s by recently retired Meelia Center director Dan Forbes ’81 has grown into a vital part of the Anselmian experience for many students.

“It’s something that’s very important to me,” Meelia said of his support for the community engagement work of the Center.

Meelia Center Director Nicole Lora ’06

said that Rich Meelia and his family take an active role in the Center’s work.

“Rich continues to be the Meelia Center’s biggest fan and supporter. His commitment to our work, the college, and our students is something we continue to be grateful for,” she said. “Campaigns like the ‘Faith in the Future’ and other generous gifts make our work possible by supporting our students and the programs that connect our college to the greater Manchester community.”

Reflecting on the campaign’s success, Catino pointed out the college had not embarked on a campaign as ambitious as “Faith in the Future,” and therefore it was

Thomas A. Melucci Jr. ’88 Theater

Photo by Jeff Dachowski

difficult to predict the outcome. “We had faith,” she said, “but would our faith be rewarded?”

The $75.1 million raised answered that question.

“I am so overwhelmed and humbled by the generosity of my classmates and every single Anselmian in our community,” Catino said. “‘Faith in the Future’ builds upon and strengthens the foundation of the college. It is the base upon which future generations of Anselmians will be educated, grow and become exemplary men and women in whatever field they choose, contributing to society in a positive way.”

NOTEWORTHY NUMBERS

$75,133,440 $60,000,000

25,136

UNIQUE DONORS

8,836 42.7% TOTAL AMOUNT RAISED ORIGINAL GOAL

ALUMNI DONORS PERCENTAGE OF LIVING ALUMNI MAKING A GIFT

“Without the visibility, community support, and funding that the campaign provided, the Center would not be where it is today—a vibrant, signature, and GROWING COMMUNITY RESOURCE at Saint Anselm.”

—MAX LATONA, PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR ETHICS IN BUSINESS AND GOVERNANCE

From left: Jason Sorens, director of the Center for Ethics in Business and Governance (CEBG), Hannah Beaudry '21, intern, Max Latona, executive director of the CEBG, and Kerri Roy '21, intern.

Photo by Jeff Dachowski

AS AN INSTITUTION, we are guided by our Catholic and Benedictine mission and identity in which all human life is valued and all are worthy of the same dignity and respect. With this in mind, we have spoken with a collective voice in naming racism a social evil and embracing productive efforts to engage in positive change.

In this critical moment, we must move beyond fear and prejudice and move forward through empathy and action. In answer to this call, Anselmians from across campus came together earlier this year to discuss what we as individuals and as a college can do to advance an anti-racism agenda, and the Anselmian Network for Racial Justice was formed.

The Anselmian Network of Racial Justice, comprised of five subgroups, is a collective effort that started with a network of 40 faculty and staff and continues to grow. In the following pages, we share information on each subgroup, along with what they have accomplished, and their plans for the future. We are so fortunate to have the Anselmian Network for Racial Justice working to lead civil discourse and community-wide action by encouraging an open and honest conversation on the subject of systemic inequity.

To be clear, I have a deep respect and appreciation for members of the law enforcement community, who in the heat of this social movement are often painted unfairly with broad and negative strokes. We have a responsibility to understand the many dimensions engendered when the sensitive topic of race in America is discussed, and we must approach our discourse with open minds and hearts to better understand all aspects of our world, and all perspectives within our community.

At the same time, our Catholic tradition’s commitment to social justice helps us understand the need to speak out about oppression. As Anselmians, we are called to humility and hospitality, compassion and community. May we live these Benedictine values and recommit ourselves to seeing the world through the eyes of those who experience racial injustice and to responding with action.

Joseph A. Favazza, Ph.D. President

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

What is the Acknowledgement subgroup?

The Anselmian Network for Racial Justice’s Working Group on Acknowledgement is assisting the college community in grounding our work within our Catholic and Benedictine identity, which condemns racism. We do this by engaging the treasury of knowledge offered within our Catholic intellectual tradition. This foundation guides our institutional work as we acknowledge the reality and sin of racism in all its forms. The college also will conduct a review of our institutional policies, procedures, and practices to ensure that these policies, procedures, and practices are both just and equitable, as well as part of strengthening a community environment that will not tolerate racism.

What has been accomplished so far? We have worked to communicate with the Anselmian community and beyond about the work of the ANRJ and have assisted in crafting messaging that speaks to an Anselmian response for racial justice. We hosted a prayer gathering in the summer following the wrongful death of George Floyd. We assisted President Favazza in responding to a request for the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities for Catholic colleges throughout our nation to respond with action to racial injustice. We also assisted President Favazza in communicating to the college community, alumni, the Board of Trustees and other constituents regarding the work of the ANRJ, and a statement regarding Black Lives Matter.

What do your future plans look like? We are working to find ways to integrate and stitch the education for, and work of, racial justice throughout the daily life of the college. Rooted in our Catholic and Benedictine identity, we desire for this work to not simply be an add on but to be naturally interwoven into the Anselmian experience both in and out of the classroom.

Angle-down

Co-leaders: Ande Diaz, Ph.D., director of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, chief diversity officer; Susan Gabert, Ed.D. ’91, assistant dean of students and director of campus ministry

PARENTING

What is the Parenting subgroup? Anselmians Raising Children for Social Justice is a group aimed at bringing community members (e.g., family members, caregivers, mentors, parents) together to discuss ways in which we can nurture, teach, and raise children to be socially conscious and anti-racist members of society. This group discusses the challenges of raising and mentoring children of all ages in a socially conscious way with evolving best practices.

What has been accomplished so far? Our first virtual meeting was aimed at bringing interested Saint Anselm faculty and staff members together to inquire how this group could best serve the needs of the community. Attendees were asked to preview a PBS Kids webinar presentation “Talking to Children Authentically About Race and Racism” to serve as the basis of small group discussions. Additionally, our group has compiled a list of children’s books, ranging from pre-K through grade 12, as well as resources for how to engage children in discussions about social and racial justice.

What do your future plans look like? We are hoping to include our alumni community going forward and to have a consistent working group to exchange ideas, best practices, and the challenges of raising children to understand and participate in social justice. In addition, Saint Anselm students are preparing additional resource guides for children’s books, including recorded read alouds, that could be used by teachers, caregivers, and mentors to support discussions about race and social justice.

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Co-leaders: Sara Smits Keeney, Ph.D., director of peace and justice studies, associate professor, sociology and social work; Cassandra McCue ’08, associate director of admissions; Aubrey Scheopner Torres, Ph.D., associate professor, education

We desire for this work to not simply be an add on but to be NATURALLY INTERWOVEN INTO THE ANSELMIAN EXPERIENCE both in and out of the classroom.

CURRICULAR

What is the Curricular subgroup? The Curricular subgroup brings together faculty members, staff, and administrators who are passionate about combating systemic racism and promoting social justice, and who also feel able to serve as a resource to their peers at this critical time. By identifying opportunities and providing tools, we aim to assist faculty members, academic departments, and the college community as a whole as they seek to enrich their curricula, policies, and pedagogical practices with racial and social justice principles. At the same time, we are very cognizant of the excellent Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work that has already been happening at Saint Anselm College for many years. So we have been calibrating our efforts, with the idea of both highlighting the curricula and programs that already exist and creating new opportunities and energy. Of course, in all of this work, a vital motivation for us has been to support our students and colleagues, and to realize the calling of our Anselmian mission.

What has been accomplished so far? Our group has focused on four areas thus far. First, we have developed and shared widely a conceptual framework that is serving as a reflection and planning tool for individual faculty, departments, and academic committees. We know that infusing our regular policies and practices with DEI considerations is crucial for fostering lasting improvements. Second, our group members have created forums for faculty and staff to discuss curricular and climate issues, both at the classroom and departmental levels. In this work, we are partnering with the Fr. Peter Guerin, O.S.B. Center for Teaching Excellence, the Office of the Dean of the College, and others. Third, we have created an updated list of courses that contain significant racial and social justice content. This list is a resource for students and faculty at pre-registration time and beyond. Finally, some of our members will be offering new courses and/or have produced new micro lectures that address issues of structural racism, inequality, and social justice.

What do your future plans look like? The Curricular group has plans to continue this work into the spring semester with additional opportunities for faculty to come together to share resources to enrich their teaching practices with social justice principles. Our group is also working with the Humanities Institute to develop a three-part series for the spring titled “Reimagining Justice” focusing on issues relating to racial justice and the criminal justice system (see sidebar page 39). Angle-down

Co-leaders: Christine Gustafson, Ph.D., associate dean of the college, associate professor, politics; Liana Pennington, J.D., Ph.D., associate professor, criminal justice

CO-CURRICULAR

What is the Co-Curricular subgroup? The Anselmian Network for Racial Justice’s Co-Curricular subgroup seeks to bring together a diverse coalition of students from across campus in providing anti-racism education and programming for their peers and the Anselmian community. Recognizing the impact peers can have on one another, we are collaborating closely with clubs and organizations on campus to elevate the importance of this racial justice work. Identifying racial injustices on campus and in our greater community, students will work with faculty, staff, and administrators in addressing these issues and working toward creating a truly inclusive and equitable community. Within the co-curricular group are three areas of focus: education, messaging, and advocacy.

What has been accomplished so far? This semester, students have worked on numerous projects, including documentary discussion nights, an anti-racism poster protest, creating social media to share racial justice resources (@AnselmiansForRacialJustice on Instagram) and crafting messaging for the community to come together in working toward justice.

What do your future plans look like? A calendar of discussion nights and documentaries, social media advocacy, book clubs, and panel presentations are being organized by students for the community. A major goal of the group is to plan an Anti-Racism Teach-In Day on campus. This event would be time for students and community members to learn from local activists, learning more about social movements, dive into anti-racism resources, join dialogue groups and actively work to unlearn biases and prejudices. Additionally, the co-curricular group is focused on centering, lifting and celebrating student voices on campus. Through continuing to be vocal about racial injustice, we are working toward normalizing the conversation around race and bringing awareness and light to topics that may have been shied away from in the past.

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Co-leaders: Wayne Currie, director, The Father Jonathan, O.S.B., Center for Intercultural Learning and Inclusion; Kathryn O’Loughlin ’10, assistant director of campus ministry

We are working toward NORMALIZING THE CONVERSATION AROUND RACE and bringing awareness and light to topics that may have been shied away from in the past.

DIALOGUE

What is the Dialogue subgroup? The dialogue subgroup is working with faculty, staff, and students to organize and implement a campus-wide dialogue initiative focused on race. The initiative has been designed with our unique community needs in mind and has been a collective effort. The initiative provides opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to meet in peer-led intra- and interracial dialogue groups as avenue to collectively address racism in our community and our institutions.

Affinity (intraracial) groups provide an opportunity for participants to learn about and explore their racial experiences and understanding of race and racism with individuals from similar backgrounds. These smaller affinity groups will be structured around each racial group’s unique needs and experiences, while allowing opportunities for interracial dialogue. There will be opportunities for participants to attend interracial dialogues as part of this process and other interracial groups throughout the academic year.

What has been accomplished so far? Currently, trained faculty, staff, and students have been facilitating weekly intraracial groups (also referred to as affinity groups) and they also came together for a larger interracial conversation. We have four groups currently meeting: faculty and staff of color, students of color, white faculty and staff, and white students.

We also prepared and planned for groups during the winter session. Since the winter session is shorter than the fall, the programming was adapted to fit the timeline. Participants committed to five weeks of virtual groups that were 1 hour and 30 minutes long. The majority of the group time was spent in racial affinity groups with the opportunity for interracial conversations during the spring semester and potentially over the winter term.

What do your future plans look like? We will continue to work on this initiative throughout the academic year and beyond. We anticipate that our community needs and the types of dialogues may change. We will work together to continue to adapt the program in response to the changing needs of our community.

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Co-leaders: Wayne Currie, director, The Father Jonathan, O.S.B., Center for Intercultural Learning and Inclusion; Nicole Lora ’06, director, Meelia Center for Community Engagement

desktop JUSTICE

REIM AGINING

The Gregory J. Grappone Humanities Institute is pleased to join with The Anselmian Network for Racial Justice, The Saint Anselm Criminal Justice Department, and the Saint Anselm Office of Alumni Relations to host a series of three webinars during the spring semester. Each webinar will invite participants to consider current issues surrounding policing and the justice system in light of core Anselmian values such as engagement with the community, the pursuit of justice in all forms, and the fostering of human understanding.

FEBRUARY:

First Encounters: Police Stops and Race

MARCH:

Keeping Watch: Surveillance and Race

APRIL:

New Directions in Policing: Responding to Community Needs

All three webinars will be free and open to the public. Dates and times to be announced. For more information contact Gary Bouchard, executive director of the Gregory J. Grappone Humanities Institute, gbouchard@anselm.edu.

For more information on the Anselmian Network for Racial Justice, visit www.anselm.edu/racial-justice.

HONORING THE LEGACY OF ERNIE THORNE ’34

BY ANNA BRENNAN-CURRY

When he graduated from Saint Anselm College in 1934, Ernie Louis Thorne became the college’s first Black alumnus. From that time on, he became not only a memorable member of the Anselmian community, but also a vital part of Manchester. At his 70th birthday party, former Manchester mayor Sylvio Dupuis ’56, H.D. ’83 said, “He is one of the few people I know who could have a letter addressed ‘Ernie Thorne, Manchester’ and it would still be delivered to him.”

Thorne’s path to the Hilltop was a unique one. “As the story goes, in 1930 Ernie’s mother appeared on campus and convinced the monks of the Abbey to admit her son Ernie to the college even though he and his family did not have the resources to finance his education,” says Father Francis McCarty, O.S.B. ’10. “The monks admitted Ernie to the class of 1934 on a complete scholarship.”

As a student, Thorne was a member of Delta Sigma Mu, serving as the secretary and vice president, and worked as a reporter and contributing editor for The Tower newspaper. He studied history and Romance languages. He performed in a number of school productions and in 1933 directed Amateur Night at the college.

After graduation, Thorne continued to live and work in Manchester for the rest of his life where he was a wellknown member of the community. He worked as a car salesman, driving instructor, and later in life as the bartender and host of the AnheuserBusch brewery in Merrimack, N.H., where he met many Saint Anselm students. He regularly attended alumni

and sporting events at the college and served as the vice chairman of the Order of Golden Anselmians. Thorne passed away in 1995 at the age of 85, and his class ring is held in Saint Anselm’s archives.

for not just passionate dialogue but, more importantly, it is time for action.”

Lynch agrees. “After attending three global town hall meetings on racial equality and inclusion by my company, Hewlett-Packard, I was motivated and challenged to make a difference in my new community of New Hampshire,” he says. “I believe in supporting this scholarship because I know the gift of a Saint Anselm education will benefit the next generation of black leaders.”

More than $100,000 has been raised, including generous matching gifts from Hewlett-Packard and a leadership gift from the monastic community.

This past summer, Denis Lynch ’81 and Keith Woolley ’82 led the charge to set up the Ernie Thorne ’34 Scholarship Fund for Racial Equality in his honor. This endowed scholarship will provide financial aid and educational opportunities to underrepresented students from Manchester, southern New Hampshire, and California. The idea for the scholarship was in response to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

“Denis has been my friend for over 40 years. I believe this long-standing friendship, fostered as students at Saint Anselm, and solidified as alumni, has been enriched by our willingness to engage in open and candid discussions about race,” says Woolley. “We both believe that now is the time

“The monks of Saint Anselm Abbey have designated a gift of $50,000 to the Ernie Thorne ’34 Scholarship for Racial Equality with the hope that others will join in supporting the fund so that the college’s diversity initiatives will be sustained for years to come,” says Father Francis.

These gifts, according to Joseph A. Favazza, Ph.D., president of Saint Anselm College, are important and appreciated for many different reasons. “We are grateful to all our generous alumni, the monastic community, and the Saint Anselm community, who contribute to the college, and these gifts are particularly important at this moment as we feel a new urgency to our commitment to creating a community of inclusion and equity,” he says. “Our strong social justice focus of the Catholic intellectual tradition grounds our work and propels us toward empathy and action.”

The college will begin awarding the scholarship in the 2021-2022 academic year.

Golden Anselmians from the class of 1934 at Alumni Reunion on June 12, 1994. Front row, from left: John Griffin, Dr. John Lepore, Ernie Thorne, John Stiles. Back row, from left: Denis Lynch ’81, Bruce Rizzo ’89.

“Our strong social justice focus of the Catholic intellectual tradition grounds our work and propels us toward empathy and action.”

—Joseph A. Favazza, Ph.D.

SARA SMITS KEENEY Peace and Justice Studies

BY KATE GRIP

What brought you to Saint Anselm?

In 2007 I had just completed my Ph.D. and was living in Boston, and the former chair of the sociology department, Dennis MacDonald, reached out to me. He went to school in Wisconsin, where I’m from, and we hit it off. I also really connected with Dan Forbes ’81 and the work he was doing at the Meelia Center. And when I drove through campus, it felt like it was the right place, it felt like home.

How do you describe the Peace and Justice Studies major?

It is an interdisciplinary major that bridges across the humanities and social sciences, and delves into helping students understand the structure and different types of justice. This major encourages students to think about and appreciate the dignity of all individuals and the rich diversity of the world, and to advocate for equity and justice while imagining a world without violence.

When a student first walks into your class, what are they surprised by?

The way I start my Intro to Peace and Justice Studies class is by talking about war and violence, and my students react with ‘Hey, I thought this was about peace and justice.’ We’ve never known a time without violence, and justice is the implementation of how can we

Sara Smits Keeney

move forward, how can we change, and how can we get somewhere else. It is important to critically assess how decisions are made and ask who gets to decide? How do we determine the victim? The accuser? What is our role as an individual? And how do structures perpetuate these inequalities?

How do you help students navigate all of that?

We’re giving students the tools to critically assess these questions. We teach theoretical and practical knowledge, but also research methods about how knowledge becomes knowledge. One of the many important takeaways from this major is the conflict-resolution class taught by Criminal Justice Professor Peter Cordella—how do we deal with conflict in our lives? This is skills based; they learn mediation, dialogue and the different types of negotiation. Students love being able to take this skill with them when they graduate.

Is there a typical career path for Peace and Justice Studies graduates?

This is a major that gives students the ability to choose their own direction. They take a core of five Peace and Justice classes, but electives come from history, philosophy, theology,

Associate Professor, Sociology and Social Work Ph.D., Syracuse University

Photo by Jeff Dachowski

sociology, political science, economics, psychology, business, biology, chemistry, communication, criminal justice, and because of this we are very popular double-major. It works very well with a lot of things. My students also are required to participate in some type of experiential learning, and this inspires many graduates to participate in a year of service, work for a nonprofit or an NGO, or pursue a career in education or the law.

Why is experiential learning an important aspect of this major?

The idea is you can read about all of this, but until you really see it, do it, feel it, experience it—that’s where students learn the most, that’s where I’ve learned the most. Growing up, my mom was always very good at exposing me to other people’s experiences, and after college I was an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer in the New York City schools and also did a lot of international travel. I’ve found it’s by weaving in these real experiences that make the content come alive.

What might your students not know about you?

There are only two continents I have not been to: Antarctica and Australia. The only state I’ve never been to is Hawaii.

DENON

“This major encourages students to think about and appreciate the dignity of all individuals and the rich diversity of the world, and to advocate for equity and justice while imagining a world without violence.”

Director of Peace and Justice Studies

Faculty Retirements

ELEVEN FACULTY MEMBERS RETIRE

THESE FACULTY MEMBERS PROVIDED A COMBINED 314 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COLLEGE UPON THEIR RETIREMENT LAST SPRING.

BY GARY BOUCHARD, PH.D.

Most people who call themselves Anselmians have spent only four brief and transformative years on the Saint Anselm campus; several seasons of their lives that flee with incomprehensible speed, and then reside with mysterious permanence in their memories.

Then there are those of us who come to this bucolic hilltop in New Hampshire for a more extended stay, often having left our own homes in a distant part of the country or another part of the world. We remain season after season after season after season until the years mount up—like so many melting snowbanks behind the pub or piles of windswept leaves on the campus quad. Before we know it, the years become decades that we casually call a career. Though it was always more than that.

Our transformation is much slower than those whom we teach. We study. We lecture. We learn a vast amount from our colleagues and students. We complete individual and group projects of all sizes and variety. We are tested in a myriad of ways. We compile our share of triumphs and disappointments. And though we never graduate, the time inevitably comes when, unlike the men who have professed a vow of stability to the Abbey, we take our leave.

These partings are usually marked by banquets, speeches, shared remembrances, and fond farewells. But this past spring, 11 longtime members of the Saint Anselm faculty ended their careers as Covid circumstances upended any celebratory pomp. They taught their final classes and received congratulatory toasts in the twodimensional world of Zoom. And just

like that, 314 years of service to Saint Anselm vanished from our daily lives into the archives of the library and our hearts. Wherever you are reading this right now, it would be fitting for you to stop and raise a glass in honor of:

Professor Gilbert Becker, who taught in the Economics and Business Department since 1987

Professor Daniel Broek, who taught in the Biology Department since 2008

Professor Margaret Carson, who taught in the Nursing Department since 1999

Professor Daniel Lavoie, who taught in the Biology Department since 1978

Professor Mihaela Malita, who taught in the Computer Science Department since 2004

Professor Landis Magnuson, who taught in the English Department and directed the Abbey Players since 1988

Professor Amy Schmidt, who taught in the Economics and Business Department since 2002

Professor Jeffrey Schnick, who taught in the Physics Department since 1988

Professor Silvia Shannon, who taught in the History Department since 1989

Professor Elaine Rizzo, who taught in the Criminal Justice Department since 1977

Professor Barry Wicklow, who taught in the Biology Department since 1986

Landis Magnuson’s departure prompted him to recall when he came to “stoic New England from the Midwest as a newly minted Ph.D.” over 30 years ago: “I could not foresee at first that the new colleagues and students I met would over time become many of the most important and influential people in my life, personally and professionally.” On behalf of this impressive group of 11 who will grace our hallways and classrooms no longer, Landis offers the words of William Kloefkorn, a favorite poet of his from his home state of Nebraska: “When you spend a lot of time in one place, that place spends a lot of time in you.”

Someday, on the other side of this pandemic, we hope to enjoy with our retired colleagues the celebrations and embraces we have missed. Meanwhile, we pray that the best of who we are remains alive in one another. And may Saint Anselm College, to which these tireless teachers and scholars devoted so many years of their lives, continue to spend time in them.

Missing photo Professor Gilbert Becker

“These partings are usually marked by banquets, speeches, shared remembrances, and fond farewells. But this past spring, 11 longtime members of the Saint Anselm faculty ended their careers as Covid circumstances upended any celebratory pomp.”

Professor Elaine Rizzo

Professor Margaret Carson

Professor Jeffrey Schnick

Professor Amy Schmidt

Professor Barry Wicklow

Professor Mihaela Malita

Professor Daniel Broek

Professor Silvia Shannon

Professor Landis Magnuson

Professor Daniel Lavoie

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Charlie McGranaghan published an 82-page short story entitled A Massmount Promise. ’66

Maurice (Moe) Demers recently completed his third and final 3-year term on the board of trustees of the Franco-American Centre which is headquartered at Sullivan Arena on the Saint Anselm campus. During his tenure he served two terms as president, overseeing the sale of their historic building in Manchester following their move to Saint Anselm College. In 2017 he was honored as the Franco-American of the Year. The FAC promotes French language and culture both on campus and throughout the state of New Hampshire.

The FAC’s liaison at the college is Brother Isaac Murphy, O.S.B., a native of Québec. Moe and his wife Elaine celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in November 2019. They live in Goffstown, N.H.

Larry Golden recently had an art exhibit displayed at The Charles M. and Hanna H. Gray Gallery at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) in St. Johnsbury, Vt. The exhibit “Kingdom Landscapes and Such,” was on display last summer into early fall. Golden taught art at St. Johnsbury Academy for 45 years, and has had

artwork on display at the Southern Vermont Art Association and at Northern Vermont University–North (NVU-North). He also has permanent work in the Fairbanks Museum, St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, the Vermont State House, NVU-North, a mural at the Lyndonville Police Station and numerous murals at the Mount Washington Hotel in New Hampshire.

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Col. John O’Shea, USA (Ret.) was recently elected to the board of directors of the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Alumni Association. The association honors the legacy and traditions of OCS while supporting the candidates currently enrolled. He also is commander of the D.C. chapter of the association which conducts activities with the greater Washington area.

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Brayton Shanley with his wife, Suzanne Belote Shanley, have written a book, Loving Life on the Margins: the story of the Agape community (2019). Founded by the Shanley’s in 1982, Agape is a residential, lay Catholic Community dedicated to prayer, voluntary simplicity, and gospel-centered nonviolent witness in the world, located on 34 acres in the Quabbin Reservoir watershed in Massachusetts.

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Eileen Stuart-Shor, Ph.D., A.N.P., F.A.H.A., F.A.A.N. received the National League of Nurses Isabel Hampton Robb Award for Outstanding Leadership in Clinical Practice. She received her M.S.N. as a cardiovascular clinical nurse specialist and adult nurse practitioner from Boston College, and a doctorate in nursing and health policy from the University of MassachusettsBoston. She completed a National Institutes of Health-funded post-doctoral fellowship in cardiovascular epidemiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/ Harvard Medical School. Currently she is a lecturer in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of MassachusettsBoston and a nurse practitioner at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

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Joseph Owen has written a book, This Day in Maine (Islandport Press, 2020), chronicling the day-today life in Maine. He is a former copy desk chief of Maine’s Morning Sentinel and Kennebec Journal newspapers. He worked as a newspaper editor for 22 years, and a newspaper reporter for 18 years prior to that, including nine years in Germany at European Stars and Stripes and four years in Japan at its Asian counterpart, Pacific Stars

and Stripes. During his time overseas, he covered the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989), the Persian Gulf War (1991), Operation Restore Hope in Somalia (1992-93), and the Great Hanshin Earthquake in Japan (1995), among other subjects, ultimately filing reports from 20 countries. He is a former president, and current board member of the Augusta-based Kennebec Historical Society.

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Teresa Kuta Reske has been promoted to associate dean of graduate and doctoral studies for the School of Nursing for the College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, Mass. She was on the leadership team that developed the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program and has served as director since its inception in the fall of 2014. She will continue to lead the program in this new role. She holds an MPA from the University of New Haven, a master of science in nursing in health systems from Vanderbilt University, and a doctor of nursing practice degree in executive nurse leadership from the MGH Institute of Health Professions.

J. Bernard Rice has been appointed director of My Next Health. Previously he served as chief executive officer of Edmark Inc., an IBM subsidiary. Prior to this he was chief financial officer and general partner for the

A HEROIC CONNECTION: CAPT. ANN DARBY REYNOLDS ’61

Capt. Ann Darby Reynolds’ active career as a Navy nurse is more than 30 years in her past, but she is still helping others—and maybe even saving lives—through her service. A black Lab named in her honor will be an invaluable aid to a veteran in need of therapeutic intervention. The dog, named Darby, is being trained by the Warrior Canine Connection (WCC), a nonprofit organization that trains mobility service dogs and names its dogs for fallen or inspiring service members.

“Inspiring” describes Reynolds, one of the first women to receive a Purple Heart for her service in Vietnam. She was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps in 1962 and served as a staff nurse at the Naval Hospital Pensacola, Florida, and at Camp Lejeune. While home in New Hampshire on Christmas leave in 1963, she received a special delivery letter notifying her of new orders to Navy Station Hospital Saigon, Vietnam. Exactly one year later, she was one of four Navy nurses injured when a bomb detonated at their living quarters. Reynolds remained in Vietnam after being wounded. In 1965, she was assigned to the Army 8th Field Hospital, Nha Trang, close to heavy fighting. She has received many medals and awards in addition to the Purple Heart Award and two Meritorious Service medals. In 2013, she was awarded the Alumni Award of Merit by Saint Anselm College.

“I feel honored to have been chosen to have my name used for one of WCC’s dogs,” says Reynolds. Her nomination—which came as a complete surprise—was submitted by a member of the Navy Nurse Corps Association.

Darby the pup is among more than 100 namesake dogs. At her home base with her “puppy parents” and professional trainers, she will

undergo an intense two-year training process and graduate with her class (although, occasionally, a dog in training has a career change).

Born to the “Freedom Litter” of 10 in May 2019, she joins fellow canines named for individuals who have served in different ways, including paralympian Melissa Stockwell and astronaut Eileen Collins. Some names are easily recognized, like statesman Bob Dole and former secretary of defense Gen. James Mattis. Most are not.

“You may not recognize the name, but each story is profound,” says WCC’s Namesake Program Coordinator Alyssa Malaspina. “This is one way we can keep telling their stories so that their legacies continue to live on. Our dogs have changed

the lives of veterans. If the namesake is deceased, his or her family gains a sense of hope in the midst of their sadness. What better way to honor these inspiring individuals?”

Darby the dog is already carrying her business card in her vest, so that anyone who meets her can learn who her namesake is and find out more about WCC.

The captain loves sharing stories about the “other” Darby, and the good work of the WCC. She also is hard at work sharing her own story; she’s currently writing a memoir of her Navy career.

BY LAURIE D. MORRISSEY PHOTO COURTESY OF WARRIOR CANINE CONNECTION

IBM Venture Capital Group in 1993, and then vice president of business development for IBM’s Consumer Division in 1998. He began his career with IBM in sales and held various sales leadership positions and was appointed director of finance, planning and administration for IBM’s Southern area. He received a Master’s in Business Administration in Marketing from Georgia State University, and attended the IBM Presidents Program (a special Executive MBA program) at Harvard University. ’77

Brian Lowney is producing a cable TV show about pets entitled “Fur, Fins and Feathers.” He is still serving as a dog judge, despite suffering a massive cerebral stroke three years ago, and continues to design custom pet-themed tee shirts.

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Charles Cox was promoted to grant officer for national programs at the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration in Washington, D.C.

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Michael Sheehan, H.D. ’11 has opened Cheever Tavern, a contemporary American restaurant in Norwell, Mass.

’83

Pamela (Hughes) Patenaude, former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, has joined the board of directors for the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C. She also was elected to the board of directors of CoreLogic, a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider.

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Chuck Quealy joined C&S Insurance in Massachusetts as chief operations officer. He will oversee the agency’s new business processes, information systems, personnel roles, and other activities geared toward overall efficiency and improvement. ’86

Michael Londregan has been appointed vice president and campaign manager for Perspecta Inc., in Chantilly, Va. He previously served in a variety of senior leadership positions with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Most recently, he held the position of director of communications, where he led the DIA’s congressional engagement program.

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Linda (Pavone) Connly has been elected to the board of directors of Zebra Technologies Corporation. Following a long technology career at Data General, EMC and Dell/EMC, Connly currently serves as founder and chief executive officer of The Connly Advisory Group LLC, which provides advisory services to diagnose sales issues and design go-tomarket models. She also is a strategic advisor to Bain & Company as an operating executive on sales and goto-market transformation. She also is a member of the Saint Anselm College Board of Trustees.

James Schiller, Ph.D., has been appointed executive director of St. Christopher’s Inn in Garrison, N.Y., a shelter for homeless and impoverished men recovering from addiction, run by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. Previously, he was the chief operating officer of Argus Community, a Bronx nonprofit that provides drugtreatment programs and case management services for teens and adults.

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Paul August, Ph.D. has accepted a position to lead the Rare Genetic Disease Discovery efforts at Agios Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, Mass. Previously he was the vice president

of Discovery Biology at Ligand Pharmaceuticals which acquired Icagen, Inc. in Tucson, Ariz. He is responsible for advancing preclinical drug discovery strategies to develop novel therapeutics for Rare Genetic Diseases.

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Rose Maria (DiFiore) Redman accepted the position of principal at Malden Catholic High School in Malden, Mass. Malden Catholic High School is one of three high schools in the country that follows a codivisional model.

Tim Stearns has been promoted to vice president in the Banking Supervision Department by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. He will be responsible for all large and regional banking organizations in the Eleventh Federal Reserve District. He joined the Federal Reserve in 1998 and is a graduate of the University of Colorado’s Graduate School of Banking.

’90

Ronald C. Renaud, Jr. has been elected as president, chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He has served as the company’s CFO and treasurer since June 2007 and chief business officer since June 2010. Prior to joining Idenix

A PATH HOME FOR VETERANS: JEFF NELSON ’99

There’s no way to tell for certain how many of New Hampshire’s veterans are homeless, but it’s a significant number. Fortunately, there are people like Jeff Nelson ’99 who, as executive director of Manchester’s Liberty House, is providing relief for struggling veterans and helping them move toward independence.

Since its opening in 2004, Liberty House has served more than 350 homeless veterans as residents of its transitional housing. In addition, before the pandemic, it was serving on average 170 veterans in the community each month, providing them food, clothing, bus passes, gas cards, camping gear, information and referrals. Nelson has been executive director since 2017.

“I’m not a veteran,” Nelson says, “but I’m retired from a career in law enforcement and many of the people I had the pleasure of working with were veterans and transitioning to serving veterans was very comfortable.”

One of Nelson’s law enforcement jobs was as commander of detectives at the Goffstown Police Department. During his entire time there and while raising two sons, he was also a parttime student at Saint Anselm. “It took me 14 years to earn a bachelor of arts degree, but it was one of the most significant experiences in my life,” Nelson says. “First, it required discipline over a fairly long period of time. Second, the humanities lectures, classroom discussions and readings were enriching.” And third, he adds, it provided a good example for his sons.

With his degree in hand, he became chief of police in Dunbarton. But, again, he became a student while working full-time, first getting a master’s in education from Plymouth State University and then a master’s in public administration from UNH.

Eight years later, in 2015, he got another master’s, this time in divinity. He would then serve as volunteer chaplain for the NH Association of Chiefs of Police. “I have a deep faith and a Christian worldview,” he says. That worldview carries into his work at Liberty House, which he calls “a meaningful ministry.”

Last year, his work entered a new phase; Liberty House became part of NH Catholic Charities. Nelson says that has provided immediate benefits: “First, it enabled us to move into our new home.” The new home, still in Manchester, is much larger; instead of 3,700 square feet, it is 16,000 square feet, making it able to accommodate 24 residents rather than just nine. Additional space is also being renovated to create a veterans center. Another plus,

Catholic Charities provides many of the support functions for the facility and its small staff—accounting, payroll and IT among them.

The biggest challenge for Nelson is that there’s more to do and all operational expenses are funded by private donations. “We don’t have sufficient resources for veterans who are in need of services such as detox, post-traumatic stress programming, et cetera,” he says.

Despite the ongoing challenges, Nelson feels the rewards of his work at Liberty House are well worth the effort. “The biggest reward,” he says, “is seeing veterans commit to a healthy path toward independence and experience success.”

BY BARBARA COLES

PHOTO BY JASON KOLNOS

in 2007, he served as senior vice president and CFO of Keryx Biopharmaceuticals. Prior to his position at Keryx, he spent several years as a biotechnology analyst for leading investment banks including Bear Stearns, Schwab Soundview and JPMorgan. He also is a member of the Saint Anselm College Board of Trustees. ’95

Katy Folan has been serving the Archdiocese of Boston since 1999. She was appointed as director of Institutional Advancement at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Mass. Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary is a Roman Catholic professional and graduate theological institution dedicated uniquely to the preparation of seminarians 30 years of age and older responding to a call to priestly ministry. To date, candidates have come to the Seminary from more than 150 dioceses and religious communities. Over 700 alumni serve in dioceses and religious communities throughout the world.

Pamela (Call) MacDonald was named assistant superintendent of Malden Public schools in Massachusetts. She had served as the director of special education in Haverhill prior to taking on this new role in Malden. She also is thrilled to announce her daughter, Grace, has joined

the Hawk Family and will be a member of the freshman class this fall.

’03

and Professional Practice at Boston Medical Center.

Daniel McVay, and his wife Siobhan, were recently honored as the Frassati Award Honorees from the Dominican Volunteer organization. The couple met during their Apostolic Volunteer year in Chicago.

Sean Ryan received the Coach of the Year Award by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). He is coach of the boys’ basketball team at Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Dorchester, Mass. ’00

Brian Levesque has been selected as the new chief of the Merrimack Police Department in Merrimack, N.H. He began working with the Merrimack Police Department in 1998 where he was most recently deputy chief. ’01

Mark William Bracken, assistant treasurer and director of the Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Division was awarded the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) Presidential Distinguished Service Award.

Shaun St. Onge has been hired as the new principal at Manchester Memorial High School. A Queen City native, he started his teaching career at the middle school at Parkside in 2005. Since 2014, he has served as assistant principal at Merrimack Valley High School in Penacook.

’04

Bobby Morong, a physical education and special education teacher has launched Training Ties, a product to help children learn how to tie shoes and keep them tied. ’07

Rachel Clark is a brand manager at Champion Petfoods in Boulder, Colo.

Kevin Hogan is a sales director at IQVIA MedTech. He also has been nominated to serve on the board of directors at the Lynch/ van Otterloo YMCA in Marblehead, Mass.

Allison Kaelblein, a clinical nurse educator in the MICU at Boston Medical Center and Keri McDonough ’96, a case manager at Boston Medical Center both received the Nurse Excellence Award from Boston Medical Center. Also in attendance at the ceremony was Diane Hanley ’79, associate chief nursing officer, Nursing Education, Quality

Ashley Hopkins-Shack is co-founder of Four Progress, LLC. The company focuses on creating solutions to help individuals become the best versions of themselves. Her first product, the Worry IV Nothing journal, is a discreet anxiety journal that leverages cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to overcome negative thoughts and manage anxiety.

Peter Zamachaj earned a Masters of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University in August 2020.

’12

Amanda M. Brahm has joined the law firm Carlton Fields in Hartford, Conn. She is an attorney in the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice.

’13

Samantha Elliott is the new head girls’ volleyball coach at Franklin High School, in Franklin, Mass. She was previously the assistant coach for the program.

Ian Snyder has been named director of student activities at Saint Patrick Academy in Portsmouth, N.H.

Maura (Hurley) Snyder recently completed her Master of Social Work at Westfield State University while working for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.

Lowell to receive her doctorate degree in nursing practice.

Marcello Cugno earned his master’s degree at Boston College and is currently treating mental illness as a licensed psychotherapist.

Brigid Horan was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade on May 1 in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. She also was selected to become a neonatal intensive care unit nurse.

Danny Evans, a two-year member of the men’s basketball program, has signed a contract with Club Bàsquet L’Hospitalet, a professional basketball team based in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.

Jesse Imse was recently named a “40 Under Forty” award recipient by the Hartford Business Journal. He serves as a marketing communications and brand management consultant within Fortune 500 AECOM’s design and consulting services group. He helps lead all things marketing communications and brand management for his team’s main client, the state of Connecticut’s Department of Transportation (CTDOT).

Veronica Lester has been promoted to director of marketing for Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, N.H. She was previously the museum’s marketing assistant.

Kelly Zamachaj earned her Masters of Nursing from Southern New Hampshire University in October 2020.

Chris Santo, assistant coach of the nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College men’s basketball team was recently selected by Silver Waves Media on its list of the 50 Impactful NCAA Division II Assistants.

Ashley Kosikowski has joined the Bristol, Conn., police department as a patrol officer. Previously she was a research assistant for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

Gina (Fuccillo) Cugno earned her master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner and is continuing her graduate studies at the University of Massachusetts,

Catherine Doucette is a research fellow at The Preservation Society of Newport County/Newport Mansions in Newport, R.I. Her current project focuses on the reinterpretation of 18th century objects at Hunter House. She is conducting a critical assessment of the collection and researching the role of Newport craft within the Atlantic world to unveil the crucial narratives that fundamentally shaped the material and visual culture of colonial Newport. During this fellowship, she will craft a new and engaging experience for visitors to learn about the stories of colonialism behind Newport art and craftsmanship, exploring themes of empire, revolution and trans-Atlantic slavery. She received her master’s degree in art history from The Courtauld Institute of Art in London.

Tim Guers, a four-year member of the men’s basketball program, has signed with the Kordall Steelers in Luxembourg.

Karoline Leavitt is assistant press secretary in the White House. She was previously a presidential writer in the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence.

Elijah Fish will be taking part in the ACE program (Alliance for Catholic Education) which serves Catholic school communities around the country. He will be teaching third grade in Mission, Texas, for two years while partnering with the University of Notre Dame to earn his M.Ed.

Jake Grade is playing hockey in France this season for the Fédération Français de Hockey sur Glace (FFHG Division 1) for the Dogs de Cholet (Hockey Club Choletais).

Kaitlyn Brine is participating in a year of service through the Saint Joseph Worker Program in Los Angeles, Calif. Through the program she will have the opportunity to work at Homeboy Industries as an assistant case manager.

Abigail Donaldson is working as a case manager in the Diversion Center for Merrimack County in Massachusetts.

Ian McNamara is a contracts administrator for BAE Systems as part of their Contracts Leadership Development Program (CLDP). The CLDP is a threeyear rotational program that aims to provide young employees with a broad range of exposure to start their career.

Julia Rein is working as a nurse at Duke University Hospital, N.C., as part of the Adult General Medicine Stepdown Unit.

Alva de Mars Megan

Alva de Mars Megan passed away on September 22, 2020, at the age of 93. Megan’s legacy is encapsulated in the Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center at Saint Anselm College that shares her namesake.

Born in East Boston, Mass., Megan grew up in Belmont, Mass., before becoming a longtime resident of Exeter, N.H. She earned a degree in fine arts from Dunbarton College in Washington, D.C. In 1951, she married Francis (Frank) J. Megan, Jr. ’51; the couple had 10 children and 15 grandchildren.

An accomplished painter, Megan loved animals and the outdoors, especially the White Mountains. She also enjoyed spending her summers at Canobie Lake, walking Rye Beach as well as sailing. She dedicated herself to faith as an active member of St. Michael’s Church in Exeter.

Since Saint Anselm College’s Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center was founded in 1967, the gallery has housed a permanent collection of artworks as well as provided a gracious setting for special exhibitions.

The gallery was dedicated to Megan in the early 2000s by her husband, a Saint Anselm College alumnus. Mr. Megan had been a major benefactor

of the college for many years. For his continued generosity, the college gave him the privilege of naming the Chapel Art center in his wife’s honor.

Director of the Chapel Arts Center, Father Iain Maclellan, O.S.B. ’78, had met Alva on several occasions throughout the years. “I found her [Alva] to be remarkably strong and peaceful—a very warm and loving woman. I had also known her son Jay very well,” he says.

He also mentioned Megan’s adoration of the gallery’s vaulted ceiling murals painted by Father Raphael Pfisterer, O.S.B.

“I recall at the luncheon in honor of the naming of Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center, Alva called the ceiling murals Saint Anselm’s Sistine Chapel,” he says.

Senior Vice President of College Advancement, Jim Flanagan shared some thoughts on Alva’s passing.

“The entire college community’s thoughts and prayers go out to Alva and the entire Megan family,” he says. “We will be forever grateful for her support and love for the arts at Saint Anselm College.”

Lucille Lavoie ’57

Lucille “Lu” Lavoie ’57 passed away August 9, 2020 at the age of 96 after a period of declining health.

Born January 26, 1924 in Epping, N.H., Lavoie graduated valedictorian from Epping High School and graduated summa cum laude from Saint Anselm College in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She was recognized in the 1956-57 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges Additional nursing education included a master’s degree in nursing education from Boston College in 1961 and a master’s degree in religious education from Emmanuel College in Boston in 1971. During a year’s sabbatical, with a fellowship received from the National Cancer Institute, she earned a Certificate in Oncology Nursing Education in 1981 from San Jose State University in California.

Lavoie returned to Saint Anselm College in 1959 to teach in the Department of Nursing retiring in 1989 as associate professor. In 1990 she was awarded the title of professor emeritus She served on many department and college committees and organizations including the College Accreditation Evaluation Committee, College Centennial Committee, Faculty Senate and the Saint Anselm College Alumni Council. In 2004 she received the Walter J. Gallo ’58 Award for dedicated service to both the Alumni Association and the college.

Throughout the community Lavoie volunteered for many organizations including the N.H. Symphony Orchestra Guild, the Manchester Public Library Pro-Literacy Program, Visiting Nurse Association of Manchester Hospice Program. She served as a eucharistic minister, lector, member on the parish council, religious education program and the parish outreach program at St. Catherine of Siena Parish where she was a communicant.

A Christian burial service was held at St. Joseph Cemetery in Epping, N.H. on August 13, 2020.

Photo by Father Iain Maclellan, O.S.B. ’78

Mary Margaret Mongan, H.D. ’86

Mary Margaret Mongan, H.D. ’86 passed away peacefully on May 27, 2020 at the age of 94. Born in Manchester on May 14, 1926, she attended Manchester schools. During WWII she enlisted in the U.S. Navy Cadet Corps and became a registered nurse after training at Saint Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in Nashua, N.H. While her children were in college she attended the University of Michigan to study gerontology and became well known for her advocacy for the elderly. She was a tireless champion for New Hampshire’s vulnerable and underserved helping to procure federal grants and healthcare dollars for multiple initiations. She served on numerous boards throughout the city and state and received many awards and honors in recognition of her service. She also served on the Saint Anselm College Board of Trustees from 1983 to 1998 and received an honorary degree in 1986. Mongan is predeceased by her husband, John, who she married in 1947.

Thomas Prendergast ’72

Thomas Prendergast ’72 of Boston, Mass., passed away on May 26, 2020. Born in Newark, N.J., he was educated in the Benedictine tradition, first at St. Benedict’s preparatory School and then at Saint Anselm College. He was CEO and president of Heritage Property Investment Trust, Inc., a

manager of commercial real estate throughout the country. As an executive with Heritage, he adopted a summer camp for underprivileged youth and encouraged employees to become involved in community service. As a loyal alumnus, he participated in the Boston Business Roundtable, lectures in Professor Emeritus Romps’ investments course, served on college advancement committees, and was a member of the Corporate Partners Program. He served on the Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2009 and again from 2012 to 2013. Tom will be remembered for his philosophy of balancing hard work with hard play, rigorous thought with boundless creativity, and a desire to learn with a willingness to serve. He is survived by his wife Anne (McCarthy) ’73

IN MEMORIAM

Raymond O. Bissonnette ’50, Nashua, N.H., July 2, 2020.

James F. Byrne ’50, Naples, Fla., July 18, 2020.

Edward H. Hogan ’50, West Melbourne, Fla., May 25, 2018.

Arthur J. Bosa, D.P.M. ’51, Keene, N.H., April 27, 2018.

Joseph F. Caponio, Ph.D. ’51, Arlington, Virginia, May 26, 2018.

Gerald W. Giles ’51, Hollywood, Fla., July 17, 2018.

Robert F. Hamel ’51, Manchester, N.H., June 27, 2020.

Charles P. Gleason ’52, Northampton, Mass., December 21, 2018.

Ralph J. Lambert ’52, Shirley Mass., December 19, 2019.

Bernard F. Ott ’52, Feeding Hills, Mass., December 10, 2018.

Jerome P. Shea ’53, Holyoke, Mass., September 7, 2020.

Lolita J. Ball ’54, South Portland, Maine, June 3, 2020.

Constance M. (Hebert) Hamel ’55, Chester, N.H., May 13, 2020.

Josephine (Kelly) Moriarty ’55 (Mount Saint Mary), East Atlantic Beach, N.Y., June 4, 2020.

Anne Vaccarest ’55 (Mount Saint Mary), Windham, N.H., April 20, 2020.

Patricia (Murray) Lewis ’57, Winlock, Wash., December 4, 2019.

Paul George Normandin ’57, Lowell, Mass., Jul 25, 2020.

John “Jack” E. O’Connor ’57, Hampstead, N.H., May 9, 2020.

Eugene D. Spratt ’57, Coatesville, Pa., July 21, 2018.

Richard T. Bergeron ’58, Sanford, Maine, May 20, 2018.

Peter Steckowych ’58, Goffstown, N.H., September 2, 2020.

Raymond H. Taber ’58, Goffstown, N.H., July 7, 2018.

Nicholas S. Zagorianakos ’58, Lincoln, Maine, May 31, 2018.

John P. Bolton, Jr. ’59, Tuftonboro, N.H. April 26, 2020.

Richard A. Gagne ’59, Sarasota, Fla., January 31, 2018.

Paul R. Kenney ’60, Auburn, N.H., August 27, 2020.

Edward J. Craig ’61, Kirbyville, Texas, July 23, 2018.

John M. Fleming ’61, Manchester, N.H., August 24, 2020.

John Joseph (Jack) Healy, Jr. ’61, Goffstown, N.H., August 15, 2020.

Edward J. Ryan, Jr. Esq. ’61, South Hadley, Mass., July 29, 2018.

Evelyn (Lord) Gaudrault ’62, Topsfield, Mass., May 7, 2020.

Rev. Leo Hoar, Ed.D. ’62, Cape Cod, Mass., April 28, 2019.

Charles B. Perini ’62, Harvard, Mass., North Falmouth, Mass., and Rangeley, Maine, July 16, 2020.

Hon. Norman E. Champagne ’63, Manchester, N.H., July 27, 2020.

Michael W. Kozzi ’63, Sarasota, Fla., March 16, 2020.

Sheila (McCarthy) Moesch ’63 (Mount Saint Mary), Williamsville, N.Y., February 17, 2018.

Stanley A. Wojtowicz, Jr. ’63, Naples, Fla., April 26, 2020.

William S. Bobka ’64, Sterling/Clinton, Mass., July 13, 2020.

Rev. Dennis P. Bombardier ’64, Greenfield, Mass., April 22, 2018.

James J. Coman, Esq. ’64, Raleigh, N.C., August 30, 2018.

John B. Fahey, Jr. ’64, Litchfield, Conn., August 4, 2020.

Richard A. “Dick” Grasso ’64, Franklin, Mass., April 28, 2020.

Martha (Watson) Connell ’65 (Mount Saint Mary), Ferrandina Beach, Fla., July 4, 2018.

Rev. Joseph Dietz ’65, Sleepy Hollow/ Riverdale, N.Y., September 17, 2020.

James E. Dowling, Jr. ’65, Mashpee, Mass., July 21, 2020.

Richard Hennessey ’65, Kennebunk, Maine, September 25, 2020.

George A. Provost ’65, Litchfield, N.H., June 30, 2020.

John Toscano ’65, South Amboy, N.J., July 10, 2020.

Sophia Antoniou ’66, Bedford, N.H., May 30, 2020.

Carmen Massimiano ’66, Pittsfield, Mass. June 25, 2020.

James J. McGinness, Jr. ’66, New York, N.Y., April 28, 2020.

Peter B. Siefken ’66, Charleston, S.C., August 31, 2020.

Gerald P. LeSage ’67, Littleton, N.H., March 7, 2020.

Deacon Alfred O. Balestracci ’68, North Reading, Mass., July 29, 2020.

Michael T. Walsh ’68, Manchester, N.H., July 4, 2020.

David C. Messier ’69, Bedford, N.H., August 15, 2018.

Robert Silva ’69, Nahant, Mass., October 12, 2020.

Dennis W. Sullivan ’70, Lake Mary, Fla., January 8, 2018.

Richard Tuohy ’70, Summerfield, Fla., and Cape Cod, October 11, 2020.

David B. Kennedy ’71, Bloomfield, Conn., April 10, 2020.

Doris E. Beck ’72, Winter Haven, Fl., September 13, 2020.

Robert C. McDonald ’72, Lowell, Mass., July 15, 2020.

Matthew J. Brennan, III ’73, Marlborough, Mass., July 25, 2020.

Leonard R. Barone ’75, Haverhill, Mass., October 17, 2020.

Mary K. Dillon-Sikoski ’76, Turners Falls, Mass., July 18, 2020.

William D. Robinson ’76, Derry, N.H., July 9, 2020.

Paul E. Dionne ’77, Nashua, N.H., August 3, 2018.

Michael R. Beadle ’79, Holderness, N.H. May 8, 2020.

James P. Cerami ’79, Sebring, Fla., February 4, 2018.

Linwood A. Daggett ’79, Kittery, Maine, July 24, 2018.

Sheila (McMahon) Verre ’80, Wethersfield, Conn., May 31, 2020.

Diane (Duquette) DiVasto ’81, Middletown, Conn., May 4, 2020.

David C. Toracinta ’82, Little Compton, R.I., October 7, 2020.

Therese (Dubreuil) Clarkson ’84, Manchester, N.H., August 29, 2020.

Robert M. Nee, M.D. ’84, Glenmoore, Pa., May 28, 2018.

Daniel R. Duhamel ’90, Manchester, N.H., July 5, 2020.

Allison (Fennell) Grossman ’91, Newburyport, Mass., August 4, 2018.

Daniel H. Heffernan ’93, Oakhurst, N.J., August 9, 2018.

Martha Joan Barrett, Esq. ’99, Lowell, Mass., October 7, 2020.

Emily (Rowden) Fournier ’11, Fairfield, Maine, July 11, 2020.

FRIENDS

Patricia Fay, former faculty, October 11, 2020.

Sister Amy Hoey, former faculty, August 14, 2020.

Robert McCullough, Jr., former employee, June 9, 2020.

Stanley C. Olsen, H.D. ’78, September 30, 2020.

MARRIAGES

Jill Esernia ’06 and Daniel Feltus, June 22, 2019, Mystic, Conn.

Barbara Joslin ’06 and David Galatis, July 27, 2019, Somerville, Mass.

Daniel (Scholfield) Belfield ’09 and Beata Lobel, June 21, 2020, Hartford, Conn.

Christie Usher ’09 and Colby Dame, September 5, 2020, Brookfield, N.H.

Kerri Fleming ’10 and Joseph Donnelly, July 18, 2020, Pembroke, Mass.

Maria Tallo ’10 and Mitchell Jarzabek, July 18, 2020, Saint Anselm Abbey Church.

Jacqueline Cooney ’11 and Mark Lane ’11, October 3, 2020, Saint Anselm Abbey Church.

Kathryn Swider ’12 and Colin Mansfield, September 5, 2020, Saint Anselm Abbey Church.

Meghan Reilly ’13 and William Tallarita ’13, Newton, Mass., September 5, 2020.

Rachel Dushkewich ’14 and Edward Amador, September 25, 2020, Saint Anselm Abbey Church.

Lyndsay Davis ’15 and Liam Gilliland ’15, August 8, 2020, Saint Anselm Abbey Church.

Coraima Perez ’15 and Travis Kulak, September 26, 2020, Saint Anselm Abbey Church.

Jacob Boesch ’18 and Marianne Collard, May 2, 2020, Saint Anselm Abbey Church.

Ashley Robichaud ’19 and Greg Williams ’18, June 20, 2020, Saint Anselm Abbey Church.

Anne Sears ’14 and Mark Kotsopoulos ’14, September 19, 2020, Edgartown, Mass. Gina Fuccillo ’15 and Marcello Cugno ’15, September 19, 2020, Reading, Mass.

FUTURE ANSELMIANS

Kelly (Cunningham) Levis ’02 and Timothy, a daughter, Cecilia Gray, June 21, 2019.

Alison (Lane) Daley ’04 and Keith, a daughter, Everleigh Reegan, May 26, 2019.

Casey (Gavin) McDonagh ’04 and John, a daughter, Shannon Linda, May 20, 2019.

Erin (Siderko) Treseder ’05 and Paul, a daughter, Ava Kathryn, September 22, 2018.

Sean Sullivan ’06 and Kathleen, a son, Conor Francis, January 22, 2020.

Allison (Salinder) Anastasoff ’07 and Adam, a daughter, Layla Mae, July 15, 2019.

Milestones

Cassandra (Loftus) McCue ’08 and Jonathan, a son, Theodore Richardson, September 1, 2019.

Nicole (Love) Crandall ’09 and Seath Crandall ’11, a son, Riley James, October 2, 2020.

Kristen (Copithorne) Pratt ’09 and Marcus Pratt ’08, a son, Sawyer Annibale, May 18, 2020.

Heather (Sherlock) Balduino ’10 and Christopher, a daughter, Brooke Sherlock, May 12, 2020.

Leanne (Cirigliano) Briand ’10 and Ken, a daughter, Ava Rose, July 2, 2019.

Bridget (Martin) Lazzara ’11 and Jacob, a daughter, Lucille Cartwright, June 28, 2020.

Cameron Ross ’11 and Samantha, a son, Declan Stratton, August 15, 2019.

Katie (Meinertz) Smith ’14 and Shane Smith ’13, a daughter, Shannon Kathleen, July 7, 2020.

Kelly (Dunn) Zamachaj ’14 and Peter Zamachaj ’11, a son, Andrew, September 26, 2020.

Melanie (Powell) Hudon ’15 and Dylan, a son, Callum Finn, February 18, 2020.

Olive (Capone) Douglass ’18 and Luke Douglass ’18, a daughter, Rachel Soucy, June 16, 2020.

Saint Anselm College ALUMNI COUNCIL

Stay in Touch with the Alumni Council

The Alumni Council’s role is to be ambassadors of the college, acting as the voice of the alumni and developing an environment of involved, active alumni across the country. The Council welcomes you to reach out with ideas or concerns that may be important to fellow alumni.

Kathleen Mahan ’02, President k.mahan@clrm.com

Karen Clark ’10, Vice President karen.clark724@gmail.com

End Note

During the hunt for locations for our “Hidden Saint Anselm” feature, we stumbled upon this unassuming yet beautifully rustic garden shed. What we found near the shed was even more enticing—an apiary. According to Brother Celestine Hettrick, O.S.B., the college has a long history of keeping bees, up until the early 2000s. He resumed the tradition for the Abbey this spring, and became the beekeeper, or apiarist. While the honey yields are not yet bountiful, he reports they are delicious.

Photo by Lori Pedrick

BUILD A LEGACY

With a planned gift to Saint Anselm College, Alumni can leave a legacy at their alma mater and invest future generations of Anselmians.

Alumni who give to Saint Anselm College through a bequest, life income gift, or estate plan are welcomed and celebrated as members of the college’s 1889 Society.

Invest in Scholarships and Academics

Msgr. Wilfrid Paradis ’43 left the balance of his estate to the college to benefit the Geisel Library.

Thomas P. Flynn ’57 and Sherri Richards Flynn endowed a significant new scholarship fund for history majors.

Capt. Ann Darby Reynolds ’61 U.S.N. (Ret.) created a fund to assist students intending to become military nurses.

We invite you to create your own legacy at Saint Anselm College.

To learn how to include your college in your will, trust, or retirement plan, contact:

Peter M. Labombarde, CFSC Senior Director for Gift Planning and Individual Gifts

(603) 641-7228

plabombarde@anselm.edu

100 Saint Anselm Drive

Manchester, NH 03102-1310

A COMMITMENT TO THE HUMANITIES

Saint Anselm College recognizes how vital the humanities are to feeding and nurturing the human spirit in its quest to provide for the common good. That’s why we are boldly reasserting our commitment to the humanities with the Gregory J. Grappone Humanities Institute. As the Institute hosts more learning opportunities and events, we seek to transform a centrally located, historic building on campus into a permanent home for the Institute.

To learn more about this exciting project, please contact James F. Flanagan, Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer at (603) 641-7221 or jflanagan@anselm.edu.