The
Elms Magazine
Winter/Spring 2011-12
Our Lady of the Elms School Board of Trustees
Our Lady of the Elms School Chief Administrators
Catherine Hackney, Ph.D. Board President
Ruth E. Friedman, Ed.D., P’05 High School & Middle School Principal
Diane Evans Board Vice President
Elms Fund for Excellence
Dan Conway Board Treasurer Marianne Spiros P‘06 Board Secretary Lisa Kermizis Abraham ‘83 Kathleen Ashcroft ‘80 Sr. Janice Bachman, O.P. Dr. Alfreda Brown Sr. Maria Ciriello, O.P. Susan Clark, Ph.D Gordon Ewers Elaine Harlin Mary Ann King Ron Kirksey Sr. Arleen Kisel, O.P. Eliza Williams ‘06
Please remember Our Lady of the Elms in your charitable giving Help us preserve the Elms legacy by supporting the
Elms Fund for Excellence 2012-13.
Founded Ministries Board
Make a pledge that can be spread over 1, 2 or many payments. Make a gift of stock that can be transferred directly to Our Lady of the Elms School.
Remember Our Lady of the Elms and the Dominican Sisters of Peace (formerly the Sisters of St. Dominic) in your estate plans.
Sr. Joan Scanlon, OP Councilor
1375 W. Exchange St. Akron, Ohio 44313 330.867.0751 jforgach@TheElms.org
Tonja Cruse, P ‘11 Elementary School Secretary Michelle Fletterick Business Manager Julie Forgach Director of Institutional Advancement
Shirley Gorsline High School Assistant
Sr. Margaret Ormond, OP Prioress
Our Lady of the Elms Advancement Office
Sr. Maura Bartel, O.P. Registrar
Sr. Charlene Moser, O.P., Liaison Sr. Diane Traffas, O.P. Liason
www.TheElms.org
School Administration & Support Staff
Heather Giel Facilities Coordinator
Dominican Sisters of Peace Leadership
myELMSgift
Marie Reichart ‘99 Preschool, Kindergarten & Elementary School Principal
Sr. Maria Ciriello, O.P., Director/Elms Liaison
Make an in-kind donation or donate your time as a volunteer.
make a donation online
Carli Kistler-Miller ‘87, P’13 ’16 Executive Director of Operations
Shari Kavlick-Benz, P’06, P’08, P’10 High School & Middle School Admissions Director Kate Kleski ,’93 Elms Gala Coordinator Cheryl Murphy Business Office
Sr. Gene Poore, OP Councilor
Wendy Kline Specker ‘87 Alumnae Director/ High School Secretary
Sr. Therese Leckert, OP Councilor
Kim Murray, P’06, P’10 Director of Athletics
Sr. Gemma Doll, OP Councilor
Rick Perez Director of Technology Matthew Powell Volunteer Coordinator Peggy Darmstadt Smith, ‘65, P’04 Database Coordinator Diann Hawthorne Sveda, ‘86 Elementary & Preschool Admissions Director
“P” before a class year indicates parent of a daughter who graduated or will graduate that year The Elms Magazine is published for the congregation, friends, alumnae, associates and benefactors of Our Lady of the Elms School, Akron, Ohio.
The Elms Circle of Angels is a caring group of donors who wish to be The Elms Circle of Angels is a caring group of donors who wish to be contacted if a student or potential student is in need of tuition assistance. contacted if a student or potential student is in need of tuition assistance. When contacted, donors may choose whether or not to support the When contacted, donors may choose whether or not to support the student and at what level. student and at what level. To become an Angel or for more information, please contact To become an Angel or for more information, please contact Julie Forgach at 330.867.0751 or jforgach@theelms.org Julie Forgach at 330.867.0751 or jforgach@theelms.org
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Admissions Office: 330.867.0918 Advancement Office: 330.867.0751 Alumnae Office: 330.867.9974
Business Office: 330.752.2505 Communications Office: 330.867.0148 Convent: 330.836.4908 Gala Office: 234-542-3973
Every effort has been made to be accurate. Please contact Carli Kistler-Miller, editor, at 330.867.0148 or by email to cmiller@TheElms.org with any comments or corrections.
Our Lady of the Elms
The Elms Magazine
Contents Message from the Board pg 4 Elms Students/School News pgs 5-9 Class of 2012 pgs 10-13 Athletics pgs 14-19 Dominican Sisters of Peace pgs 20-21 Alumnae pgs 22-23 In Memoriam pg 23 Thank you to the following people for helping with the content of this issue of the Elms Magazine: Julie Forgach, Rose Gullo, Marie Reichart ’99, Lisa Massello, Kim Murray, Troy Luckenbaugh, Peggy Smith ’65, Jennifer Smee, Visualizations Photography, and Barbara Wilhelm. If anyone was omitted, it was not intentional. Advertising Opportunities If you would like to place an advertisement in the Elms Magazine, please contact Carli KistlerMiller at cmiller@theelms.org or 330.867.0148.
The
on the cover
Elms Magazine
Winter/Spring 2011-12
(l to r): Gwendolyn Kuzmishin, Dominican Scholar MacKenzie Lee, Principal’s Award Catherine Culp, Valedictorian Jessica Pasternak, Principal’s Award Alicia DuBois, Salutatorian
A Special Announcement to the Our Lady of the Elms School Community,
photo credit: Visualizations Photography
The Our Lady of the Elms Board of Trustees regrets to announce Lisa Massello’s recent resignation of her position as Middle School and High School Principal. We wish Ms. Massello the very best as she moves on to new opportunities in education. We are grateful for all that she has accomplished and that she has left the school in a strong position. A dedicated committee of school leaders, teachers, parents, and board members searched for a new principal after Ms. Massello’s resignation. After conducting a month-long search, the committee is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ruth Friedman as the Interim Principal of Our Lady of the Elms Middle School and High School. Dr. Friedman comes to the Elms with a wealth of experience. She has held several administrative positions during her educational tenure including Assistant Principal in the Aurora City Schools, High School Principal in the Beachwood City Schools and, most recently, Director of Curriculum and Ruth E. Friedman, Ed.D. Operations for the Beachwood City Schools. She holds her Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership from Ashland University. In addition, Dr. Friedman served for six years as a member of the Our Lady of the Elms Board of Trustees during which she was the chair of the academic and technology committees. As a board member she contributed her expertise generously throughout the years. She is also the parent of Alexandra Friedman, class of 2005. We are delighted that she has accepted the role of Interim Principal. We are very excited to start the school year with Dr. Friedman’s energy! It’s already palpable! Dr. Friedman, Sr. Maura, Ms. Reichart, and Ms. Kistler-Miller have begun preparing for the start of the school year. Plans are up and running and we are confident that your girls will have a great year! Sincerely in the Dominican Tradition, Dr. Cathy Hackney Our Lady of the Elms Board of Trustees Chair
Reverse Raffle!
Saturday, November 10, 2012 Our Lady of the Elms School, 1375 W. Exchange St., Akron OH Doors open at 6:00 p.m., Dinner served at 6:45 p.m., Beer and Wine Included. Your $100 ticket includes an entry into the reverse raffle and two dinners. Additional dinner tickets are available for $25. A limited number of raffle tickets will be sold, and the event includes sideboards and a silent/raffle auction – all designed to increase your odds of being a winner! Winners need not be present for the main drawing. Purchase a ticket even if you are unable to attend. One of our board members will represent you if you reach the “final five.” Please call 330-671-0073 or email jluckenbaugh1@aol.com to purchase your ticket or for more information.
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Message from the Board
Dear Families and Friends of Our Lady of the Elms School, What a great time to reflect on and celebrate the past academic year at Our Lady of the Elms! Supported by the efforts of our teachers, staff, coaches, administrators, alums, and of course, the investments of our families, the Elms marked some very impressive achievements! We graduated 43 beautiful young women ready to take their place as leaders on their college campuses and in their communities. This great class of 2012 amassed over $5.8 million in scholarships and received a total of 196 acceptances to colleges and universities! Our athletic achievements were also remarkable! Not only were our girls Division champs in both basketball and softball, the softball team also went on to become Regional runners-up! In fact, all of our teams did exceptionally well this year, evidence of tremendous commitment, time, and energy on the part of the girls and their coaches. This fall, 18 6th graders will be moving up to the middle school; and, 19 8th graders will be high school freshman! Regretfully, this year was also the last year of the tenure of Miss Lisa Massello, our high school principal. After leaving the Elms, Miss Massello will be pursuing other professional opportunities. We are grateful for her efforts over the past 8 years as she so capably guided the school spiritually and academically. We will miss her dedication to our girls, our families, and the community. Of course, we all wish her the very best! In the future, will share with you news of all the exciting new initiatives happening at the Elms. However, right now, we’d like you to know that the board, principals, and teacher leaders are embarking on a project to internationalize the school. We are not sure exactly what that will mean or look like in our elementary, middle, and high schools. (Our teachers and principals will determine that.) Yet, we do know that our girls will be immersed in, on a more formal, curricular basis, the many rich cultures that make up our small world. We intend this experience to broaden the girls’ understanding and appreciation of others and to strengthen their leadership, not only within their communities, but in global affairs. Who knows how many young women ambassadors will develop because of this initiative! As always, we are thankful for the support from all of the friends of the Elms. If you are not involved with the school, we invite you to become involved through the alumnae organization, the board and its committees, athletics, the school volunteer program, or as a vocal cheerleader and recruiter. Many hands and hearts allow the school to grow and prosper and afford more girls the opportunity to become “Elms Girls.” Best regards,
Catherine E. Hackney, Ph.D. Chair, Our Lady of the Elms Board of Trustees
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School News Stop Hate: Youth Speak Out!!! Senior, Telayne Keith, was one of 10 finalists in the “Stop Hate: Youth Speak Out!!!” Essay Contest sponsored by the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage. Telayne presented her essay to eight judges, Mr. and Mrs. Maltz and a packed house in the Reinberger Chamber Hall at Severance Hall. It was announced that Telayne was the first finalist from Akron in the contest’s four year history. Mr. Matlz, when introducing Telayne, asked her what her most treasured possession was. Telayne answered that, in addition to her family, her Elms class ring was her most treasured possession. She never takes her ring off and it reminds her of her class and all that they have experienced together at The Elms. Telayne received a $1,000 scholarship. In addition, Our Lady of the Elms High School received a collection of library books on topics of discrimination and a field trip to the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.
Dazzling Virtuoso
Jessica Pasternak ’12 was a viola soloist in the Akron Symphony concert entitled “World Class Begins at Home” on January 21,2012. Jessi played Bach’s Sixth Brandenburg Concerto with three other soloists. She has recently been honored as one of three national finalists in the 2011 American String Teacher’s Association National Solo Competition. In 2010 she won First Place in the Ohio Viola Society and Ohio String Teachers Association state-wide solo competitions. In addition to attending the Elms, Jessi studied through the Young Artists Program at the Cleveland Institute of Music, is an active chamber musician, and has participated in the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra for the past six years and principal violist for the past three. Akron Symphony Music Director Christopher Wilkins has referred to Jessi as a “dazzling virtuoso.” Jessi is the 2012 recipient of the Elms Principal’s award and plans to continue her education at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Third Graders Use Technology to Invite Michelle Obama Our Lady of the Elms Third Graders used a YouTube video to invite First Lady, Michelle Obama to their Fourth Annual First Ladies of the United States of America Presentation Tea. YouTube video may be seen at http://bit.ly/wrFAx3. Third grader, Bre Frock had suggested a Facebook invitation which spurred the class to create a YouTube video. Alex Coleman and Lacy Nicholas came up with the motions. The girls were hoping to receive
Third graders and their teacher, Mrs. Buzzi, read the letter from First Lady Michelle Obama.
1500 “hits” on their YouTube video. To date, their video has been viewed over 1600 times. A representative from Congresswoman Betty Sutton attended the tea and put a “face” on the government. The third graders were also thrilled to receive a packet in the mail from the White House which contained a letter from Michelle Obama thanking them for the invitation in addition to activities sheets and pictures. As stated by Judi Buzzi, “The tea is the culminating activity for the third grade social studies unit on the First Ladies. The lives of the First Ladies are used to illustrate the qualities of citizenship, patriotism, advocacy, leadership, and volunteerism.” The girls are asked to research a First Lady and then create a PowerPoint presentation which was shared at the tea. The girls also research National symbols, voting rights, the Constitution, and the branches of government. This is the fourth year for the project.
Elms Community Gives at Christmas Students, families, faculty and staff from Our Lady of the Elms School worked together to donate money and goods to CAN, ACCESS and the Akron Police Department Victim’s Assistance Program. The Elms Elementary School and Preschool donated over 136 teddy bears for the Akron Police Department Victim Assistance Program which gives teddy bears to children who have been affected by a crime. The Elementary and Preschool also collected mittens and hats to donate to ACCESS, a shelter for homeless women and children in Summit County. The Elms High School and Middle School had their Chains of Love drive during which paper chains could be purchased 5 for $1. Social Action Club organized and implemented the Chains of Love drive. The students, families, faculty and staff donated over $1,000 plus over 20 boxes of groceries and household items to CAN (Community AIDS Network). CAN owns and operates two separate housing locations for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS. 5
School News Our Lady of the Elms Recycling and Food Scrap Program Our Lady of the Elms has implemented three programs to reduce trash and improve the environment: Bthe1 Recycling, paper recycling and food scrap program. The Elms has been recycling paper and cardboard for years, however the school has recently entered into a partnership with Summit/Akron Solid Waste Management Authority’s (SASWMA) “Bthe1” Recycling That Works program and Food Scrap program. Nationwide, about 60% of what is thrown away can be recycled or composted rather than wasted or buried. With the implementation of all three programs, the Elms hopes to reduce their impact on the landfill. The Elms staff designed and built custom recycling stations to help the girls, faculty and staff with the program. Individuals sort their trash into various bins, one for recyclable glass and plastic bottles, cans and metal, two bins for food waste and paper composting, and one bin for trash. Originally there was only one bin for food waste and composting, but the students generated so much compostables, a second bin had to be used. SASWMA arranges all pickups of the recyclables and composting. When asked about the recycling program, student Sarah Dhinojwala said, “It took a few days to figure out what container things went into, but now it’s easy, and I like that we are able to help save the Earth.”
The High School cafeteria staff composts and recycles as well. They also purchase special compostable paper products to use for serving in the cafeteria. “The Elms has seen benefits already. Trash pickups have gone from three pickups each week to two, and will hopefully move to one pickup once the composting program is completely implemented. This not only saves the Elms money, but also involves our students. It’s important that the students understand that they can make a difference. ” as stated by Carli Kistler-Miller, Executive Director of Operations for Our Lady of the Elms.
Years of Service 2012
The following employees of Our Lady of the Elms School, the Dominican Sisters of Peace and Crown Point Ecology Center, celebrated the following milestone years of service on Catherine of Siena Day: 25 years of service: Helen Carson Constance Hartzfeld John Reed 6
20 years of service Patricia Brubaker Larry Jarvis
10 years of service Jean Belfonti Harold Darkow Andrea McKinney Irene Roberts Peggy Smith
5 years of service: Judi Buzzi Dan McGee Mary Caruso Natalie Montgomery Chris Chapin Terry Sappenfield Tonja Cruse Dan Shorter Heather Giel Roseann Sokol
School News Best of Luck to Lisa Massello On Her Future Endeavors
Elms Girls Walk In the Shoes of NASA Engineers
Lisa Massello has chosen to leave the Elms after serving as High School and Middle School Principal for the past eight years. During her tenure as principal, Lisa’s work included, but was not limited to, leading the High School and Middle School through the new construction of the gymnasium and renovation of the theater; successfully moving the Elms through an accreditation cycle and instituting new policies and procedures in an effort to further strengthen the academic excellence offered at the Elms. As an administrator, Lisa was highly regarded by her faculty and staff members as a strong leader. She was energetic and a forward-thinker. Lisa Massello was truly an inspirational leader to those who worked closely with her.
Middle School Elms Girls had the opportunity to live the life of NASA Mission Control specialists through first-hand experience with simulated space missions at Wheeling Jesuit University’s Challenger Learning Center in Wheeling, W.Va.
Perhaps Lisa Massello’s greatest strength was as a religious leader. She ensured that all students were knowledgeable about the Dominican charism and that they looked to the four Dominican pillars of study, prayer, preaching and community for guidance in their schooling. She instilled the value of Veritas – Truth in the policies and procedures she put into effect during her tenure as principal. In fact, The Dominican Sisters of Peace honored her for her leadership with the Sr. Elizabeth Ann Schaefer, O.P. Women’s Leadership Award at the 2010 Gathering of Thanks. This award honors a woman who most clearly exemplifies those qualities of leadership that characterized Sister Elizabeth Ann’s commitment to women and to her role in the Church and public life. From this description, it is evident that Lisa was most deserving of this award as a leader of young women at Our Lady of the Elms. Although Lisa Massello is moving on to other opportunities in education, we wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors and look fondly on her eight years of leadership as part of Our Lady of the Elms’ 89-year history of excellence in education in the Greater Akron community.
From navigating a safe and successful probe launch to solving a life-threatening radiation problem, Elms girls truly “walked in the shoes” of NASA engineers for a day filled with imagination, creativity and discovery. “The overall goal of the mission is to improve students’ problem-solving skills and enhance their creative and critical thinking ability,” said Jackie Shia, Director of the Challenger Center. “The missions also go a step further to foster teamwork and plant the seeds for long-term interest in science and math.” “This realistic approach to science inspires our girls to develop a desire to particpate in the sciences,” said Cristina Jones, Our Lady of the Elms Middle School Science Teacher. “Because of the simulated situation, they use problem solving skills in a cross curricular, cooperative and supportive environment. After the experience the students are better equipped to work collaboratively with their peers and solve problems.”
Speech & Debate Team at State Nine Elms high school students from the Speech & Debate team qualified for the Ohio High School Speech League (OHSSL) State Finals which will took place on March 2nd and March 3rd at Jackson High School. The girls were seniors Samah Ahmed, Alicia DuBois, Wendy Kuzmishin, Daria Chalupa, juniors Chloe Hillard, Kay Caprez, Noelle Colant, Victoria Luckenbaugh and sophomore Katherine Landoll. Wendy Kuzmishin and Chloe Hillard finished 8th in the state. Katie Landoll and Alicia DuBois made it to quarter finals. Speech and Debate Team Coach, Elaine Fippin, (shown left) has been elected to the OHSSL Hall of Fame Class of 2012. She was inducted on Friday, March 2 at the Opening Ceremony of State Tournament at Speech and Debate Team. Jackson High School.
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School News The Elms in Action: Community Outreach By: Mrs. Jennifer Smee, 6th Grade Teacher Mohandas Gandhi states, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Service is a large part of what makes an Elms girl. Our students are compelled to reach out in various ways to help those in need. One example of community outreach through the Elms is the sixth grade’s service to the Williard Food Pantry in Akron.
Elms 6th graders stock the shelves at Williard Food Pantry.
The Williard Food Pantry operates out of the basement of the Williard United Church of Christ on Johnston Street. Since 1985, this pantry has been working hard to provide food and supplies to needy families in the greater Akron area. In 2010, alone, the pantry served 3,277 families, totaling 13,063 individuals. All funding comes from donations by private individuals, local churches and schools, and commercial support. Because Williard is an all-volunteer project (no paid staff), they rely heavily on those willing to offer help. Our Elms sixth graders visit the Williard Food Pantry twice during the school year, to volunteer their time and efforts in all ways needed. Their duties there include unloading, sorting, and repackaging supplies, stocking shelves, helping with paperwork, and cleaning the family outreach center. The girls are truly humbled by the experience as it gives them a true sense of what life can be like for those less fortunate. They come away from the experience with a deeper understanding of how their service impacts the community.
Sophia Lababidi and Abigail Raitano
Noteworthy At the City of Akron Holocaust Writing and Arts Awards Ceremony on April 17, 2012, juniors, Noelle Colant, won 1st in writing and Torie Luckenbaugh won 3rd place in art. Noelle also won the “Best of the Best”-Dorothy Jackson Award for her essay Permanent Markers. Mica Brooks ‘15 and Lizzie Muzilla ‘16 each earned ‘Superior’ rating at the State Science Fair at Ohio State University! The following students were recently awarded scholarships for the 2012-13 school year from the diocese of Cleveland Catholic Education Endowment Trust (CEET): Aubrey Kozer ‘13 - The Bishop’s Scholarship for Excellence and Micah Spoerndle ‘15 - Cathedral Latin Scholarship. Maddy Anderson ‘12 has earned a Knights of Columbus Youth Award and Jilly Anderson ‘16 has won Knights of Columbus Peacock Scholar Medal. 8
Our spirited sixth graders are thankful to be a part of helping the Williard Food Pantry serve the community. The volunteer efforts of our students, and the work of all those dedicated to the pantry, help to continue answering the mission call to serve “the least of those my brethren”.
See the Pictures! To see the pictures taken throughout the 2011-12 school year, please visit our Flickr page which may be reached from www.TheElms.org. See pictures from Elms Olympics to 8th grade graduation and events in between including the Elementary School and High School plays, Senior prank, Virtual Science Trip, the Garden Party, Shark Weeks and more!
School News Dear Elms Community,
Raising the Roof
Our Lady of the Elms School has realized the benefits of the generosity of our alumnae, families and friends through the Elms Fund for Excellence. Thank you to those who have already sent in a donation or pledged to send one in shortly. If you have not yet made your donation to support Our Lady of the Elms School and the outstanding Dominican education our students continue to receive, there is always time to do so. We value and appreciate the generosity of all of our benefactors. And, we have many different support opportunities available that are sure to meet anyone’s interest. One such need includes the Raise the Roof Campaign. A roof renovation may seem remarkably dull in its appeal. Yet, it is a cost we must cover for both the High School and the Elementary School. Your support of the roof replacement projects will not only help to put a sound roof over the heads of our students, faculty and staff but it will also help to protect the diverse, dedicated and educationally-centered community of Our Lady of the Elms - which represents a bright, promising future for the greater Akron area.
As you may have heard, the high school roof at Our Lady of the Elms was over fifty years old. A generous donor provided funds for Phase I of the roof replacement project which was completed in the summer of 2010 and replaced the roof protecting the commons area. Phase II replaced a much larger portion of the roof over the academic wing at a total cost of $420,000. Now, we also need to replace the roof over the Elementary School at a cost of $240,000 – for a combined cost of $660,000. In recognition of these trying economic times, we are appealing to a wide range of support resources for the roof replacement projects. No single donor, corporation or foundation can be expected to contribute the entire cost of these roof replacement projects. Just as a roof is replaced shingle by shingle, the support for this project is being assembled piece by piece, dollar by dollar. Every dollar counts – including yours. We are asking each constituent to contribute as you are able to help Our Lady of the Elms reach our total Raise the Roof goal of $660,000. To help us reach our goal, the Lehner Family Foundation has made a generous gift of $100,000 towards the roof replacement project. They have also posed a challenge to the Elms community. The Lehner Family Foundation will match any gift made to the roof replacement project – up to $100,000. In addition, the Carole and Anthony Coury Family Foundation agreed to match any gift up to $26,000. This means that not only would your gift be doubled because of the Lehner Family Foundation challenge, but tripled thanks to the Carole & Anthony Coury Family Foundation match. You have a chance to make an even larger impact at Our Lady of the Elms through a generous gift. We need your support to Raise the Roof. If each of our alumnae, parents and friends would make a gift of just $150, we could raise over $840,000 in unrestricted support for the school which would more than enough to cover the cost of the new roofs. If you can do more, that would be an added blessing. Please make a special, tax-deductible gift to Our Lady of the Elms today. Your generosity, at any level, ensures our continuing progress now and for generations to come. Please return your gift or visit www.TheElms.org to make an immediate impact and make your gift online. Thank you, in advance, for your thoughtful consideration of this request. We look forward to including you as a valued partner of Our Lady of the Elms. With many thanks and prayers,
Julie A. Forgach Director of Institutional Advancement P.S. Our Lady of the Elms is an organization you can be proud to support. Our faculty, staff and board members support the Elms philanthropically with 100% (percent) participation. The Elms also has a proven track record of being a good steward of gifts from our generous donors. Projects are completed on time and within budget.
Mission Statement: Our Lady of the Elms, an independent, Catholic school rooted in the Dominican tradition, educates girls and young women to listen openly, evaluate wisely, speak bravely, lead justly, and serve compassionately. 9
Class of 2012 Jeanine Adnan Ali Colleges and Universities that Welcomed Our Lady of the Elms Class of 2012 Bridget Therese Allen *Colleges and Universities Elms students are attending.
Allegheny College American College of Greece Ashland University Auburn University Baldwin-Wallace College Barry University Baruch College-CUNY Bennington College Bethany College *Bowling Green State University Brooklyn College-CUNY Canisius College *Capital University *Case Western Reserve University *Cleveland Institute of Music *Cleveland State University Coastal Carolina University College of Charleston *College of Wooster *Cuyahoga Community College Defiance College Denison University Elon University Florida State University Franklin Pierce University Gannon University George Washington University *Georgetown University *Georgia Institute of Technology Grace College *Grove City College High Point University Hiram College Indiana University-Bloomington *Indiana Wesleyan University Ithica College *John Carroll University
SUNY-Stony Brook *Kent State University Kripa Balaram Tennessee State University Kettering University The City College of New York *Lake Erie College The Julliard School Lasell College *University of Akron Louisiana State University America Elizabeth *University Bohley of Akron-Honors Loyola University-Chicago University of Alaska Macalester College University of California-Davis Marquette University University of California-Irvine Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Kathleen Anne Brennan University of California-Riverside *Miami University *University of California- San Diego Middle Tennessee State University University of California-Santa Barbara *Milliken University Caprez University of California-Santa Cruz Mills College Meghan Elizabeth University of Cincinnati Muskingum University *University of Colorado-Boulder *NEOMED *University of Dayton New College of Florida Mary Alexis Cherveny University of Findlay New England Conservatory of Music University of Hawaii-Manoa *Northern Kentucky University University of Miami *Northwestern University Taylor Kelly Condon University of Mount Union Ohio Dominican University University of Northern Colorado *Ohio State University University of Oklahoma Ohio State University Wooster University of Oregon-Honors School Ohio University Travis Christine Cruse University of Rochester Ohio Wesleyan University University of South Carolina-Columbia *Otterbein College University of Toledo Honors *Pace University University of Toronto Point Park University University of Vermont Providence College Walsh University Purdue University Webster University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute *Whittier College Rice University Wilmington College Rochester Institute of Technology Wittenberg University Rollins College Wright State University Rose Hulman Institute of Technology *Xavier University *Saint Vincent College Youngstown State University Sciences Po University *Slippery Rock University
Awards & Honors Salutatorian Alicia DuBois Dominican Scholar Gwendolyn Kuzmishin Service Award Gwendolyn Kuzmishin “Lifers” Gabriella Charley, Ann Drude MacKenzie Lee, Jennifer Toth Valedictorian Catherine Culp 10
Principal’s Award for Academic Excellence MacKenzie Lee Jessica Pasternak Knights of Columbus Womanhood Award Telayne Keith
National Merit Finalist Scholar Catherine Culp Akron Beacon Journal Star Students - Honorable Mentions Catherine Culp and Alicia DuBois OHSAA Scholar Athlete Award Mara Esber and Emmaline Fisher Athlete of the Year Tessa Haneline Kaitlin Morse Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award Claire Cawley and Jessica Frew Akron Beacon Scholar Athlete Award Kaitlin Morse
Class of 2012
The Class of 2012 will be remembered as individuals and collectively for the unique talents and passions that they generously shared with the Elms. These 43 young women garnered more than $5.8 million dollars in scholarships and were accepted to over 190 colleges and universities. Interestingly, this class will be setting out across the country from NYU to Georgia Institute of Technology and from Northwestern University to the University of California- San Diego. Graduation was, indeed, a special celebration. Valedictorian and National Merit Finalist Catherine Culp and Salutatorian Alicia DuBois gave speeches that inspired their classmates and made them laugh. The love and respect the Class of 2012 had for their commencement speaker – Dr. Karla Bellinger, who was their 9th grade Theology teacher – was palpable. Dr. Bellinger touched her audience with warmth, sincerity, faith, and humor as she read from the Class of 2012’s “Book of Life.” A viola performance by virtuoso and Elms/Cleveland Institute of Music Young Artist graduate Jessica Pasternak provided a special ambiance and a unique blessing to the family and friends of the graduates. The Class of 2012 also honored Wendy Kuzmishin with the Service Award and Telayne Keith with the Knights of Columbus Womanhood Award. Claire Cawley received the St. Catherine of Siena Award. The Class of 2012 showed depth and breadth of talent in all the academic disciplines, the fine and performing arts, athletics, leadership, and service. So much of their senior year was memorable, but it was the athleticism and leadership of the Kaitlin Morse - Jessica Frew - Tessa Haneline trio that brought, not one, but two Division IV District trophies to Our Lady of the Elms. Beyond tangible accomplishments, we honor our most recent graduates for who they have become as women and as leaders. The class of 2012 excelled in the Dominican tradition and we are proud of them. We wish them the very best personally and professionally! 11
Samah Maryam Ahmed Kathryn Elizabeth Albertino Madelyn Olivia Anderson Rebecca Marie Barker Claire Callahan Cawley Daria Anne Chalupa Gabriella Christine Charley Mary Emily Conti Amy G Cullen Catherine Jean Culp Ann Leigh Drude Alicia Nicole DuBois Mara Kathryn Esber Grace Kathleen Finn Emmaline Rose Fisher Jessica Patricia Frew Lauren Claire Goetz Gillian Erin Gregory Youhong Guo Keila Yazmin Hamed Tessa Brogan Haneline
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Our Lady of the Elms
Telayne Sinclair Keith Anstice Brooks King Kyla Jane Korvne Gwendolyn Burden Kuzmishin MacKenzie Zuzu Lee Morgan Renee Lucas Hannah Marie Matasich Amanda Ann Merryweather Daniela Regina Milan Kaitlin Marie Morse Aubree Anna Nicholas Jessica Louise Pasternak Amelia Paige Melanie Przybylski Dominique Leigh Rocco Alexandra Marele Rogers Margaret Elizabeth Roth Lauren Marie Schaeffer Laura Marie Scroggins Elizabeth Anne Stilley Rachel Elizabeth Thomas
Class of 2012
Jennifer Leijing Holland-Toth Lauren JeneĂŠ Young 13
Athletics A Season of Celebration… Nothing compares to witnessing the pleasure and accomplishment experienced by our children as a result of their participation in activities, athletic or otherwise. We encourage them to become passionate; to embrace commitment and understand the meaning of teamwork. We encourage them to seek opportunities in which we fully expect them to experience both joy and challenge. We witness their hard work; their failures and accomplishments; we nurse their injuries and worry endlessly over their fatigue. We attend each outing, both as cheerleader and the arms extended offering the ultimate hugging embrace. A flood of emotions is heard pouring from the bench, from the dugout or the field…athletes cheering, crying, hugging, praying and holding one another. The sound of the final buzzer; an announcement from the referee stand “game point”; or an umpire signaling “strike three” game over; triggers each emotion. Both athlete and witness experience the sounds of sheer delight, joy and celebration, or the disappointment that accompanies sadness and disbelief. Embedded in our hearts knowing the end of a season has arrived, lies a longing for more. If only? If only? If only one more game, one more at-bat, one more volley? If only? The 2011-12 sports season will be remembered as a season of Celebration! The result of unyielding determination, shared between the athletes and coaches who together dedicate themselves to seize opportunities to accomplish the goals before them. As one might imagine, managing time between school, studies, family, friends and extracurricular activities is quite a challenge. Athletic team commitments involve practice and games as often as six nights a week.
There lies that unsurpassed drive found in athletes that provides the motivation for both commitment and loyalty to their teams. Toss in the additional challenge of participating at a small Division IV school, where teams formed are among the purest of all. Often numbers do not permit a JV program, catapulting young inexperienced athletes to compete at a level far beyond their years, and challenging coaches to provide a program that is inclusive to every participant, centered in player development while facing the challenges of a competitive schedule. The 2011-12 Elms coaching staff brought a combined 62 years of coaching experience to the athletic program; each member dedicated and qualified to the athletes and mission. Though their efforts may face an unexpected challenge along the way, Elms coaches have displayed an unyielding commitment for placing team and player first. The Elms coaching staff is a team of dedicated individuals who support one another, believing that one teams’ success, benefits the entire Elms community. There are teams that have struggled, facing the season with low numbers; or teams that have competed strong through the season but came up short in the tournaments; and then there are those teams, that after enduring past seasons sprinkled with disappointment, returned with a mission, reaping the reward of their hard work. The Elms community is so proud of each and every one of our sport teams…and we can’t wait till next year!!
Special highlights from the Elms 2011-12 athletic year include:
Varsity Soccer 14
SOCCER ~ Despite very difficult challenges early in the season; displaying tremendous resolve and determination, the team celebrated what evolved into a great year, capturing the attention of loyal fans and the school community. The girls and coaches rallied behind one another and played big at a time when it mattered most, entering the post season tournament play. Stat leaders included Vivian Miller and Christina Graziano with total goals scored in a season, and goalie saves respectively. Both players return as seniors in the fall of 2012 and will lead the Panthers through what promises to be another exciting season. ALL DISTRICT HONORS ~ 1st TEAM: Christina Graziano ’13, 2nd TEAM: Vivian Miller ‘13 TRI-COUNTY LEAGUE ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR ~ Jim Chappell TRI-COUNTY LEAGUE ~ 1ST TEAM: Christina Graziano ’13, 2nd Team: Vivian Miller ’13, HONORABLE MENTION: Rachel Coury ’14 and Natasha Gilbert ‘15 TRI-COUNTY ALL STAR GAME ~ Claire Cawley ’12, Jessica Frew ’12 and Lauren Schaeffer ‘12 TOUCHDOWN CLUB ALL STAR ~ Christina Graziano ‘13
Athletics VOLLEYBALL ~ The team returned six seniors, each a major contributor to the program as well as junior Aubrey Kozer. The girls experienced their best season in recent history, building an atmosphere of “volleyball fever” within the school. Booster support with spirit buses to tournament games certainly aided in our efforts to fill the stands with PANTHER MADNESS!! And, though the celebrated season came to a disappointing end, the sense of pride and elation for our team and school never wavered. OHSVCA – ELMS Ranked 18th in the state OHSVCA PLAYER OF THE YEAR, DISTRICT 3 – DIVISION IV ~ Aubrey Kozer ‘13 OHSVCA COACH OF THE YEAR, DISTRICT 3 – DIVISION IV ~ Joanna Patterson OhSVCA Honors ~ 1st TEAM: Gabby Charlie ’12, Mara Esber ’12, Laura Scroggins ’12 and Aubrey Kozer ’13 SENIOR ALL STAR GAME ~ Gabby Charlie ’12, Mara Esber ’12 and Laura Scroggins ‘12 ALL-DISTRICT / ALL-ACADEMIC VOLLEYBALL TEAM ~ Mara Esber ’12, Wendy Kuzmishin ‘12, Laura Scroggins ‘12, Noelle Colant ‘13, Aubrey Kozer ‘13, Torie Luckenbaugh ‘13, Ayah Hassan ‘14, Ivy Nguyen ‘14, Tessa Webb ‘14, Courtney Farber ’15 and McKenna Murphy ‘15 SportsInk.com Player of the Week, Beacon Journal Player of the Week, WAKR Player of the Week and News Channel 5 / McDonalds Player of the Week ~ Aubrey Kozer ‘13 TOUCHDOWN CLUB ALL STAR ~ Aubrey Kozer ‘13
Varsity Volleyball
JV Volleyball
Varsity Bowling
JV Bowling 15
Athletics BASKETBALL ~ The excitement that started during with fall programming, carried over into winter sports in a BIG WAY! Nothing is going to stop the mighty PANTHERS! Records were broken and history was made! The following is a quote directly from an OHSAA official following the district championship game, “This Division IV Crestline District Championship game recorded their largest crowd in the history of hosting tournament games for the OHSAA! Congratulations to both schools for bringing a state championship atmosphere to this competition!” The school spirit, enthusiasm and community support followed the team to their first regional appearance in over 30 years. Though the Panthers lost this outing, a powerful and lasting impression was made; Our Lady of the Elms High School is an institution for excellence in academics and athletics. 2011 – 2012 DIVISION IV BASKETBALL DISTRICT CHAMPIONS ALL OHIO GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM ~ 2nd TEAM: Tessa Haneline ’12, HONORABLE MENTION: Jessica Frew ‘12 ALL DISTRICT HONORS ~ 1st TEAM: Tessa Haneline ’12, HONORABLE MENTION: Jessica Frew ’12, DIVISION IV COACH OF THE YEAR – Heather Giel WOMEN’S TRI COUNTY BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION ~ HONORABLE MENTION: Tessa Haneline ’12 and Jessica Frew ’12 WTCBCA All Star Game: Tessa Haneline ’12 and Jessica Frew ‘12 TOUCHDOWN CLUB ALL STAR HONORS ~ Tessa Haneline ’12
Varsity Basketball
JV Basketball
Basketball Division Champions 16
Athletics SOFTBALL ~ the celebration continued, reaching another alltime high point, including a special celebration during Student Appreciation Day of Catholic Schools Week, honoring Kaitlin Morse ’12, who officially signed to play Division I college softball at the University of Northern Kentucky, surrounded by her family, coach, faculty and student body. This would not be the only time Kaitlin or her teammates would be honored. The team navigated through a challenging season, finishing strong, setting their sights on a successful tournament run. Led by ace pitcher Emily Scupholm ’13 and Division I signee and catcher Kaitlin Morse ’12, Coach Frank Voss and the Panthers entered tournament play confidant they could accomplish something very special. And, that is exactly what they did. With the end of the school year looming, multiple scheduling challenges, and young minds drifting towards the lazy days of summer, the Panthers pulled it together and showered their fans with a fabulous tournament run securing the title of DIVISON IV REGIONAL RUNNER-UP! 2012 DIVISION IV SOFTBALL REGIONAL RUNNER-UP NATIONAL FASTPITCH COACHES ASSOCIATION LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HIGH SCHOOL NORTH REGION TEAM ~ 2ND TEAM: Kaitlin Morse ‘12 PLAIN DEALER ALL STAR ~ Kaitlin Morse ‘12 BEACON JOURNAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK, WAKR and SportsInk.com PLAYER OF THE WEEK ~ Kaitlin Morse ‘12 ALL City All Stars ~ Hailey Scupholm ’15 and Emily Scupholm ‘13 SENIOR All Stars ~ Kaitlin Morse and Lauren Schaeffer, ‘12
Varsity Softball
District Softball Champs
Varsity Tennis
Varsity Golf
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Athletics TRACK & FIELD ~ Track and field participation requires an athlete to juggle a sport that is both individual and team focused. Athletes are constantly striving to improve their “personal best�. In track especially, the athlete is challenged in a contest not only by her opponent of the day, but her own teammate as well. Success is met when selflessness prevails; when the girls realize the importance of competing at their best, while celebrating the victory of a teammate, who may have just beaten them. As Districts approached the team was well prepared for the competition they would face at the Norwayne District. Five girls qualified to advance to the District Finals: seniors Jessica Frew, Daria Chalupa, Hannah Matasich, Claire Cawley and junior Christina Graziano. In addition to a fine tournament show, seniors Jessica Frew and Daria Chalupa both broke Elms records during the season.
Track and Field
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Athletics The 3-4 girls soccer team had a very successful season – they only had one loss.
3rd & 4th Grade Volleyball
3rd & 4th Grade Basketball
CYO Track
5th & 6th Grade Volleyball
7th & 8th Grade Volleyball
8th Grade Basketball
7th and 8th Grade CYO Soccer 19
Sister Alicia Alvarado, OP, was one of three recipients of the You Are the Power Award given by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association at a banquet in Cleveland on June 2, 2012. The award honors people who have suffered a stroke or aneurism and have inspired others with their courage in the aftermath. Besides Roseann Sokol, OPA, and Arleen Kisiel, OP, of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, members of the Hispanic community were also there to celebrate with Sister Alicia.
Sister Mary Vuong, OP, pictured with Sister Margaret Ormond, OP, Prioress, signed her perpetual vows as a Dominican Sister of Peace in a ceremony at the Great Bend Motherhouse in Great Bend, Kansas, on May 26, 2012. Sister Vuong, a native of Houston, Texas, began discerning religious life after she encountered Sister Mary Otho Ballard, who serves in the Archdiocese of Louisville. Sister Vuong entered religious life as a Dominican Sister of St. Catherine, KY (now Dominican Sisters of Peace). During her discernment, Sister Mary served in Louisville at Iroquois Middle School from 2002 – 2006 and earned a maters degree in occupational therapy at Spalding University. Currently, she serves as an occupational therapist at the Central Kansas Medical Center/St. Rose Ambulatory and Surgery Center in Great Bend. 20
Please welcome Sister Patricia Dual, OP to the Office of Vocations In my lifetime I have come to discover that God is full of surprises. Twenty five years ago, I would never have imagined myself living outside of Virginia. Yet in 2005, I found myself leaving my home town of Norfolk, Virginia and a company where I had worked for 31 years. It was August 7, 2005 that I began my journey as a Dominican Sister in Columbus, Ohio. On March 19, 2012, my continuing journey as a Dominican Sister of Peace brought me to Akron, Ohio as part of the Ministry of Welcome – Vocations Team. God is truly full of surprises! I am a “cradle” Catholic, baptized into the faith as an infant. My mother converted to Catholicism as a teenager and raised each of her five children in the Catholic faith. Many things happened in my life during the years before I began to discern a call to religious life as a Sister. I married in 1974 and raised 2 sons. However, the marriage was eventually annulled in 1989. My journey into religious life was a process and too lengthy for this writing. However, the journey eventually led to my profession of final vows in the congregation on December 10, 2011. Before moving to Columbus, I was employed for many years in the finance department of Sentara Health System. In 2002, I finished a B.A. in Religion degree from St. Leo University in Florida. Currently, I am enrolled in the Religious Studies Graduate Program at Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati. I served as Pastoral Associate for 4 years at St. James the Less Parish in Columbus, Ohio and in November 2011, was asked by our Leadership Team to consider working with the Ministry of WelcomeVocations Team and moving to Akron, Ohio. My work in vocation ministry includes a variety of responsibilities, but the primary focus is working or being in conversation with women who are discerning the possibility of religious life. Speaking in schools, parishes and other group gatherings about life as a Sister is also an important part of my job as a vocation minister. Finally, another significant aspect of vocation ministry is to offer opportunities for discernment through retreats. I would like to take this opportunity to invite any one reading this magazine or if you have a daughter or friend or sister, to please share with them about our Come and See Retreat on Labor Day weekend 2012 in Akron for single Catholic women, ages 18-45 who may be interested in discerning a vocation to become a Dominican Sister of Peace. For more information, please contact me at pdual@oppeace.org or call or text 614.216.7688 or toll free 855.313.3131.
Dominican Sisters of Peace celebrating Jubilees in 2012
Sister Lin Howley 70 years
Sister Irene Eckerman 65 years
Sister Rose Miller 65 years
Sister Mary Jakubiak 60 years
Sister Martha Leyden 60 years
Golden Jubilees were celebrated on August 5, 2012, at Our Lady of the Elms Chapel for Sister Maura Bartel and Sister Maureen Carney. Sisters celebrating 25 and 50 years as Dominican Sisters were acknowledged at this year’s Assembly in Columbus from July 19 – July 23, 2012. The theme of the Assembly during these days of prayer and contemplation was BE PEACE, BUILD PEACE, PREACH PEACE. This gathering of Sisters and Associates offered a time of prayer and dialogue to update and exchange reflective thinking on the vision and future of the Dominican Sisters and Associates of Peace.
Sister Maura Bartel 50 years
Sister Maureen Carney 50 years
With Sympathy Sr. Nancy Crane, OP
Sr. Martha Fox, OP
Sr. Nancy Crane, OP, the former Sr. M. deMontfort, died February 28, 2012, at the age of 79. She was born in Akron, the only child of Edwin and Blanche Crane. She entered the Sisters of St. Dominic of Akron, now Dominican Sisters of Peace on December 8, 1952, and made her First Profession of Vows on August 4, 1954.
Sr. Martha Fox, O.P., the former Sr. Jerome, died April 21, 2012 at the age of 85. She was one of 16 children of Paul and Marie Fox of Bucyrus, Ohio. She entered the Sisters of St. Dominic of Akron, now the Dominican Sisters of Peace, on February 13, 1946, and made her Profession of Vows on June 20, 1948.
Sr. Nancy graduated from St. Vincent High, earned a B.A. from Ohio Dominican University and a MTS from The Catholic University of America. She taught biology, physics, and chemistry at Our Lady of the Elms and Lake Catholic in Mentor. Over the years, she kept in touch with several of her former students, and when she returned to Akron, was invited to join a group that met for dinner monthly.
Sr. Martha earned her BSE from St. John College. Sister taught primary grades at Saints Peter & Paul, St. Vincent and St. Paul in Akron, St. Dominic in Youngstown, St. Mary in Wooster and St. Felicitas in Cleveland. She was with the Cleveland Diocesan Mission Team in El Salvador. Returning to the States, she ministered as Outreach Counselor for the Near West Side Opportunity Center in Cleveland. Sister Martha was pastoral minister at Fallsview Psychiatric Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls and later ministered at the Senior Companion Program in Kent, Ohio. Sr. Martha retired and resided in the Akron Motherhouse Wellness Center for the past several years.
Sr. Nancy ministered at Orleans Parish Prison in New Orleans, Louisiana and worked as a prison chaplain at Maricopa County Jail in Phoenix, Arizona. Sister served at Las Casas Ministry with the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Native Americans in Canon, Oklahoma, which afforded her a broadening and happy experience. Even after her years in ministry there, she kept in touch and attended the 25th Anniversary celebration. In 1993 she moved to Washington D.C. and worked with the Damien Ministries, served as a chaplain at both St. Frances Cabrini Medical Center in Alexandria, LA, and at St. Edward Medical Center Fort in Smith, Arkansas. Sr. Nancy had a sincere interest in the people she served and demonstrated a deep compassion for those in need. She returned to the Akron Motherhouse in 2002.
From early on, it was evident that Sr. Martha was a “people person,” for no matter where she went, she made friends easily, many of whom had kept in touch with her over the years. She took time to “smell the roses” for she loved hiking in the Metro Parks every fall, biking on the trails, and taking the long way home to enjoy the scenery.
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Alumnae Alumnae Association Wedding Bliss Victoria Ohlin Alexander ’02 & Nathan Alexander
Torrie is a family medicine resident physician at Summa Western Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls.
A third generation of Brennans joins the ranks of Elms Alumnae. (l to r) Maggie Drude ’15, Ann Brennan ’56, Ann Drude ’12, Nancy Brennan ‘80
In attendance were Robyn Danylchak Zerebniak ‘02, Christina Cernik ‘02, Bridesmaid Elizabeth Kovac Blystone ‘02, Austen Petersen ‘02, Bride Victoria Ohlin Alexander ’02, Lisa Kaminski ‘02, Min Stuchal ‘02 Bridesmaid Katie Ardner ‘02 and Carrie Cook ‘02. Danielle Kara ‘08 attended Loyola University of Maryland. Graduated with a degree in Physics May 2012 Received the Phi Beta Kappa Award in May 2012 Will be pursuing her Master’s Degree
Thanks to the coordination efforts of Andy Duzy Gill ’65, 16 alumnae from the class of 1965 met at Lannings. Pictured left to right: Sharon Hamad George, Adrienne Duzy Gill, Fran Gradisar-Moore
Mystery Photo Answers... From Summer/Fall 2011 issue:
The photo is 2004 freshman initiation. The theme was Superheroes. Back row, L to R, Colleen Kannen, Anna Frient, unknown, unknown, twins Betsy & Clare Riley. Front row: Unknown, unknown, Alex Kirkpatrick, Anna Zenczak. 22
Elm Leaf Staff for 1979-1980 (l to r): Melinda Hranilovich, Imelda Bhe, Nancy Brennan, Liz Molitors, Polly Stanoch, Jane Nahra, Ellen White and Elaine Kaman
Alumnae Dr. Constance A. “Connie” Griffin‘69 sister of Paula Davis’72
Connie Griffin, an internationally known pancreatic cancer researcher who led the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center’s Cytogenetics Core and was director of the Pathology Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, died of pancreatic cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital. “The irony is that Connie passed away from the very disease that she studied,” said Dr. Ralph H. Hruban, director of the Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “She was the most down-to-earth and caring individual that you’d ever meet. She was a prominent scientist and physician, and you would never know it from meeting her,” said Dr. Hruban. “She was not a self-promoter. She cared about others and was extremely modest,” he said. “Connie was unaffected by her prominence.” Dr. Constance A. “Connie” Griffin‘69
The daughter of a pediatrician and a registered nurse, Dr. Griffin was born in Evansville, Ind., and raised in Akron, Ohio. After graduating in 1969 from Our Lady of the Elms School in Akron, Dr. Griffin earned a bachelor’s degree in 1973 in biology from the University of Chicago. In 1977, she earned her medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and was a resident in internal medicine at Indiana University Medical Center. Dr. Griffin was an avid bird watcher and enjoyed doing crafts. She also liked to travel and attend concerts. She played the piano and hammered dulcimer. Dr. Griffin was an active member of Towson Unitarian Universalist Church. Surviving are her husband of 35 years, Dr. Allan C. Spradling, two daughters, Emily Spradling and Katherine Spradling; a brother, Gregory; and a sister, Paula Davis ’72. To read more about Connie Griffin ’69, please go to www.TheElms.org/alumnae
Memorials
Geneva Arnold mother-in-law of Elizabeth Arnold (Supervisor of Housekeeping) Linda Johns Bradley ‘77 sister of Diane Johns Gilger ’81 and stepdaughter of Stephanie Behrle Johns ‘68 Irene Carlson grandmother of Erin Reichart Lulich ’99 and Marie Reichart ‘99 Sr. Nancy Crane, O.P. formerly Sr. Mary de Montfort, O.P. Donald Crano husband of Mary Greene Crano ’65, brotherin-law of Linda Greene Collins ’61, Kathleen Greene Boyes ’63, and Paula Greene Reddersen “66
John Earnsberger father of Regina Earnsberger McCulligan ’89, sister-in-law Susan Vinson Ross ‘76
Jean Sherry Kovacs ‘41 aunt of Lynne Sherry Woods, sister of Pauline Sherry Reiss ‘39*
Sr. Martha Fox, O.P. formerly Sr. Mary Jerome, O.P.
Erica Lilly mother of Rowan Lilly ‘20
Jane Quine Giangulio sister of Ethelda Lockard Gilletly ‘55
Joseph Lobello father of Dorothy Lobello Sapp ‘74
Constance Griffin ‘69 sister of Paula Griffin Davis ‘72
John Dean May father of Christy May Alibrandi ’64, Cindy May Arnberger ’65 and Amy May Everette ‘74
Jean Hauser Robert Hawkins husband of Roberta Krill Hawkins ’60, stepfather of Christine Tarbell Gordon ’86 and Kara Tarbell Shulman ’88, brother-in-law of Mary Krill Sawan ’54, Kathleen Krill Danckaert ’59 and Sandra Thomann Krill ‘63 Dorothy Aberth Hermanns grandmother of Laura Schellin Kress ‘86
Rose Dain mother-in-law of Regina Bernard Dain
Gary Howard husband of Gail Brady Howard ‘65
Marilyn Balaun Dettling ‘48 sister of Helen Balaun March ‘49
Dorothy Hunter formerly High School librarian
Steven Dietz husband of Regina Bachmann Dietz ’81, brother-in-law of Michelle Bachmann Love ’77, Christine Bachmann Reineke ’83, Kelly Bachmann Thomas ’86, Julie Bachmann Vesko and uncle of Rachel Thomas ‘12
Frederick Keller father of Christine Keller ’86, husband of Mary Gillen Keller ’56* Ida Wiandt Kilduff ‘30 sister of Grace Wiandt ‘31
Shirlee Magyary Metzger mother of Sandy Magyary Miller ’65 and Diane Magyary ‘67 Sr. Mary Elizabeth Noel, O.P. formerly Sr. Mary Aloysius, O.P. Edward Pogue brother of E. Anne Pogue ‘02 Ronald Ruggles brother of Richard Ruggles, Spanish teacher Raymond Sain father of Lisa Sain Shoman ’67, and Julie Sain Stout ’75, grandfather of Victoria Sain ‘06 and Elizabeth Sain ‘11 Joseph Tornichio father of Laura Tornichio ’88, Julie Tornichio ’91 and Jennifer Tornichio McCormick ‘92 * = deceased 23
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We learn like girls...try to keep up!
The Elms Magazine is going virtual.
We are going “green” and publishing The Elms Magazine and Annual Report online starting with the Winter/Spring 2011-12 issue.
(Class of 2012 will receive a printed version.) Please go to www.TheElms.org to sign up to be notified when The Elms Magazine is available online.
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Update on Facebook
Keep up with fellow alumnae on the Elms Alumnae Facebook page! Just log into Facebook.com and type in Our Lady of the Elms Alumnae Association. It’s a great place to catch up, share pictures and plan reunions!