response. The two-day conference was wonderful, and I had the opportunity to hear speakers such as Lucy Calkins, Nancy Frey, and many more. The event is held each April for educators, and I recommend it. Learn more at massreading.org and more about individual councils at massreading.org/councils-2. The MRA is a branch of the International Reading Association, which you can learn more about at www.reading.org.
Correspondent: Mary O’Brien maryobrien14@comcast.net
1983 John Dorn closed his hospital-based practice of chiropractic medicine and is engaged in the solo practice of civil litigation law. Dorn Injury Law has offices in Osterville, Marion, and Wellesley. • Paula Bradley Batchelor joined her friend and former roommate Cyndy Uhron ’82, who is the proud owner of a beautiful Jersey Shore beach house. Paula, Sue Kevey Falvey ’82, and Donna Martirano Mahoney ’82 christened Cyndy’s lovely new home with a roommate reunion weekend of sun, fun, and rooftop dancing! With scrapbooks in hand, the foursome quickly blurred the lines between the celebration of old memories and the creation of new ones. • Clare (Connelly) ’84 and Peter McDonagh celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary. They have been living in Latrobe, PA, for the last five years after spending five years in the New York–New Jersey area. Pete has been employed for the past 29 years with United Parcel Service, where he is an air division manager, and Clare is a registered nurse in the Latrobe area. They have three children: Kimberly (20), who is in her senior year at Boston College and also runs track; Pete III (17); and John (16). • The old gang from St. Gabe’s had their annual get-together. Participants included Patrick Tyrrell, Lou Giovannone, Gordon Farkouh, Steve “Mig” Migridichian, Joe LaRocca, John DiBenedetto, and Lillian Colon Davis. This tradition has continued for six consecutive years. • Since 2010, Peter Soukas has been at Brown Medical School, where he established the Vascular & Endovascular Medicine Fellowship Program and is director of vascular medicine and the interventional peripheral vascular labs at the Miriam and Rhode Island Hospitals. • John “Shank” Shannon writes about a BC tailgate at the LA Coliseum. John Frasca and Joe Pierry both reside in Southern California, where John sells homes in the San Diego area for Century 21, and Joe is a successful lawyer in the San Pedro area. Others who joined the group included Joan (Malloy) and Richard “Murph” Marra. John Shannon has been at Oracle for the past three years, managing multiple large development data centers in the Northeast. • A number of classmates gathered for a 30th reunion party: George “Geo” Shannon, Brian McDonald, Greg Schneider, Kevin Connors, Kevin Cummings, Freddy Harris, Lou Bortone, George Karalias (artist of the original keg T-shirt and one of the party organizers), and John Conceison. Other good friends who joined the celebration included Sherry Lee Howlett Hogan, John Frasca, Tommy Choquette, Joan and Rich Marra, Joanne Cancro, Catherine O’Neil, and Erin McLaughlin.
Correspondent: Cynthia J. Bocko cindybocko@hotmail.com 64
1984 Greetings, classmates! Here’s the news. • Philip Cate Huckins, MAT’85, PhD’95, has begun the master of divinity program at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge. • Stephanie Anne Chisholm is the publisher of the monthly magazine Fairfield Neighbors, produced by Best Version Media. She is also publishing a second magazine called Greenfield Hill Neighbors, which rolled out in July. Both magazines are distributed in Fairfield, CT. Stephanie’s children are growing fast: Her oldest son, Michael Joseph, is a senior in high school; Julianne is a freshman; Thomas is in seventh grade; and Grace Noelle is in third grade. • Last June, the Catholic Press Association named Jay Sullivan’s book, Raising Gentle Men: Lives at the Orphanage Edge, the 2014 Best Book from a Small Publisher. • With sadness, I report the passing of two of our classmates. Robert Hagearty passed away on May 28, with family and friends by his side. Our classmate was also a graduate of Millis High School and held an MEd from Cambridge College. He performed in improv and stand-up comedy for over 20 years, most recently at the Comedy Studio in Cambridge, and he also lived in California for many years. Robb taught middle school math in LA and in the Boston Public Schools and most recently worked at UMass Boston’s Institute for Community Inclusion. Also, our classmate Claire Burke passed away on December 25, 2013, in Arlington. Claire leaves her husband, Chip, and children Eva and Griffin. Claire graduated magna cum laude, with a double major in English literature and studio art. She received the Macomber Award, given to the graduate demonstrating outstanding performance in the fine arts. She spent her junior year abroad studying at St. Clare’s, Oxford, in England. She was an award-winning artist and exhibited her work in many galleries and venues throughout the region. Both of our classmates will be missed. • Thank you for your updates and emails as we keep the Class of 1984 strong! I hope you will respond with your news and especially to the mailings that I have been sending! The new BC alumni online community is now up and running, and I hope you will all keep in touch. Please write soon!
Correspondent: Carol A. McConnell bc84news@yahoo.com
1985 30TH REUNION May 29–31, 2015 Correspondent: Barbara Ward Wilson bww415@gmail.com
1986 Hi, everyone. I hope everyone had an awesome summer and is now enjoying a colorful fall full of BC football and tailgating. • Well, for me, the 50th-birthday celebrations are still the highlight of 2014, with vacations, golf outings, parties, and just fun phone calls with former BC roommates and friends. It is a blast to catch up and relive the old memories. In addition, I just love hearing how successful we have all become, both personally and
professionally, thanks to our BC education. • Here’s a shocker: I went to another 50th-birthday party—this one was for Tim Buckley in Fairfield, CT. It was a “keg party,” hosted by his wife, Susan Frigerio Buckley ’87, and kids Jack, Katherine, and Ronnie. What a flashback to BC days this was with the following crew: Pete Vanderslice, Jim Sheehy, Jim Walsh, Bob Duran, Chris Massaro, Leenie Kelley, Beth Hoffman Driscoll MEd’87, and Maureen Gaughan. It was an old-school “all-nighter” keg party, complete with people camping in tents on the lawn of Tim’s childhood home. It was a blast and a great night of reconnecting and storytelling! • Also, I had the chance to visit Tom and Lisa (Terry) Furlong in Lyme, CT, at their family beach house. It was great to see their three kids—Pete, Ryan, and Tommy—and I promise I will get Wendy Bicknell Leone, MEd’90, and Linda Cox Bush together for a beach day next summer. What an awesome setup right on the beach! • Everyone, just keep “living the dream,” and keep me posted on your BC adventures with classmates. Here is my final shout-out for our classmates toasting the 29th anniversary of our 21st birthday! Please keep the news coming, and go BC!
Correspondent: Leenie Kelley leeniekelley@hotmail.com
1987 The Boston College Alumni Association recently elected several new members to its board, among them our classmates Ileana Jimenez Garcia and Thomas Livaccari. They will serve three-year terms. • Sue Singer reported the passing of Ann Murray Paige on March 16 from breast cancer. In the decade before her death, Ann, who had worked as a TV reporter in Maine, became an active advocate for breast cancer awareness, writing books, founding a blog—Project Pink—and, together with her sister, creating a documentary, The Breast Cancer Diaries, about her battle with the disease. In 2013, Massachusetts General Hospital named Ann among The One Hundred individuals and organizations who have dedicated themselves to making a difference in the fight against