Scholarship Tribute Dinner

THE COLLEGE WAS EAGER TO HONOR Susan Chiaviello DiDonato ’82 and Gerald DiDonato ’83, Ph.D., and to confer an honorary degree upon President Charles L. Flynn, Jr. at the 2020 Scholarship Tribute Dinner. We remain optimistic to do both next spring. Between the announcement of the event—and its second postponement—the following community members made commitments in support of the event and the Mount’s scholarship programs.

ADZ Staffing Company, Inc. Aaron Zweback Susan K. Allen Aicila Barksdale '05 Andrea Garafolo Batista '02 Mary Bauer Rosemary T. Berkery '75 and

Robert J. Hausen Kelli Bodrato Smith Margaretta Campbell Bruegger '67 and John Bruegger Rosalie Buchanan '90 James Burkee Maryellen Flynn Cancellieri '77 and

Gene Cancellieri Frederica Nicola Capshaw '70 and

William Capshaw Elizabeth Barnett Carlucci '76 and

Charlie Carlucci Gail Vance Civille '65 and

Francis Civille Commercial Kitchens, Inc. Richard L. Pinto

Conde Family Foundation Cristόbal and Kamayrn Conde Rita Kilgallon Conlon '53 and

M. Clark Conlon Andrew Curiel '18 Abed Elkeshk Exclusive Escapes Eileen Spear '90 Martha E. Fedorko '56† Phyllis Palese Feldman '71 Florence Sendlbeck Fialk '55 and

Richard Fialk Angela Scarola Gray '54 Mary Griffin Rebecca Halperin Deborah J. Hamilton Mary Snyder Howell '66 and

William Howell Christopher Keenan, O.F.M. Sheila Johansson Kelly '82 and

Ralph Kelly Catherine Kinney Theresa Kuilan Maureen Reynolds Lynn '84 and

Timothy Lynn Joan Backer Maddy '50 Denis G. Mahoney Maura A. Markus Valerie E. Mastronardi '61 Charles A. Mastronardi Foundation Maryellen Mathews '70 and

Thomas McSweeny Catherine Mazzola '90 and Steven

Mazzola Kathryn Pitkiewicz McLaughlin '59 Rose Kelly McTague '68 Rosita Stagg Medler '57 and

Raymond Medler Madeleine and John Melkonian Paul W. Mourning and Laura K. Locke Gabrielle Occhiogrosso Margaret Trainor O'Malley '80 and

Thomas O'Malley Elaine L. Palatine '51 Barbara Palombo Michelle Queenan Pisacano '63 and

Anthony Pisacano Ann Reid Powers '57 Daniel T. Regan Robert and Joan M. Dircks

Foundation, Inc. Anne Koonmen Scheible '62 and

Walter Scheible Ann Delaney Schumacher '81 and

Stephen Schumacher Matthew Shields Joan M. Squires '73 Margaret Smith Steffan '66 and

Robert Steffan Rosalie Wilson Steiner '52 Alison M. Tapia '01 Edna Sandroni Ulasewicz '49 Regina Burke Vassak '66 and

John Vassak Thomas Vassallo Susan L. Whitney '72 and John Whitney Joan M. Woods '57

Susan Chiaviello DiDonato ’82 and Gerald (Gerry) DiDonato ’83 met at Mount Saint Vincent in the fall of 1979. Susan, a bubbly and active sophomore, and Gerry, a freshman transfer, moved in the same circles for a while. They began dating the next summer and have been inseparable ever since—especially as they’ve challenged and supported one another as they’ve built impressive careers.

Susan, an accomplished marketer and communicator, was recruited to WPP’s Health and Wellness Division in 2016, where her skillful management and keen eye for talent drew the attention of higherups. Earlier this year, she was promoted to Senior Vice President for Human Resources Advisory/Business Integrity at WPP, the world’s largest advertising company. Four years after graduating from the Mount, Gerry earned a doctorate in Analytical Chemistry from Indiana University. Now, in his fourth decade with Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Gerry maintains his enthusiasm for his job as Senior Director, Regulatory Sciences – CMC Biologics and for the team of professionals he supervises.

Both Susan and Gerry are proudest of their most enduring and rewarding collaboration—their three children. Each praises the other’s involvement and devotion to helping their kids grow into kind, responsible, successful adults with full lives and generous hearts. “I’m very proud of them and what they’ve accomplished,” Gerry says. “They are our legacy.”

In 2019, Susan joined the Mount’s Board of Trustees after having she what she calls “a life-changing conversation with President Flynn. I was deeply moved by his conviction that no one who wants an education should be held back by their socioeconomic status.” Susan and Gerry thought and prayed over her decision to join the board. “It’s not a commitment I would make for just any organization,” she says. “For both of us, the College of Mount Saint Vincent really matters—what they are doing, what they are investing in—and that’s the future of education.”