CLASS NOTES Let us know what you are up to! We love to have information for the Class Notes section of The Oaks. Submit your updates and photos online at alumnae.mercyhsb.com under Welcome/Submit Class Notes. If you prefer to email us, you can send your news to alumnae@mercyhsb.com. We can’t wait to hear from you!
1946
Irene Garibaldi Aubright ‘46 is a great grandma to Zoe Jana Scandurra (pictured left). Last August, they enjoyed their first real visit since Zoe was born!
1949
Bebe Faas Rice, ‘49 recently passed away and her son John sent this lovely tribute: My mother loved her time at Mercy among the oaks, and graduated from the College of the Holy Names across the Bay. After college in 1954, my mother wanted a little adventure, a chance to see more of her country and the world, and the opportunity to serve the U.S. As her father had served in the Marine Corps in WWI and fought at Belleau Wood, her father and mother supported her plan to become a Marine. In the mid-1950s, it was not a well-trodden path for a young woman. Mom always joked that she made the exact same amount as a male Second Lieutenant at about $222/month. This put her way above the average of wage-earning females at that time. She enjoyed the Marine Corps and there met my father, who is also a Marine. He retired after 37+ years in the Corps. They had a wonderful life together and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in November. Bebe was a noted author with 18 published children’s books. She was always a kind, loving, and generous mother and grandmother to her son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren. In January 2021, Bebe Faas Rice was buried at Quantico National Cemetery with full military honors. Her grave is not too far from Quantico Marine Corps Base, where her adventure as a Marine began, where she met my father one December evening at a holiday party in the Bachelor Officer Quarters, and where she was married at the Base Chapel—befitting its name as “The Crossroads of the Corps.”
1956
Cecilia Kolloch Wolary ’56 was called home on December 25, 2020. Cecilia is the sister of Charlotte Kolloch Wiard ’58. Mary Lou Woodman Whitcomb ‘56 submitted this update for her classmate Ann Duffy Meuser ‘56. Ann and her husband moved to
Denver, North Carolina, three years ago to be close to family. By this Christmas, they will have 17 great grandchildren! They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year and feel truly blessed. Ann says, “We always enjoy hearing from and about our classmates. I have been reading posts from classmate and biologist Regina Burke on Facebook. She has such an interesting life and writes op/ed articles on various topics!” 26 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL, BURLINGAME
1959
Catherine (Kay) Conklin Regan-DeDicco ‘59 lives in an active adult community at the New Jersey shore with husband Mike. She just completed a year as head of her church’s governing body and serves as secretary to the Diocesan Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse. She misses her children and grandchildren who are spread throughout in Florida, Maryland, and New Jersey. Lots of Zoom family meetings have kept everyone in touch but nothing beats being together in person. Kay is hoping we will overcome this pandemic soon!
1963
Janet Ruffing, RSM,’63 taught at both Mercy Burlingame and San Francisco in the 60’s and 70’s. She became Professor Emerita of the Practice of Spirituality and Ministerial Leadership at Yale Divinity School where she had been teaching from 2010-2020. Sr. Janet currently has an office in Russell Hall at Mercy and resides in Millbrae. She continues to offer spiritual direction and occasional webinars on Zoom and works on other scholarly projects. Maureen Marconi ‘63 reported that after numerous trips and cruises were canceled over these past two years due to the pandemic, she decided to take up sewing once again after 30 years. Maureen took Beginning & Intermediate Clothing Construction online through the emeritus program at a junior college. It was at Mercy that she learned to sew—developing such a passion for it that she majored in Home Economics, taught numerous high school students sewing, quilting, and other embroidery crafts for over 15 years. “Thank you Mrs. Birchak!”
1964
It is with sadness that we share that Clancy Wilborn, husband of Nanci Arata Wilborn ‘64, sister-in-laws Jo Arata Macaluso ‘67, and Patricia Arata ‘60, was called home this past January. We extend our sympathy to the Arata and Wilborn families.
1966
Carol Haines Peters ‘66 has been married to Rich for 51 years. She says, “Our secret to a successful marriage includes working at our relationship everyday, loving unconditionally, and always respecting one another. It’s important to always remember why you married him or her, and have God as your center.” Mercy made her stronger in her faith. She has survived two cancers: one that required a bone marrow transplant with a 10% survival rate and breast cancer stage 3. Her children are 47, 45, and 42, and are a great help and supporters. They have five grandchildren and one great grandchild. “Lookup and smell the roses, even if you don’t want to.” Diane Roby ‘70 reported that her sister, Sr. Linda Roby, BVM ‘66
of Portland, Oregon, was honored in January 2021 with the Fr. David Walsh Pastoral Worker Award, which recognizes the dedication of an individual or group serving the Catholic Deaf. The award from
