THEOAKS MERCY HIGH SCHOOL • BURLINGAME • SUMMER 2020
A year unlike any other... THE OAKS SUMMER 2020 1
The Oaks is published twice yearly for alumnae, parents, and friends of Mercy High School, Burlingame. A Catholic, all girls College Preparatory since 1931, Mercy High School is sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas West Midwest Community. In an effort to go green we will only be sending one Oaks per household. Please share with all. Thank you!
MAIN OFFICE 650.343.3631 ALUMNAE OFFICE 650.762.1192 ADVANCEMENT OFFICE 650.762.1190 ADMISSION OFFICE 650.762.1114 FAX 650.343.2976 EMAIL alumnae@mercyhsb.com
2020-2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Penny Stack Alexander ‘78 Kelli Benz
MERCY EVENTS 2020-2021* Tri-School Fall Play
Tri-School Spring Musical
Serra High School October 30, 31; November 6, 7 at 7pm
Serra High School March 19, 20, 26, 27 at 7:30pm March 21 at 2:00pm
Admissions Open House
Spring Open House
Mercy High School Sunday, November 8
Mercy High School Monday, April 26
A Taste and Take Event
Making a Difference Benefit
Kohl Mansion Friday, November 20
Thursday, April 29
Christmas at Kohl
Mercy High School Tuesday, May 5
Kohl Mansion Wednesday, December 2 at 5pm
Winter Chorale Concert Mercy High School Tuesday, December 8 at 6:30pm
Winter Dance Concert December - TBA
Spring Chorale Concert
Spring Dance Concert May - TBA
Mercy ArtsFest Mercy High School May - TBA
Baccalaureate Mass
Lobster Feed & Live Music
Our Lady of Angels Church Saturday, June 5 at 7pm
Kohl Mansion Friday, February 26 at 6:30pm
Graduation St. Ignatius Church (USF) Sunday, June 6 at 2pm
! e t a D e h t e v a S
Whether in person or online we hope to see you at Homecoming!
Anne Bianchini, CPA ‘90 Pauline Borghello, RSM Jeanne Berube Collora
ALUMNAE HOMECOMING*
Patricia Flanagan ‘65
Sunday, September 20, 2020 Honoring classes ending in ‘5 and ‘0.
Maureen Grazioli Una Kinsella ‘83 Brandy M. M. Navarro ‘98 Joe Nezwek Joan Marie O’Donnell, RSM Caroline M. Romeo Patrick Ruff Michele O’Connor Tyler ‘68
Cover photo: Faculty and Staff form a “Honor Guard” to celebrate the Class of 2020 at our Cap & Gown Pickup. 2 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
Please visit our website for updates/details on these and other events www.mercyhsb.com
*SUBJECT TO COUNTY COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
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THEOAKS Summer 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Distance Learning 4 Education for the Digital Era 6
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On Campus 8 Visual and Performing Arts 10 Athletics 12 Mission & Service 14 Graduation 16
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Advancement Events 20 Making a Difference 21 Mercy Parent Club 22
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Alumnae Events 23 Senior Pinning 24 Alumnae Spotlight 25 Class Notes 26 In Memoriam 31
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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL NATALIE CIRIGLIANO BROSNAN ‘02, ED.D. The overwhelming pride that I have in my alma mater was fully realized this year as I watched how our community responded with unwavering faith to every obstacle that this year brought. When Mercy SF announced their closure our faculty and staff organized overnight to welcome our sisters with open arms. Our community shared Mercy with others. When our world turned upside down faculty and staff adapted to take on Distance Learning. Our students brought grace and maturity to the experience and partnered with their teachers to ensure that their education did not suffer. Our community shared Mercy with one another. When our seniors embraced the virtual and drive-by celebrations, they left us humbled by the gratitude and respect they brought to Graduation. Our Class of 2020 transformed from Mercy girls to women of Mercy. When our country was forced to face a long overdue demand for justice, our community members mobilized, asking what more we could do. Our community brought a desire to spread Mercy to the world. In a time of so many unknowns I find great comfort in knowing Mercy remains a constant in our lives, true to its mission. Thank you for being part of this tremendous community. Your support and prayers have served as gifts as we have overcome obstacle after obstacle this year. No matter where you are right now or what battle you are facing, know you are never alone for we always walk as one community in Mercy. THE OAKS SUMMER 2020 3
FEATURE
Mercy is more than an academic learning environment
—it’s a community, a culture, and a mindset
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n a matter of weeks, our lives were turned upside down by the COVID-19 global pandemic. We were updated daily with news of restrictions and closures, and were forced to watch and wait while processing fears, frustrations, and worries about the health of our loved ones. But Mercy came together, leaning on our faith and the wonderful gift of community. To ensure the safety of our families, friends, and neighbors, we committed to a ‘new normal’ with Shelter In Place. The strength of Mercy High School truly shined when faced with the unknowns of COVID-19. Our world shifted immediately and drastically, but Mercy was prepared. We had piloted the program in the fall, and have been using digital platforms that support Distance Learning for years.
In a testament to the skill and flexibility of our faculty and staff, our students went from walking into classrooms to logging into classes over a weekend. There was no gap in their curriculum. They engaged with their teachers and classmates in academics, and participated in spiritual, wellness, and extracurricular enrichment. When other schools took weeks or even months to transition, Mercy pivoted seamlessly. We reimagined our liturgies, club meetings, major events, faculty meetings, and even lunches to support this new normal. We cared for, comforted, and supported each other. Mercy was truly revealed in our community.
g n i n i L r Silve —Michelle T., Senior Parent
Though the impact of COVID-19 and Shelter in Place has been profound, many in our community shared that they had sought to find and experience the ‘silver lining’ lessons and experiences of value that they want to take with them when life returns to normal.
Whether it was playing a weekly virtual game with friends, developing a meaningful new family tradition, or practicing a new personal hobby, members of our community chose to honor the present moment by making the best of it. Here are a few stories they have shared: 4 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
In a given week, Mercy offered virtual community activities including: • Lunchtime Prayer with Campus Ministry • Workouts with Mercy’s Athletic Trainer • Lunch with Pets • After School Meditation and Yoga • Spring Sports Virtual Team Meetings • Parent College Counseling Support • Parent Mixers • Parent Check-In with Head of School
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Before Shelter In Place, my husband and I carpooled to work, which gave us time for meaningful conversation. Since the orders, we have made it a priority to walk every single day for 1-2 hours. This allows us to stay connected and have those discussions (it's amazing we still find things to talk about after 28 years). We are fortunate to live a block from the ocean, so our walks are filled with beauty and we have been able to discover more about the area we live in. —Patricia Bradley, Science Teacher
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“Kudos to Mr. Offield for having AP Lit class online and holding every student’s attention!! After the lesson, I was excited to see that the students broke out into collaborative groups on zoom to discuss, and then came back together as a class. As a teacher and parent this made my day...especially his suit and tie! Impressive teaching!”
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FEATURE
Maintaining Mercy
A Mercy Education is so much more than an academic program - it’s faith activities, visual and performing arts, athletics, extracurricular opportunities, rich student life, and of course, the sisterhood. Mercy faculty and staff generously spent much time and talent ensuring we maintained the real and intangible aspects of community that make our school so special. They developed new resources for students and parents, made themselves available to connect, and organized activities and events to make sure our students were having fun and taking care of themselves mentally and physically. Tom Wootten organized and hosted Mercy’s first Distance Event - the Rho Kappa Induction Ceremony, inducting 25 Mercy students into the National Social Studies Honor Society.
Tri-School Social Media Bake-off Challenge
Student Body Officer Installation
—Natalie Cirigliano Brosnan ‘02 Head of School
In a Virtual Self-Care Fair during Wellness Week, faculty, staff and students led fun activities to help the school community relax before finals including meditation, workouts, cooking, diy projects, and beauty tutorials.
We had a guest appearance by Jesse Manibusan at a Campus Ministry lunchtime prayer session.
We hosted virtual Graduation Events (more in the Graduation section starting p. 16)
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My high school friends and I are still very close. Before Shelter In Place we got together at least once a month and did a yearly girls' trip. We have managed to get all 8 of us (for the most Pre-COVID-19 hangouts part) on zoom calls once a week. We 'gather' to check in and see each others' faces, which has been such a nice way to stay connected! —Andrea Cabano, Director of AMES
Enjoyed meaningful prayer services
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During Shelter in Place, my husband and I started paddleboarding in the Pillar Point Harbor. It was so relaxing to start our mornings on the water before the wind picked up. We saw seals, jellyfish, stingrays, and lots of birds. I really enjoyed having more time to spend in nature, and I look forward to paddleboarding as a hobby the rest of my life! —Claire Rietmann-Grout ‘04, Assistant Head of School for Student Life
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“Mercy girls meet challenges head on. We walk away holding ourselves a little higher and always coming out the other side with dignity and the highest of morals. Watching our students act as living examples of this has made me so proud not only to be a Mercy girl but also to be their Head of School.”
“We are in this quarantine to keep ourselves safe, but what we don’t realize Jacqueline Klingler ‘20 taking is our earth advantage of the clean air and is being clear skies while on a gorgeous saved. The social distance hike. air is cleaner than it has ever been, and people are out exercising more than you’d see the day after New Years. The entire world2020 is alone THE OAKS SUMMER 5 together.” —Sissa Collaço ’21
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ACADEMICS
Education for the Digi Mercy High School is constantly developing our academic program to meet the needs of today’s world. The transition to Distance Learning as a result of COVID-19 underscored the importance of digital fluency and adaptability for our students and our faculty. We were grateful to have piloted Distance Learning last fall in anticipation of a campus or county event with the goal of providing a rigorous, engaging academic experience through a digital platform.
Collaboration for STEM Advancement Research from the National Association of Girls Schools indicates a long-term advantage in comfort with STEM, with studies finding girls’ schools foster interest and confidence in underrepresented STEM subjects. Researchers found graduates are 6x more likely to consider STEM majors and 3x more likely to pursue engineering careers than peers that attended co-ed high schools. Knowing that this crucial field will only become more important in the future, we have taken steps to enhance our STEM curriculum that will give our students a foundation for success in the digital era. In the fall, Mercy will debut a new course called Robotics, Engineering, and Design Thinking, team-taught by STEM faculty members. The course will introduce the engineering design process and students will have the opportunity to develop skills in design thinking, coding, research and analysis, teamwork, and communication methods. They will apply math, science, and engineering principles to handson robotics projects that will lead up to the FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Competition! 6 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
Mercy Students Lead in Technology Adoption Mercy’s Student Technology & Innovation Team was invited to present at the Silicon Valley CUE conference this year! A long-standing organization, CUE (ComputerUsing Educators) had planned its Silicon Valley Regional breakout for March. Unfortunately, the conference was cancelled at the last minute due to COVID-19, but we are so proud of the presentation that Mercy’s Student Team and their moderator Lindsay Stewart developed. Their topic, “Elevating Student Leadership Through Innovation Teams” used the program implemented at Mercy to provide instruction on how other schools can create student innovation teams. Our students would have been showcasing the projects they had accomplished throughout the year to a wide audience, from executives of EdTech companies, Google, and education software companies to principals, teachers, and librarians. We believe it is important to provide a platform for our students to promote their own experience in this adventure, and to present their own content. We are so proud of their creativity, and know that they will continue to use their voice and passion to advocate for improvements in any capacity in the future.
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ACADEMICS
ital Era Government Senior Class Project The final project in Tom Wootten’s Senior Government class blended traditional and digital presentations with activism. His twopart assignment included a three-page research paper attached to a letter that students sent to a Congressperson or local Representative.
A still from Alicia Rodriguez-Majano’s ‘Gender Inequality: Divided Workforce’
Encouraged to choose a topic that they were particularly passionate about, many students selected subjects related to Mercy’s Critical Concerns.
They then condensed their research-supported argument into a video to be shared with the broader Mercy community. Students learned how to translate the traditional, written project into a more modern, media-friendly format capable of reaching a wider audience.
In honor of Computer Science Education Week, Mercy hosted our first Day of Code! Patricia Bradley and Sarah Murphy hosted middle school girls from all over the Peninsula in the Mercy Library to explore coding through fun and creative lessons. The girls were assisted and mentored by our current Mercy students, and some entered the codes that they created into a coding competition! The event was so successful at engaging students at all levels that they were interested in joining a Mercy “Girls Who Code Club”.
Faculty Op-Ed on Distance Learning Our Distance Learning experience provided a unique opportunity for our faculty to explore how virtual learning impacts their relationships with students, and their ability to support students’ academic and emotional needs in a virtual setting. Here’s a sample of their reflections:
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Distance Learning has taught me valuable lessons. On Zoom, I’m able to pay attention to individual students in a new way. I’ve learned how to better interpret cues like facial expressions and body language and respond to them in new ways. Some girls focused well and seemed task-oriented, some seemed to thrive on managing their own time and schedule, but others appeared to shut down and need more personalized interaction. I recognized that so many valuable connections had been taken away and now was the time to pay special attention to the individual, knowing they are experiencing new challenges. —Louisa La Farge, Science Teacher
While I have always worked toward, and prided myself in accepting each of my students as individuals, Distance Learning has given me a more profound appreciation of each girl. With that acceptance came the intentional embracing of their little stumbling steps in their language acquisition. Their challenges and how they reacted to them, gave me closer glimpses into their personalities. My imagination took flight to see what these wonderful students would be doing 10-20 years from now. I have been blessed by this experience because these young women have graced my path. —Mary Louise Castillo, Spanish Teacher
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Day of Code
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ON CAMPUS
RETIREMENTS This year Mercy celebrated two significant retirements. Mary Louise Castillo retired after 46 years of teaching Spanish and Pam Matthews retired after 27 years of teaching music and chorale! There is no doubt they made a lasting impact on generations of Mercy Girls and that they are an integral part of Mercy’s legacy. We are grateful for the many ways they left their mark at Mercy through their passion for their subject areas, their focus on social justice, and the mentorship they gave to many young women. We will forever be thankful for the impact they made at Mercy High School and for their extraordinary commitment to serving Catherine McAuley’s mission for decades. We are honored to have shared in their journey of educating and life-long learning, and we look forward to seeing what amazing adventures come their way with retirement!
All Around Mer
MERCY SENIOR WINS YOUTH OF THE YEAR Recent Mercy graduate Scarlett Aramburu Alvarez ‘20 earned the title of Youth of the Year for Mid-Peninsula Boys & Girls Club (MPBGC)! Bridging her junior and senior years, Scarlett prepared for months working with a coach and attending workshops to strengthen her public speaking skills. In November, she competed against others in her Mid-Peninsula clubhouse which included individual interviews with a panel of eight judges and ultimately giving a speech to a packed audience about issues she felt needed addressing in our community. An active member of the Boys & Girls Club since 7th grade, Scarlett’s participation has evolved as she took on more of a leadership role from organizing events to designing teen centers. Over the years, Scarlett’s experiences at Mercy have influenced the way she views service to her community, encouraging her to be intrinsically motivated and acknowledge the worth of time. “It is important to give back to the community that holds you up and that you represent.” Scarlett was also motivated to grow as a leader through her involvement with Junior Statesmen of America, a club at Mercy. Finding her voice and becoming comfortable making her opinions heard has helped her encourage fellow students to express their opinions during meetings or through participation in events like the student-organized Gun Control Rally.
Sarah Rowan 8 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
Sarah Boragno
5 YEARS
5 YEARS
5 YEARS
FACULTY & STAFF ANNIVERSARIES
25 YEARS
Scarlett was grateful for the opportunity to hone her public speaking skills and for the mentorship and recognition she has received. As a recent graduate, she is excited to see what her future holds; “It’s time to put myself in new situations where I can apply the knowledge I gained at Mercy in order to create new opportunities and experiences!”
Jennifer Munsey
Ryan Offield
rcy!
ON CAMPUS
GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL ELDERS DAY On the Friday of Catholic Schools Week we welcomed 85 Mercy grandparents to our first Grandparents Day. Guests were welcomed to the Great Hall with a special blessing by Angie Simonetti, acknowledging how integral they are in their granddaughters’ Mercy education. Students then took their guests on a tour of the school and introduced them to their friends and our faculty and staff. It was a very heart-warming event and a great way to conclude Catholic Schools Week activities!
VISIT FROM MICHAEL COLLOPY
WELCOME MERCY SF STUDENTS Our hearts were heavy when we learned that Mercy SF would be closing, but we are so happy that 40 young women have chosen to continue their Mercy education at Mercy Burlingame. We welcome our sisters with open arms and are honored to have them join our community in shared commitment to Mercy’s mission. We look forward to making treasured memories together!
In an interdisciplinary visit with Religion and Photography classes, renowned artist and photographer (and Serra graduate!) Michael Collopy came to Mercy to speak about his photography, his work with Mother Teresa, and lessons he learned by making mistakes. A friend and photobiographer to Mother Teresa, he recalled their relationship and the miracles he experienced during his time with her. He described other civic leaders he’s photographed who have made positive impacts on the world (like Greta Thunberg and Nelson Mandela) and challenged Mercy students to ensure that their careers positively impact the world. He shared how he’s found success and advised them to follow their passions in life.
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ON CAMPUS
Visual and Performing LORD OF THE FLIES In a one-of-a-kind Fall Play, Tri-School Productions presented two single-gender versions of The Lord of the Flies. Our Mercy students put in grueling, emotional work to explore the story of survival, humanity, and our most basic instincts. They brought the story to life in an incredible, unique performance!
Arts
DANCE
The Winter Dance concert was a joyous event full of holiday cheer. Faculty and staff even joined in the fun with a rendition of “Twelve Days of Christmas”.
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ON CAMPUS
CHORALE Mercy Chorale once again participated in the High School Chorus showcase at Santa Clara University. It was inspiring to hear the voices of young people from all over the Bay Area joined together in the Mission Church. They also braved the cold and rain for a fun opportunity to sing at the City of Burlingame’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting!
Ryan Grout ‘22
This spring we were unable to host our annual ArtsFest Showcase due to the COVID-19 shutdown, so Art Teachers Shardie Ezell and Nadine Baroudi hosted a virtual ArtsFest on Mercy’s social media platforms! We celebrated the accomplishments and growth of students in Studio Art, Ceramics, and Photography, and you can view the album on Mercy’s Facebook page.
Desiree Astabie ‘20
Jennifer Ye ‘20
Elizabeth Bermudez ‘21
VIRTUAL ARTSFEST
Mercy’s Winter Chorus concert was a beautiful program set against the festive Christmas backdrop for what we did not know at the time would be Pam Matthews’s finale concert before retirement - what a triumph! Congratulations to Mercy Chorale, Tri-School Chorus, and Mercy Tri-M Music Honor Society, and thank you for sharing your talents with us.
Ping Lin ‘20
Riley Rodriguez ‘20
Nikka Sekelj ‘20
Angelina Montenegro ‘20
Kristen Dudum ‘20
Jace Cen ‘20
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Fall Sports
Spirit Squads
CROSS COUNTRY- The team finished 10th overall in the West Bay Athletic League (WBAL) finals and the JV team finished 8th. The program had a great nucleus of 14 on the squad.
Mercy Spirit Squads started their season in style cheering for Serra Football at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers!
GOLF- The team went 8-4 overall and placed 3rd in the WBAL, one of the best finishes in recent team history. Sophomore Brooke Barron placed 33rd out of 116 golfers in the Central Coast Section tournament. TENNIS- Our Tennis program continues to grow in numbers and interest with 31 girls on the team. Varsity went 3-9 in league play to place 6th overall in their division. With limited JV teams in our league, JV had an altered schedule and finished with a 2-4 overall record.
VOLLEYBALL- VARSITY went 20-12 overall, qualifying for the CCS play-offs for the 4th consecutive year. The team finished 5th in the highly competitive Foothill Division of the WBAL. JV finished with a 23-10 overall record and placed 3rd. The highlight was winning the highly competitive Milpitas Spikefest. The FRESHMAN squad finished 3rd in the league with a 11-16 overall record, and played in multiple tournaments in which they were facing JV teams. The future of the program looks to be in great hands!
WATER POLO- Varsity went 5-9 and finished 5th in the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL). Junior Kylie Pfeiffer was named Most Valuable Player of the Ocean Division. JV finished with a 2-10-1 overall record. With 24 girls in the program we have a promising future. 12 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
ATHLETICS
Athletic Highlights!
MERCY CHEER performed at multiple Mercy rallies and Volleyball games as well as Serra football and basketball games. The team grew in size and was placed in a higher division than in previous years. Undaunted, they performed exceptionally well at Nationals and placed 4th in the overall competition. The team now looks forward to a return trip to Nationals this upcoming school year.
The DANCE TEAM also increased Mercy and Tri-School spirit, performing at various Mercy and Serra games. It was a transitional year moving from JAMZ competitions to the United Spirit Association (USA), but the team practiced hard and qualified for Nationals. Unfortunately the remaining State and National competitions were cancelled due to COVID-19 shutdown, but they look forward to a great upcoming year!
Winter Sports
BASKETBALL- VARSITY once again qualified for CCS playoffs and won their first round play-off game. The team finished in 6th place with a 12-13 overall record. With 16 players and lots of interest, the goal is to fill a Varsity and JV team next season. SOCCER- Playing in the top division of the WBAL, VARSITY finished in 4th place with a 4-6 league record. Their 12-9-1 overall record was impressive vs top competition. The team once again qualified for the Central Coast Section play-offs and lost a heartbreaking first round game. Junior Caroline Callagy was named Midfielder of the Year in the Foothill Division of the WBAL. JV went 6-4 in league play to finish in 3rd place within the league standings. Their overall record was 9-6-1 vs. some very strong teams in the area.
ON CAMPUS
ATHLETICS SENIOR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Haylee Klingler
Spring Sports Unfortunately the Spring Sport Season was cut short due to safety measures imposed as a result of COVID-19, but it was off to a great start prior to the shutdown.
GYMNASTICS- With 9 girls, the squad was looking forward to a good year. LACROSSE- Varsity was off to an impressive 2-1 record with wins against 2 upper division WBAL teams, and coaches felt they had a strong chance to win the Skyline Division. With 24 on the roster, the team is poised to again be a force next year.
SOFTBALL- The defending league champs, the team once again looked to the conference title and to qualify for the CCS playoffs for the 5th consecutive year. They played 5 games for a 3-2 record vs. strong competition.
SWIM & DIVE- In the one meet of the season, multiple girls won individual heats and several relay teams showed midseason form. With 24 team members, the team is poised to be very strong next season. For the first time since 2015, Mercy was able to field a dive team. Though they did not compete prior to the shutdown, all 4 girls worked extremely hard and plan to return next season. TRACK & FIELD- The girls scored many impressive marks at Serra’s dual meet prior to the shutdown, despite it being so early in the season. The coaches look forward to a strong nucleus of 22 athletes returning next year. Many thanks to all of our athletes for their commitment and desire to be part of our spring sports teams. We are very appreciative of your efforts! We are especially proud of our Spring Senior Athletes in how they carried themselves with grace and maturity when their senior year sports experiences were cut short. Thank you for being wonderful models to the rest of the school!
Haylee came to Mercy barely 5 ft tall and today stands nearly 5ft 10in. Her growth, not only physically but in her overall level of play, is what makes Haylee such a special athlete. She played 5 different sports while at Mercy: Soccer 4 years, Volleyball 3 years, Track & Field 2 years, Lacrosse 2 years, and Tennis 1 year. Haylee has always been a team player. Never one to complain, she always put her team first, and her leadership could be seen on every team she was a part of. Haylee played middle and outside hitter for Mercy’s Varsity Volleyball team that went to CCS play-offs. Her athleticism on the court could always be counted on for a kill or a needed block at the net. Haylee’s speed and strength allowed Mercy Soccer coaches to play her on both front and back lines. She played every game this 2020/21 season, and finished with 10 goals highlighted by a hat trick. Her efforts were rewarded as she was named Honorable Mention All-League in the WBAL’s competitive Foothill division. This spring, Haylee was off to an incredible start with our lacrosse team before the season was cut short. She scored 21 goals and 3 assists in the first 3 games. Congratulations, Haylee! The recognition is well deserved.
All-League Selections FALL SPORTS
WINTER SPORTS
Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Midfielder
Kylie Pffeifer ‘21 - Water Polo
1st Team Brooke Barron ‘22 - Golf
2nd Team
Caroline Callagy ‘21 - Soccer
1st Team Isabel Bojorquez-Emmons ‘20 - Soccer
Maya Zeidan ‘20 - Golf Karla Joaquin-Alvarez ‘20 - Tennis Becky Roos ‘20 - Volleyball Nikka Sekelj ‘20 - Water Polo
2nd Team
Honorable Mention
Ryan Galea ‘20 - Basketball Haylee Klingler ‘20 - Soccer Tori Wei ‘20 - Soccer
Joanne Hui ‘21 - Cross Country Bianca DeRanieri ‘20 - Golf Sadie Williams ‘22 - Tennis Jennifer Ye ‘20 - Tennis Ysabelle Barrera ‘20 - Volleyball
Serena Calsada ‘20 - Basketball Madeline Bonilla ‘20 - Soccer Alexandria Kinney ‘20 - Soccer
Honorable Mention
THE OAKS SUMMER 2020 13
Mission & SERVICE
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE Mercy celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in a unique liturgy with a theme of “A Light in the Darkness”. During the Season of Advent, light and darkness take on significant meaning as we wait for the light of Christ to come illuminate the darkness. We celebrated this liturgy by candlelight in the chapel, and prayed to Our Lady. Then a banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe led us in procession to the campus Mary statue where we burned in an urn things we wanted to let go of.
SOPHOMORES AT ST. ANTHONY'S Every year Mercy sophomores visit St. Anthony’s for people in need in San Francisco. Through a presentation, the students get acquainted with the context and history of the Tenderloin area, the work of St. Anthony’s, as well as thorough analysis of the extent of homelessness experienced in SF. Our students then participate at service sites, serving guests in the dining hall, sorting clothing for every-day wear and interviews, and playing games with and accompanying older adults at the Presentation center. 14 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
MLK DAY OF SERVICE This year Mercy joined Peninsula Multifaith Coalition in doing service to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Students met at St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church with other faith denominations making meal kits for those in need. This was just one of many sites in which Peninsula Multifaith Coalition organizes service opportunities for the community on MLK Day.
MISSION
MERCY ALUMNAE RETREAT In February we welcomed 24 alumnae back to Mercy for our first Alumnae Retreat, created and led by Sandy Flaherty and Angie Simonetti. Our alums ranged from the classes of 1960-2012. They enjoyed a presentation on recognizing grace in our lives, a visit to the Mercy Center chapel, a short tour of the Mercy Center, walking the Labyrinth, and an art project. The retreat was designed to welcome our alums “back home to Mercy”, and provided an opportunity to explore God’s presence in everyday life. Many of our guests expressed deep gratitude for the chance to be back on our campus and for the gift of their Mercy education. They also shared how they enjoyed the opportunity to gather with and learn from alumnae of all ages.
BORDER RELIEF Throughout the year, Mercy has participated in learning, fundraisers, and advocacy around the Sisters of Mercy Critical Concern of Immigration. Students collected items for children and put together care packages. We also hosted speakers including Lillie Rey and Terry Sprague, founders of Bay Area Border Relief. Some of the sisters including Srs. Judy Carle and Patsy Harney joined in the conversations held at Mercy led by Bay Area Border Relief. Additionally, Srs. Judy Carle and Mary Waskowiak presented about their work in San Diego doing research on starting a home for refugees. They shared about their recent visit to San Diego and Mexico where they met with agencies who are working with asylum seekers waiting for court hearings. Students learned about the struggles surrounding immigration including lack of food, housing and medical care.
SPOTLIGHT BRONWYN MIGUEL ‘20 Bronwyn Miguel serves as Youth Ambassador for the Aeta Tribe Foundation. On a recent trip to the mountains of Pampanga in the Philippines, she participated in a humanitarian mission to deliver aid to the indigenous Aetas. They are descendants of the first inhabitants of the Philippines from more than 50,000 years ago and tragically, the most forgotten citizens of the country. They led peaceful lives in the remote mountains but when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991, they were displaced from their mountain habitat and despite government assistance, they are living on the margins of society, suffering homelessness, hunger, illiteracy and discrimination. Bronwyn has been a longserving partner of the Aeta Tribe Foundation, cultivating a passion for service to others.
FUN FOOD FAITH A Tri-School favorite, the ‘Fun Food Faith’ event brings Mercy, Serra, and Notre Dame students together. Campus Ministers from the three schools facilitated team activities designed to bring students out of their comfort zones and challenged them to connect with each other and their faith.
THE OAKS SUMMER 2020 15
Congratulations Class of 2020!
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Katherine Teresa Adams Adriana Ajam Alexa Gabrielle Almes Michelle Alvidrez Urzua Franchesca Angeles Scarlett Aramburu Alvarez Desireé Jean Astabie Ysabelle Guevarra Barrera Cheree Barroso Isabel Alejandra BojorquezEmmons Grace Kimberly Bolander Madeline Lucia Bonilla Caitlyn Josette Brucks Kaitlyn Nicole Bullentini Sarah Michelle Bullentini Kaitlin Nicole Kehaulani Cagawan Bridget Madeline Callahan Serena Calsada Ella Rose Catalano-Dockins Qingchun Jace Cen Siobhan Theresa Cloherty Lindsay Marie Day Lillian Virginia Del Chiaro Bianca Gabriella DeRanieri Sophia Theresa Dillon Kristen Haifa Dudum Jessica Meghan Echarte Ciara Michelle Finucane Emilie Anne Frenna Kristina Isabel Frey Melanie Aninion Gagucas Ryan Paige Galea Caitlin Claire Garcia Jenna Renee Garcia Rose Sophia Geller Angela Loreen Giusto Sophia Frances Godfrey Zoe Noel Grisim Isabella Celestina Gutierrez Zoe Grace Hammer Kaitlyn Grace Harold Grace Levesque Hart Malayah Kydah Dacumos Hernandez Josephine Hicks Zhiqiao Renee Huang Nicolette Amanda Aquino Ick Emma Claire Jayson Karla Michelle Joachin-Alvarez Taylor Elizabeth Keith Mary Kate Kelly Alexandria Celise Kinney
Haylee Rose Klingler Jacqueline Marie Klingler Klara Johanna La Guardia Madison Simoney Landaverde Jordan Leigh Larratt Mackenzie Jane Larratt Kailyn Jean Laubacher Ping Lin Joey Elle Lo Gabriella Martinez Rianna Changcoco Medina Angeline Joyce Lawes Menchavez Bronwyn Grace Miguel Ranika Ishani Misri Angelina Lucia Montenegro Gabriela Martha Montenegro Nancy Azucena Moran Nisa Mostarshed Alyssa Asia Mouton Lizabella Nadelson Andrea Nevarez-Peña Emma Jane O’Driscoll Gabriella Rose Orlando Samantha Rae Beltran Panelo Sophia Panjwani Richele Miranda Makanalani Phaler Jayden Rose Pineda Kelsey Elizabeth Popa Sofia Elizabeth Postigo Kaylie Catherine Richards Sophia Adrienne Rivera Riley Jacqueline Rodriguez Alicia Rodriguez-Majano Rebecca Linn Roos Reagan Christine Sammons Julia Alana Santos Nikka Sekelj Peyton Nicole Snyder Ariana Isolina Tamburo Isabella Marie Triunfo Tanya Vargas Nuñez Tori Elizabeth Wei Callan Sloan Weir Valerie Kate Rimban Wong Jiaqi Jennifer Ye Samantha Lawren Yup Victoria Marie Zambrano Maya Isabelle Zeidan Zhuoqin Grace Zhang
MERCY’S HIGHEST HONORS Sofia Postigo Mercy High School Head of School’s Award for General Excellence Cornell University
Jessica Echarte Board of Directors Award for Academic Excellence University of California, Los Angeles
Zoe Hammer Sister Amy Bayley Leadership Award Marquette University
Gabriela Martinez Mother Baptist Russell Service Award California State University, Sacramento
Ryan Galea Sister Mary Gabriel Award for Excellence in Sportsmanship University of Portland
OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Performing Arts - Sarah Bullentini Visual Arts - Nikka Sekelj Social Studies - Kaitlin Cagawan World Languages - Sofia Postigo Tri-Lingual Studies - Isabel Bojorquez-Emmons Religion - Sofia Postigo English - Samantha Panelo Mathematics - Isabel Bojorquez-Emmons Life Science - Caitlyn Brucks Physical Science - Sofia Postigo STEM - Zhuoqin Grace Zhang Computer Science - Jessica Echarte
Watch Graduation 2020 at www.mercyhsb.com/graduation2020 THE OAKS SUMMER 2020 17
Graduation 2020 Mercy adapted our many Graduation events to honor and celebrate the Class of 2020 while adhering to county guidelines around physical distancing and safety.
Cap & Gown Pick Up Seniors and their families drove through Mercy’s gates to pick up their caps, gowns, Alumnae Pins, and other surprises in preparation for graduation! Cars were decorated in encouragement and celebration of their high school journey, and faculty and staff were happy to form an ‘Honor Guard’ to cheer them on for this milestone!
The Senior Pinning Ceremony
officially kicked off Graduation season. Read our highlight of the touching ceremony in the Alumnae Section on page 24.
Pray & Celebrate with the Class of 2020 The Mercy tradition of a Baccalaureate Liturgy the Saturday evening before Graduation was transformed into a virtual gathering. We honored our Graduates’ time, effort, and achievements on their four-year journey, and the love and support their families have provided along the way. We had a special surprise from professional performers Mercy Alum Chelle Denton ‘11 and her partner Rubén Carbajal, who sang “You Will Be Found” from Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen.
Mother Daughter Prayer Service Graduates experienced tender moments with their Mothers and special women in their lives during a particularly meaningful prayer service celebrating their special bond. The intimacy of being at home together was beautiful to witness, and a reminder of how deeply personal their senior experiences were.
Graduation On May 31st we celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2020 via Webcast right on the Mercy Website! The ceremony mirrored Mercy’s traditional Graduation Ceremony with readings and reflections, and special additions including videos from the Senior Class Council, as well as surprise videos from faculty and staff. We were excited to have found a way to bring our graduates into our Graduation Ceremony from their homes through Zoom! 18 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
GRADUATION
“The love of Mercy does not exist in a vacuum. Instead, it travels alongside every Mercy graduate who chooses to share it with the world. Whatever lies ahead, whatever decisions you must make in order to live your ideal life, I urge you to choose love as well.” —Jessica Echarte ‘20, Valedictorian Seattle University University of Washington
University of Colorado Boulder
Gonzaga
Loyola University Chicago Purdue University Marquette University Xavier Ohio State University
University of Oregon Cal State Sacramento
Cornell University Boston University Syracuse University
UC Berkeley
Rochester Institute of Technology
Santa Clara
University of Hartford
Cal Poly Loyola Marymount University
Johns Hopkins University
University of North Carolina
University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Los Angeles
University of Hawaii
Bowdoin College
Davidson College
San Diego State
University of Arizona
University of Nevada, Reno Arizona State University
Louisiana State University Baylor University
Emory University University of Alabama
Texas State University
The Class of 2020 will be attending 58 colleges and universities and received over $6.4 million in scholarships. This map represents a sample of where they were accepted. Visit our website to view the full list of acceptances and awards THE OAKS SUMMER 2020 19 at www.mercyhsb.com/college
GIVING
Events
TASTE & TAKE
Our Taste & Take Event was back for a fun and festive evening in the freshly-decorated Kohl Mansion. Parents, alumnae, and neighbors enjoyed a night out with live music, mingling with friends, and sampling local wine, spirits, and food.
LOBSTER FEED This year we held our 2nd Lobster Feed & Live Music event! The traditional-style boil by Mercy family owned New England Lobster Market was a great success with over 200 guests. Current parents, alumnae, and friends of Mercy enjoyed a unique dining experience with entertainment, cocktails, and a live and silent auction. We are thankful that we were able to host this final event in Kohl Mansion before Shelter In Place began.
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GIVING
Though we wish we could have been together in person, our first ever LiveStream event was a huge success!
This year’s challenges have particularly highlighted the impact of the generosity shown through our Making a Difference event. The first week of Shelter in Place many families applied for an increase in financial assistance due to consequences of COVID-19. As families lost jobs, had wage reductions, and faced challenges with their small businesses, we have relied on help from the community to ensure our students can continue to receive a Mercy education. Thanks to the strength of our comunity we have great faith that we will emerge from these trying times stronger, inspired, and more connected than ever before.
Excerpts from the Evening “My teachers have encouraged me to have the confidence to unapologetically pursue my dreams. They have empowered me as a woman, teaching me to stand up for myself and to use my voice to help others. They have prepared me for college, teaching me that my individuality is not something that should be hidden but instead celebrated. As I leave Mercy, I am ready for the challenges that life will bring.” —Zoe Hammer ‘20; Attending Marquette University School of Nursing in the fall of 2020 “We empower girls to just be themselves, to own their imperfections so that they can love themselves. We provide a safe environment for girls to pursue their passions and to spark intellectual curiosity. We give girls a space to explore their faith and to develop a personal relationship with God. It is imperative that we meet the financial need that comes our way.”—Natalie Cirigliano Brosnan ‘02 Ed.D.
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Hundreds of members of our Mercy community joined us as we pivoted from an in-person dinner to a LiveStream event for our Making A Difference Scholarship Benefit. Our speakers shared the impact Mercy has on their lives, the importance of supporting an all-girls Catholic Mercy education, and why your support is so critical.
Cathy Dunleavy Rosaia ‘72, Making A Difference Steering Committee Chair; Natalie Cirigliano Brosnan ‘02 Ed.D. Head of School and Keynote Speaker; Ysabelle Guevarra Barrera ‘20; Zoe Hammer ‘20, SBO President and Student Speaker; Penny Stack Alexander ‘78, Chair, MHS Board of Directors.
Making A Difference impacts the future for young women who need assistance to attend Mercy. Your support matters! Class of 2020: 41% of the 100 Graduates received financial aid. Here is a sample of the colleges to which Making A Difference Scholarship recipients were accepted: Boston College Catholic University Gonzaga University Loyola Marymount University New York University Santa Clara University St. Mary’s College
University of Arizona University of Oregon University of San Francisco UC and Cal State Campuses University of Hawaii University of San Diego University of Southern California
$318,600 Through the tremendous generosity of the Mercy (as of 6/11/20) community, Making A Difference From Home has raised over $318,600. 100% of every gift goes directly to support our students. With gratitude, The Making A Difference Steering Committee Kelli Benz P ‘11, ’12, Clare Pool Purpura ‘75, Caroline Romeo P ’15, Chair Cathy Dunleavy Rosaia ‘72, P ’99, Carol Fraher and Mary Lund P ’06, ‘08.
Watch the LiveStream video at: www.mercyhsb.com/giving/MAD. Gifts may also be made on this page.
See you Next Year!
Making A Difference 2021 - Thursday, April 29th Honoring the Sisters of Mercy Past Principals
Sr. Marguerite Buchanan 1969-1975
Sr. Janet Rozzano 1975-1980
Sr. Amy Bayley Sr. Rosann Fraher 1982-1993 1993-2003 THE OAKS SUMMER 2020 21
Mercy Parent Club MOTHER DAUGHTER TEA Mercy Moms and Daughters always enjoy tea, brunch, and the company of other Mercy sisters at the annual Mother Daughter Tea.
DAD & DAUGHTER DANCE In February, Mercy Dads and Daughters put on their dancing shoes and dressed in their 50’s best to enjoy the diner-style dance event. We had a live DJ, professional photos, a raffle full of great prizes, a tater tot bar, and of course, ice cream sundaes!
VIRTUAL PARENT MIXERS
MOMS PAINT & SIP NIGHT Mercy Moms gathered for a creative evening of ceramic painting! They enjoyed sipping wine and getting to know one another as they hand-painted personal mugs that were then glazed and fired by Mercy students in Ceramics class.
22 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
Self-care and humor can get us through tricky times, so right after Shelter In Place was announced, Mercy parents were invited to attend virtual mixers! Dads exchanged ‘Dad Jokes’ and bad puns over their favorite beverages. Mercy Moms connected over an evening of self-care with mindfulness practices and restorative yoga led by our Wellness Counselor, Joy Phillips.
ALUMNAE
CHRISTMAS AT KOHL The mansion doors once again opened for Christmas at Kohl. The event has become a holiday tradition for many alumnae and Mercy families, with over 65 vendors selling their wares. It is always a special way to kick off the Christmas Season and get a head start on Christmas shopping! Mark your calendars now for this year’s Christmas at Kohl on December 2, 2020.
ANNUAL WINTER SOCIAL In December, Alumnae and Moms of Mercy Alumnae (MOMA) returned to campus for the annual Winter Social. MOMA chairs Kelli Benz and Caroline Romeo hosted guests to reconnect with old friends, enjoy arts and crafts, wine and small bites in a festive atmosphere!
HOLIDAY FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT The Mercy Alumnae Association hosted a fun new event - Holiday Family Movie Night! Local families were invited to the Great Hall for a viewing of The Polar Express. The children loved the activities and snuggled up with pillows and blankets on the floor, enjoying hot chocolate and treats while watching this children’s classic.
Alumnae Events THE OAKS SUMMER 2020 23
ALUMNAE
Senior Pinning
The Senior Class of 2020 Pinning Ceremony was the first of our virtual graduation events. Seniors were pinned by a member of their family due to Shelter In Place, but the adjustment became a beautiful celebration of the support and love they had received at home throughout their high school journey. They were welcomed into the Mercy Alumnae Association with a special video shout out from members of the Alumnae Board!
24 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
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Stephanie Sierra ‘12 This year, ABC7 Bay Area News added a familiar face to their Investigation Unit team - Stephanie Sierra ‘12. Stephanie has returned to the Bay Area after stints as a reporter and anchor in Columbia, Missouri and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Stephanie’s interest in investigative journalism began when she attended a Mercy Career Day session hosted by a local reporter. Drawn to follow the data, Investigation was the emphasis of her Broadcast Journalism major at the University of Missouri. Her reporting stems from deep curiosity - an insatiable interest in people, their stories and behaviors. Stephanie has reported on everything from local heroes and small business succeses to fraud, corruption, and sex trafficking. In her field, curiosity is not only a personality trait but an essential skill. She says, “It’s what makes you want to dig deeper. There is always going to be something that needs Having the emotional and fixing. Asking, ‘Why is that personal support at such this way? How can we shine a light on this?’ are keys to a young age and being success in this industry.”
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ALUMNAE
told that you can achieve anything has a lot to do with believing in your own success. That is what Mercy did for me.
Curiosity is what got her into the field, but what has kept her is the unique ability to bring about real, tangible change. “There is so much power in uncovering wrongdoing, and so much you can do to uplift people’s voices and give back to the community,” she says. Stephanie’s investigative reporting has resulted in significant local action. It prompted the Columbia Sheriff’s Department to properly enforce Megan’s Law restrictions, prohibiting sex offenders from living near schools and day care facilities. In southern Colorado, her persistence over a year-long investigation into illicit massage parlours rescued six women from human trafficking operations. Her chosen career requires tough conversations, and Stephanie credits her roots in the Mercy Community for her strong foundation. She says, “The values of the Sisters of Mercy, lived out in Mercy High School, set a platform of support for young women to be the best versions of themselves. Early exposure to
social issues has a direct impact on your willingness to help in areas of need. Mercy taught us to always want to give back.” Though Stephanie knows she is pursuing her calling, it is not always easy. “As a journalist you need significant resilience in the face of rejection, dishonesty, and pressure - even threats of violence. In the last few years, we [journalists] have been challenged like never before with accusations of bias and falsehoods. However, Mercy taught me to always stand by your truth and know who you are from an early age - to find that voice and use it to speak out.” Her talent is getting recognized by the broader journalism community. Stephanie earned a national Hearst award for her reporting in MO, and her story on human trafficking won two regional Edward R Murrow awards and was recently nominated for a prestigious, national Murrow Award. In discussing her success, Stephanie insists that it is simply a love of talking to people and her interest in what makes each individual unique. The sense of sisterhood that she first felt at Mercy expanded into a bond she feels with broader society. “Learning how to build connections helped me develop love and respect for others, which allows me to establish rapport, to adapt and learn.” Stephanie is thrilled to be home. She feels welcomed by the deep support and special sense of belonging that comes from our community. Follow her stories with the ABC7 I-Team on Channel 7, online at abc7news.com/iteam, and on social media!
THE OAKS SUMMER 2020 25
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 through the Mercy website at www.mercyhsb.com/alumnae/submit-news. If you prefer to email us, you can send your news to alumnae@mercyhsb.com. We can’t wait to hear from you!
1950
1959
Marian Sullivan Monks ‘50 graduated from UC Berkeley, Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude. She is now retired and lives in Sun City West, Arizona. Prior to her retirement, she explored professions in both the education and legal realm, including being a teacher, a paralegal and lastly, worked in travel as a Group Travel Consultant.
There was a gettogether lunch at Nan McAlister’s house in early March. From left to right: Ann Williams Regan, Judy Rees Cunningham, Nan Siracusa McAlister, Fran Cummings Kathy O’Mary, Darleen Tealdi Peterman, and Maureen
Shirley Sampson Latimier ‘50 writes from Eugene, OR where she and her husband live. After leaving the Bay Area, they moved to Northshore, Lake Tahoe where she taught first grade for 21 years and raised three children with hubby “Wally”! In retirement, they try to stay active and busy, and love time spent with her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. A favorite past time is doll collecting and looking for old dolls which she lovingly repairs and brings back to live another century. She looks forward to seeing the news from Mercy and can’t believe how “Mercy has grown so big and fabulous”!
1956
Rubis Leimbach all proud members of the Class of 59.
1960 Patricia Conway Putkey ‘60 and her classmates gathered together for their annual luncheon in Burlingame: Mary Conway Zodrow, Susan Torriglia Monahan, Patricia Conway Putkey, Margaret Mackesy Booker (photo)
All sent in by Mary Lou...
Mary Lou Woodman Whitcomb ‘56 and her husband, Ken took a cross country road trip last Fall, visiting their grandson at Oberlin College, then traveling to upstate New York where Mary Lou fulfilled a lifetime desire to ride on the Erie Canal. They continued through NH, VT, ME, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia before driving home. It was a trip of a lifetime! They continue to enjoy their lives at home in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Regina Burke’56 is now a Lay Carmelite, 3rd Order Carmelite after retiring from her position as a Clinical Lab Scientist at a hospital in the San Joaquin Valley. She and her sisters Anne and Joan enjoyed a wonderful adventure together in Africa last year. Cecilia Kollock Wolary ‘56 is under Hospice Care at home in El Dorado, CA.
Marsha Stanford Aliamus ‘56 recently passed away, may she rest in peace. 26 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
1961 Proud grandmother, Lourlene Studdert Klinger ‘61 and husband Michael wrote “Congratulations to the Class of 2020”, and especially to their granddaughters Jacqueline and Haylee Klingler ‘20. This is the Third Generation of Mercy girls, as their mom, Lori Smiley Klingler ‘89 also walked the halls of Mercy! Lourlene writes, “There are two more Klingler girls to come, Sierra will be an incoming Freshman and Liliana in four more years.” Left to right....Lori Smiley Klingler ‘89, Haylee Klingler ‘20, Jacqueline Klingler ‘20, Lourlene Studdert Klingler ‘61.
CLASS NOTES
1966 Patricia Ercoli Matthews ‘66 was honored with a Special Recognition Award for her 18 years of service by Mission Hospice as a volunteer. She speaks with patients in Italian and French, and is pictured here with her 100 year old patient.
1974 Loryanne Baciocco Rehne ‘74 retired from
1961 In the fall of 2019 Denise McNamara Stein ‘61 hosted a few Mercy Alums from the class of 1961 including Edwina Scheid Smith, Judy O’Connell La Grande, and Mary Ann Hagerty Hennessey who shared many memories from their years at Mercy. They all have held careers in Education and now they all have many wonderful grandchildren to give them joy, hope and LOVE.
1962 Sr. Joan F. Burke, SNDdeN, ’62 is returning to the States in May after serving with her congregation out of the country for fifty years, including stints in Italy, the UK (D.Phil., Oxford), Belgium, France. Most of the years she was involved in education and retreat work in several countries in Africa (DR Congo, Nigeria, Kenya). She also was responsible for setting up the NGO Office of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at the United Nations HQ in New York (2002-11). Sister hopes to find a ministry in the States doing justice advocacy work.
1963 Sr Janet Ruffing, RSM, PhD ‘63 is retiring as Professor Emerita in the Practice of Spirituality and Ministerial Leadership from Yale Divinity School in June after ten and a half years of graduate teaching there and returning to the Burlingame Campus. She taught English and Religion at Mercy from 1968-1971, and 1974-1977. She was the first person to teach Spirituality at Yale.
1966 Marie Henry ‘66, just won an honorable mention in the International Lawrence Durrell Society’s 2019 White Mice Poetry Contest. She has been invited to read at their annual conference in May in Toulouse, France. You can read her poem “Filling in the Spaces” on their website: lawrencedurrell.org (under Contests, 2019 winners). Also found on YouTube: Marie Henry - Marin Poets Live.
teaching but returned in Oct. 2019 for a criticalneeds position teaching Pre-K at her old school. She ended up learning online teaching quickly, including Zoom, Remind, Class Dojo, and NearPod. It has been a unique way to teach 4/5 year olds, but misses hugs from the kids the most. She is retiring again to spend time with her husband Jeff and “their doodles,” Molly and Maggie.
1975 Judy Gumba Keating ‘75, lives in Reno and is looking forward to celebrating her 40th wedding anniversary with husband John on August 3, 2020! Their son Casey Keating, M.D. is the Director of Interventional Pain Service, Interventional Spine and Sports Medicine at Renown Medical Center, Physiatry Department. Their younger son, Nicholas has been in the US Air Force for 11 years and has two children, Tyson, 5 and Sonya, 2, with his wife.
1977 It was a day surrounded by family and friends and filled with much joy and happiness when Caroline Connolly Bottoms ‘77 and her husband Keith gave away their daughter Lauren Bottoms ‘05 in marriage and welcomed new son-in-law, Andrew Stiffler to the family! Brother and Man of Honor was Bradley Bottoms, Serra ‘10. The Kohl Mansion was tastefully decorated and guests enjoyed the beautiful ceremony and reception.
1978 Mikie Sweeney Giusti ‘78 writes “My Mercy family started in 1978.....we are a strong group of women and it is gratifying to know what is happening with all of the Alumni, teachers and families.” THE OAKS SUMMER 2020 27
CLASS NOTES
1979
1985
On October 12th, 2019, Michelle Byrne Kozlowski’s ‘79 youngest daughter Sofia was married to Connor Dreusicke. She was the 4th generation to be married at Our Lady of Angels Church. The reception was held at Kohl Mansion. Many Mercy girls were in attendance, including Sofia’s aunts and her Grandmother Maureen
Andria Brugioni ‘ 85 started Level, a children’s shoe line, just months before COVID-19 pandemic struck. They create playful, modern shoes for kids with the mission of equality www.thebrandlevel.com.
McCue Byrne ‘56!
1981 & 1982 Flying the “Friendly Skies” has been a bit lonely due to COVID-19 reports Kimberly Sanchez ‘82 and Martha Laur ‘81, who fly together at American Airlines.
Geni Quartaroli ‘85 has been in the Fitness and Wellness industry for the past 30 years. She is a graduate of San Francisco State University and owns Opt Well, a Breathing and Movement business that offers education on wellness options. Her furry companion Cornelius is a terrier on wheels, and is a source of inspiration. During COVID-19, she developed a program called One Breath at a Time with the mission of encouraging communities to breathe together to empower wellness within ourselves and each other. More at: www.optwell.us.
1988
Peggy Patterson ‘82 entered the Monastery of St. Clare in Boston in February. She thanks the Mercy girls who were instrumental in helping her to discern God’s call: Janice Armento Scherba
Phaidra Pavia Garcia ‘88 was proud to be a Mercy alum as she pinned her daughter Caitlin Garcia, Class of 2020 at the virtual Senior Pinning Ceremony.
‘76, Angie Simonetti, Sandy Flaherty, Mary Louise Castillo, Sr. Jean Evans, RSM, and Helen Boyer Garcia ‘82. She thanks
many other Mercy girls for their kindness through the years, “I love all my Mercy sisters and will keep you forever in my prayers.”
Peggy Patterson ‘82 and Helen Boyer ‘82 in Boston before Peggy entered the monastery
1984 With sadness, we share the news of the passing of Mercy Burlingame alumna,
Karen (Pors) Marinelli, class of 1957, in October 2019. Mother of Michelle Marinelli-Benson ‘84.
Sister of Bonnie (Pors) Bertetta ‘55 and Linda (Pors) DeVille ‘60. Photo of the Pors sisters on the “senior stairs!” L to R: Bonnie Pors Bertetta (55); Karen Pors Marinelli (‘57); Linda Pors DeVille (‘60). 28 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
1990 Lisa Kling ‘90 and her Class of 1990 classmates held a virtual reunion during the pandemic. They joined from near and far: Ireland, Washington, Maine, California, and Arizona.
CLASS NOTES
1992 Jackie Birkeland Rodriguez ‘92 enjoyed being able to pin her daughter Riley Rodriguez ‘20 at this year’s virtual Senior Pinning.
1996 Christina Beck Drogin ‘96, Elizabeth GaleaPhilpott ‘96, Cristina Bellafronte DelGrosso ‘96, and Patricia Ivancich Dassios ‘97
2004
Celebrated their 24th annual Christmas gathering with their husbands and combined 13 children. Mercy friendships last forever!
After graduating from California State University, East Bay in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Christine Giusti McNeil ‘04 began working in accounting. On March 14, 2020, Christine and Kyle McNeil were married at Kohl Mansion in a beautiful, intimate ceremony and reception. Christine’s sister, Candice Giusti ’05, was the maid of honor.
2005 Lauren Bottoms ‘05
1999
Patrice Scanlan Heath ‘99 and her husband Matthew welcomed their second child on 2/19/20. They are now the proud parents of Hollie Rose (22 months) and Hank Martin (2 months), and are enjoying family time at their home in San Rafael, CA.
2000
Kristina Kronenberger ‘00
and Andrew Stiffler were married October 26, 2019 at Kohl Mansion. Lauren is a Social Science teacher at Valley High School in Elk Grove and Andrew is an Information Technology Consultant at Sacramento State. Their wedding party included Man of Honor Bradley Bottoms, Serra ‘10, and bridesmaid Madeline Williams ‘09. Lauren, a Giants fan, wanted Lou Seal to be part of the reception! It was a day filled with laughter and love.
is sheltering in place in her home in Oakland, CA. They were fortunate enough to get to Italy this winter and had a blast making (and eating) their way through Rome, Siena and Florence. “Wish all the Mercy Girls the very best!”, she says. THE OAKS SUMMER 2020 29
CLASS NOTES
2006
2013
Molly Klase Vasquez ‘06 graduated from the University of
Morgan Sanders ‘13
the Pacific in August 2019 with her Master’s Degree in SpeechLanguage Pathology. During the program, she provided services to patients of all ages in the university clinic, school and hospital setting. Since graduating, Molly has been working in elementary and middle schools in the Bay Area serving students with a variety of communication needs.
has completed the Doctor of Pharmacy Program at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Albany, NY. As of May 2020, she is officially Dr. Morgan Sanders, PharmD. She is very excited to begin this next chapter in her life.
2008 Eva Martinez Molina ‘08 graduated from UC Irvine School of Medicine May 30th 2020. She recently married husband Alfonso Molina, a bay area native and medical student at UCLA, in December 2019. They are returning to the Bay Area to start residency at Stanford Health. Eva will be a Pediatrician and her husband will be an Internal Medicine Physician at Stanford. Eva is excited to give back to the community she was raised in and even more excited to be close to her loved ones.
2014 After graduation Melissa Bordi ‘14 attended California State University, Chico where she received her B.S. in Agriculture Science with a pathway in Crops and Horticulture. She received a Pest Control Advisor License and is now the Assistant Vineyard Manager of Trinchero Family Estates Winery. She hopes that future Mercy grads will see Agriculture as a viable career path!
2013
Amanda Thomas ‘12 & Katherine O’Toole ‘13 at their school’s drive by parade
30 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
After graduating with a BA in Child Development from SJSU, Katherine O’Toole ‘13 began working at Mount Carmel in Redwood City as the Transitional Kindergarten Aide, under the lead teacher, Amanda Thomas ‘12! “It has been such a joy learning from a fellow Mercy teacher and watching our students grow. We’ve been navigating distance learning and look forward to being back with our students!”
2015 Alexandra Novoa ‘15 went to University of Arizona (Honors College) and utilized their SALT (Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques) program. She graduated last May with a BS in Management Information Systems from Eller College of Management. She is now a technology consultant at Cognizant and resides in Dallas. She was hired as the only female in a cohort of over 30, and encourages Mercy grads to pursue STEM.
CLASS NOTES
2015 Madeline Gaumer ‘15 was selected for the U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidates School and will begin the rigorous 10 week course located in Quantico, Virginia in September. Upon completion of Officer Candidates School, Miss Gaumer will commission as a Second Lieutenant and begin her six months training at The Basic School (Quantico, VA).
2016 Alexandra Cavagnaro’16 graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in May of 2020 with a BS in Business Marketing. She is currently working at a small accounting firm in Reno, and plans to get her Master’s in Business in the future.
ALUMNA ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT SARA BERMUDEZ ‘18 Sara Bermudez '18, a star soccer player at Mercy, is now a sophomore and starting defensive midfielder at Brown University. She recently finished her 2nd season with the Bears, where they had a historic run in the women's soccer program. She talked with us about the transition to collegiate-level athletics and the impact soccer has had on her life. Read the interview at alumnae. mercyhsb.com/news.
Sophia Posse ‘16 Music teacher, Pam Matthews, enjoyed reuniting with Mercy grad Sophie Posse ‘16 during the 2020 High School Choral Festival at Santa Clara University. She is a music major and sings in the Chamber Chorale there under the direction of Dr. Scot Hanna-Weir.
In Memoriam
PLEASE REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING ALUMNAE IN YOUR PRAYERS. As of this publication, we have noted the “In Memoriams” received between Nov. 13, 2019 to May 31, 2020. Those received after that date will appear in our Winter Oaks. Marsha Stanford Aliamus ‘56 Sally Dunne Amoroso ‘51 Winifred Brisbois Buckley ‘48 Patricia Nieberding Davis ‘82
Margaret Viacava Johnson ‘66 Joan Warren Klung ‘50 Karen Pors Marinelli ‘57 Geraldine O’Connor McConnell ‘76
Maureen Nerli ‘53 Denise Spanek-Heitel ‘78 Ann Halmi Vidgoff ‘88 Margaret Dillon Water ‘58
The Mercy Mass Program - At each of our school liturgies we pray for those people who have been acknowledged in the Mercy Mass Program. Donations are made in memory of a loved one and to honor others for anniversaries, birthdays, or at times of illness. To enroll a loved one in the Mercy Mass Program, simply contact the Mercy Advancement Office at 650.762.1190 or visit our website at www.mercyhsb.com
THE OAKS SUMMER 2020 31
2750 ADELINE DR BURLINGAME CA 94010-5597
Change Service Requested
! e t a D e h t e v a S Encourage interested students and families to join us for the following events, whether they are in person or virtual!
Shadow Days
September - January
Girls on the Green
For 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls
September 28th
Open House November 8th
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PA I D MERCY HIGH SCHOOL
ADMISSIONS
MERCY HIGH SCHOOL
For more information visit www.mercyhsb.com/admissions 32 MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
