’64 Sr. Jacqueline Schmitz, CSJ

Sr. Jacqueline Schmitz cannot remember a time when the Sisters of St. Joseph were not part of her life. From grade school at St. Mary Margaret through Nazareth and her calling in religious life, the CSJ charism of unity has inspired Sr. Jackie and has given her a sense of belonging and purpose. She has applied that purpose to an almost unbelievable number of roles at Nazareth, including PE teacher, Assistant Dean, Principal, Guidance Counselor, Campus Ministry and Trustee.

through activities or sports or academics, it all comes down to the relationships that are being formed. I was able to find a place where I fit which helped me feel good about myself; that security helps me want to make other people in need feel the same way.” In fact, offering opportunities to belong is something Sr. Jackie believes is only getting better. “It’s not just sports that offer a way to be involved. When I see the stat about 96% student involvement, it makes me so proud and hopeful. It’s marvelous.”

The large swath of alumni who know Sr. Jackie as a tough-loving principal likely also remember her fun-loving alter ego Nancy Nazarene. She is proud of both sides of herself and grateful for the ways Nazareth nurtured her competitive spirit and made space for a residential prep student discerning her religious calling. “Honestly, I came to Nazareth because they had great girls sports teams and the only way I could come was by doing the convent prep program and boarding here. It turned out to be the best decision in my life.”

While sports remained (remain!) a passion, Sr. Jackie also found a community which encouraged girls to be strong women, to be leaders, to make a difference in whatever ways they thought they could. “What Nazareth did, and still does, is offer a sense of belonging. Whether it’s

The other CSJ lesson that Sr. Jackie took to heart was, “Every one of us matters.” She knew it from every nun who educated her and lived it with the service projects she’s organized, witnessed or aided over the past 60 years. She continues to serve a world in need in myriad ways, notably through the TEACH program and her work at the U.S./Mexico border in Texas.

“Sometimes I wonder how much good I’m doing making hundreds of bologna sandwiches. Then I remember that everyone needs to eat. I am filling a basic need.”

Meeting people’s needs has been a tenet of Sr. Jackie’s life and her best piece of advice for the future. “What is most important is what is needed to make someone’s world just a little bit better. We need each other to make it into the future.”

Mary Elizabeth Calabrese

As a Developmental Pediatrician at Inova Fairfax Children’s Hospital, Mary Elizabeth works with families to help them better understand their children who have developmental differences. She recently added a degree from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health to her already impressive resume in her ongoing effort to further develop that kind of equity work. “It is very much like trying to figure out a puzzle when you don’t have all the pieces. Furthering my Public Health education allows me to do that on a larger scale. By strengthening the connections between education and healthcare, we can address systems that are not working for people who are ‘not typical.’ Systematic change requires a holistic lens.”

Having worked as a Resident Physician at Rush University Medical Center and a Clinical Fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital, Mary Elizabeith is currently settled in northern Virginia with her husband and son. She remains close to her Nazareth friends, particularly her Pom & Dance teammates and her fellow recipients of the Lisa Marie Santoro Scholarship. “I love to attend the annual luncheons and read about the remarkable things these women are doing. The Santoro Family is a wonderful way to stay connected to Nazareth.”

In retrospect, she recognizes that she has always sought educational and professional environments that reflect the family environment she found in high school. “When it came down to choosing a college, I opted for the place that felt most like Naz, where I was so happy. Notre Dame gave me that same sense of family, of community.”

She is encouraged to witness the ways Nazareth continues to provide such an inclusive environment for students. “As high schoolers, we didn’t appreciate enough the amazing environment that welcomed us to be exactly who we are. That’s a hard thing to figure out for young people.” Her advice is to keep asking the question she learned early, “What makes me feel like I am doing good?” She explained that everyone has a different answer to that question and a unique path to follow, “but when that is the question that guides decisions, we can all move through the world in ways that make things better.”

Hello fellow alumni!

My name is Colleen Cook and I’m the Alumni and Donor Relations Manager at Nazareth. I’m also a very proud alum from the Class of 1988. This is my 16th year here at Naz and my main focus is to reconnect our alumni with Nazareth Academy. Can you believe we are kicking off our 124th year?!? We are so very proud of how far we have come and how we continue to soar. Things have changed physically quite a bit here on campus, but one thing that remains the same is our mission.

We have several things planned for our alumni this year and hope to stay connected with you through our publications (mail and/or online), social media channels, or at an event or game.

I am excited to share that we have changed our Reunion Weekend up a bit. We have decided to host reunions in June instead of the fall so that we are able to dedicate the much deserved time for our significant reunions and take a more hands-on approach.

REUNION WEEKEND WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 7 & 8

We are excited to welcome alums celebrating significant reunions (graduating years ending in 4/9) along with honoring alums at our Four Pillars Mass & Reception and inducting recipients into our Fine Arts Hall of Fame.

Friday, June 7

I will partner with class reps from 1984 and celebrate their 40th reunion at a local establishment off campus.

Saturday, June 8

Nazareth has a full day of fun and reminiscing planned. We will host a luncheon on campus for the alumna celebrating significant reunions from 1974 and earlier (1974, 1969, 1964, 1959, 1954). At 4 p.m. we will host Mass in Alexine Chapel to celebrate our significant classes and honor the new recipients of our Four Pillars Awards and the 2024 Fine Arts Hall of Fame. After Mass, we will have a reception back at school to celebrate.

All of our reunion information is updated on our website (www.nazarethacademy.com). If you are interested in helping by being a class representative, do not hesitate to reach out to me at ccook@nazarethacademy.com or directly at 708-387-8506.

Nazareth’s successes are your successes…thank you for paving the path to where we are today. I look forward to connecting or reconnecting with you!

2024 FOUR PILLARS RECIPIENTS Scholarship

Antonette Minniti ’96 (posthumously) Service

Steve Ryan ’04 Spirit

John Weyer ’89 Unity

Tess Hutchison Denton ’79

2024 FINE ARTS

HALL OF FAME RECIPIENTS

Anthony Bartucci ’09

Kristen Pawlowski Fischer ’97

Nan Garside - Educator

Class Notes

Lucia Battaglia ’19 won the Bruin Award at the 2023 Belmont Student Leadership Awards. The Bruin Award represents the highest honor bestowed by the Division for Student Formation and recognizes junior and senior students who have consistently engaged in campus life and demonstrated outstanding service to the campus community.

Eddie Olewinski ’19 was the 2023 Dr. Richard F. Southby Police Science Prize recipient at George Washington University, presented to an exceptional graduating student from the Bachelor of Professional Studies in Homeland Security/Police and Security Studies program.

Amanda Ward ’19 received the Outstanding Senior Service Award at the University of Evansville. Recipients demonstrate a commitment to service, high academic performance, outstanding leadership and involvement in diverse campus activities.

Derek Salata ’18 was drafted in the 19th round of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft. He was selected by the Oakland Athletics organization after a very successful college career at Illinois State University.

Natalie Salata Aycock ’11 and Anne Marie DeMatteo ’11 completed the London Marathon in April. While in London, they also visited with Mary Ellen McGann ’11, who lives in England.

Weddings

Corboy & Demetrio Attorney Michael D. Ditore ’06 was selected to the 2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, an elite legal directory comprising the nation’s top 500 plaintiff trial lawyers.

John Gurney ’06 was an honorary Grand Marshall for the 2023 La Grange Pet Parade. Joining him at the event were members of Class of 2006 - Mike Ditore, John Doyle, Kevin Duranty, Nick Rocco, Mike Ryan, Joe Saraceno, Tom Sargent, John Thunander and Joe Horan ’07.

APRIL

Haley Renehan ’13 married Riley Gallagher ’12. The wedding party included Bre Renehan Linney ’11, Jerrod Bush ’12, Christian Petrino ’12, Lauren Dore ’13, Gabriela Eraci ’13, Dimitra Spandonidis ’13, Allie Cipra ’15, Kelly Renehan ’16 and Colleen Renehan ’19.

Summer Rogers Butler ’95 was appointed as a board member for Berwyn South School District 100. She also recently received a full academic scholarship from the Illinois Principals Association to pursue her second master’s degree in Educational Leadership with a Type 75 Certification.

Carolyn Brady ’90 (Fine Arts Hall of Fame) was nominated for a 2023 Jefferson Award for Music Direction for A Chorus Line at Drury Lane. Carolyn also served as Co-Musical Director for the Jeff Awards Ceremony.

Catherine Adams Arredia ’79 is the International Carrier Manager for Ecolab and in March was named one of Ecolab’s Sustainability Champions as they commit to the United Nations Net Zero by 2050 Sustainability Goals.

May

Juliana Raimondi ’14 married Jacob Perez. Naz alumni in the wedding party included Grace Rafferty Raimondi ’12, Vinnie Raimondi ’12, Eileen Kennedy ’14 and Sydney Newman ’14.