Roots & Wings Summer 2023

ROOTSWINGS

A Letter from The Head of School

ROOTSWINGS

PUBLISHER

Notre Dame Preparatory School

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Sister Patricia McCarron, SSND, Ph.D.

EDITOR

Cami Colarossi, APR

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jennifer Caine ’86

Amy Ciarlo

Cami Colarossi

Makenna Henry

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Dave Pugh Design

PHOTOGRAPHY

Olivia Baker ’17

Harry Bosk

The Catholic Review

Gabie Christy ’18

Howard Korn

Kristen Madairy Lowman ’02

Bill McAllen

Chris Myers

NDP Archives

David Pugh

Dereck Toney

MISSION STATEMENT

Where Girls Become Women

Who Transform The World

Notre Dame Preparatory School educates and empowers girls to become women who transform the world. As a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for girls in grades six through 12, Notre Dame Prep inspires students to pursue academic excellence, spiritual growth, and the practice of justice. Infused with the spirit of the School Sisters of Notre Dame and rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church, the NDP community strives to answer God’s call “...to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with God.” (Micah 6:8)

HEADLINESHampton

The NDP Community in the Spotlight

Best and Brightest

Congratulations to Grace Oakey ’19, who made Fordham University’s “Best & Brightest” list for the school’s Class of 2023. A graduate of Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business, Oakey will soon be working as a private equity real estate analyst for Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager. A self-avowed “Manhattan coffee shop lover,” Oakey clings to her NDP roots which she says remain strong. Proving that the NDP sisterhood transcends age and locale, she credits fellow NDP classmate and close friend, Caroline Borja ’19, for being a “treasured friend, … a rock of support and a source of insightful advice.”

Hitting it Out of the Park

For the first time since 2012, the Notre Dame Prep varsity softball team secured a conference championship. The team’s championship game performance was featured in a Baltimore Banner article, which cited the performance of Lucy Myers ’26, whose RBI triple in the fifth inning accounted for the game’s lone run, and Gracie Gourlay ’25’s two-hit pitching performance. The win was particularly special, as the team won only one game all of last season. “I’m just overjoyed with excitement. I’m so thankful for God and giving us this win and everyone on the team,” said Gourlay in The Baltimore Banner. “They all really deserved it.”

Resilience and Leadership

Notre Dame Prep’s newest alumna, Gigi Benckini ’23, was named the recipient of the 2023 Charles P. McCormick Scholarship at the annual McCormick Unsung Hero Awards. Each year at this event, McCormick and Company honors male and female senior student-athletes who have displayed good sportsmanship, dedication, integrity, and positive attitude in their high school sports careers. For Benckini, a concussion in the first game impacted her throughout the entire senior season of basketball. But it did not stop her from contributing to the team, as she provided incredible support to her fellow Blazers, Coach Katie Campitelli Marks ’98 noted. “Whether she was on the court or the bench, Gigi’s was the voice you could hear encouraging her teammates above all others, and they relied on her to build them up.”

NDP’s Musical Excellence on Display

Further cementing the excellence of Notre Dame Prep’s performing arts program, Middle and Upper Level musicians received outstanding awards at their respective year-end adjudications this spring. Middle Level Band, Orchestra, and 8th grade Choir all received a rating of Excellent for their performances, and the 6th and 7th grade choirs received a rating of Superior for their performances at the Hershey Park Adjudications. At the Festival of Music competition in Nashville, Tennessee, Upper Level musicians swept the awards categories by garnering “Best Overall” for Band, Chorus, and Orchestra. All performing groups received First Place and Excellent or Superior rankings in their individual performance categories. In addition, the 107 NDP student musicians won the coveted Esprit de Corps Award for demonstrating the best offstage behavior, and exhibiting kindness, poise, and appreciation of the other groups.

Trust and Dare

At this year’s Senior Awards Assembly, Notre Dame Prep honored a young woman who proved to be all-inspiring during her time on Hampton Lane. Nigerian-born Osolu Ozo-Onyali first came to the U.S. as a young child to pursue a formal education and arrived at NDP as a freshman. In addition to having to overcome the challenges posed by a new culture in a new country, Osolu is also legally blind, making her journey all the more impressive. Undeterred, she successfully navigated both classroom and community life with positivity, faith, humor, gratitude, and compassion. Recognizing these outstanding qualities, NDP awarded her its first-ever “Trust and Dare” honor, for demonstrating an ability to teach as well as to learn from the community. A tribute poem read at the presentation summed up Osolu’s impact on Notre Dame: “Thank you, Osolu, for teaching us the true meaning of sight/In short, for being our teacher, a true-blue delight!” Osolu will certainly share her light as she continues her education at the University of Delaware.

Pilgrimage Italian-Style

The rich history and spirituality of Italy came alive for 40 students and seven teacherchaperones who made a pilgrimage to the beautiful European country. First sponsored in 2015, the 10-day trip combining history and spiritual enrichment returned this year after a four-year hiatus. The group visited Rome’s major basilicas, including St. Peter’s, the catacombs, and the Vatican Museum, as well as spent an afternoon at the School Sisters of Notre Dame Generalate. In Assisi, the pilgrims walked in the steps of St. Francis and St. Clare, and Florence offered dramatic views both of the city from atop of Brunelleschi’s Duomo and of the world-famous artwork contained inside the renowned Uffizi Gallery. In Venice, St. Mark’s Basilica provided the backdrop to a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of the pilgrims, who embraced this city of boats and bridges on foot and via gondola! “Walking the streets that people thousands of years ago walked deepened my connection to history,” says Olivia Shannon ’24. “St. Peter’s was my favorite— I felt a broader connection to God, and it deepened my appreciation of my Catholic identity,” she added.

THE YEAR in Review

The 2022-2023 School Year

CLASS OF 2023

SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE

In 2022-2023, Notre Dame Preparatory School marked the mid-point of its exploration of Global Citizenship through the lenses of technology, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), and care for creation as part of the Middle States Association’s (MSA) Sustaining Excellence accreditation protocol. In November, the school hosted families, friends, students, alumnae, School Sisters of Notre Dame, and representatives of MSA for an afternoon Colloquium, featuring keynote addresses, topic presentations, and a gallery walk, all of which showcased the school’s work in cultivating and advancing a global mindset in its students. With three and a half years remaining in the protocol, the school will assess the work to date and the feedback provided at the Colloquium to position itself for future growth in the three focus areas. Among the future steps to be taken are creating enhanced professional development in the areas of technology and DEIB, expanding outdoor spaces and more extensive ecological projects, and developing working relationships with SSND schools outside the United States.

Congratulations to the 151 members of the Class of 2023! One hundred percent of these students were accepted to four-year colleges and universities, and combined, 95% were awarded more than 600 merit scholarships totaling nearly $36 million dollars. A record 74 general STEAM Certificates were awarded. In addition, 26 students received STEAM Pathway Certificates in Medicine; 16 in Computer Science; 10 in Engineering and Manufacturing; and nine in Architecture. Fifty-six Bette Ellis O’Conor Humanities Scholars explored the theme of “home” at the annual Capstone Evening. Fifty-seven students received Certificates of Biliteracy. Three seniors will attend the United States Naval Academy, while three others received full scholarships through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). Countless sisterhood moments marked the year—from Senior Bingo, the New York trip, and a Gym Meet sweep, to a warm welcome into the Alumnae Association, the Rose Ceremony, and Commencement. We celebrate the Class of Pink and Orange and the promise the future holds for our newest alumnae!

ACADEMICS

Since 1873, academic excellence has remained the cornerstone of Notre Dame Preparatory School, and the 2022-2023 school year saw this mission tenet flourish. Nearly 400 high school students were inducted into the school’s 14 honor societies. Students in all grades in all academic disciplines received local and national recognition, including the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, the Princeton Prize in Race Relations, Maryland History Day, and Les Grand Concours. In conjunction with the School Sisters of Notre Dame, four students and two faculty attended the United Nations’ 67th Session of the Commission of the Status of Women. Cultural celebrations advancing global citizenship, academic competitions that tested knowledge and skills, informative guest speakers, and special programming geared to interests and activities enriched Middle and Upper Level classroom academics.

STEAM

Notre Dame’s commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education continues to grow. Student interest in this multi-disciplinary has never been stronger, as demonstrated by the record number of students pursuing STEAM certificates. With exposure to STEAM through the popular Innovate-Design Time curriculum, Middle Level students participated in quarterly STEAM challenges, garnered recognition in several FBI Safe Online Surfing competitions, and enjoyed Engineering Week at the Engineers Club of Baltimore. Highlights in the Upper Level STEAM program included numerous honors at the Architecture-ConstructionEngineering (ACE) Awards, including Best Construction Management, Exemplary School Champion, and scholarship awards for two seniors. In their second year competing, Team Blazers won the 2023 Fire Protection Engineering Burn Day Design Challenge, sponsored by the University of Maryland’s Fire Protection Engineering Department. Upper Level students celebrated Cybersecurity Day at an NSA-sponsored program. Guest alumnae speakers in STEAM fields complemented instruction in the areas of medical illustration, engineering, and medicine. (See STEAM feature on page 10.)

FACULTY & STAFF

Notre Dame Prep’s dedicated faculty and staff drive the school mission and result in outstanding outcomes in the classroom and beyond. During 2022-2023, countless individuals pursued professional development opportunities both remotely and in person, honing existing skills and developing new ones to ensure an NDP education remains dynamic and cutting edge. Several faculty and staff members received local and national recognition for the contributions made to their respective disciplines. This year, NDP celebrated five individuals who retired: Gail Caltrider, social studies; Tom Peri, science; Jerry Smith, music; Anne Walker ’83, art; and Maggie Ward, English and theatre. Much gratitude goes to these individuals, and may Mary, NDP’s Patroness, keep them forever in her protection. (See profiles on all of these individuals on pages 8-9.)

SPIRITUALITY

Notre Dame Preparatory School’s theme for the year, “Growing in Grace,” reminded all that grace is a gift from God to be shared with one another. Daily prayer and special prayer services allowed all to bear witness to this grace in daily life. From the Opening School Liturgy to Baccalaureate and all the liturgical celebrations in between, this grace enlivened our faith expression— as an NDP favorite song goes, “All the people say ‘Amen!’” All grade levels participated in retreats, which strengthened class bonds and allowed individuals to cultivate a deeper relationship with God. In a return to international student travel, this summer, 40 pilgrims and seven faculty chaperones visited churches and holy sites of Rome, Assisi, Florence, and Venice (for details of this trip, see the story on page 3). As a Green School, NDP continues to uphold the SSND’s directive to Laudato Si and care for the creation.

SERVICE

Notre Dame Prep’s service mission robustly presented itself through a host of projects in all grade levels. Middle Level students worked closely with SSND residents from Villa Assumpta and Stella Maris and participated in age-appropriate projects benefiting local non-profit agencies. In the Upper Level, a new outreach opportunity, Friends in Faith, or, Saturday Socials, saw students from NDP and other area high schools host monthly social evenings for families who have young adults with developmental disabilities. After a threeyear pandemic hiatus, NDP returned to Starkville, Mississippi, to support that area’s Habitat for Humanity Program. NDP’s El Salvadoran sister school, Club Umoja and Camp Umoja, and the Josanna Abromaitis Endowment Fund benefited from the annual student-led Penny Queen and Stone Soup fundraisers. Student, faculty, and staff volunteers joyfully welcomed back more than 300 guests for the traditional Dinner for our Elders, which was put on hiatus during the pandemic. Finally, NDP students once again welcomed students to Camp Umoja and Sisters Academy Sports Camp in summer 2022.

STUDENT LIFE

Upper and Middle Level life outside of the classroom was filled with engaging club opportunities, special activities, beloved traditions, and moments of fun. Whether competing in Middle Level Field Day, swimming “in sync” at the Grade 8 Swim Show, singing at Tree Trim, competing in Gym Meet, or enjoying any of the other myriad activities, students grew in grace with their NDP sisters and made lasting memories. Students in both levels garnered numerous recognitions in cocurricular competitions and activities, including Youth and Government, Speech and Debate, and area spelling bees. More than 100 students participated in summer Women In…(WIN) career explorations. Recognizing the importance of wellness especially for teen girls, NDP became the only independent school in the area to hire a wellness specialist, who provided the entire community with proactive strategies geared toward mental health and wellness.

AWARDS

Notre Dame Prep received numerous honors and recognitions during the 2022-2023 school year. Niche.com ranked NDP as the #1 Catholic High School in Baltimore. Both Baltimore’s Child and Baltimore Style magazines named NDP the top area middle school in their annual Readers’ Choice Awards, and Baltimore Style named Chris Lopez, social studies, Best High School Teacher. NDP ranked as a Top Catholic High School by The Daily Record. For the fourth consecutive year, the College Board awarded the school the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding young women’s access to both AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles. NDP earned its fourth certification as a Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) Green School.

Baltimore’s #1 Catholic High School

Best Elementary/ Middle School

Best High School Teacher: Mr. Chris Lopez

Best Girls Independent School

ATHLETICS

The 2022-2023 school year was a bright one for Blazer Athletics! Sixteen varsity athletes were named IAAM All-Stars, and 16 students signed letters of intent with Division I, II, and III schools. Notre Dame Softball won the IAAM Division B Championship. Georgiana Benckini ’23 received the Charles P. McCormick Scholarship at the annual McCormick Unsung Hero Awards. The IAAM recognized Terri Byrd and Emily Lessner as Swimming Coach of the Year and Softball Coach of the Year, respectively. In the Middle Level, 264 student athletes across three seasons participated in middle school sports. All told, 17 teams in eight sports were fielded. The school launched a Blazer Athletics Instagram page and reinvigorated its Blazer Facebook page to provide dedicated social media attention to all teams. Newly installed lights on Yeardley Love Field expanded playing time and provided further opportunities for student events. In the spring, lights were extended to the Batza Family Field, and the turf was replaced on Love Field.

THE ARTS

In addition to presenting two concerts, Notre Dame dancers prepped during the summer with a dance intensive workshop; worked with nationally renowned visiting instructors; traveled to New York for workshops at NYU, master classes at the Broadway Dance Center, and a performance at Julliard; and performed at the Dance Your Heart Out charity event. In a Blazer Basketball first, the NDP Dance Company performed a half-time routine. Instrumental and vocal musicians presented fall, Christmas, and spring performances. At the Middle and Upper Level band adjudications, NDP took top honors. For complete details on these sweeping wins, see the story on page 3. Notre Dame actors, singers, and dancers presented in the Upper Level Into the Woods and These Shining Lives and Seussical, Jr. in the Middle Level. The favorite design challenge traditions, CW Project Greenway in Upper Level and Middle Made in Middle Level, highlighted Art Week, and numerous students were honored in local, regional and national visual arts competitions for their work.

COMMUNITY

Work in DEIB advanced with the hiring of Sherita Thomas as DEIB consultant. Former director of the Archdiocesan Black Ministries, Mrs. Thomas also co-chairs STRIVE, NDP’s Anti-Racism Task Force. Her training and guidance for the faculty and staff has been valuable, especially for those who work with student DEIB leaders and affinity groups. As the safety and well-being of our community is top priority, all community members attended Resist 10 Safety Training. The NDP community supported efforts promoting community spirit and providing funds for the school, including the 25th Anniversary of the Blazer Dash; Stuff a Bus honoring Jackie Buedel ’73; Parent and Alumnae Giving Challenges; NDP’s Maryland Gala; and The Fund for Notre Dame Prep. Friends old and new visited campus for events including Foundation Day, the Alumnae Association’s annual Bingo and “Sisters & Speakers” series, Middle Level Grandparents & Special Friends Day, and Gateway Reunion for the classes of 3s and 8s. Congratulations to the 2023 Mother Caroline Friess Alumna of the Year Anita Williams Feeley ’73, community volunteer and legacy alumna. Thanks to the Parents’ Association, Booster Club, and Friends of the Arts, parents engaged with the school in meaningful and fun ways, including parent socials, a cornhole tournament, and volunteer projects. Special appreciation is given to NDP’s dedicated Board of Trustees, which is in the midst of spearheading a new three-year strategic plan, and all those individuals who make supporting NDP financially or through volunteer efforts a priority.

SAYING GOODBYE to Great Teachers and Good Friends

Planting Seeds: Maggie Ward, English and Drama

After 45 years of dedicated service to Notre Dame Preparatory School, Margaret “Maggie” Ward said goodbye to the classroom and stage where she witnessed student creativity, innovation, ingenuity, and talent blossom under her tutelage.

As Ms. Ward reflected, “It’s incredibly rewarding when you see that light go on in a student’s mind when they’re getting what you’re teaching. It’s exciting and rewarding.”

Shortly after beginning her English teaching career at NDP, Ms. Ward took over the theatre program. Originally, the school mounted one show per year; today, annually NDP Theatre puts on a fall musical and spring play in the Upper Level and a winter musical in the Middle Level. In addition, theatre technology has kept pace with body mics and projected animated scenery that student stage techs manage.

“This was the perfect time to hand off [the theatre program] to the next person,” says Ms. Ward. “Being a director, you can leave, and the show lives on with the performers. It is very much like teaching.”

Grace by Association: Tom Peri, Science

How is it that a Calvert Hall boy with ambitions of becoming a doctor found a home in Notre Dame Prep’s Science Lab 4? Ask Tom Peri as he prepared to retire after 20 years at NDP, and he will tell you it was all in God’s plan.

“I had a tough time getting into medical school. So, in 1975, I took a job teaching, and within a month, I knew that was what I was supposed to do.”

For two decades, students have come to love Biology through Mr. Peri’s use of stories, analogy, and hands-on experiments, always coupled with encouragement. “If a student received a 100% on my test or quiz, I drew one hundred stars on their paper.”

A man of faith, Mr. Peri saw the spirit alive at NDP. “I see the face of Holy Spirit every day when I look at my students and colleagues. We have all heard the phrase ‘guilt by association.’ Teaching is the opposite; it is ‘grace by association.’”

Artistic Endeavors: Anne Walker, Art

Amember of NDP’s last class of 12-year girls, Anne Jenifer Walker ’83 returned to her beloved alma mater to teach art in 1999. For nearly 25 years, in her characteristic quiet, consistent way, Ms. Walker infused her passion for art in all her classes. Ellie White ’23 described her teacher’s “infectious” love of art and observed that “genuine kindness radiates out of Ms. Walker.”

During her tenure, Ms. Walker served as department chair, started NDP’s beloved CW Project Greenway in 2012, and expanded the art curriculum to address students’ growing interests in the “A” (i.e. art) in STEAM. Directly addressing the tenets of NDP’s mission, she also collaborated with NDP colleagues to develop programs that spanned disciplines and incorporated service learning and social justice into art instruction.

This past May, Ms. Walker received NDP’s Hyacinths for the Soul Award, which recognizes committed teachers who are dedicated to Catholic education and the Prep. Ms. Walker has a pure love for learning, service, and making connections across disciplines, which is evident in all that she has accomplished.

This

year, Notre Dame Preparatory School said goodbye to five longtime teachers, Gail Caltrider, Tom Peri, Jerry Smith, Anne Walker, and Maggie Ward. Collectively they brought more than 200 years of teaching experience to the school community. May Notre Dame, our Patroness, be with them as they journey beyond the gateway of Hampton Lane into the next chapter of their lives.

Enjoying Life Through Music: Jerry Smith, Performing Arts

This spring, Mr. Jerry Smith ended a 63-year teaching career, the last 17 of which were spent at NDP. During his decades-long career, he has taught children and grandchildren of former students, worked alongside former students, and left an artistic legacy that has stretched across the greater Baltimore region.

As a faculty member at NDP, Mr. Smith taught in both the Upper and Middle levels, serving as the Choral Director and teaching classes including the challenging Advanced Placement Music Theory. Holly Greenberg ’23 said that she will always remember the jokes Mr. Smith told, how his teaching made her learn differently, and the impact his teaching and his love for it had on her.

Thinking back on his time at Notre Dame and what inspires him, Mr. Smith said, “The answer has to be taking a piece of music from the printed page and watching and hearing it develop into a beautifully performed piece of art.”

Believing in the Journey: Gail Caltrider, Social Studies

Believing in Notre Dame Preparatory School’s mission has anchored Gail Caltrider in her 30-plus years of teaching on Hampton Lane. “I believe in the faith piece, the service piece, the academics, that all student leadership positions are girls, and that we graduate women who are well-equipped to find their path.”

A valued member of NDP’s Social Studies Department who has had three stints teaching at NDP, Mrs. Caltrider has taught the gamut of classes during her NDP tenure, from middle school through the senior class. At a school-wide assembly, student Issie D’Alessandro ’23 described Mrs. Caltrider as a “one-of-a-kind teacher” who showed her the importance of academic curiosity, involvement, and global citizenship.

“It was a good day when you have a [student] who thinks they can’t understand something, and you did an activity, and they do it and do it well. They are excited that they did it and did it well,” says Mrs. Caltrider. “The ‘ah ha’ moments are wonderful.”

Laurie Jones

When Laurie Jones accepted the position of principal in 2007, little did she realize the trajectory her “yes” to Notre Dame would take. For 10 years she served ably and admirably as principal, moving on to coordinate special projects. Among her many projects were Interim Director of Advancement, Senior Class coordinator, graduation coordinator, Covid coordinator— a role that showcased her incredible attention to detail

and her immeasurable care for every member of this campus—and as this year’s academic coordinator. Ms. Jones is now pursuing a life-long dream of living at the beach. And while she will not be physically at NDP, she has agreed to provide part-time support to the 150th Anniversary. As she leaves our school, here are a few of her NDP “favorites”:

• Tradition—The Gateway Ceremony

• Spot on campus—Chapel

• March, Dance, Song, or Aerobics? Song

• NDP in one word—Community

• What you will miss most? The people

STEAM at NDP:

While statistics continue to point to a disparity in the number of women in STEM-related professions—the National Science Foundation reports that in 2021 only one-third of women are employed in STEM occupations1 —Notre Dame Preparatory School is aggressively working to change this trend.

In the 2022-23 academic year, the Class of 2023, including those introduced to the school’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) program in grade six when the Middle Level Innovation Lab was unveiled in 2017, saw the most STEAM Certificate and STEAM Pathway recipients to date. In total, 49 percent of the Class earned general STEAM Certificates. In addition, of that number, 26 students received STEAM Pathway Certificates in Medicine; 16 in Computer Science; 10 in Engineering and Manufacturing; and nine in Architecture. All told, more than 135 recognitions were awarded. Most notably, one graduate, Kaye Tubal ’23, earned three of these specialized pathways. Notre Dame Prep introduces students to STEAM-related courses of study as early as the Middle Level, taking the students on a seven-year journey of discovery right up to their final days at NDP when they engage in college prep and career planning. “The feedback we hear from students who pursue STEAM degrees relates directly to the opportunities provided in the STEAM curriculum and the learning experiences that are part of WIN (Women In… internships),” explains Mary Agnes Sheridan, Director of STEAM at NDP.

NDP’s STEAM program is intentionally designed to allow student interest, rather than a prescriptive curriculum, to guide the course of study. Often students combine seemingly disparate studies, such as coding, interior design, anatomy, and drawing, demonstrating the breadth and diversity of course offerings in NDP’s STEAM program. Seeing NDP graduates continue pursuing their interest in STEAM at the college level is especially rewarding to Sheridan, whose own daughter, Emily ’20, is pursuing her interest in both Computer Science and Dance as a senior at the University of Maryland in College Park.

“STEAM is not one-dimensional. It allows students to be multi-dimensional and explore interests and combine them in a way that allows them to be creative,” says Sheridan. “It helps them when they are pursuing degrees and careers.”

Sheridan sees how, for many, STEAM is a jumping off point for greater service. She tells of one NDP alum who received a degree in Mechanical Engineering before electing to do a year of service after graduation.

“We want our students to realize that choosing to work in a STEAM-related field no longer means working alone in a lab,” says Sheridan. “Having real-world experiences that allow them to see how their work impacts others and can help transform the world for the better is what an NDP education is all about. Students can make a difference; it’s how they apply themselves and chart their path.”

1 Diversity and STEM: Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA | NSF 23-15 | January 30, 2023

t In a much-anticipated tradition surrounding Engineers Week, Middle Level students attend a program and luncheon held at the Engineers Club of Baltimore. Through the use of interactive technology, representatives from the Maryland Department of Transportation explained how engineers take the lead roles in planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining roads/bridges.

t At the 14th Annual Egg Drop, 61 members of the SNHS hosted 143 elementary and middle school students comprising 43 teams from 15 elementary schools. Congratulations to NDP’s “Dijon Divers”—Cammie Seal ’27, Alexa Jefferson ’27, Emma Jones ’27, and Isabella Levero ’27—who won the National Science Honor Society Egg Drop Division II Challenge with their impact-resistant, eggprotecting device!

u As part of NDP’s first-ever Wellness Day, 80 Women In Medicine Club members visited the Women In Medicine & Science Club at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. It was a wonderful opportunity for NDP’s high school students to network with current medical students, clinicians, researchers, professors, and medical professionals. Current and past NDP parents, as well as recent alum, Lauren Sands ’16, who is in her second year of medical school at the University of Maryland, were on hand to meet with the students.

p In only its second year of competition, Team Blazers won the 2023 Fire Protection Engineering Burn Day Design Challenge. Sponsored by the University of Maryland’s Fire Protection Engineering Department, the competition challenges high school students to use engineering principles to design, build, and test a scaled housing model complete with a creative fire suppression system able to withstand and extinguish flames. Kudos to students

Georgia Aburn ’23, Katerina Alafassos ’25, Katherine Berger ’23, Taylor Brown ’23, Maeve Mulhern ’25, and Sarah Petersam ’25 who led the Blazers in this year’s great win!

u Each year NDP Middle Level students participate in the JHU Tower of Power competition, which calls upon immeasurable amounts of creativity, engineering prowess, and steady hands to build delicate structures that achieve towering heights. Congratulations to Isabella Navari ’28 and Allison Workman ’28 who won NDP’s competition. Their tower constructed in just 30 minutes using spaghetti and marshmallows reached a total height of 118 cm.

t At the Annual Architecture-ConstructionEngineering (ACE) End-of-Year Celebration, NDP garnered several honors including the award for best in construction management. Madison Villarba ’23 (far right) took first, earning a $9,000 scholarship and Morgan Watsic ’23 took third, receiving a $4,000 scholarship. Nicole Acaso ’10, engineering teacher, received the exemplary school champion award.

GENERATIONS OFemoriesMemories

Each May in the hour or so before graduation, a group of Notre Dame Preparatory School students, each dressed in white gowns holding a bouquet of red roses, is joined by women who have walked in their footsteps a handful of decades earlier. These are the legacy mothers and grandmothers who join their daughters and granddaughters not only to commemorate this moment in the traditional “Legacy Photo,” but also to celebrate the special legacy bond that connects generations of alumnae.

This year Suzanne Victor Stromberg ’82 and her mother, Raymo Rutherford Connolly ’56, arrived at the graduation of their daughter and granddaughter, Charlotte Stomberg ’23, carrying a piece of NDP history: a photograph of the graduating Class of 1928, of which Raymo’s mother, Rida Shea Rutherford, was a member. When Charlotte walked across the stage at graduation to receive her diploma, she carried with her not only a dozen red roses but also a legacy that spans 95 years of women educated in the spirit of the SSND.

As Mrs. Connolly reflected upon her family’s years at Notre Dame, she said, “I am glad that I was able to send my daughter Suzanne ’82 to Notre Dame Prep and that she chose to send her daughters Molly ’13 and Charlotte ’23 there as well. We have been very fortunate to receive great Catholic education, make lifelong friends, and to be part of Notre Dame’s many traditions. I am so proud of my daughter and granddaughters who reflect the values of NDP. I know that my dear mother in heaven is proud of our family’s legacy that all began with her.”

During Notre Dame Preparatory School’s 150th Anniversary, we want to honor the many stories of alumnae legacies that are woven into our rich history. To share your story, contact Cami Colarossi, Director of Communications, at colarossic@notredameprep.com.

Suzanne Victor Stromberg ’82, Charlotte Stomberg ’23, and Raymo Rutherford Connolly ’56

KEEPING CONNECTED:Alumnae Association Scholarship

Legacy is a key part of Notre Dame Preparatory School’s foundation. The Alumnae Association Scholarship allows the school to both recognize the importance of legacy and make dreams of attending NDP a reality for deserving students and their families, most especially those with an alumna connection. The Alumnae Association Scholarship is awarded each year to an incoming 6th-grade and 9th-grade student, and follows them through their middle school and high school years, respectively. Adriana Tarr ’23 received the scholarship in her freshman year and is now one of the school’s newest alumnae. She and her mom, Kelly Tarr Rogers ’98, reflected on what receiving this scholarship meant to their family.

“I was surprised but honored that I was chosen from so many other applicants for the scholarship. I feel as though it brought me closer to my mom as a legacy and it allowed me to follow in her footsteps,” said Adriana, who will be attending Clemson University in the fall majoring in Animal and Pre-Veterinary Science. “I feel as though NDP allowed me to learn more about myself as a person and has helped me form forever friends. It has also prepared me well for what the future holds next year in college.”

I am so happy that Adriana’s academic excellence, work ethic, and the fact that she is an amazing human being was acknowledged by the Scholarship committee. It ultimately assisted in my ability to send Adriana to NDP to receive an excellent education. It also gave me the opportunity to relive some of my favorite NDP memories as a parent—through the eyes of my daughter making our mother-daughter relationship even stronger and more special than I could have ever imagined.”

As the 2007 Alumnae Association Scholar, I feel honored to be involved with the growth of this scholarship. It is such a gratifying experience to witness firsthand these scholars grow and flourish within the NDP community. Each year, we fundraise through Alumnae Bingo, allowing us to award a new scholarship to an incoming 6th and 9th grade legacy student. Our legacies, carried on through generations, enrich Notre Dame. Spending time with our Alumnae Association scholars affords me the opportunity to learn what makes NDP so special to them and how they keep their legacy alive. It is incredible to see that even with all the changes throughout the years, the heart of NDP remains the same.”

Megan Case ‘10 Alumnae Executive Board President

Kelly Tarr Rogers ’98

LEARNING ABOUT THE WORLD... One Sea Turtle at a Time

In the mangrove habitat just off the coast of Key Largo, baby barracuda, sea stars, and upside-down jellyfish can be found in their earliest days of life. Known for little tidal action and vegetation in which to hide from predators, mangrove forests are the ideal place for young water species to safely mature and develop.

And for 11 intrepid and intellectually curious Notre Dame Preparatory School students, the mangroves became a living classroom where they could take a “deeper dive” into the lessons learned in their marine biology class offered as part of NDP’s rigorous STEAM program. It was a place to grow and develop their interest in marine biology and to better understand the integral relationship between the ocean and the species that make it their home.

NDP MARINE BIOLOGY

During the school’s marine biology trip, these students, along with three teacher-chaperones, traveled to MarineLab in Key Largo, Florida, where they engaged in five days of scientific study and aquatic exploration. The students immersed themselves in learning about the ocean’s biodiversity and experienced what it’s like to have a career in marine biology.

“Experiential learning is something the students will never forget,” says Maria Madero ’05, marine biology teacher, trip organizer, and selfdescribed lover of educational travel. “This trip is geared to what working in the marine biology field is like, and the students are getting exposed to real career experience.”

The students explored five aquatic habitats, including a lagoon, mangrove forests, and coral reefs, and conducted research and gathered data in each location. Water quality samples were taken and recorded from each site and then sent to a national marine research institute which tracks the oceans’ health. The students collected more than seven pounds of plastic debris and 17 meters of plastic fishing line and conducted fish and coral surveys, identifying diverse species. Snorkeling in Banana Reef allowed them to swim with hammerhead and nurse sharks, loggerhead sea turtles, and eagle rays.

All of the hands-on educational activities the students engaged in taught them a valuable and impactful lesson on the interconnectedness of the world and the responsibility we have as global citizens to preserve our natural home for future generations, a commitment of the School Sisters of Notre Dame and a central message expressed by Pope Francis in his encyclical, Laudato Si

“Marine biology is key to the health of the environment,” says Madero. “These experiences showed the girls that every action has a consequence, positive or negative. Being immersed in this [marine] ecosystem shows you just how precious it is.”

“Everything animal, from microscopic plankton to sea turtles, is impacted,” agrees Makayla Novak ’24, who participated in the trip as a follow up to taking marine biology last school year. “Knowing what you do in your everyday life affects a whole different world…it’s transformative!”

ChatterClass

Dear Sisters in Blue and White,

Each year, we are amazed and humbled by the news we receive from our alumnae. From career accomplishments to world travels, marriages, new babies, reflections of life and our bonds of sisterhood, sharing this news is an honor. It is in sharing that we strengthen the bonds that connect us to one another and to Notre Dame! We are thankful to our Class Chatter Representatives for their hard work in connecting with classmates and compiling news for their class. We love to hear from you and are looking for chatter reps for various classes. If your class is missing and you would like to submit news, please email me at osmeyers@notredameprep.com

Love to each and every one of you from the Alumnae Office on behalf of NDP!

In true blue spirit, Shawn Donohue Osmeyer ’88 Director of Alumnae Relations

Class Chatter reflects submissions through March 2023.

CLASS OF 19 58

Charlotte Archer

Can you believe it! This year we are celebrating 65 years since we were ALL together as a class. On June 6, 1958, we gathered in lovely white dresses, carrying traditional red roses, the last classes to graduate from NDM on the beautiful Charles Street campus. Many have remained very best friends for life; several are scattered but manage to stay in touch with each other. Sadly, through the years we have lost and mourn many dear friends.

In September, a small group finally got together to celebrate our 80th birthdays (belatedly), and of course each other! Our “snowbirds” were still in town; it was great to have them with us and to catch up on their family news: Jane Lears McNamara, Kathy Braun Dollenberg, and Lynn Spaulding Lortz. Also joining the happy gathering were Pat Chaney Savage, Mary Dalton Harkins, Pat Innes Muth, Theo Mallek Karpovich, Lynn Scally Rose, and Charlotte Carozza Archer. Lots of hugs, laughter, and great memories!

Diane Dippold Macintosh had planned to drive from her home in Arlington, VA. The evening before, we received this forlorn

message, “It hurts my heart that I can’t come.” Just days before, she had a very bad fall. She sent pictures of her bruised face and damaged foot. OMG! Diane’s trip to England was cancelled, but soon she was looking forward to recovery and traveling to Japan in the Spring.

Nancy Farrell Venza RSVPd regrets on a happier note. She was leaving the next day for Italy with two of her daughters, Beth and Angie. Their ten-day trip included Avellino, Lou’s mother’s homeland. In December Nancy, Angie and husband A.J., and their sons Nathaniel and Timothy went to Ecuador. Their trip included visiting friends, a family with whom they have enjoyed journeys back and forth since Angie’s AFS exchange student days. Nancy added, “In August we had a Venza family reunion at my house, all thirty of us … I am involved with the Bereavement Ministry at my church and continue to play tennis… We have three graduations this spring: Columbia and Penn State and one from high school. I thank God always for these blessings.”

For Seniors, it seems we are a busy group. Bonnie Leonard Nauman also had previous plans. She lives at Mercy Ridge and was attending a Notre Dame reunion event there the same day! There are several

alums who are fellow residents, and one of them had planned a get-together. We missed Bonnie, but it’s nice to know that she is enjoying her new home and many new friends.

It’s always good to hear from Carol Artigiani in NYC. “Bob and I are still enjoying the pleasures of the big city.” Thanks to Katy O’Ferrall Friedman for informing us of Carol’s latest recognition: “In 2022, GLOBAL KIDS created a scholarship in Carol’s honor. She is the founder (1989) and President Emerita of this organization. Its mission is to educate and inspire youth to take action on critical issues facing the world.” The GLKS schools and programs continue to reach tens of thousands of students worldwide. Congratulations, Carol.

It makes sense that Katy has had special interest in, and appreciation for, Carol’s life-work. Katy was a Maryland Circuit Court Judge for seventeen years. Her bio reads; “Judge O’Ferrall brought a socialwork bent to her judicial duties, becoming one of Maryland’s most effective advocates for children and families.” Congratulations, Katy, on many amazing accomplishments and numerous honors received during your legal career.

Another classmate who devoted her career to helping families is Jeannemarie Kratz Bordoli. After receiving her MSW degree from U of MD, she was a social worker in Chico, California. Jeanne still lives there with her son Guy. She received accolades for her work with youth and substance abuse prevention. Her daughter Eve Marie lives not too far; Jeanne loves spending time with her nine-year-old granddaughter Stella Marie.

Our family is looking forward to three graduations: Two College: Harris-Randolph Macon (LAX goalie); Catherine -Towson Univ; Sarah -Dulaney HS. She plays Varsity Basketball and was selected for the Baltimore Co. All-star team! Climbing the gym stands is a challenge for me, but I enjoy cheering for her team. It’s also fun spending time with Parker, the youngest of our clan. (14 yr. old Freshman). He plays Varsity Ice Hockey at St Paul’s. Unfortunately, he was seriously hurt in an accident in a game and broke his femur. Doing okay; end of sports for a while.

On a sad note, we were so sorry to hear from Pat Myers Stieber of her husband Rick’s death in October from double bacterial pneumonia. They had celebrated their 60th anniversary in June. There are three children: Jeff, Laura and Jennifer; three grandsons, and five greatgrandchildren. Please remember them in your prayers.

Although we are scattered by distance, friendship and support are gifts we can always give each other.

Please keep in touch and stay well.

Peggy Bradley Maclaugh2003@yahoo.com 301-251-0485

Judy Taylor Haupt

My short update follows: Enjoying the “Golden Years” in South Carolina for the past 32 years. I was blessed to find love with a good friend and marry after 5 years alone when my husband of 35 years died. God has given me 12 fabulous grandkids and a beautiful 7 yr. old great grand. Still striving to live my vocation as a Secular Franciscan for the past 25 years.

Anne Marie McGlone Doody

Life has been and is a beautiful one! My dear husband of 49 years, John, died in 2015 after years of ill health. He was a great dad to our three daughters Gina, Kathleen, and Annie, and a proud grandfather of seven grandchildren. John and I worked at NSA, Ft. Meade, prior to retirement in 2007. We lived in Colorado for five years and the rest of the time in Maryland. John’s many health emergencies helped me with my spiritual life in ways sometimes unnerving. Many mornings found me saying simply, “Jesus tell me what to do today.” Every day would come to completion as a step closer to John’s peaceful departure—an example of the super abundance of Our Blessed Lord’s giving. In trying to be a good mother, grandmother, and friend, I have found daily Mass, Adoration holy hour, and the rosary the real necessities of my life. Finding comfort in times of silence helps me remember some beautiful words of Saint Augustine in his magnificent Confessions: “Thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” It is my sincere hope that the lovely ladies of 1959 NDP will remain in His love as we are all members of His Mystical Body, the Church, and children of Mother Mary. Amen.

Melanie Dugan

I hiked 15 miles again this year in the Grand Canyon. That was a bright spot as I thought about the new year! I love living here in Santa Fe! This fall, I was blessed with four more children who need help with reading, writing, and math; they keep me busy and are the highlights of my days—other than my long walks with “Foxy.” He also adds so much to my life, and his antics and communication systems make me smile and laugh. The children love him, too!!

In May, I plan to return to Italy to visit my old friends there for a few weeks. The very thought lifts my spirits.

My best wishes to all the class of ’59. With special gratitude to Carolyn Crosby and you, Peggy Bradley, Anne Klug, Nell Gutridge, Kathy Roach, and everyone! I so appreciate what I learned during our days at Notre Dame, which had nothing to do with our classes, but everything to do with our characters. Love to all, Melanie

Carole Faulstich Milley

I was looking through some old files and came across the Junior Gym Meet Song. Not as nostalgic as the Senior One. Things are well in California, and life is still pretty good. My Florida grandkids came to visit at Christmas with my son. I visited in February to surprise the grandkids. I have two grandkids living within a mile of my home here in San Diego and get to see them and all their activities.

Rosie Giordano Profili

We were blessed with the birth of our 1st Great-Grandson Luca. He is a happy child, making all around him happy, too! We took a trip to Italy again this year on a cruise out of Rome- sailing to Naples-SpainFrance-La Spezia & back to Rome where we then flew to Sicily—Cefalu, the town where my dad grew up. My son with his wife & my daughter met us there to spend a week together. I became ill the last day of our trip—flew home and went straight to the hospital for 3 days with Human Meta Pneumo Virus that no one has heard of here. It took a while to recoup & then I got the Corona virus—I am fortunate to still be on this earth and now plan to live life again. I am hoping that we do get together soon —miss our 59ers as life is whizzing by much too fast.

I was so happy to read your messages in ROOTS AND WINGS! You inspired me. I have been living in the western suburbs of Chicago for 40 years. The majority of my family is here: 3 daughters, 7 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. However, a few have gone East: 1 grandson in Annapolis, 1 granddaughter and my great grandson in Stevensville. One granddaughter even graduated from Goucher. She is now the women’s lacrosse coach at a local college. I am retired and doing a bit of traveling: next up is Scotland and Norway.

Carol Taylor

Carol is living in Cockeysville and is pleased to note that her grandson is graduating in June from Hereford High School in Sparks, Maryland, which she says is a great school!

Mary Lou Irving Tice

The Class of 1958 enjoyed a Fall luncheon at Pappas. Front row: Kathie Braun Dollenberg, Pat Chaney Savage, Pat Innes Muth, Theo Mallek Karpovich, Mary Dalton Harkins, Jane Lears McNamara. Back Row: Charlotte Carozza Archer, Lynn Spaulding Lortz, Lynn Scally Rose.

Jeannette M. Falbo

Many of us have traveled to places far and wide and are continuing to travel to see the beauty of God’s earth. Of my many joys is the joy in living with my husband Jesse and in the love of our families. Since Covid, we have changed our entire lifestyle and together have continued to build our world around each other, and our life keeps getting better despite any pitfalls. I pray that you enjoy each other and all of God’s creations no matter where you go, and make your world a world of holy moments with simple acts of kindness and understanding for those you encounter along the way.

Anne Klug Coyle

Hughie and I finally checked Mackinac Island off our bucket list this past fall. It was a glorious week touring the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with The Grand Hotel 2-day stay capping it off! Children and 10 grandchildren living all over keeps us hopping for vacations, holidays and the best…Grandparents’ Days!

Peggy Bradley

I am still living in Rockville, but I trek to Baltimore regularly to see my brother and cousins. In January, a trip to Egypt was even better than I expected: with a small tour group of humorous people, seeing wonders of the world like the Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings tombs, Abu Simbel temples, etc., all created thousands of years ago. Then camel rides, a river cruise up the Nile, a night bazaar, an afternoon sail, a terrific guide; it was the best!

Carolyn Crosby Farrell

The year 2022 was relatively quiet here in Maryland. I am looking forward to a more active 2023. In May, I will be traveling to Utah for granddaughter, Eadan’s, graduation from U of U and to New Jersey’s Monmouth U for grandson Burke’s graduation. Finally, I will be attending grandson Joe’s graduation from Archbishop Spalding. So lucky that all the dates worked out. In July, I am taking an Alaskan Cruise from Anchorage to Vancouver, starting with a 3-day visit to the Denali summit!

CLASS

Pat Montley

207 Spring Avenue

Lutherville, MD 21093

pat_montley@msn.com

443-841-0058

The Class of ’60 celebrated turning 80 with a spectacular luncheon on May 18 on the veranda of the Valley Inn. Attending were Bobbie Davis Speace,

Carol Toohey O’Hara, Carolyn Finnerty, Carolyn McLean Polk, Dora Mae Kane Connolly, Erin Mulligan Witherspoon, Jean Phillips Brune, Joanie Machen Corcoran, Joanna Shehan Baird, Judy Schmidt Plitt, Kaaren Kronenberg Burton, Laurie Kunkel Mills, Lynn Phillips Wigton, Mac Callis Fink, Maribeth Gilliece LaVecchia, Maureen O’Brien Mulligan, Maxine Carozza Kutcher, Page Bloodgood, Pat Montley, Pat Scally Hines, Peggy Plunkett Bauersfeld, Phoebe Ward Sachs, Sharon Dopman Krulak, and Tess Horvath. A full third of the living members of our class. Another 13 indicated they would come if distance or poor health or caretaking responsibilities did not prevent them; that would have brought the total to half. Surely, we can be proud of our investment in one another. And surely our Trish would be very proud of us for that. But why would we be surprised—are we not the class that won the loyalty banner TWICE?!

Our class chaplain Sister Tess once again hit just the right note of thoughtful, loving prayerfulness to bring us together in spirit. Kudos, as well, to our treasurer/planning partner Carolyn Finnerty

And very, very special thanks to Joanna Shehan Baird, whose residency at Mercy Ridge made possible our Plan A to hold the luncheon there, and to her son Danny Baird who not only made our Plan B at the Valley Inn a reality when, due to a COVID outbreak, Mercy Ridge was closed to visitors two days before our luncheon (!) but also treated us to an open bar. We have Joanna to thank for the decorations—green and white balloons, flowers, napkins— that made our luncheon perfect in every way. Her imagination, persistence, and adaptability in this enterprise were nothing short of heroic. Thank you, Joanna and Danny, for your sponsorship of our 80th birthday party!

A few months earlier, the Class of ’60 had officially entered the 21st century with a mini-reunion via ZOOM. Thirteen of us—Bobbie Davis Speace, Carol Toohey O’Hara, Carolyn Finnerty, Carolyn McLean Polk, Erin Mulligan Witherspoon, Joanna Shehan Baird, Micaela Kelley, M.K. Hense Hokanson, Pat Montley, Paulette Valle Stag, Puddy Boyle Hermann, Tess Horvath and our ZOOM host Marcy Peters Toon—spent about an hour catching up, sharing joys and concerns, and just generally smiling back at the changed-but-still-cherished faces of so many classmates.

In a different kind of “zooming,” several classmates report moving to new locations. Maureen Shea Fry and husband moved from their organic farm in Ohio to the Bay Area of California to be closer to offspring. After retiring in May following many years as the Director of Religious Education at St. Casimir’s Church on O’Donnell Street, Molly Ellard Hubbard and husband Bill moved to Fallston, Maryland, closer to their children for what Molly hopes will be “our last stop on our earthly journey.” They love their new rancher and “are enjoying the suburbs after 21 years of city life.” Carolyn Finnerty and husband Ray moved to Oak Crest Retirement Community, giving high marks to their apartment and the food “with seven restaurants to pick from.”

They join Carolyn McLean Polk who continues to enjoy her life at Oak Crest and to keep busy there. But not so busy that she couldn’t take another Camino de Santiago walk in October. This time she and a friend did the last 100K (60 miles) of the Portuguese route! For a much shorter trip, Carolyn’s family surprised her with an 80th birthday limo and dinner at Chiapparelli’s.

Pat Hines Scally celebrated her 80th with a trip to Iceland with husband Earl, their son and his family. Pat Montley celebrated hers with a trip to Egypt with her spouse Sally Wall and a new publication—Plays on Principle: Ten Ten-Minute Plays (Dramatic Publishing Company).

In the proud-of-progeny department, Carolyn McLean Polk reports that her oldest grandchild, Allison, graduated from Virginia Tech in June and was married in July to classmate Ashton Bouffard. Joanie Machen Corcoran boasts that granddaughter Emily is a freshman at Georgetown this year, the fifth generation of the family to attend. Sue Carozza Gough’s daughter has a publisher for the book she has been working on for five years, and her son Al and his writerproducer partner were awarded a Golden Globe nomination for their hit TV series

“Wednesday”!

Marcy Peters Toon and Pat Connelly Hoffman enjoyed another wonderful weekend in July

reuniting with their bridge friends of so many years ago.

Marcy and her sister commissioned Sharon Dopman

works of art, a torn paper collage, for the new Florida condo of their brother Joe and sister-in-law Mary Louise Donnelly Peters ’56 who were thrilled with the delightful end result.

The Class of ’60 mourns the death of Thea Beck Walker (June 2022) and extends our deepest sympathy to Carol Toohey O’Hara on the death of her husband Jim and to Dee Green on the death of her partner Paul Ford.

CLASS OF 19 61

Peggy Mullan Greenman

217 Northway Baltimore, MD 21218

peggygreenman@yahoo.com

410-467-3500

Sissy Muse stopped in Baltimore on her way to England and Barcelona. She was joined for dinner by Bobbie Lears Dripps, Peggy Sullivan Young, Judy Hook Smith, Jane Trail Culver, Lacy Boyle Flynn, Susan Wright

Lattin, Sr. Sharon Slear, Cass Herman Coyle, and me. We have been cruising: Susan and Sharon on trips down the Danube, Cass to the Caribbean, Nanette Smith Singer through Europe, and I around the Great Lakes. Lynn Reagan Macfarlane and Patricia Hoy Evans

’62 traveled to Cashiers in the mountains of North Carolina and Harbor Island with their daughters Amy ’82 and Anne ’82 and their granddaughters. Barbara Chiminello is living happily in New York City and traveled to Paris, Montreal, and Charleston. Lois Reid Halloran has retired and sold her business, The Lex

Group, in Richmond to Counsel Press, Inc. Connie Neer Gourley is a surgical nurse in Tennessee and spends time with her twelve great-grandchildren! Jeanne Phillips Gail enjoys living in Maine with her three Schipperke dogs. Muff Pasko Forbes continues to sell her book, Love Thy Neighbor, on Amazon. Carole Forbes Hinkel watched the flying Chinese balloon come down with a big bang from her home in Myrtle Beach. I had lunch with Carroll Fitzsimmons Mackey and Lee Rytina Zaragosa, who joined our class in the fifth grade. They are missing their good friend, Anne Flanigan Emmett, who passed away in November. We also lost Dottie Martin Pipkin in October. Happy 80th birthday to my classmates! “We are the freshman class of ’61, united in song, 100 strong!”

Edrick Pasko Forbes, “Muff,” never had any aspirations to write a book.

As a retired nurse who spent her nursing career at Hopkins, she found retirement to be boring and has been a per diem school nurse for the last 7 years.

She wrote a book about her and a group of neighbors’ experiences taking care of a terminally ill neighbor.

During the 14 months, she and her neighbors kept on saying they should write a book about all their experience, and so she did.

“I would go upstairs and just type in some of the episodes that went on. I found it really cathartic. Unlike James Patterson, I had no deadline from my publisher. In fact, it took me close to a year to complete the book.

t I sent my chapters to my most honest critics and then connected with Kindle publishing. I can only say wonderful things about them and their many talented people.” Love Thy Neighbor… Why? is described as “a heart wrenching journey that will make you laugh, cry, feel frustration but in the end, mourn the death of a woman who was a challenge to love but indeed was loved” and is available on Amazon and Kindle.

CLASS OF 19 64

Speaking of Italy, Jamie Kammer Powers and husband Barge visited Sallie and Peter in Umbria for a few days on their way to a villa in Tuscany, where they and daughter Hannah and family luxuriated in the pool and checked out some Tuscan highlights.

Jeanne Russell Beall’s sister, Sue Russell Grenier, Class of ’68, reached out on her behalf this year. Jeanne lost her husband Pete in 2019 and is now living near her son in Sandy, Utah. She has Parkinson’s and is no longer able to use her computer or phone, but she’d love to hear from some of her classmates. Please drop her a newsy note at 11025 S. Grapevine Cove, #B205, Sandy, UT 84070. Photos welcome! Here’s a picture of Jeanne from her Christmas letter of 2021. (See next page.) u

Sallie Mullen

sarahmullen46@gmail.com

It’s been an exceptional year for two class newlyweds: Helen (Curtis) Wilkinson Versace married John Hamel in Hawaii in June, and Sallie Mullen married Peter Cole in Baltimore in April, then moved promptly to Italy.

Curtis and John

Sallie and Peter

Lois Maule Welsh is going on a 9-day safari in September to Nairobi. Going with her are three grown grandchildren and four other family members, including daughter Lisa. And she thought the safari with two granddaughters in 2021 was the “once in a lifetime trip!”

Nancy Knauff Damico and husband Frank, now ensconced in Minnesota, are happily settled into their new home and enjoying proximity to family and much improved health care compared to their community in South Florida. Nancy has recovered well from hip replacement surgery in August.

Speaking of moves, Kris DiPaolo Kelly and husband Jack are loving life in Ocean Pines. Ann Callanan Kneavel and husband Tom, who’s recovering nicely from hip replacement surgery, are planning a move to a continuous care community in Glen Mills, PA, in the Brandywine area not far from Chadd’s Ford. (I wonder how many new knees and hips the class of ’64 and their husbands have? I’ll start: two knees.)

Terry Rodemeyer Aylsworth and her husband Dave no longer sing and play in a band—COVID put an end to their gig—but they spend lots of time at their place in Fenwick, DE, and play lots of golf.

Michele Blair Jackson did a Viking cruise from Athens to Rome and is an active volunteer at GBMC’s Nearly New Department, which hosts twice yearly sales of donated goods to raise money for patient care.

Kathy Roche Hokula and husband Jerry continue to live in the Indian River Colony Club in Melbourne, FL, from which they are able to see rocket launches from Cape

Canaveral. Kathy has a new knee, Jerry is recovering from some tough health challenges, and they are looking forward to a visit to kids and grandkids in Baltimore this spring, the first such visit since COVID struck.

I’m sad to report that we lost a class member last year: Kathy Little died in May.

Deidre Knox Wilson lost her husband John in 2020, but owing to COVID, they were not able to host a celebration of his life until March of 2022. It took place at the chapel at St. Paul’s School, where they were married. John graduated from St. Paul’s. Reminder: our 60th (gasp!) reunion is next year!

Bobbe Harder Friedman

bobbefriedman@gmail.com

410-868-1471 (cell)

Greetings, classmates! As I write this, spring is just starting to announce itself with a few pink trees popping out along Falls Road and the peregrine falcon couple returning to raise another family at the top of the water tower I can see from my kitchen windows. Isn’t retirement nice? Being able to take time to notice things is an unexpected benefit. So is having time to connect with old friends.

Pat Keating Potler reports that her granddaughter, Shanklyn Norwood, is currently serving as a Marine in San Diego. She completed her training at Paris Island and various military bases around the US. Also heard from Marian Lapinski: “One really fun experience I had was a wonderful tour of northern France in October which mainly featured a visit to the Normandy towns and beaches. It was an emotional experience to see the Omaha beach and the American Cemetery.”

There is also sad news. Betsy Jessop Kaufmann died peacefully in hospice care at her beloved home in Tahoe, surrounded by loved ones including her husband, Bill, and her two sisters. She will be dearly missed. Phyllis Kaltenbach von Stade was a close friend of Betsy and her family from childhood and shared the lovely note she received from Betsy’s husband about her passing. Eileen Woytowitz Masachi was also kind enough to let me know about Betsy.

Nancy O’Donnell Burke checked in to say hello and we were recently able to catch up in person at the Valley Inn. Yes, it’s still

there, with horse pictures on the wall and cheesesteak subs on the menu. Remember? Deborah Bender shares “Last July my husband and I took our first post-Covid outing. We made the trek to Maine. We stayed with a friend in the 7 Lakes area, midway in the state. The Lakes were calm and serene, wonderful for some boating along the shorelines. At the coast I photographed several of many of Maine’s lighthouses. My favorites were the iconic Portland Harbor Lighthouse and the nearby Bug Lighthouse, named for its short but distinctive stature. We also made a required stop at L.L. Bean’s Flagship store in Freeport. It was a new adventure and a safe one as the state of Maine claims more pine trees than people!”

That’s all for now.

Fondly, Bobbe

Karen Kyne Cashen

1201 Windy Gate Road

Towson, MD 21286

410-812-1781

kkcashen@comcastnet

Greetings to all and cheers to 50 years! When I started at NDP as a freshman in the fall of 1969, I couldn’t imagine going to my 50th class reunion, yet here we are! Life has certainly had its ups and downs, but recently we were blessed with our fifth grandchild, a beautiful baby girl, in May. We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary, two years later, with a trip to Greece, and in July we will be visiting Alaska. We also enjoy visiting two of our sons, one in Los Angeles and one in Charleston. Lucky for us, all of our grandchildren live nearby. Life is good.

Carolanne Semesky Gooley shares that she moved to Portland, Oregon in 2021, where one of her children lives. She also has a child living in Los Angeles and one in Asheville, NC. She has enjoyed exploring the Pacific Northwest and started a business, which keeps her busy. She has a granddaughter, Iris, who she took on a train trip to Lake Tahoe last summer.

Suzie Gaudreau DeVore reports that 2022 was a fun year! She and her husband, Pat, went on 3 bus trips with dear friends from college. The non-profit that her friend from Burkina Faso started opened its first school there. The villagers are so excited to have a school with solar panels, ceiling fans, and iPads. The school will be teaching a unique program starting with preschoolers that

Jeanne Russell Beall

includes French, English, and Technology. You can find out more about it at Bridgestoburkina.org.

Karen Orbon Lane recently retired from the University of Pennsylvania Libraries in Philadelphia, PA after years of working in the arts or in research libraries in Baltimore, New Orleans, London, UK, Asheville, NC, and Philadelphia, PA. Karen’s son, Marc, and his wife, Sienna, are artists living in rural Vermont and are the parents of her granddaughter, Luna.

Nancy Urbanski Johnston and her husband, Steve, moved to Hilton Head Island, SC in 2017 to take advantage of an outdoor lifestyle year-round. Her 3 children are all married, 2 having tied the knot during the pandemic. She has 3 grandsons, with the families residing in Seattle, Boston, and Buena Vista, CO. Sadly, Steve passed away in 2020 due to cancer. In need of a companion, Nancy adopted Hennie, a Cockapoo puppy who keeps her smiling. She retired from the graphic design business that she and Steve acquired in 1978. Nancy stays busy with tennis, cycling, kayaking, walking on the beach, and volunteering at 2 non-profits.

Nancy Ward is trying to retire but is having too much fun traveling and lecturing in the US and globally for Invisalign! She and Denny have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. Devon Byrne Conklin ’01 is a dentist and practices in Baltimore. Jed and Lucy are engineers with positions in the construction world. She and her husband play golf whenever they can.

Ann Jagielski Crostic and her husband, Tom, will celebrate their 45th anniversary in April. They raised two wonderful children together. In recent years she has had the opportunity to return to art, now a full-time commitment since her retirement. Her paintings are completed “Plein Air,” outside on location. You may see her working in downtown Baltimore or in the rural areas of Baltimore and Harford Counties. In the warmer months Ann and Tom travel to Plein Air Painting Events from Virginia to Maine in their RV. Ann will miss our reunion because she has been accepted into a Plein Air event in White Stone, VA on that date. If you are on Facebook, be sure to check out her work there. It is truly amazing!

Speaking of amazing, Lee Ann Taborski Bandy is also spending her retirement drawing and painting. She too has some beautiful work on Facebook; check it out!

She is also playing paddleball and tennis.

Barbara Martin Taylor is still with JP Morgan after 40 years, teaching and managing a global team that does training for Investment Bankers, Bankers and Payments Professionals. Both of her children, Jessie, 34, and Brad, 31, were married in 2022. Barbara continues to head to Charlottesville for the UVA McIntire Board meetings a few times a year.

Nancy Baughman Csuti retired and went back to work part time 6 months later because she missed it so much! Traveling is always at the top of Nancy’s to-do list.

Cindy Lisiecki Fitzgerald is retired but enjoys substitute teaching. She and her husband enjoy all the time they spend with their 3 grandchildren.

Mary Jo Connor is semi-retired after working in the interior design department at Shofer’s Furniture in Federal Hill for 43 years, until it abruptly closed in 2020. Since then, she joined the Maryland Design Center in Owings Mills, which is a private showroom for designers and their clients. She has been there for 2 years and is enjoying the opportunity. Mary Jo and her husband, Craig, built a home in Middle River in eastern Baltimore County 10 years ago, and they have been enjoying their life on the water. She has become an avid gardener, as well as spending time boating, crabbing, and fishing. Mary Jo has 2 grown children who are both married and live in the area. Louis, her youngest, lives in California and got his MBA in finance in August.

Anita Williams Feeley has been retired for 7 years from NDP as their Advancement Director. She used to volunteer at GBMC as one of their Patient Ambassadors, until COVID put an end to that. She served on the Board of Directors at Sisters Academy of Baltimore for a term of 6 years. She participated on the inaugural Maryland Cycling Classic Committee, which was a 3-day world-class event that brought cyclists from over 25 countries to race 120 miles through the state. She also helped to host one of the few Union Cycliste International ProSeries in the nation this past September. Anita also enjoyed training and competing in Century Bike Rides in Maryland and California. Her favorite was The Maryland Ride for Autism and Disabilities Bike to the Beach, in honor of Jackie Buedel’s nephew, Reid. She was the top fundraiser in Maryland, raising $10,000 for Autism programming in Maryland. Recently, Anita has been

caring for her sister Barbara Williams Case’s grandchild on her happy day known as “Thursdays with Tucker.” Her favorite activity has been traveling with her husband, Goody, and with family and friends to France, Italy, California, Illinois, New York, Texas, and the Eastern Shore beaches. Her son Galvin works with Goody at Natural Concerns, Inc.

Patty Wiedorfer Smith and her husband, Jim, both retired in 2022 and are enjoying their time together. They are traveling a bit and enjoying the freedom to their schedules that retirement allows. They have 2 grandchildren, Olivia, age 5 and Jackson, age 2, who only live a mile from them. Patty has rediscovered her love for reading, reconnecting with some old authors and finding new ones.

Martha Bowersox Austin continues to live happily on the Eastern Shore. Her husband, Jack, retired from the Maritime Industry in 2019, right before COVID. She has 3 daughters and 2 grandsons, all within reach. Her son-in-law is a LtCol in the USMC and is ready to retire.

Rona Ammons Dixon is still working for Montgomery County Public Schools as a School Psychologist; however, she now works with the Autism Waiver Program. This change in position will enable her to work into her retirement years because she loves her job!

After 40 years in the Houston area, Andi Smith Durham and her husband, Mike, moved to the Austin area. Her husband changed law firms, and Andi retired from a move management/professional organizing company. They have 2 sets of children in Austin, and 2 grandchildren. Andi is adjusting to a new life in Austin, navigating her way in a new city. Her oldest daughter and family are in California. Her middle son is moving back to DC after being in Mexico and Columbia for 7 years working for the DOJ. Her oldest son and family may be moving to Bastrop, TX, which will put him closer to her. Her youngest daughter was married last year after a long engagement due to, what else, COVID!

Karen Little Lyon and her husband, Lew, and their goldendoodle, Campbell, will head west in late summer for a couple of weeks in Banff, Canada to escape Florida’s heat and soak in glorious mountain views, hike, and canoe. Her next destination is Colorado for her daughter’s September wedding in Estes Park to her sweetheart of the past 4 years and fellow Marylander.

Karen and Lew will stay in Colorado for a month to continue enjoying mountain life. Springtime is a busy time in Sarasota, and they look forward to seeing family and friends. Karen is on the board for Sister Cities of Sarasota and does fundraising for the organization. She also serves on the board for the women’s club in her community. With all the traveling and wedding, we will miss seeing Karen at our reunion but wish her all the best!

Thanks to everyone for your contributions! I’m sure we will have lots more to talk about after getting together at the reunion. Wishing you all good health, peace, and happiness.

Natalie Aiken Shields nashields@comcast.net

443-904-4535

There has been a lot of happy news for the Class of ’74 over the past year. Stevie Ernest Battista became a first-time grandmother in December 2022 with the birth of granddaughter Savannah Anne Williams. Stevie is retiring in April 2023 after 42 years with MedStar Health and looks forward to spending time with her new granddaughter. Stevie now lives in Ocean City, MD and can’t wait for beach time with Samantha.

Mary Elizabeth Salazar Harris is still living in Florida and enjoys spending time with her 19-month-old twin grandchildren— Jackson and Isabella.

After 28 years of service, Karen Kehoe Lindenmeyer retired in March 2022 from her position as Director of Ambulatory Operations at the University of MD Faculty Physicians. She loves retirement and is enjoying time with her husband who is also retired and her two daughters and new granddaughters.

Eleanor June Emdad (daughter of Megan Lindenmeyer Emdad—Class 0f 2006) and Makenzie Anne Keenan (daughter of Katie Lindenmeyer Keenan—Class of 2004) have brought much joy to the entire family. Mary Galvin O’Conor Wilson became a grandmother on December 31, 2022 to Rory Carty Wilson. Her son Bill and daughter-in-law Kate managed to get that 2022 tax deduction for their new son. She remarked on how joyful it is to watch your child become a parent. Margaret Case Gugerty’s son, TJ, and his wife had a son, Thomas Joseph Gugerty IV, born in December 2022. This makes 3 grandchildren for Margaret. q

Sue Coliton took a fabulous trip to Ireland in the summer of 2022 with Margaret Case Gugerty and some other friends. They hiked the coast of Donegal, saw some beautiful scenery and had a wonderful time. My husband and I also went on a spectacular trip to Ireland and Scotland in September 2022 with some friends. We were in Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork, Killarney, Dingle, Galway and Edinburgh. I was able to catch up with a few cousins while in Galway. q

Brienne Pratt Fiske is still coaching skating, although she has cut back on her hours and days, so she can babysit her granddaughters—she has four! They are lucky to spend quite a bit of time at their vacation home in Cape May where they see Martha Queral Robinson who lives a few blocks away.

My group of friends had quite a few weddings in 2022. My daughter, Erin (Class of 2006), finally had her COVID-delayed wedding celebration with her husband Dave Evans in May. Janice Hunt Damon’s daughter, Catherine (Class of 2007), was married to Kevin Lindemann in July and Karen Kohlhepp Raubach’s son, Patrick was married to Liz Hufstedler in October. Of course, the 3 of us were in attendance at all of these weddings as well as Karen Kehoe Lindenmeyer, Tracey Henson Ford and Mary Galvin O’Conor Wilson

Our condolences go to the family of Barbara Hart Steinle who died in the summer of 2022.

Don’t forget 2024 is our 50th reunion so please make an effort to come and catch up in person.

Standing is Karen Kohlhepp Raubach, Karen Kehoe Limdenmeyer, Mary Galvin O’Conor Wilson, Tracey Henson Ford. Sitting is Katie Lindenmeyer Keenan (’04) with daughter Makenzie and Megan Lindenmeyer Emdad.

Mary Galvin O’Conor Wilson, Janice Hunt Damon, Natalie Aiken Shields, Tracey Henson Ford and Karen Kohlhepp Raubach at the wedding celebration of Natalie’s daughter Erin Shields Evans.

Margaret Case Gugerty and Sue Coliton in Ireland.

Karen Meekins Benckini kbenckini@comcast.net (443) 841-4571

Greetings Ladies, I hope 2023 has been good to you and your families! Classmates from near and far have shared their news:

Anne Chasney Dudley

I can’t believe we are in 2023- it seems like just yesterday when we were running around the halls at NDP-I miss those days. Pete and I had our daughters get married within three weeks of each other because of COVID, but it all worked out and both weddings were great!!

We are grandparents to a grandson, Bennett, who is 9 months old, and we’re having the time of our lives. Our other daughter is expecting a girl in April, so we will be busy!

We are so fortunate to have both girls living within 10 minutes of us.

Karen Brennan

I’m moving to Southport, NC. My daughters are both in the south so I thought I should also enjoy a milder climate, yoga on the riverfront, and a grand new adventure. I’ve retired from corporate life but am doing some consulting and looking forward to starting a new client base. I plan to make lots of time to explore all the history and fun (and craft beer) around my new hometown. q

Our son, Wynn, gifted his sister with a piece he composed on the piano and again with the most beautiful musical compositions for our Christmas this past year. I will leave you with those pleasant thoughts and hope for joy among you in this new year!

Sally Fitzpatrick Waller

My big news is that I RETIRED from Loyola Blakefield after 19 years of teaching middle school English (and 13 years of coaching middle school cross country, track and field). Remember me talking about driving the bus on the beltway and telling the boys to sit down and keep their hands and arms inside the bus??? And when I was the answer to a trivia question at one of our reunions: “Which classmate coaches Shot Put at Loyola?” My husband, Jim, is doing well—thanks for your prayers and support after his cardiac arrest in August. Another exciting bit of news is we recently completed the Maui Oceanfront halfmarathon in January- what an experience! Our three sons are still scattered—Denver, Boston, and one here. I missed my first reunion ever due to COVID last May, but I hope to see everyone in 2023!

Cindy Bauermann Foster

2022 was a year of high highs and low lows. In July we said goodbye to my sister Cathy (Class of ’75) after her long 5-year battle with Glioblastoma. On Nov 12th her daughter, Megan, got married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. Her Mama would have been so proud! Sister Karen (Class of ’74) moved to the Hampton neighborhood and sister Peggy (Class of ’80) moved to Ocean Pines. My kids are still residing out west and are doing great. I am currently recovering from hip replacement surgery. By the time you read this, I should be good as new and ready for the next party!

Tracey Seifert Kimball q Hello sisters! I’m excited to share that I have launched a new travel company: Penwell African Safaris, which specializes

in luxury safari travel to East Africa. My business partner is Kathy Harvey, who has visited Africa over 22 times; she knows the country, camps and guides. We will custom design a trip for you that will be incredible, transformative, and just plain fun!

Dreaming about Africa? 2023 IS the year to visit! Penwellsafaris.com

Carey Talucci

In February, Carey had an exciting press hit when she was featured in Baltimore Magazine for the side business she shares with her daughter, Downey. Titled “Crunch Time,” they were interviewed about the history and wild success of their pretzels, a signature snack they make and sell locally at retailers such as Graul’s Markets, Eddies, and the French Paradox. Check out the article on Carey’s Fine Foods Pretzels in the February issue, or better yet, pick up a bag of these addictive pretzels and savor them for yourself! q

Wendy Popp

2022 was a tumultuous year for the Popp/ Simmons family, but the guiding light was a sunlit July wedding in Stockbridge, MA. My daughter, Zoe, married Alex, her best friend, in the Berkshires Botanical Garden.

Zoe Popp Simmons’ wedding day

Tracey’s adventures with her new company, Penwell African Safaris

Carey and daughter Downey in February issue of Baltimore Magazine for their signature pretzels

Class of ’77 Happy Hour at Kathy Stanley Wilmot’s house

Back in November, Kathy Stanley Wilmot opened her beautiful home to us and hosted a fabulous happy hour for our ’77 sisters. We had a great turn out of about 25 ladies, some traveling quite a distance; Shirley Morales was in from the west coast, Cindy Clary Rose from South Carolina, and Lise Guay Wolfe flew in from Colorado. It was so lovely to spend an evening together and an UNEXPECTED treat to see our long-lost classmate and beloved gym meet captain for 3 of our NDP years, Christine (Chrissie) Shinosky! It brought us tears of joy when she arrived. Chrissie is happily re-married after losing her beloved husband several years ago. Her hubby is a super nice guy who played rugby at Loyola University when I attended there, so it was delightful to hear of their blissful news!

Karen Meekins Benckini

All is wild and crazy as usual in the Benckini home. While many of you are enjoying your grandchildren and retirement, we have seniors at Loyola and NDP with one foot in high school and one foot in college! I am trying to stay in the moment savoring everything from their final high school sports teams, proms, senior nights, gym meet, graduations, etc. As of this writing, son, Joey, has committed to Penn State and daughter, Gigi, is leaning towards either University of South

Carolina or University of Delaware. In 2022, I changed jobs and joined an ad agency called 186 Advertising, which represents the Central Atlantic Toyota Dealers Association in multiple states, including Maryland. It’s very busy and exciting to work with such a great client like Toyota! Condolences to our classmates on the deaths of their loved ones:

Mary Jo Hart Febres—death of sister

Ellen Layug Grimes—death of father

Cindy Bauermann Foster—death of sister

Catherine (Cappy) Potthast Lohrey death of father

Gail Cernik—death of husband

Patty Moxley Howachyn (deceased)— death of mother

Emily Rodowsky Savopoulos—death of father

Katie Glose—death of mother

Karin Howard Shaw—death of mother

We especially mourn the loss of our dear classmate and Angel of ’77, Agnes (Suzy) Coffay, MD. We were so fortunate to see Suzy at our 45-year reunion in May 2022. God Bless each of you and thanks for staying in touch!

In true blue spirit, Karen

Diane Surak Rohan

133 Tall Pine Lane

Southern Shores, NC 27949

Dianerohan3@gmail.com

917/375-1596

2023 marks the year most of us turn 60, and there are plans in the works for reunions to celebrate our awesome selves.

In the meantime, the Class of 1981 really showed up for Alumnae Bingo in January!

Diane Surak Rohan, Susan Valis Faber, Cristina Rosell Chakales, Kathy Michaud Garliss, Janet Stadter Tomasic, Susan Ebersole Boddiford, Mary Epstein and Cathy Fath Megger wore pink and blue and tried their luck at the various bingo games and raffle draws. Alas, Betsy Plunkett was the only winner at our table! My son, Tyler, was promoted and is moving from Phoenix to Brooklyn in February. I’m so glad he will be “closer” to us and I’ll be able to see him on my work trips to NYC. Things are going well here in the Outer Banks (which is nothing at all like the show!). Looking forward to my NDP sisters visiting this year! The tiki bar is open!

Kim McCoy Burns writes: 2022 was the Year of Pink and Blue for sure. With two kids away at college (one at Harvard Law and one at Ursinus), I spent a lot of time seriously renewing some NDP friendships since our 40th reunion and loving every minute of it. Spending time with the fantastically accomplished women of the class of 1981 has been an extraordinary journey. Loved the laughs and the memories and looking forward to the fun times ahead. I’ve even caught up with a couple of our teachers.

Joan Sweeney, a decades-long supporter of the Gutterboy Charities, attended the Bull & Oyster Roast at the Fairgrounds on January 28. Mary Beth Regan also attended and noted it was great to see so many classmates: Jill Guidera Packo, Kellie McNamara Cannon, Marlene Hicken Andelman, Carolyn Brennan Wescott and Marie Deegan Kelly!

Pam Trainor was reinstated with MD State Police/Office of the State Fire Marshal— with a new, weird appreciation of being swamped with paperwork!

Ginna Krebs Alderman update:

• In my 27th year as an Upper School counselor at NDP

• Daughter Chelsea (Class of 2010) married this past November 5th to Brad Vermillion

’77 gathering

Carolyn Clarke Gartner’s big news is a change in position March 2022—I now work for VA VISN 20 as a 100% virtual primary care provider for Veterans in Burns Oregon—a healthcare desert. I have amazing equipment that allows me to hear hearts and lungs and see in ears, etc.! Also 20% of my time I am working on creating a Virtual Whole Health program for Veterans and employees. Also, my family and I took a magical trip to Europe—visiting Germany, Austria, and South Tirol (Italy) where we met friends and hiked in the Dolomites. It was challenging and amazing. Our last day we peaked a 9000 ft. high mountain, the Latemar. We celebrated my daughter’s graduation from Princeton Theological Seminary and my birthday on this trip— extra nice!

Mary Epstein traveled down under to celebrate her boyfriend Warren’s 60th and had the most amazing time, including posts with “Snoop.” Mary writes: we started in Sydney, then Brisbane, then the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast (Coolangatta and other areas. Watch “Muriel’s Wedding” again! LOL) Then back to Brisbane for a flight to Melbourne, then to Uluru, then back to Sydney for the flight home. Mary and Warren are pictured here with their new friend Stinkbug. (Warren’s in the red shirt. ;) ) q

Congratulations to Lisa Lake Langley, who continues to break glass ceilings as Founder and CEO of Emerge Capital Management, making huge steps for gender equality. Lisa was profiled by Bloomberg media, both print and TV! Her friend and fan Carolyn Clarke Gartner writes: “she is bringing to light the industry inequity for women when it comes to Fund management opportunities and compensation!”

FROM FACEBOOK and Instagram

Betsy Mohler Combs posted that she is “so excited that three of my children are expecting babies within two weeks of each other this spring! I am beyond excited and grateful!”

Mary Pat Muller Ortenzio posted darling photos of the family’s “sweet and brave girl” Shiloh on January 2nd, and another furbaby, Molly, who crossed the rainbow bridge in August. On a happier note, she posted a great photo of herself and her husband with Marion Knott on a California wine trip, as well as a trip with Lyn Smith Jablonski, Charissa Seipp, Kellie McNamara Cannon and Marion to Boulder to celebrate Hannah and Drew! Mary Pat adds: “we welcomed our 6th grand baby (5th girl) in August. Baby Sophie joins sisters Olivia and Charlotte, and cousins Clark, Ellie, and Cameron.”

Nancy Hubbard Mann is “relieved that the retirement location is still intact despite Hurricane Lisa hitting north of us in November. Hopkins was spared, and our beach (which was eroded by the storm currents) is now back!” She and husband John traveled to Belize in January after Nancy’s successful knee surgery in December. q

p Kathy Matter Turcotte posted: I am so grateful for prayers for my mom. She is doing much better. Thank you to my wonderful husband Rich Turcotte for my amazing surprise birthday party. It was such a great time. I loved seeing everyone who came and feel so blessed to have so many wonderful friends! Thank you also to my children and friends who helped him pull this off!! Kathy also posted a beautiful photo with her daughter Lindsay at her July wedding.

Lisa Doleschal Schachtner, in between heartwarming posts about the little ones in her swim classes (and photos of Rip from Yellowstone, thank you!), posted a family photo from her daughter Lindsay’s wedding in September. q

Condolences

Kathy Michaud Garliss lost her father, Franklin “Owen” Michaud, on Christmas Day, 2022.

Jill Guidera Packo lost her father, James “Jim” Guidera, on December 8, 2022.

Lisa Lewandowski Verger lost her brother Rob on September 25, 2022.

Lisa Doleschal Schachtner lost her father, Walter Doleschal, on September 8, 2022.

• Son Max engaged to Lauren Carrig (Class of 2013) wedding November 2023

Sharon Lanzi Bateman had an amazing time with daughter Jill exploring Maine in September.

Karen Rolfes Goodspeed 909 Oakdene Road Baltimore, MD 21220

goodspeed909@gmail.com

443.326.9342

Class of Blue and Green, Since we last chatted, our class celebrated our exciting 40th Reunion. The evening began with the True Blue Celebration at NDP. I arrived from the airport in the last minutes of the event and was able to grab a quick bite of the food and chat with a few classmates. Then it was off to the amazing party hosted by Suzanne Victor Stromberg at her home. We were blown away at her efforts to make this a night to remember for all of us. She and a few of her friends had turned the house into a museum of the Class of 1982. Photo displays, programs, invitations, tickets, uniforms and more decorated the rooms and took us on a fun trip down memory lane. Probably the most talked about item was the framed matching detention slips she and her daughter received during their high school days! We had food, drinks, and even door prizes! Suz thought of everything, including a display of photos for our classmates we lost too soon. On behalf of the class, huge thanks to Suzanne and the Gang for all of the efforts that made this a fun and chatter-filled evening for all of us!

On to some news:

Debbie Aranaga Castro wanted to share the exciting news that her son, Christian, married his high school sweetheart, Grace. Her daughter, Gabby (his twin), set them up as prom dates in junior year. The girls were besties at Seton Keough and are now sisters-in-law. Debbie’s NDP friends, Lisa, Maria, and Christy were able to help celebrate at both the wedding and shower.

Toni Myers Brennan also reported that her son was married this year. Both bride and groom looked beautiful and happy as they walked down the aisle. Toni noted that she is praying for babies, which I assume meant for them and not her! (Toni and I shared an OB 25 years ago, and my daughter and her son were born just an hour or two apart.)

Lisa Bogdanski Stinchcomb thanked everyone from our class who attended her fundraiser bull roast last fall. Founded in 2010, The Wayne Stinchcomb Big Orange Melanoma Foundation was created to honor her husband who died from Melanoma. The bull roast helped to

raise $65,000 for the Melanoma Research Alliance. Our class had a wonderful turnout of three full tables to support this wonderful cause. It was a mini-reunion full of fun, food and beverages and it was a way to help others. Watch for news about the next event to support Lisa and her children as they work to fund a cure for melanoma.

Our condolences go to several of our classmates who have lost parents this year. Also, remember some of our classmates and their family members who are dealing with health challenges and caring for aging parents. We hope they feel our love.

Karen

Laurie Klein Huger

When not busy being the mom of two teens in drama productions, Katie Meredith continues to use her artistic talents as she paints retired circuit court judges for Baltimore County. She sees Karen Manzo Auwaerter all the time; Karen is a retired nurse who traveled to Egypt, Israel, Ireland and Germany last year and is now planning weddings for her two engaged sons! Mary Alice Jones Beeghly has lived in Richmond for thirty years. Her oldest bought his first home nearby, and her younger son plays lacrosse at Villanova. She recently connected with Anne Jennifer Walker on a stop in Baltimore—Anne has been teaching Art at NDP for 24 years and is enjoying being a grandmother! Cindy Smith Claffey took a sabbatical this year from her position as a middle school English teacher in West Chester, PA, and traveled to Tanzania to

climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and go on safari! She loves visiting her three children in London, Austin and NYC. Gina Frizzera Wheeler has worked in employee benefits for 20+ years and enjoys testing out the latest make-up tricks and hairstyles with her 11-year-old daughter and walking with her chocolate lab. Meaghan Coughlin Williams has been in San Antonio since 2012, where she had a recent visit from Nancy Reahl Bollinger and Hilary Jones O’Connor. Her son is coaching lacrosse, and her daughter is a Gamecock in SC. Margie Gilmore is busy trying to launch three teenagers while being a producer in LA working with up-and-coming directors. Pam Rolfes Keffer now resides in Annapolis and is also busy as she will have been mother-of-the-bride twice this year! Whitney Coard Wilson lives in Hilton Head and is soon to be the mother of the groom. Paula Stevens Harmon teaches ESL to international students at Notre Dame University and keeps in touch with Helen Knott Vogel, Katie Meredith, and Susan Shiber. Her grown boys have backpacked through southeast Asia together and now reside close by in MD and DC. Kate Riley Culotta owns a residential design business, splits time between Roland Park and Sarasota, FL, and keeps in touch with Renae Kosmides Howard. Kate’s son is a recent college grad, her and daughter is a junior at Salisbury. Lisa Sellmayer Haley hopes to see everyone at our reunion. I have just retired from teaching after 28 years and moved to Lexington, VA, where I work part-time at W & L and am attempting to get a garden, bees, and chickens going at our farmette this summer. Expecting our first grandbaby

Class of 1982 supporting Lisa Bogdanski Stinchcomb

any day now and love visiting our son and daughter-in-law in VA Beach and our daughter in NYC. Miss you all and hope to see you this spring. 40 years-unbelievable!

Shawn Donohue

Osmeyer

osmeyers@notredameprep.com

Jen Haefner Donnelly’s mom was the recipient of a new lung in December 2021.

“Our family is truly blessed. I have become very involved in fundraising for the Gift of Life House in Philadelphia where my father and I stayed while my mom was in the hospital. They provide low cost accommodations and meals each night for families who are going through the transplant process. I also accepted a role as Vice Chair for our Moms for Liberty chapter in Prince William County. We are very involved in keeping our school board accountable for the education of students in our county. It has been great to make changes in my community after all the turmoil of 2020.”

Alyssa Philipp Snoots is busy with four basketball-obsessed teenage boys and her job as an early Intervention Social Worker in Howard County. She met up with Rose Galicia Baltazar for a college friends girls’ trip. I am sure no fun was had at all!!

Catrice Greer was featured in the most recent Cylburn Arboretum newsletter. Catrice is the founder and owner of a trauma informed, mindfulness-based, nature and poetry workshop series, Into the Green q

Sheila Sullivan married Todd Quaerna on March 16, 2023 in Baltimore, MD. q

Jenna Fava Roote organized a Paddle fundraiser to benefit The One Love Foundation at Shadow Lake Golf Course in Rochester, New York. Jenna’s hope is to gain awareness and support from people in her area that may not be aware of the incredible work One Love does. q

Director. In her free time, she’s coaching her daughter, Isabel’s lacrosse and field hockey teams! After more than 20 years in philanthropy and the non-profit sector, Caitlin Rettaliata has joined Orr Group, a DC/NY-based for-profit consulting group that provides full-service support to nonprofit partners world-wide. In her role as Director, she works with Orr Group’s nonprofit partners to develop, implement, and execute innovative fundraising strategies to reach their goals. Before she started her new role in December 2022, Caitlin spent nearly seven years on the National Development team at Year Up, the national workforce development program. She still lives in Rodgers Forge with her 12-year-old son, Alex, and 20lb orange cat, Johns Hopkins. Holly Burleson Dengler became a second-grade teacher at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Towson. It is her first-year teaching! Sarah Disney was promoted to Vice President of Operations for the Johns Hopkins Surgery

Condolences to Katie Brewer Brinton on the death of her husband Nathaniel Brinton.

Kate Kaiser Kasabula

Michelle McKenna Kakel and her family moved to Colorado this past summer. She has her flights booked for the reunion and can’t wait to see everyone! Kelly Boyle Klobucar and her family have settled into life in Summit, NJ and have 3 children (Isabel, 7, Harman, 4, and Annie 15 months). Kelly continues to work in New York for Blackstone and was just promoted to Managing

Centers Series. She was also accepted into the 2022-2023 Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) Administrator Development Program as well as the 2023 Leading Transformation for Value-Based Health Care executive education program. Beginning in 2023, Sarah will be serving two years sitting on the board of the Maryland chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), a professional society of which she continues to be a Fellow. Devin Kneafsey Almonte and her family made the big move from the northeast to South Florida this past summer. Her family is loving the beach lifestyle. Devin started her own business, “Product Mill,” back in 2018, helping businesses and manufacturers market and

sell their wellness products to consumers, particularly home-shopping retailers. Devin has also enjoyed a career as an on-air host for QVC and recently added radio to the mix, as an on-air host for a Christian radio station in the NY Metro area, bringing listeners faith-based encouragement M-F, 7-11 pm. Here’s the link to her Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/encouragingstarstories991. Deena

Lattanzi Conti is now the Director of Professional Practice Programs at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. She is focused on the transition to practice programs and nursing education. It’s been a fun change from management! Deena is also working on finishing her doctorate this June from Drexel University. Julie Cook Goetzinger became an international best-selling author in June of 2023! Her book, Free to Fly: Manifest the Life of Your Dreams teaches people how to simplify and declutter every area of their lives so that they can welcome in their desires with greater ease. The book hit #1 on Amazon in the US and Australia in multiple categories in June of 2023!

Theresa (Majchrzak)

Tsamoutalis

Jessica (Shedlock) Brunnett, DDS has been providing exceptional dental care at her private practice in Towson for 15 years! She especially enjoys helping patients achieving their smile goals with Invisalign treatment.

Raven Carter celebrated her 40th birthday in style with an epic and magical trip to Zanzibar in Tanzania.

Rebecca (Hanifen) Derwin attended the ringing in the opening bell at NASDAQ along with others on the executive team of Regenxbio. The company develops gene therapies for rare diseases.

Heather (Sala) Engler gave birth to Ashton in January 2023. His big sister, Austen, is 5 years old and loves having a baby brother.

Along with enjoying the lifestyle in Colorado and a career at Charles Schwab, Channing Evans was recruited to sit on the Advisory Board of the Mile-High Chapter of the American Red Cross and is also enrolled in Colorado Business Committee Leadership Arts Program. This program teaches leadership skills needed to sit on boards of arts-related nonprofits.

Kristin Kelly de Grouchy works in the field of health policy research and was

appointed to the International Behavioral Public Policy Association’s Steering & Development Committee. In her personal capacity, she is working to partner with nonprofits to support education of Afghan refugees in Maryland. If you are interested in aiding this mission, email her at kkdeg2@gmail.com.

Molly (Gordon) Petersen gave birth to Clara Josephine Peterson (6lb 4oz) on Fat Tuesday in Greenville, SC. They didn’t need a king cake to find the lucky baby!

Morgan Somerville was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award from the American Heart Association.

Leah Temes Castelletti married Joe Castelletti on October 29, 2022 in a Halloween-themed wedding in Cecil County.

Shannon (Worthington) Gahan and her husband, Chase, welcomed their third child, Tilghman James, on September 13, 2022. He is adored by big brother Easton (9) and big sister Blythe (6).

Grace Rochfort started a new job leading communication for the Office of Student Enrollment and Account Management at Johns Hopkins University. She’s excited to move into higher education after more than 10 years working in independent school communications in Baltimore and Richmond, VA.

Sarah Hackman Lucas s.r.hackman@gmail.com

Christina Blair Carlson and her husband Nick welcomed their third child Elizabeth Josephine ’Eliza’ on July 7, 2022. Big brothers Collins (8) and Ames (5) are so proud of their new baby sister. q

After spending a pandemic winter in Telluride, Colorado, Christina McEnroe and Billy Guernier got engaged and were married there on July 23, 2022! q

Whitney Schepf and her husband Tom Dolan welcomed their first child, Henry Charles Dolan, on June 13, 2022. q

Tara

q

After five and a half years with Congressman C.A. Dutch Rupperserger, Kendall Strong has joined the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Health Program as a Senior Policy Analyst. She works on federal health policy as it relates to behavioral health, employer-sponsored insurance, and climate change and public health. She also completed her first marathon last year and, after seven years renting in DC, finally invested in a condo. On December 17, 2022 in Virginia Beach with family, friends and fur babies in attendance, Anna Bagliani Markiewicz was married to her best friend Danielle. They proudly shared their wedding celebration with many NDP alums. u

Casey Berman has been a registered nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital since July 2015. She married Kyle Smith in Marco Island, Florida on March 25, 2023. They live in Canton and love living in the city! u

Caroline O’Neill married Marc Champagne on February 3, 2023 in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ceremony was held at the CathedralBasilica of Saint John the Baptist, which is the oldest Basilica in the USA. The reception was held afterwards at Hotel el Convento. In attendance from NDP were Kelsey Kuhn Eubank, Liz Ford Wuestling, Jen Guthrie Novotny, Allie Fick, and Casey O’Neill Freed, Caroline’s cousin, Class of 2012. u

Sam Lemmon is still working at Johns Hopkins Hospital and just started her first position as a Nurse Practitioner in outpatient Cardiac

living at her home in the city for about 4 years now.

Rachel Quinn finished her pediatric residency and is practicing as a pediatrician in Houston, TX. She is moving this summer to Nashville, TN for fellowship training in Pediatric Emergency Medicine.

Jenna Massoni is currently working in Annapolis as a lobbyist at Cornerstone Government Affairs. On the side for fun, she also works with an Event Coordinator, Kate Nicole Events, helping plan weddings, parties, and more.

Harman married William Kelly on November 12, 2022 at the Marikle Chapel in Baltimore, MD.

Bridget Carring married Kyle Brickhouse, May 7, 2022 in Baltimore MD. q

Surgery and Heart Transplant. She has been

p Liz (Cayce) Hare ’06, Jenny (Vaughn) Krush ’06, Haley (Harman) Tilghman ’06, Tara (Harman) Kelly ’08, Grace (Louden) Gunderson ’08, Kelsi (Bozel) Holman ’09, Maggie (Stout) Phipps ’06

Shannon Will started her own private practice for Sports Physical Therapy in October of 2021 called Will Power PT, Sports Physical Therapy. Voted Baltimore’s Best Physical Therapy in 2022. Dr. Gabrielle Herman Griffin, Class of 2010, joined her. Will Power PT offers sports physical therapy for the elite professional, college recruit, motivated high school athlete and all types of active lifestyles. Will Power PT bridges the gap between physical therapy and sports performance, guiding you through rehab and training to reach your highest potential. They collaborate with orthopedic doctors, coaches and athletic trainers to benefit overall care. Dr. Shannon created an ACL Injury Prevention Program dedicated to tackling injuries before they occur and preparing the female athlete to be competitive and confident on the field.

Jenny Santos shared, “I’m currently a second-year internal medicine resident at University of Colorado Hospital in Denver, CO. One of my co-residents is the brilliant Julia Bellantoni from NDP’s Class of 2012- how cool is that!” The state of Colorado is very fun and keeps her active. She is hoping to pursue a fellowship in hematology/oncology.

Maria Medved shared, “This is my third year living in the Big Apple and I just re-signed my lease for 2 more years! I am currently working at One World Trade as MCR’s Director of Online Content.”

Shannah Minderlein is still living the waterfront dream in Annapolis, MD! She recently transitioned to another contract lobbying firm in Annapolis called Bellamy Genn Group, LLC, and has worked in or adjacent to the Maryland State Government for 9 years. She worked closely with Governor Hogan during his term and looks forward to working with Governor Wes Moore over the coming years. Shannah is the proud mother of two happy cats!

u Tina Moore Kellar shared, “I married Ben Kellar on September 18, 2021 at Worthington Farms in Reisterstown, MD. Emily Kellar ’09, Nicole Lancaster Winder ’12, and Jen Guthrie Novotny ’11 were bridesmaids in our wedding party. I graduated in August 2022 with my

MBA from the Georgetown McDonough School of Business as a McDonough Scholar.”

Liz Ford Wuestling and John Wuestling welcomed Margot Megan Wuestling in July 2022. q

Claire Yokum has been working at StepStone Group for the last three years. She is still living in Brewer’s Hill Baltimore, but actively looking for a house in Baltimore County.

Kelly Feeley moved to London in October 2022 after 3 1/2 years in Paris. She was recruited by a cyber security start-up company to sell their software. This is the same type of job she was doing in Paris. London is great and wants to send a shout out to all to definitely get in touch with her if you travel abroad. She would love to meet up!

u Katie Asbury Gregg shared, “I’ve had a busy 2023. I’m living in Tampa, I just graduated from an MBA program, and I got married in February to my husband, Patrick Gregg. I am a soprano in The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, the principal chorus of The Florida Orchestra, and have the incredible opportunity to perform the most renowned pieces of music for thousands of concert-goers each year.

As for my career, I was promoted earlier this year to Senior Engineering Manager at the Bloomberg Centers for Government Excellence and Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. I’m very proud to be not only a woman in STEM, but specifically a woman in software engineering and technology leadership.”

Lauren Jackson is now Lauren Schwartz. She is teaching at Odyssey with other NDP alumnae.

Emma Forrester

1507 Seabago Drive Charleston SC 29414

443-986-3352

Emma.c.forrester@gmail. com

Casey Hood welcomed her first baby girl in October 2022. Bliss Rogers married

p Celebrating Liz Ford Wuestling’s 30th birthday are Claire Yokum, Kelsey Kuhn Eubank, Liz, Alexandra Malstrom and Kristen Francis Fechtel.

Austin Schlegel in June of 2022 and began her emergency medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Colleen Sheehan welcomed her second child, Killian, in October 2022. Megan O’Donnell got married in October 2022 in Pasadena, MD.

Maddie Wiklund has moved to the sunny beach town of Manhattan Beach, CA just south of LA to pursue her dreams of being a remote marketing professional.

Emma Forrester moved to Charleston, SC with her husband and is working remotely in marketing for Legrand. Lauren Young graduated from Detroit Mercy Dental School and is currently working as Dr. Young in Detroit, MI. Emme Evans is currently living with her husband in Boca Raton, FL and recently gave birth to a baby boy in October 2022.

Sarah Hannan Baltimore, MD

Sarahmhannan18@gmail.com 443-766-0410

As the Class of 2014 progresses through their 20s, our alumnae are accomplishing and celebrating a great deal! Summer Legambi is living in Hanover, NH while working towards her MBA at Dartmouth University. Emma Craig graduated law school last year from University of Baltimore and passed the Bar Exam! Jenna Hoscan got married this past May—congratulations, Jenna! Sarah Hannan is currently living in Baltimore, MD, and working as a nurse in the Surgical ICU at UMMC. Also working as a nurse, Brittany Fontana works at a Pediatric ICU in Richmond,

MEMORIUM In

VA. Emma Williams is a homeowner in Pasadena, MD. and graduated with a MS in Emergency Health Services in 2022. Haley McComas got married October 28, 2022 in Denton, TX. and is still residing in Texas. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for the Class of 2014!

Jordan Tilley was awarded Virginia Tech’s GOLDEN GOBBLER AWARD. It is an honor for two studentathletes (one man and one woman) that have excelled in competition, in the classroom and in serving others, and embody the true definition of a Hokie.

“Over the last five seasons, Jordan Tilley cemented herself as a foundational piece in the success of Virginia Tech Lacrosse. As the program's all-time leader in games played, fourth all-time in caused turnovers and eighth all-time in ground balls, Jordan’s positive impact on the field is obvious. Her role as a leader and friend to all has allowed her to make a lasting impression on VT Athletics. As a three-time captain, SAAC Executive Team member and co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, Jordan has played an important part in fostering a

1944 Edith Bogs Brooks

Sallye Garrigan Jude

1946 Mary Sanders Hohman

1948 Mary Ina Grice Bourdon

Ann Zimmerman Schneider

1949 Jeanne Hanson Bove

1950 Elizabeth Tilghman Waibel

1951 Sandra Watson Butzow

Virginia Linville Stuelpnagel

1952 Regina Arnold

1953 Mary Patricia Williamson Hargest

1954 Patricia Schendel Loring

Eileen Menton Zemanick

1955 Barbara Ann McLean

Sue Ellen Jones Wines

1957 Sandy Bornscheuer Horak

positive culture for her fellow studentathletes. Jordan's spirit and commitment to excellence will leave a lasting impact on Hokie nation.”

p Suzie Albornoz graduated this May from West Point. She majored in engineering and will be stationed at Fort Campbell once she completes additional training.

Campbell Mahle

Ccampbell.mahle@gmail.com

Ashleigh Wienhold celebrates her acceptance to Salisbury nursing school.

CLASS CHATTER, or information submitted by alumnae of Notre Dame Preparatory School, exists for the purpose of alumnae-to-alumnae communication. Publication does not signify endorsement by Roots & Wings or its sponsoring bodies, Notre Dame Preparatory School and the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Notre Dame Preparatory School is an independent, Catholic school for girls which upholds the teachings of the Catholic Church.

1958 Letitia Greene Wambaugh

1960 Marjorie Callis Fink

Mary Catherine Logan Malouf

Theresa “Thea” Beck Walker

1961 Anne Flanigan Emmett

Dorothy Martin Pipkin

1963 Mary Jane Hoffman Calwell

Valerie Molder Cleaver

Judith Ives DePauw

1964 Margaret Ross Duer

1965 Betsy Jessop Kaufmann

1974 Barbara Hart Steinle

1975 M. Catherine Bauermann Schwartz

1977 Agnes “Suzy” Coffay

1978 Virginia “Ginny” Curran Milanicz

1982 Margaret Mary McCambridge

If anyone has been overlooked, we apologize. We depend on your help to keep us updated.

Anita Williams Feeley ’73

Living the Mission: Mother Caroline Friess Alumna of the Year

When the authors of Notre Dame Preparatory School’s alma mater penned, “Blue be loyal, white be true,” they were probably imagining a person like Anita Williams Feeley ’73, this year’s recipient of the Mother Caroline Friess Alumna of the Year award. As she herself once said, “The traditions, sports, and friendships developed at NDP were always present in my youth and turned my blood ‘blue and white’ long before I was enrolled.”

Anita shares her NDP alumna status with her late mother, Anita Galvin Williams ’47, sisters Susie Williams Simon ’71 and Barbara Williams Case ’72, and niece, Megan Case ’10 In addition to receiving the Friess Award, she was inducted into the NDP Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.

In 2000 Anita was appointed NDP’s Director of Alumnae and in 2010 transitioned to become Director of Advancement, both positions which enabled her to pass on beloved traditions. “To pass on the tradition is a privilege and as they say, ‘You have to give it away in order to keep it’,” Anita said.

While Director of Advancement, Anita helped lead one of NDP’s early initiatives, the “Honor Tradition” Capital Campaign, to its goal. She also laid the groundwork for one of the school’s most treasured events, the Blazer Dash, which in the fall of 2022 marked 25 years of fundraising for student scholarships.

Tapping into her naturally curious nature was key to connecting with people in a fundraising capacity, and it was the foundation she gained at NDP which “impacted my career by guiding me to what I do best.” Anita has continued to make a difference through her volunteer work at Sisters Academy of Baltimore, the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, and the Maryland Cycling Classic.

For Anita, being named the Mother Caroline Friess Alumna of the Year brings her full circle with an institution that has held a defining role in her life. “The award is truly an honor and a meaningful one to me. It is nice to be recognized for living the mission of NDP and carrying it out to the community at large.”

Shawn Donohue Osmeyer ’88, Director of Alumnae Relations; Anita Williams Feeley ’73; Sister Patricia McCarron, Head of School

CELEBRATING in True Blue Fashion

Welcoming our alumnae home for reunion is our favorite thing! This year marked milestone reunions for classes ending in 3s and 8s, with the Class of 1973 celebrating their 50-year jubilarian reunion. Making the celebration even sweeter for the Class of 1973, Anita Williams Feeley ’73 was honored as the 2023 recipient of the Mother Caroline Friess Alumna of the Year at a reception prior to reunion. Thanks to all those who attended the celebration. Your love for one another and for NDP is everything!

50-year reunion class

60-year reunion class

40-year reunion class

45-year reunion class

35-year reunion class

30-year

15-year reunion class

25-year

10-year reunion class

20-year reunion class

5-year reunion class

reunion class

reunion class

LETTER FROM THEDirector of Advancement

Notre Dame Preparatory School has educated young women and empowered future changemakers for a milestone 150 years. Thanks to the incredible strength and generosity of our community, NDP has evolved and thrived to become the school it is today. Over the years, our school has grown and expanded through both programming and bricks and mortar, but what remains unchanged is the heart of Notre Dame.

I am delighted to join the NDP community as the Director of Advancement at such an exciting time in our school’s history! Notre Dame Prep is not only an extraordinary educational institution, but also a warm and welcoming community. I look forward to meeting many of you over the coming weeks and months.

As we celebrate this landmark anniversary, we must also look ahead to the next 150 years and beyond. Together, we must continue to recognize NDP’s mission—educating girls to become women who transform the world. The philanthropic support from our community—trustees, alumnae, current parents, parents of alumnae, grandparents, foundations, faculty, staff, organizations, friends, and more—will allow us to build on this 150-year foundation and pave the way for future generations of women.

Thank you for your past support and your continued partnership.

Lindsay Dorrance Director of Advancement

WHY WE GIVE

Reflections

We give because NDP believes the same thing that we do… that GIRLS RULE! Now more than ever, our school’s mission of educating girls who become women to transform the world is critical. As parents, we have witnessed firsthand the impact that NDP has had on our daughters. We are excited to see where their NDP journey takes them. Supporting The Fund for Notre Dame Prep is just one way that we are able to give back to ensure NDP’s ability to offer an exceptional educational experience for each and every student.

~Gina & Nate Young, P ’26, ’28

At NDP, I grew as a person, student, and friend! I was challenged to improve in all aspects of my life while creating lasting memories. I was taught to ask questions, stay curious, be kind, and always think about how I can transform the world.

One of the greatest things I can do is to support the younger generation of women that are starting their journey at NDP. The opportunity to show them what is possible during their four years is important to me. The connections I made at NDP have continued to play a role in my life, and I hope that staying connected and involved as an alumna will allow my community to grow even more. NDP will forever have a special place in my heart, and I will never forget those that impacted, inspired, and motivated me along the way.

Madison Sanschagrin ’22

Impact Report of Giving

Annual Giving

Where Do The Gifts Come From?

Board of Trustees & Trustee Associates 2%

Leadership Society

Foundress Society: $25,000+

Headmistress Circle: $10,000-$24,999

Onyx and Gold Society: $5,000-$9,999

1873 Circle: $1,873-$4,999

Gateway Society: $1,500-$1,872

Parents of Alumnae 12% ANNUAL GIVING TOTAL

Organizations, Corporations, Foundations

6%

Grandparents 4%

Current Parents 20% Friends 10% Fund for Notre Dame Prep 42%

Alumnae 43% 3% In-Kind 11% Financial Aid Restricted Giving 30% 14% Endowment Giving

4% Faculty & Staff

Young Alumnae Leadership Society

Classes of 2014-2023: $250

Classes of 2004-2013: $500

Giving Clubs

Blazer Club: $500-$1,499

White be True Club: $250-$499

Blue be Loyal Club: $100-$249

All Leadership Society and Young Alumnae Leadership Society donors are invited to recognition events throughout the year including our fall Leadership Society Reception and our Christmas Leadership Reception.

Note: Starting July 1, 2023, the Leadership Society will be comprised of donors who make a gift of $1,500 or more.

The Fund for Notre Dame Prep

The Fund for Notre Dame Prep supports the school’s annual operating budget, helping us meet our most urgent needs and bridging the gap between tuition and actual costs. This provides support to every aspect of the NDP experience, allowing the school to sustain excellence in current programming, while also giving it the financial flexibility to launch new initiatives.

The Fund for Notre Dame Prep supports students learning in the classroom, performing on stage, playing on the field, or attending field trips and activities. It also supports professional development for teachers, maintenance of NDP's beautiful campus, and so much more.

Every student benefits because of the generosity of all of our donors: current and past parents, alumnae, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends. Every gift matters, and every dollar makes a difference.

To review our 2022-23 donor lists, scan the QR code or go directly to www.notredameprep.com/giving/donor-lists

2022-2023Advancement Events

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

2023 GALA SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR

NDP’s Maryland Gala was held on March 25, 2023, at the Grand Lodge. We are grateful to our sponsors, ad journal patrons, and everyone in our community who generously supported the Gala. Thank you to everyone who attended the event or participated in our silent and live auctions—we enjoyed a wonderful celebration of Maryland Day with dinner, dancing, and friendship. Much appreciation goes out to our Gala Committee for their many months of planning and dedication to the event's success. Thanks to the generosity of our community, NDP's Maryland Gala raised $235,000 in net proceeds for our school and our students with proceeds supporting areas of greatest need at NDP.

HEADMISTRESS SPONSOR

1873 SPONSORS

The Acevedo Family

Alessia ’22, Isabella ’24

The Bradley T. MacDonald Family Foundation

Kaela ’24, Karli ’25, Kirsten ’25

The Buedel Family

BuildingPoint Northeast

Calvert Mechanical Solutions

The Herwig Family • Kaelin ’24

The Huffman Family Foundation Addison ’26

Kelly Benefits

The Lauer Family

Nicole ’97, Maggie ’28

Truist

Nancy ’67 & Steve Whalen

Abby ’25, Kelly ’28

ONYX & GOLD SPONSORS

The Abel Family • Jordyn ’28

Phoenix Sales & Marketing, Inc.

Kelly ’93, Mia ’24, Nellie ’26

Honey & Michael Constantine

Scott & Susan Wilfong

Julie ’95, Sarah ’00, Madison ’21

BLUE BLAZER SPONSORS

Apartment Services, Inc.

The Benassi/Harbold/Saxe Group at Merrill Lynch

ChemStation Chesapeake/ Maryland Chemical Company, Inc.

Data Networks

The Flowers Family • Erin ’24

FlynnO’Hara Uniforms

Brian & Jill Kroneberger

Sarah ’15, Emma ’22

The Lynn Family

Natalie ’16, Anna ’24

NDP Parents’ Association

Marlene & John Schiech • Kristen ’06

RED ROSE SPONSORS

The Andrusis Family

Marina ’25, Juliet ’27

Aqua Vision Care, LLC

The Nnabue/Mezu Family

BiancaRose ’26

Archdiocese of Baltimore

The Barrueto Family • Bella ’25

Karyn ’93 & Ken Bauer

DEX Imaging, LLC, a Staples Company

The Driscoll Family

Colleen ’87, Grace ’18, Tara ’22 eCampus.com

Floors Etc. • Shannon ’91 & Dennis

Walsh • Devin ’22, Logan ’24

Lilly ’90 & David Hunter

Anna Kate ’23, Georgia ’26

MaGerk’s Pub & Grill Bel Air

Alex ’29

The Mangione Family

Notre Dame of Maryland University

The Pauliny Family

Paige ’27, Peyton ’28

The Rabine Family • Sophie ’26

The Saxon Family

Mia ’26, Madison ’28

SC&H Group

School Sisters of Notre Dame

Atlantic-Midwest Province

Towson Orthopaedic Associates

David & Kathryn Schroder

Allie ’21, Nora ’26

Sentral Services

The Shaeffer Wealth Advisory

Group at RBC Wealth Management

SpeedPro Towson

The Bouchard Family • Emma ’22

Towson Orthopaedic Associates

Kathleen & David Willis • Katie ’14

Thisyear we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Blazer Dash on Sunday, September 25, 2022. Over the years the Blazer Dash has raised over $850,000 for the endowed scholarship funds at NDP. This year we had a record-breaking 1,300 race registrants and raised nearly $100,000 in revenue.

THESAVEDATE

Sunday, September24, 2023

2022 BLAZER DASH SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Cove Electric

SILVER SPONSORS

Calvert Mechanical Solutions

Constantine Commercial Construction, Inc.

The Whiting Turner Contracting Company

Notre Dame Preparatory School

Alumnae Association

SADDLE SHOE SPONSOR

Sentral Services

GATEWAY SPONSORS

C&A Sportswear

Amanda Gallagher Orthodontists

Gamberdella

HoCoPromo

Kennedy Personnel Services

Dr. Brian Muhler DDS, PA Dental Associates

Pediatric Partners

Pipeline S.C.

Rosedale Federal Savings & Loan

SpeedPro

Sunberry Holding

Truist

2023 ALUMNAE BINGO SPONSORS SILVER CUP PRESENTING SPONSORS

South of Smith

Ashlynn Roohan

Herlong ’05 and Kiley

Constantine Commercial Construction, Inc.

2023

Alumnae Bingo returned to its January date with nearly 400 in attendance! Thanks to our generous sponsors and our “true blue” alumnae, nearly $16,000 was raised for the Alumnae Association Scholarship Fund. The scholarship is a legacy, needbased scholarship and currently supports seven NDP students. The 2024 Alumnae Bingo will be held Saturday, February 3. We hope to see you there!

Roohan Mellor ’07

The Corner Pantry

Emily Baggan Howell ’98

Bill K idd’s Toyota

Lisa Kidd Armacost ’98

Calvert Mechanical Solutions

Kelly Benefits

Maury Donnelly & Parr Insurance

Main Street Home Loans

Brian Coleman

Coldwell Banker Realty

Shawn Donohue

Osmeyer ’88

TRUE BLUE SPONSORS

Evans and Vendelis DDS, PA • Staci Vendelis Klima ’88

Soiree Salon • Sarah Latreille Weiskittel ’95

Girls Who Run The World Podcast

Madison Sanschagrin ’22

THANK YOU TO OUR FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORS!

September 22, 1873

Opened school with 69 pupils. We were obliged to extend the vacation to this time, instead of the first Monday in September, as usual, because the building could not be sufficiently prepared before this date…As this new institution was considered quite the attractive novelty, there were constantly a great many visitors.

So read the chronicles, or daily diary, which the School Sisters of Notre Dame penned for Notre Dame of Maryland, a new school for girls that opened on Charles Street in the wilds of North Baltimore.

Today, 150 years later, that school, now Notre Dame Preparatory School (NDP) is considered the leading Catholic school in the Baltimore metro area—an honor confirmed in the 2022-2023 school year when the educational website Niche.com named NDP the #1 Catholic School in Baltimore.

The last century and a half have brought two World Wars, two pandemics, several sweeping fires, technology improvements from gas lighting to wireless networks, 37 presidential elections, changing social mores, and Vatican II. And throughout this time, NDP has remained true to a three-part mission of excellent academics, spiritual growth, and the practice of justice.

To mark this significant time, Notre Dame will launch a year-long anniversary to celebrate the storied history of our school, show appreciation for everyone who is and has been a part of NDP, and look forward to what the next 150 years holds.

Numerous events, from special one-time celebrations for students to all-community gatherings, are planned. Other key highlights of the year include a community mural project, a special fundraising initiative, and an SSND tribute wall. As is tradition, we have chosen “Where a Gateway Opens” as the theme for the 2023-2024 school year. This theme embodies the bountiful opportunities that have existed for NDP graduates, as well as a future full of hope.

While much may have changed in the world since NDP’s founding, the essence of the school has only strengthened over time: to educate girls to become women who transform the world.

For a list of anniversary events, refer to inside back cover.

Planning for the Future

Dear Friends,

As Notre Dame Preparatory School prepares to mark its 150th Anniversary, the school is embarking on a plan to build upon its legacy as a pioneer and leader in the Catholic education of girls and young women. To that end, the Board of Trustees and School Leadership, after engaging in deep conversations with the wider NDP community, are initiating a new strategic planning process. Drawing upon feedback from all school constituents, the plan, which is expected to take three to five years to complete, will be focused on the following: a robust academic experience, holistic extracurricular opportunities, and a welcoming and supportive work environment so that the school remains the top education destination for students, faculty, and staff alike. All of this work reflects NDP’s identity as the premier Catholic school for girls in Baltimore and the mission tenets which the School Sisters of Notre Dame laid out a century and a half ago.

This strategic planning process is a community effort, one grounded in faith and inspired by the firm belief that education can transform the world for the good of all. As the plan develops, we will share updates with you. In the meantime, we ask for your prayerful support as the Board and school undertake this most important work.

Sincerely,

Sister Jane Forni, SSND, Ed.D., NDP Board Chair

Sister Patricia McCarron, SSND, Ph.D., Head of School

Kathleen Willis, Board Strategic Planning Committee Chair

EMPOWERING OUR PEOPLE Honoring Our Legacy,

T0 celebrate its 150th Anniversary, Notre Dame Preparatory School is endeavoring to raise $1.5 million in this milestone year to support what makes the school such a special place: its people, namely its teachers, staff, coaches, and students.

Investing in the school’s dedicated and talented faculty, staff, and coaches ensures the success of all students and pays tribute to the tireless commitment of these individuals. Providing greater opportunities for young women to come to NDP, regardless of financial resources, fosters a welcoming community and celebrates all students.

Gifts to this special anniversary initiative, which are above and beyond The Fund for Notre Dame Prep, will benefit faculty, staff, and students in several important ways, including:

• Increasing salaries and improving benefits for faculty, staff, and coaches to ensure that NDP can offer competitive compensation so the school may attract and retain professional excellence;

• Raising funds for the brand-new RollinsLuetkemeyer Scholars Program, which addresses the affordability gap for middle-income students and families.

The Rollins-Luetkemeyer Foundation, Inc., has pledged $250,000 in matching funds, once we raise $500,000, to support NDP’s fundraising for this brand-new scholarship program.

Investing in faculty, staff, and coaches benefits the entire NDP community. By demonstrating deep appreciation for their unwavering dedication through competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, we enhance their well-being and create a collaborative and vibrant

The teachers make you believe you really can become women who will transform the world.

~Margaret R., Upper Level Student

The most rewarding aspect of being a faculty member at NDP is seeing young girls grow into intelligent, service-oriented women.

~Christine Plumer, Art Teacher

community. In creating the RollinsLuetkemeyer Scholars, we ensure that deep and varied individual strengths define our community, not families’ financial resources. Further, this gift initiative aligns with NDP's legacy of excellence, its longstanding dedication to scholarship, and the school's unwavering commitment to its educators and students who transform the world. How can you become involved and show your appreciation?

• In honor of NDP's 150th Anniversary, make a donation to honor a favorite teacher in your life or a family member’s life. Share a special memory of a favorite faculty and staff member at notredameprep.com/giving.

• Join us at one of our 150th anniversary year events (see the inside back cover of this magazine to learn more).

For more information on how you can show this gratitude, contact Lindsay Dorrance, Director of Advancement, at dorrancel@notredameprep.com

The STEAM teachers and classes at NDP are amazing. They make me feel like girls in this field can and will do great things.

~Carolina R-F, Middle Level Student

Words cannot describe how thankful I am for [this scholarship] towards my education. I love NDP and all it has to offer, and I would not be here without [this] help.

~Olivia S., Upper Level Student

THE ARCHIVES Exploring

In preparation for Notre Dame Preparatory School’s 150th Anniversary, we went digging through the archives and found some one-of-akind artifacts that document the storied history of

p A copy of the first graduation program of Notre Dame of Maryland and the commencement program artwork, created by Anna Thyberg ’99, that has been used for more than 20 years u

t Enjoying the outdoor weather on the Charles Street campus

p A bedazzling collection of NDP jewelry from the decades

p School catalog from the academic year 1892-93

Endee, an early sports mascot p along with a representation of the NDP Pirate u

At one time, Gym Meet calisthenics included a go on the rings u

Before social media, friends listened to Gym Meet songs on souvenir

records. u

p The first graduation on Hampton Lane, spring 1961

p Student prayer books and prayer cards

p A child-sized blazer worn when the school sponsored students as young as kindergarten age.

p In the 1920s, a blue sweater with this monogram was awarded to the best all-around NDM athlete.

and vault. q

Ephemera from the school’s Centennial Celebration in 1973 u

vinyl

ONE BRIDE,49 Bridesmaids!

In the late spring of 1942, the members of the senior class of Notre Dame of Maryland were preparing for a very important day: Graduation. Their hair was set, their modest makeup applied, and their long white graduation gowns were pressed and spotless. The girls were giddy with anticipation for the memories about to be made, but little did they realize just how unforgettable this day would be. For 49 of the 50 graduates, this afternoon was the culmination of their school career. For graduate number 50, Blanche “Babe” Bielat, not only was it her high school graduation but also it was her wedding day!

Babe was a vivacious and popular senior at Notre Dame. She was well liked for her generosity and sweet nature and was recognized throughout Baltimore by her striking eyes and the deep shine of her brunette hair. Her teachers described her as shy, but those who knew her well remember her as a funloving young woman with a larger-than-life personality. On the afternoon of Notre Dame’s 1942 graduation, Babe shared her flare for the dramatic with her classmates.

As the graduation ceremony ended and the Seniors gathered, Babe invited every one of her classmates to follow her to the chapel where she was scheduled to marry Raymond Smith that very afternoon. Led by Babe’s sister, classmate, and maid of honor, the newly minted Class

of ’42 processed up Charles Street in their white graduation gowns. Forty-nine young ladies served as bridesmaids to the new Mrs. Raymond Smith.

Some stories become memories. Others become legends. Babe Bielat’s graduation wedding has served as a beloved family story for generations of Notre Dame women. This fall, Babe’s great-great niece, Lucy Britt, will join the true blue sisterhood and is sure to leave her own indelible mark on the school’s history.

WHERE A GATEWAY OPENS to Celebration!

As part of the 150th Anniversary, several events have been scheduled to bring the Notre Dame Preparatory School community together. Mark your calendars! Details will be posted on www.notredameprep.com

Community Events

Friday, September 22, 2023, 5:30-9 p.m.

All-Community Gathering featuring food, music, and games. Stay for Varsity Soccer under the lights!

Saturday, September 23, 2023, 8 a.m. & 12 p.m.

Community Service Day at First Fruits Farm (space is limited for two shifts; sign up coming soon)

Sunday, September 24, 2023, 8 a.m.

26th Annual Blazer Dash Scholarship Run Register at notredameprep.com

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

School Sisters of Notre Dame Foundation Day

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Stuff-A-Bus

In honor of Jackie Buedel '73

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Visit with Santa

Friday-Sunday, January 26-28, 2024

Alumnae New York City Trip

Friday, May 3, 2024, 5-7 p.m.

Gateway Reunion Cocktail Celebration

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Anniversary Gala

Student Events

In addition to the Community Events listed at left, students will experience the anniversary in large and small ways, from special events and special touches designed to make the year a memorable one for all! Some events in which they will participate:

Friday, September 22, 2023

Anniversary Assembly and Anniversary Liturgy

Monday-Friday, September 25-29, 2023

Student Spirit Week

Friday, March 8, 2024

International Day of the Woman Assembly

Community Mural Project

Special to the Anniversary, we are launching a community mural project which will develop during the academic year and be unveiled at the Spring 2024 Arts Night. To learn how you can be part of this anniversary artistic endeavor, contact Ms. Christian Leitch ’93, at leitchc@notredameprep. com. Space is limited.

Where a Gateway Opens