Making a Difference

Catherine is the President of Conway Management Company in Nashua. She serves on the President’s Circle Council and as a member of the Advancement Committee of the Rivier University Board of Trustees.

CATHERINE EAMES

Devoted alumna and University supporter, Catherine Eames ’81 lives the Rivier mission. Her experience and example highlight the transformative power of education and service to others.

BY MICHELLE MARRONE

Since graduation, you’ve maintained a strong connection to the University and made significant investments in the education of Rivier students. Has education always been a priority in your life?

Catherine: I saw the importance of learning and education firsthand. My mother was the first person in her family to go to college. Subsequently, she was active in her alumni association, the Nashua College Club, and various volunteer activities in Nashua schools and the Boys and Girls Club. Both of my father’s parents were high school teachers in Lowell. And, my parents never stopped learning, whether it was experimenting with different cultivars to get the most out of a side-yard vegetable and flower plot, practicing a ping pong serve, or trying to speak a second language. There was always something to learn, and my parents encouraged and included our whole family in all these endeavors.

On several occasions you’ve said, “Miracles happen on South Main Street.” What sustains this belief?

Catherine: Rivier, like many colleges and universities, provides opportunities for growth and maturity and a pathway to a rewarding life. The “Miracles” part comes from the keen eye and open heart of Rivier’s staff and student body to bring out the best in every student. That doesn’t happen at many other places in the way it happens at Rivier. Our students come to understand the extent to which Rivier is invested in them. The students dig down, see this love, and take advantage of the resources—academic, physical, financial, and mental—all offered in such a supportive way and to a degree that it appears as though a miracle has occurred.

How did your Rivier experience contribute to your belief in the transformative power of education?

Catherine: Sister Marjorie Francoeur, pm made a huge impact on my life; I believe her interest and support of me is emblematic of that provided by so many who choose the religious life to serve others. I didn’t feel in any way that I was getting special treatment; rather, I was one of many students in each of her classes. But I was at a point in my life when her message and style resonated with me. Sister Marjorie did not tolerate unprepared students, incomplete or missed assignments, or indifference to the subject matter—she wanted to bring out the best in every student. She wasn’t in the business of wasting time and really wanted to know what each of us thought. I knew I was capable, but rarely had I been in the presence of someone who expected me to bring and be my best every day. As one of five kids, sometimes I could slide under the radar. That wasn’t possible in Sister Marjorie’s classroom, and I will forever be grateful to her.

Bringing out the best in others resonates in a variety of ways— education, service, and philanthropy. What inspires your service to the University and greater community?

Catherine: My service is to provide the tools to make a positive difference in someone’s life. Sometimes my actions encourage others to also contribute, whether time, talent or money. I try hard to donate and contribute to organizations that I know have made a difference for me or someone in my life, organizations that take their mission seriously and are good stewards of the resources they have. Rivier, with its motto of “Higher and Better,” is the embodiment of an outstanding steward.

Your longstanding support of the University and students has made a difference in many lives. How would you encourage those who are starting out and inspired to make an impact?

Catherine: Making a difference in someone’s day doesn’t have to cost much. If each of us looks around, there is always someone who could use a hand. Offer it freely and expect nothing in return. I’ve been amazed at the grateful responses to a smile or holding open a door. The world is full of good people that often go unseen in our busy lives. Go and make a difference.