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UPDATE Magazine: Winter 2021

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WINTER 2021

Experiential Education: Design, Build, Learn


Letter from the President 3470 Rocky River Drive • Cleveland, Ohio 44111 216.251.6788 • www.sja1890.org

UPDATE is published by Saint Joseph Academy for alumnae, parents/guardians and friends. Contributors to this issue of UPDATE include: Maggie Berry ’10, Allison Busser ’04, Donna Corrigan Ernst ’80, P’14, Kathy Flinn, Erin Hoffert, Theresa Kratt '23, Rebecca Levis, Laura McCarty Waryk ’07, Melissa Murphy, Tammi Olle P’12 & ’23, Robert Polk, Kathryn H. Purcell, Mackenzie Dukles, Constance S. Sipple, CFRE, Jeff Sutliff and Dr. Jessica Wrobleski. Photography courtesy is extended to: David Cleveland Photography, Kristen Busa, Dr. Lisa Damour, Jeff Downie, Nick Hoeller, Nicole Jamieson ’16, Lifetouch Photography, Laura McCarty Waryk ’07, Ripcho Studios and Bryan Szucs Photography. For more information, please contact Kathy Flinn at 216.251.6788 x250 or kflinn@sja1890.org.

MISSION Saint Joseph Academy, rooted in the spirituality of the Congregation of St. Joseph, fosters unifying relationships with God and all creation, empowers each young woman to achieve academic excellence and inspires a life of compassionate leadership and service in a global society. On the Cover: Lily Kuebler ’23 works with a miter saw while being overseen by Visual Arts Department Chair and teacher Mrs. Tammy Sparks • N – Nazareth alumna • T – St. Therese alumna • P – Parent of current SJA student • † – Deceased

Dear Saint Joseph Academy Alumnae, Families and Friends, It is amazing how the time has flown since the last issue of UPDATE. While Saint Joseph Academy has continued to navigate the challenges presented by the global pandemic, we have returned to many of the activities that make the life of our community so vibrant and special. We have embraced the opportunity to be together for events such as games, concerts, pep rallies and other beloved traditions including bringing alumnae back on campus to celebrate - which all help foster a sense of belonging here. In this issue, we are excited to share some stories of what has been happening on campus this fall. At a time when many institutions and industries are facing uncertainty, we at Saint Joseph Academy are truly blessed to have such strong roots in our traditions, our spirituality, and the relationships formed here. This year’s Grand Reunion weekend was an especially wonderful opportunity to connect this year, as we welcomed TWO sets of reunion classes, as well as their families and friends! It was a joy to share our beautiful spaces. The stories and memories from these amazing women underscore how meaningful Saint Joseph Academy has been in their lives. It has been energizing to welcome new faculty, staff and the Class of 2025 to our campus this year. With the “Character of a Saint Joseph Academy Graduate” attribute of living Unifying Love through Empathetic Justice as a framework, our community has been engaged in conversations about what it means to create a place where each person feels they belong. We are in the early stages of a process to gather the diverse insights and stories of our community members, as we envision the future of Saint Joseph Academy as a place where all students, families and employees feel seen and heard. As we enter into the New Year and reflect on the year that has passed, our community has so much to be grateful for. We recognize all we have learned as we have adapted to changing circumstances in order to continue to live out our mission. And yet we also rejoice in the return of familiar rituals like the celebration of all-school Mass — a particularly special gathering for our community, only possible through the work of our faculty and student ministry teams — and the ways that these celebrations remind us of the source of our unity and strength. I am honored to be in a position of leadership here today. May you and your family have a blessed and peaceful holiday season. With gratitude,

Kathryn H. Purcell


Global Program Expands Growth Mindsets & Relationships

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nherent in a Saint Joseph Academy education are opportunities for students to gain an appreciation for the relationships built while serving and collaborating with ‘the dear neighbor’ in their local, regional, national and global communities. Through meaningful, authentic experiences that help them understand the broader world in which they live, students are also inspired to adopt a life of compassionate leadership and service in a global society. The Saint Joseph Academy Global Program seeks to promote the idea, rooted in Catholic teaching, that we are all connected by a shared humanity. It works to instill in students an awareness of their intrinsic role as participants in an interconnected world. As students develop cultural agility, they become more effective communicators and collaborators. Although global mindedness is interwoven into the current student experience, the Global Program takes a more dedicated approach by intentionally creating opportunities that cultivate intercultural understanding and promote cultural humility. Students can participate in international and domestic travel and immersion programs, host an international student in their homes or engage in virtual exchange opportunities that strive to facilitate intercultural dialogue. Students will be encouraged to cross invisible territorial boundaries and cultivate openness and tolerance for differing opinions when viewpoints and perspectives collide. This includes hearing from influential leaders who choose to question accepted societal norms and advocate for change. These types of interactions are designed to encourage students to become involved in their local and global communities’ activities to promote collaboration and empathy. The Global Scholars Program, which pertains to the greater overarching Global Program, offers a specific pathway for students who are passionate about becoming agents of transformation in their communities. These students not only seek to understand world issues but also strive to take action to bring about systemic change for global injustice. Global Scholar and Jaguar Beat columnist Theresa Kratt ’23 described some of the details of this pathway in a recent newspaper article. “Similar to the Health Sciences Honors Program and Engineering & Design Honors Program, the Global Cultural immersion Scholars Program allows interested students to focus trip to Italy* their classes and high school experiences on global studies in preparation for a career in this field. Students will complete different milestones over the course of their high school careers.” “I was interested in joining the Global Scholars Program because its mission of building cultural understanding and global knowledge is important for me. I participated in two virtual exchange programs outside of school, which I found really eye-opening and rewarding! The program offers opportunities for students to directly engage in realworld issues such as the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the roots of this problem. This kind of open conversation, as well as

the direct service and cultural immersion aspects of the program, make it really unique,” stated Theresa. Spanish teacher and Global Program Director, Ms. Rebecca Levis, is excited to bring her extensive international experience to Saint Joseph Academy. Building upon the foundation created by former Global Program Director, now Assistant Principal of Academics, Mrs. Alison Morgan, Ms. Levis has worked to broaden the awareness of what it means to be a globally-minded citizen. “Building global competence allows us to recognize our interconnectedness, challenges us to question and expand upon our existing beliefs, and opens us to the rich wisdom gained through engaging interculturally with others in diverse contexts.”

Students participate in a service immersion trip in the Dominican Republic*

Students travel to England for a cultural immersion* *Prior to COVID-19

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Seven Seniors Honored through National Merit Scholarship Program

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even students in the Class of 2022 were named with honors through the PSAT/NMSQT®! Betsy Gerrity, Erika Klosinski, Jess Kowalski and Morgan Rudolph (granddaughter of Patricia Masterson Rudolph N’65) are all Semifinalists in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. They competed with 1.6 million students from 22,000 high schools nationwide who took the PSAT/ NMSQT®, the initial screen for National Merit Semifinalists. The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. With this honor, these young women continue in the competition in hopes of earning one of the 7,500 National Merit® Scholarships worth nearly $30 million that will be offered next spring. Anna Duesenberg ’22 and May Norman ’22 (granddaughter of Rosemary McCarthy Conway ’65) were honored as National Merit Commended Scholars, naming them among the select group in the top five percent of the 1.6 million students who entered the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test to earn the designation of Commended Scholar. Alyssa Rosas ’22 was also named a National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar. This honor highlights the top 2.5% among Hispanic and Latino PSAT/ NMSQT® test takers in the region. Principal Jeff Sutliff shared, “We know that this recognition will expand their education opportunities. We are very proud of their achievements.”

National Merit Semifinalists Betsy Gerrity ’22 Middle School: Ruffing Montessori Plans to Apply to: Hillsdale College, Miami University, Thomas Aquinas College, University of Notre Dame and Xavier University Career Interests: Criminal Justice

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Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

Erika Klosinski ’22 Middle School: Urban Community Plans to Apply to: Kent State University, Ohio University, University of Cincinnati and University of Notre Dame Career Interests: Pre-Medicine Jess Kowalski ’22 Middle School: St. Angela Merici Plans to Apply to: Colorado State University, Cornell University, Pennsylvania State University and University of Florida Career Interests: Wildlife/Conservation Biology and Ecology Morgan Rudolph ’22 Middle School: Douglas MacArthur Girls’ Leadership Academy Plans to Apply to: Duke University, University of Notre Dame and Vanderbilt University Career Interests: Mathematics or Statistics

National Merit Commended Scholars Anna Duesenberg ’22 Middle School: Rocky River Middle School Plans to Apply to: Butler University, Hope College, John Carroll University, Valparaiso University, Vanderbilt University and Xavier University Career Interests: Secondary Education May Norman ’22 Middle School: Riverside Middle School Plans to Apply to: Ithaca College, Marist College, Ohio University,

Northwestern University and The College of Wooster Career Interests: Undecided

National Hispanic Recognition Scholar Alyssa Rosas ’22 Plans to Apply to: Miami University, Oberlin College, Pratt Institute and The Ohio State University Career Interests: Film Studies and/or Creative Writing

Class of 2022 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Students, faculty, staff and families gathered in September to witness the commissioning of sixteen Seniors as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, all of whom were commissioned by Fr. Patrick Anderson, Director of Human Formation at Borromeo Seminary. It was the first time in a year and a half the entire school community came together for an allschool Mass. Congratulations to Ava Allen, Cassandra Ciryak, Emilie DeOreo, Erin Dickens (granddaughter of Bernadette Daly McCrone ’64, sister of Bridget ’16 and Nora Dickens ’20), Mary Gassman (sister of Emma Gassman ’17), Claire Ginley (daughter of Eileen Dolan Ginley ’85), Haley Gunn, Jillian Langley, Morgan Leary, Mariana Maddox, Elana Maraldo, Grace Nussle (sister of Hannah Nussle ’19), Mallory Palagyi, Maeve Ross (daughter of Bridget Monroe Ross ’96), Jenna Stutzman and Isabella Zolikoff.


Freshman Program

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he transition into high school for the Class of 2025 is being eased by the Academy’s unique Freshman Mentoring Program, now in its tenth year. The Freshman Mentoring Program is a comprehensive advisory program that spans the length of students’ first year and focuses on creating and maintaining connections to Saint Joseph Academy’s campus, classmates and our school community. It also provides each student with a faculty/staff mentor with whom they can go to directly with for questions or help resolving issues. Juniors serve as mentors who help students become familiar with the Academy’s physical layout, policies, programs, traditions and personnel, while simultaneously developing powerful relationships with them. “Students meet on a regular schedule one time per week for 30 minutes through February. Then from March to May the meetings are monthly. There are eight Freshman homerooms. The homerooms are divided in half, with one-half meeting on Wednesdays and the other half on Thursdays. Eight faculty/staff members volunteer as mentors and have a group on both Wednesday and Thursday. We also have 32 Junior mentors; there are two Juniors who are assigned to each mentor group. Throughout the year, mentoring focuses on the various components of a Saint Joseph Academy education. Some of these topics include study skills (note-taking, reading, time management, etc.), Nazareth Library resources, test-taking skills, coping with anxiety and stress, developing healthy relationships, interpersonal relationships with peers and adults, restorative practices, yoga, positive self-image, social media, and effective leadership,” stated Student Support Services teacher Mrs. Courtney Koz.

“With the Freshman Mentoring Program, McKeon Education Group is introducing ways for students to learn to cope with anxiety in and out of the classroom with strategies like mindfulness and breathing techniques,” shared McKeon Education Group Mental Health Counselor Ms. Jenny Spiker. “Freshman mentoring is important to me because I feel like it is a great way to get to know people I otherwise wouldn’t get to know. This program helps guide the Class of 2025 through their high school experience while supporting them along the way” stated Freshman mentor Ava Maloof ’23.

L-R: Anna Maria Costanzo, Olivia Tipton and Cara Riley

PRINCIPAL’S CORNER: “I used to think that happy people were grateful people. Then I came to understand that grateful people were happy people.” As I look back on 2021, I am reminded of these words, a lesson Social Studies teacher Mr. Nick Roaldi shared with our community a few years ago. More than a play on words, it reflects a wise appreciation for the blessings of each day and the wisdom of placing faith in divine providence. On that note, I share a list of some of the things for which our community is grateful: • We have been able to be together in school in person every day. • Now that we have been in school consistently, we have been able to embrace more fully the teaching and

learning opportunities provided by the Fitzmaurice Hall renovations and our new Makerspace innovation lab. Our athletic teams and performing arts programs have experienced full seasons of practice, play and performance. We discovered new ways to enjoy the outdoor areas on our campus, including concerts, “painting” with sidewalk chalk and enjoying newly planted gardens. The flowers on our campus bloomed gloriously and continuously through November. We have been strengthened and inspired by the energy of our new community members, including the Freshmen in the Class of 2025, our transfer students and our new faculty and staff. Those who have battled illness in their family or have lost loved ones have been comforted and strengthened by the prayers and support of our community.

• Our health care workers continue to heroically battle the pandemic and care for the sick and dying. • A vaccine capable of limiting many of the dangerous effects of COVID-19 is now widely available in the United States. • After twenty years, our nation is no longer at war overseas. • We have grown to appreciate more fully the simple blessings of the presence of family, friends, neighbors and colleagues. The Academy’s mission to foster the development of women of unifying love in the tradition of the Congregation of St. Joseph continues to be vital, necessary and inspiring. The prayers of the Congregation of St. Joseph, our alumnae and friends have brought us the comfort and safety we needed to keep going each day.

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Learning Life Skills in Carpentry Project

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n October, a group of eight students completed the construction of six shop tables with the help and instruction of union carpenter and Cleveland Building Trades Tradeswomen member, Darlene Glass. The Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council Tradeswomen Committee is a group dedicated to helping diversify the building trades. Comprised of all female apprentices and journeymen, the women meet to provide an uplifting and empowering atmosphere. They are involved in volunteer activities to help organizations who support women and children in the greater Cleveland community. “Through this project, I was impressed with how incredibly bright students were to calculate correctly when measuring and cutting the proper lengths and widths for each table. My generation grew up not knowing that women could pursue the trades. My goal is to help women be more self-sufficient, save money when taking on a home project, be confident and have a sense of accomplishment in their work,” shared Ms. Glass. The students learned to read construction plans, to measure properly and accurately, to use tools comfortably and confidently and to safely cut and assemble lumber with the ultimate goal of building tables. The finished tables are in the ceramics classroom next to the Howley Makerspace Innovation Lab and will support the needs of visual arts classes for many years. “From this unique experience, I learned that while the physical requirements of construction are important, there is so much attention to detail and design skill needed that also contributes to completing a project. This project helped me to learn how to collaborate

L-R: Visual Arts Department Chair and teacher Mrs. Tammy Sparks, students who participated in the table build and Darlene Glass showcase the finished product of the ceramics table

with others, constantly communicating with my team members in order to make sure everyone was on the same page and that the project was coming along perfectly. Learning how to work well as a team every step of the way is such a great skill to have, no matter who you are or what you are doing, everyone's various strengths will contribute to an even stronger finished product,” stated Jillian Wilde ’22. “Being able to measure properly and think about the aesthetics of the work is something that women can all learn to do and has no connection to strength. There are so many challenges that women face in this field, including the general stigma that women are not strong enough to work in

construction. The work that you do proves your skill, not your gender. The pay difference between genders has been removed within the Union Trades and yet women still must work harder in order to prove themselves and show that they are just as skilled at trades jobs as men. This experience also helped me to gain confidence to take on more physical projects using tools and materials that I may not have even approached before. It gave me a sense of security that I will be able to maintain a home without panicking any time something breaks because now I can fix it myself. I am not sure how often I will be building tables, but this project was so exciting that I intend to use what I have learned to make smaller pieces just for fun,” shared Jillian Wilde.

Clue: On Stage Brings Board Game to Life

The cast of Clue: On Stage

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Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

It’s a dark and stormy night, and you’ve been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well . . . dead. So whodunnit? In the Academy’s fall play, Clue: On Stage, the iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock and Mustard raced to find the murderer in Boddy Manor. Based on the cult classic film and the popular board

game, Clue is a madcap comedy that will keep you guessing until the final twist. The cast starred Amaya Moore ’24, Tegan Webb ’25 (granddaughter of Kathleen Seeholzer Webb ’64 and Kathleen Mercer Walsh ’66), Bella Congelio ’22, Keira Scott ’24, Sophie O’Leary ’23, Anisia Ramos ’22, Ronnie Conroy ’22, Alaysia Martin ’22, Nina Harris ’25, Emma Welch ’23 (daughter of Mary Babington Welch ’86),


Cultivating a Growth Mindset through Professional Development

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t takes roughly 50 hours of targeted professional development time for a teacher to implement change in the classroom, according to researcher V.W. French. It takes a minimum of 20 separate instances of practice for a teacher to adopt a new skill for the classroom, according to educational researchers Bruce Joyce and Beverly Showers. By aligning our teaching with the “Characteristics of a Saint Joseph Academy Graduate,” students are provided with a solid foundation in a variety of subjects while giving them the opportunity to delve deeper into their interests. One key quality highlighted by this important work is emerging wisdom, which states: “Enlightened by intellectual curiosity, discernment and openness, she thinks critically, reflects regularly, broadens her perspectives and embraces the challenges of new ideas.” Emerging wisdom aligns with professional development. Throughout the year, faculty dedicate time for professional learning as a group. Recently, they spent time investigating the concept of growth mindset. To help the faculty expand their knowledge of the growth mindset, Yale University educated clinical psychologist and New York Times’ bestselling author Dr. Lisa Damour was the keynote speaker at their professional development day on International Day of the Girl. Dr. Damour’s presentation, “Teachable Moments or Missed Opportunities: Shaping Ordinary Classroom Interactions to Build Growth Mindset,” shared ways to cultivate and nurture the development of growth mindsets in our students. She shared examples of fixed mindset thinkers (those who feel that they are born with all of the skills they will ever have;

students who assume that their skills must be lacking and quickly give up), and the growth mindset thinkers (those who believe that, with effort, they can expand their abilities; growth mindset views academic challenges as welcome opportunities to build on emerging skills; they embrace mistakes as constructive criticism in areas they need to improve). “When it comes to education, those students with a fixed mindset believe that they prove their intelligence and worth by having perfect work, while students with a growth mindset associate brilliance with knowing how to take on a challenge. Students with a fixed mindset feel embarrassed when they make a mistake or come up against talented peers, but students with a growth mindset are driven by failure and inspired by accomplished classmates. Students with a fixed mindset experience feedback as threatening because they fear it will provide bad news about what they believe to be immutable traits; those with a growth mindset welcome feedback as they trust it will help them know how they should focus their efforts,” stated Dr. Damour. Growth mindsets make students more open to new information, making them more open to learning in the future. When a student feels like they can achieve anything through hard work, they’ll be more receptive to digging into their course material. In sum, the research suggests that students with growth mindsets are willing to put in effort even when they struggle or fail, staying focused on what they can learn. These behaviors result in better performance over time. The entire Math Department recently participated in an online class through Stanford University about growth mindset

in mathematics during the pandemic. “The course focused on the negative attitudes and defeated position so many students have with regards to math (i.e. ‘I was never good at math, I am not a math person etc.’) Growth mindset rejects ‘I’m not good at math’ in favor of ‘I haven’t mastered that kind of equation yet.’ In order to create a culture of belonging by utilizing the growth mindset, the math department is using various ‘number talks,’ which help students see there is more than one strategy to solve problems. These new approaches in the classroom create a safer environment for all students to take risks and feel more comfortable in front of their peers. We are embracing mistakes as a time for us to learn better and an opportunity to grow intellectually,” stated Math Department Chair and teacher Mrs. Suzanne Smiley-Rozic. Teachers nurture students’ academic growth through minute daily interactions. Having a growth mindset helps students understand they are armed with the ability to interpret their world, to question its leaders and to engage intelligently as global compassionate leaders.

Charlie Thompson '24 and Emily Pavlick ’24. Production included Drama Director Mrs. Anne Ising, Technical Director Angela Detrick ’98, Kate Valentino O’Dell ’08, Student Director Nora Kazy ’22 (sister of Mackenzie Kazy ’18), Stage Manager Faith Kmiecik ’23 (granddaughter of Elizabeth Schmitz Kmieck ’47†, sister of Grace Kmiecik '21), Asst. Stage Managers Vanessa Martin '22 and Madelyn Sollazzo ’22. Stage and Costume was made possible by Alexia Braseman ’25 (granddaughter

of Susan McNeeley ’85 and daughter of Rachel McNeeley ’05), Chloe Britton ’25 (granddaughter of Bernadette Daly McCrone ’64), Reagan Casper ’23 (sister of Lucy Casper ’18), Caroline Favetti ’25 (granddaughter of H. Celeste West Hughes ’46†), Emily Frindt ’22 (granddaughter of Patricia Bringman Frindt ’65†), Lili Fuehrer ’22, Elina Glaros ’25, Elizabeth Jodon ’25, Lily Kowalski ’25, Morgan Leary ’22, Mary Lepore ’22, Natalie Maraldo ’25, Vanessa Martin ’22 (sister of Veronica

Martin ’16), Julia McCafferty ’24, Delia Mulloy ’25, Maggie Natt ’22, Abigail Neate ’24, Camden Nolan ’23, Megan O’Brien ’24, Julia Olle ’23 (sister of Jessica Olle Francis ’12), Emily Ostrom ’25 (daughter of Jamie McPherson Ostrom ’95), Madeline Roback ’23, Gianna Russo ’25, Zoe Schmidt ’24 (daughter of Andrea Isabella Schmidt ’84), Rebecca Singh ’22, Sienna Stephens ’25, Madelyn Sollazzo ’22, Melania Tymosch ’23 (sister of Olenka Tymosch ’16) and Gemma Walton ’25.

Dr. Lisa Damour

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Welcome, Class of 2025!

n August, the Class of 2025 — 176 students — joined the Saint Joseph Academy community. Each member of the Freshman class (and 16 transfer students) received a yellow rose to signify the beginning of their Saint Joseph Academy journey. These young women were welcomed by President Mrs. Kathryn Purcell and Principal Mr. Jeff Sutliff in an outdoor prayer service and rose ceremony. The entire Academy community lined the walkway

to cheer on the new students as they made their way towards the Academy building’s front steps. Some fun facts about the Class of 2025: They attended 52 different middle schools; students live in 37 zip codes; 22 students speak a second language at home: Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Greek, Hindi, Korean, Romanian, Servian, Slovak, Spanish, Tagalog and Ukrainian; and Grace is the most common first name.

The Class of 2025 with class moderators Mrs. Taylor Lagzdins and Mrs. Lisa Gregorski

Below are the Class of 2025’s mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother legacy connections: Madison Bammerlin (daughter of Theresa Fenn Bammerlin ’99), Paige Bammerlin (daughter of Theresa Fenn Bammerlin ’99), Zoe Barnhart (daughter of Sarah Barnhart ’95 and granddaughter of Susan Haas Shobe ’71), Ruth Becker (granddaughter of Sheila Allen Becker ’54), Alexia Braseman (daughter of Rachel McNeeley ’05 and granddaughter of Susan McNeeley ’85), Chloe Britton (granddaughter of Bernadette Daly McCrone ’64), Nica Burrell (granddaughter of Christine Ziehm Burrell ’68), Abigail Crane (granddaughter of Marianne Humenik Allen N’70), Annemarie Dorsey (granddaughter of Christine Lynch Dorsey ’66), Megan Farrell (granddaughter of Jane Cannon Walsh ’57†), Caroline Favetti (granddaughter of H. Celeste West Hughes ’46†), Mia Granzier (granddaughter of Margaret Cox Granzier ’54 and Bonnie Bodis Manco ’64), Lucy Hanna (daughter of Tobey Douglas Hanna ’94, and granddaughter of Kathleen Flannery Hanna ’58†), Shannon Hough (granddaughter of Margaret McNeeley Harkness ’60), Lola Hyland (granddaughter of Nancy Schaffran Nimrichter N’70), Jerzy Janison (daughter of Cheryl Bauer Janison ’98), Francesca Jelovich (daughter of Angela Jelovich ’94), Sonia Juran (daughter of Anita Kinscher Juran ’90), Sofia Kappler (great-granddaughter of Isabel Joseph Thomas ’40†), Grace Keane (granddaughter of Sharon Barry Keane ’59†), Maeve Kelley (great-granddaughter of Loretta Arth Cleary 6

Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

’40†), Emma Kelly (granddaughter of Patricia Price Glass ’62†), Megan Kelsch (granddaughter of Margaret Lawler Kelsch ’70), Lauren Kevany (granddaughter of Katherine Mazanec Kevany ’73†), Grace Kilbane (granddaughter of Hon. Sally Conway Kilbane ’60), Abigail Konjura (granddaughter of Alice Gerba Haught ’63), Ruby Kormos (daughter of Wendy Walland ’88), Nora Maloney (daughter of Mary McNeely Maloney ’84), Rose McGreal (granddaughter of Betty Jane Hannon McGreal ’57), Reese Meredith (granddaughter of Diane Stadnick Dzurec ’70), Emily Ostrom (daughter of Jamie McPherson Ostrom ’95), Riley Popovich (daughter of Deanna Zalac Popovich ’89), Lily Redmon (daughter of Tara Gallagher Redmon ’93 and granddaughter of Therese Burke Gallagher ’68), Emily Runyon (daughter of Nancy Tahan ’95 and granddaughter of Seham Ibraham Dawson ’71), Riley Schneider (daughter of Sara Volle ’01, granddaughter of Patricia Gedeon Volle ’73 and great-granddaughter of Patricia Wissing Volle ’51), Isabel Silva (great-granddaughter of Helen Hennessey 1926†), Mary Tompkins (daughter of Kate Corrigan Tompkins ’87), Vannessa Walker (granddaughter of Maureen Burke ’62), Sarah Weaver (granddaughter of Margaret Lynch Kahl ’58), Tegan Webb (granddaughter of Kathleen Seeholzer Webb ’64 and Kathleen Mercer Walsh ’66, great-granddaughter of Mildred Ursem Seeholzer ’32†), Anna Welch (daughter of Mary Babington Welch ’86) and Addison Yarian (daughter of Kristine Soltis Yarian ’94).


Retreats Return in Full Force Members of the Class of 2022 during the Towpath Retreat

“Come away to a secluded place by yourselves and rest awhile.” Mark 6:31. After a year of hybrid and online learning, the CORE Ministry Department is thrilled to be able to offer students a wide variety of faith experiences, including off-campus retreats. In a typical school year, students participate in retreats with their classmates, faculty and staff. Each retreat is different but all have the common goal of strengthening community and faith within the student body. “We are committed to following COVID-19 health and safety protocol

during our retreats. This includes wearing masks, using portable air filters and structuring retreats to allow for plenty of time outside,” stated CORE Ministry Department Chair and teacher Alison Barberic ’01. Through sustained and intentional retreat experiences over the course of four years, the CORE Ministry Department creates time and space for student exploration into who God is and how God speaks to us. The retreat program is designed to accompany each student as

she journeys more deeply into relationship with God and with her classmates. Through a diverse set of retreat opportunities throughout their four years, the CORE Ministry Department prays that each student will encounter God in ways never expected. Some of these retreats include the Freshman and Sophomore Retreats (oncampus) and include off-campus/overnight options for the Junior and Senior classes: Towpath Retreat, Kairos, Urban Plunge, Nature Retreat, Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice and more. “Retreats are valuable opportunities to further our students’ development as women of unifying love. They build community among those in attendance and they deepen the participant’s relationship with God. Reinstating a full retreat program provides students with the opportunity to step outside of their normal school routine, even if just for a few hours, to listen to God speaking to their hearts. We are so grateful to be providing a full retreat schedule this year,” voiced Ms. Barberic.

Impact of COVID-19 and Mental Health:

How Saint Joseph Academy Expands Support Services for Students Navigating high school can be difficult for both the teenager and her parents/ guardians. For students to succeed, they need a variety of different support systems to be academically prepared and socially and emotionally competent. Saint Joseph Academy is committed to providing these supports to students to help them develop skills and habits needed for future successes. The ongoing stress, fear, grief and uncertainty created by COVID-19 pandemic has weighed heavily on teenagers. Over the past year and a half, the disruption of school and interactions with their classmates has left teens with stress, anxiety and other mental health challenges. At the same time, research annually reveals more about how social and emotional well-being and skills, including empathy, are critical to both personal development and to achieving academic excellence. Students must feel grounded and secure to be ready to learn, and they need skills and support to do so. The goal is to make students feel confident in these skills while managing the natural disruptions of teenage growth and change, challenges in their personal lives, and increasing levels of stress and anxiety.

To encourage students to learn how to safely manage their mental health, Saint Joseph Academy expanded its resources with school-based support from the McKeon Education Group. This group complements the school psychologist, school nurse, Student Support Services department, college and school counselors. These individuals support students in a variety of topics, including social/emotional support, language arts support, an executive function counselor and a social worker. Comprehensive and coordinated support opportunities like this partnership are vitally important for the social, emotional and character development of students and the development of learning climates that are conducive to student achievement. “We are working with all grade

levels in regards to their mental health. The students are all processing a way to return to normal or pre-pandemic life and all the uncertainties that come with it,” stated McKeon Education Group Counseling Social/Emotional Support Jenny Spiker. This type of support from the McKeon Education Group fosters positive relationships among educators and students, thereby increasing students’ engagement in school. It also serves as an essential link between students, their families, school resources, and community-based health and social services. These services support students and their families by addressing underlying issues, such as academic, behavioral and mental health issues that contribute to challenges and are barriers to student success. The earlier these services are provided, the better the results are for students, in turn, creating a positive school culture. While there have been many challenges in regards to COVID-19, Saint Joseph Academy is hopeful that students are able to reflect on the pandemic and realize that this time has built resilience and strength within them to help them navigate uncertain and stressful circumstances in the future. Saint Joseph Academy WINTER 2021

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Fall Sports Player Qualifies for Second Consecutive State Tournament The tennis team played one of the most challenging schedules in the state in 2021 as the Jaguars competed against 10 of the top 13 Division I schools and four of the top eight Division II schools in Ohio throughout the season. The team was competitive against strong opponents with eight matches ending in 3-2 scores. The Jaguars also took part in the Olentangy Orange Invitational and the Lexington Invitational, which featured the state’s top opponents. Leading the way for the Jaguars was Amara Brahmbhatt ’24 who qualified for her second consecutive State tournament. She picked up the first State tournament singles victory in school history with a 6-2, 6-1 victory. Her season came to an end with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 quarterfinal loss to the eventual State champion. Amara finished the season with a 25-3 record while playing nearly

every top player in the state. Her highlight wins included victories over the Division I State runner-up and the Division II State champion and runner-up during the season. Tyler Schuerlein ’23 moved up to the second singles position, earning her third Varsity letter and picking up nine victories on the season. Makena Guzzi ’22 was the team’s most improved player as she moved up the lineup and made significant contributions in both singles and doubles. Margot Rechin ’23 (daughter of Helen Koustis Rechin ’87, sister of Sophia ’17 and Elizabeth Rechin ’19) stepped into a Varsity position for the Jaguars and had one of the most exciting wins of the season at Sectionals in doubles. Mary Lepore ’22 and Shannon Gardner ’22 (granddaughter of Betty Ann Distefan Fergus ’47† and Patriciann McNulty Gardner ’52,

daughter of Laureen Fergus Gardner ’88) concluded excellent Jaguar careers, while Geneva Uhlenbrock ’24 (daughter of Denise Toth Uhlenbrock ’88), Ava Fairbairn ’24 and Mya Antonetti ’24 gained important Varsity experience and will play big roles in the future.

Amara Brahmbhatt ’24

Cross Country Finishes Season at Regionals This fall, the cross country team enjoyed a large roster and successful running. This fall also saw five new assistant coaches (2013 Athletic Hall of Fame honoree Sarah Welch ’03, 2017 Athletic Hall of Fame honorees Caitlin Smith ’05 and Alex Miles Stiffler ’06, Jessica Sirchen ’12 and “25 Under 35” honoree Gabriella Kreuz ’10). Many new runners from all grade levels joined the program, as well as the return of some very experienced veterans. In the end, it all combined to make a memorable season. As confidence was building, the team traveled to the fast-paced Wooster

Ali Blouch ’23

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Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

Invitational where they finished third, beat some State-ranked teams and had outstanding times. To round out the first half of the season, the team split up between the Boardman Invitational for the Varsity and the McDonough Invitational for the JV. The Boardman Invitational proved to be a tough go, with slow footing and some tough finishes for the Jaguars. McDonough provided its usual fun with the hill, but the team ran well. To start the second half of the season, the JV squad ran at Black River, where they still managed to finish in second place overall competing against other schools' Varsity squads. After that, an early morning trip to Toledo to race at the Oregon Clay Invitational was on tap. The Varsity team dominated the race from start to finish; momentum was building again. The following weekend, the Jaguars split the squad again, with the top seven going to the Portage Invitational in Michigan and the rest of the team heading to Medina. At

the Portage Invitational, the results were mixed, but Grace Rowell ’24 came back strong to run 20 minutes flat in Michigan. At Medina, the JV found themselves in a massively fast race and Keira Leneghan ’24 rose to the occasion to earn herself a future Varsity spot. The post-season started off great. The Jaguars surprised some teams and earned third place at the Madison District, which qualified them to the next level. Ali Blouch ’23 (sister of Katelyn Blouch ’21) led the team and ran a 19:03 at the meet, which moved her up to the number six spot on the all-time Saint Joseph Academy list. Unfortunately, the season came to an end the following weekend when the team battled, but found themselves out of qualifying for the State finals. The Class of 2022 will be greatly missed for all their fun, leadership and effort as we move toward the future. They leave behind a strong team that will undoubtedly carry on their tradition of greatness for years to come.


Golf Advances to District for First Time in Nine Years The 2021 Jaguar golf season was expected to be a year of growth and development, but the golf team had other ideas. During the summer months, they worked on their games, came ready to play and improve each week. It turned into a season of growth, development and success. The Junior Varsity (JV) team brought youth and experience together. Allison Smith ’22 and Lili Fuehrer ’22 brought the maturity of their experience to the team. Ava Maloof ’23 (granddaughter of Florence Cregan Schwind ’56 and daughter of Laura Schwind Maloof ’90) and Mia Hazard ’23 proved it is never too late to try out for a new sport. They worked hard and contributed as both golfers and leaders of the JV team. Hannah Caruso ’23 and Devon Maxwell ’23 returned as Varsity players. Their experience and talent would help lead the team. Devon’s Sectional score from last season to this season dropped by 24 strokes, earning her the Most Improved Golfer for the season. Gianna Reginelli ’25 was named the Most Valuable Player this season, as she consistently posted the best Jaguar score in each match. The dedication and athletic

ability of Caroline Neitzel ’24 (sister of Colleen ’18 and Molly Neitzel ’19) earned her a spot on the Varsity team. The Varsity team improved with every match, finishing with four straight wins over their opponents. On a rainy, windy day at Springvale, all five Varsity golfers played their best at Sectionals, which helped them advance to Districts. The last Jaguar golf team to advance to Districts was in 2012. The season of growth and development turned into a season of great success that will carry into next year.

L-R: Varsity golf team members Margaret Dalton ’23, Caroline Neitzel ’24, Hannah Caruso ’23, Gianna Reginelli ’25 and Devon Maxwell ’23 as they advance to the District tournament

Volleyball Captures District Title Again! Once again, the Varsity volleyball program was established as one of the top teams in Ohio being seeded #1 in the OHSAA District Tournament. The Jaguars won their District and advanced to the Regional tournament after defeating Lorain, North Royalton and Avon Lake High Schools 3-0. The Varsity volleyball team ended their season 16-8, falling to Amherst High School in the Regional final. Other season highlights include winning the Columbus Invitational Tournament, with three quality wins over state ranked Olentangy Orange, Olentangy Liberty and Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati.) The program is graduating four players, two of whom will continue their academic and athletic careers at the Division I level (Kirsten Barrett ’22, Georgia Southern University and Cadence Shea ’22, University of North Carolina). Overall, the Jaguars are ranked #111 in the nation and #8 in the state of Ohio, according to MaxPreps.

Soccer Finishes Challenging Season 2021 was a season of changes for the soccer team, as bringing in a new staff always causes a bit of uncertainty as everyone gets acclimated. The team began preseason and quickly showed signs that they were adapting well to the culture change and the new style of play. The start of the season looked bright but unfortunately there were some injuries that Grace Nussle ’22 changed the outlook a bit. This meant that some of the younger players needed to step in and take on larger roles in the lineup. Some of the younger returning players stepped up, finding roles in the starting lineup and others found ways to significantly impact the team’s performance. The season is best summed up by the growth shown on the pitch, even after a string of losses that would have folded many teams. The team kept their chins up and attacked each match with equal importance. Stand-out plays were made by almost everyone but match after match, someone would step up and display an inspiring moment that fueled the team to keep playing. That was evident as the team was able to reach the District semifinals for only the second time in recent history. Regardless of the team’s season record, the outstanding Senior leadership encouraged, loved, pushed and at times, carried the team on their backs. The Class of 2022 left a lasting impression on the upcoming players and inspired them to always push to be people of high character as that character will be tested in both good times and bad. Best wishes to Dareen Wahdan ’22, Maggie Maline ’22, Gracie Dzurko ’22, Jordan Kohut ’22 and Captains Ella Maher ’22, Grace Nussle ’22 and Olivia Irvin ’22 as they take on the next chapter of their lives.

The Varsity volleyball team after winning the District title

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Grand Reunion Doubled the Fun! A

fter more than a year of planning and postponing, we were thrilled to welcome more than 500 alumnae back home for Grand Reunion weekend. This year, the fun was doubled as graduates with years ending in 0, 1, as well as 5 and 6 attended a reunion reception. The Classes of 1970 and 1971 were also honored with a champagne reception for their 50th Reunion celebrations. These women traveled far and near from more than 19 states to join their classmates to renew bonds of friendship and share fond memories of their dear alma mater. Thank you to everyone who served as a class representative and social media ambassador to help us spread the word about the Grand Reunion. New this year, all alumnae were invited to celebrate Mass and Family Fun Day with their families and friends on Sunday. The Class of 1971 not only celebrated their 50-year reunion, they were also recognized for having the highest participation in the Grand Reunion Class Challenge with 35% participation. A special thank you to the Class of 1971. We are grateful to all alumnae who generously made gifts which resulted in a record-breaking campaign of more than $42,000 to support our students, faculty and staff.

Class of 1971

Class of 1951 Class of 1970

Class of 1956 10

Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

Class of 1960

Class of 1961


Class of 1975 Class of 1965

Class of 1966

Class of 1985 Class of 1976

Class of 1980

Class of 1981

Class of 1986

Class of 2000

Classes of 1995 and 1996

Class of 2006

Class of 2001

Class of 2011

Class of 2010

Class of 2015

Class of 1990

Class of 2016

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ADVANCEMENT

Howley Foundation Invests $500,000 in the Future of the Academy

S

aint Joseph Academy is the proud recipient of a $500,000 grant from The Howley Foundation. This generous gift will allow us to advance our With Lifted Hearts capital campaign and give our students and faculty the facilities they need, creating a campus where ingenuity, artistry and spirituality can truly flourish. “Our vision for Saint Joseph Academy in the 21st century is rooted in what has always defined and distinguished us as a school: we will support innovation and academic excellence in a community where faith thrives. We are extremely humbled and inspired by the leadership of The Howley Foundation and their generous support of our young women,” shared President Kathryn Purcell. Our campus plan is resourceful, respectful and thoughtful – supporting each and every student while ensuring the flexibility to support future needs. This campaign is in response to a time of need – a time that demands compassionate female leaders who can create, innovate and transform our world for the better. Students

using The Howley Makerspace Innovation Lab will further their growth mindset and engage in design thinking while using the equipment on projects and through individual explorations. Like Saint Joseph Academy, the leadership of The Howley Foundation stands firm in its commitment to the education of young women from diverse backgrounds so students have every opportunity to experience their highest level of personal achievement. Saint Joseph Academy’s relationship with The Howley Foundation began with their support of one student in 2005. Since that time, The Howley Scholars Program has grown considerably and Saint Joseph Academy has been entrusted with the education of 110 Scholars. In 2012, the Academy building was gifted The Howley Terrace and Scholars’ Porch. The Howley Foundation supports high-quality private schools in Cleveland, Philadelphia and other select locations that emphasize support for strong character formation in students. It was founded more than 20 years ago by Nick Howley

The Howley Makerspace Innovation Lab

and his wife, Lorie. Nick is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Transdigm, an international New York Stock Exchange aerospace company. Lorie is a former member of the Academy’s Board of Directors and the 2013 recipient of the Medaille Shield, Saint Joseph Academy’s highest award presented to someone who is not a graduate in honor of their outstanding service to the Academy. To learn more about the With Lifted Hearts campaign and to schedule a tour, please contact Vice President of Institutional Advancement Connie Sipple at 216.671.0166 or csipple@sja1890.org.

Thank You for Supporting the 27th Annual Golf Classic

Golfers and Saint Joseph Academy supporters enjoyed a beautiful, crisp fall day on the Legacy Course at Sweetbriar Golf Club at our 27th Annual Golf Classic. More than 100 golfers and our generous sponsors came together, helping raise nearly $28,000 to support the Academy’s Scholarship Fund! Below is a list of sponsors who helped make this day such a success. Event Sponsor: EnnisCourt Gold Sponsors: Scott, Jackie and Olivia Arbogast Julia and Dan Mayer 1890 Sponsors: Atwood Industries, Inc. TorrMetal, LLC Jaguar Sponsors: Avalon Foodservice Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union Saint Ignatius High School Schoolbelles

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Purple Sponsors: Lake Point Medical Group Mansour Gavin LPA Premier ProduceOne Regency Construction Services Beverage Sponsors: Benedictine High School Drs. Robert, Christopher & Jill Harter Hughie’s Event Production Services Litzler Automation Minotti’s Wine & Liquor Fairview Park SP Mount Printing Wiemels-Hiros Plumbing Co.

Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

Hole Sponsors: 1-888-OhioComp A Taste of Excellence Berry-McGreevey Funeral Home Maryann Boyer, CPA Ellen F. Casper & Associates/ Libby Khuri Chambers Funeral Homes CLE Film Factory Ret. Hon. Colleen Conway Cooney & John G. Cooney Donald Bohning & Associates The Draves Family Barbara Durkin ’53 in memory of Beth Durkin ’78 Mary Lou Durkin ’54 and Family

Italian Creations JP Recovery Services Linda Kane ’75 Courtney Koz & The Lindsay Team, Keller Williams Lakeside Supply Company Maloney+Novotny, LLC McGraw & McGraw, LPA Mike Mural Building Contractors Norris Brothers Company, Inc. One Digital Casey O’Conor, DDS Orthowest Ltd. Dr. Mark Lembach and Mrs. Shannon VanDenHaute Lembach ’01

Jimmy Clark, Mary Lynn McAuliffe, Linda Brogan and Maureen Fallon Adler ’79, P’06, ’08 & ’10 Personal Leasing Transportation Co. Daria Roebuck ’75 Stripmatic Products Villa Beach Communications, Inc. West Park Dental Wiemels-Hiros Plumbing Co.


Your Support Changes Lives

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or many young women, a quality high school education is something they can only dream of. The Saint Joseph Academy Annual Fund provides tuition assistance for 75% of our 685 students, making a quality Catholic education and thriving within a community of belonging possible. In this season of giving, it is our sincere hope that you will consider making a gift to the Annual Fund in support of the young women of Saint Joseph Academy. Your continued support is vital to our mission to empower each young woman to achieve academic excellence, and to be inspired to live a life of compassionate leadership in a global society. Gifts to the Annual Fund are the most direct investments that touch each and every student every day and help to fund the

financial gap between tuition and the actual cost of one year of a Saint Joseph Academy education. Every gift has an impact on our students. To make your gift today, go to www.sja1890.org/donate or use the enclosed envelope. You are truly changing our students' lives!

Your Most Important Gift From the homes we live in to the loved ones that surround us this Christmas season, God has given us so many blessings. As a gift to you, we are offering the Saint Joseph Academy community a trusted tool to show our gratitude this year: a secure online resource for creating your legal will for free and stewarding your generosity forward. Everyone needs a will but many may not know where to begin. This trusted source is intended to help you cross this important item off your estate planning list and support your loved ones — just as you’ve supported Saint Joseph Academy! To get started on creating your online will or to gather your thoughts before reviewing with your legal advisor, visit www.freewill.com/sja1890.

Contact Us

To explore the many ways you can make a lasting impact on Saint Joseph Academy, please contact a member of our Institutional Advancement Department for a confidential conversation:

Constance Sipple, CFRE Vice President of Institutional Advancement 216.671.0166 csipple@sja1890.org

Melissa Murphy Development Director 216.251.6788 x232 mmurphy@sja1890.org

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Memoriam Katherine Lockwood Allen ’51 on the death of her sister-in-law, Margaret Allen Gerard ’51.

Nancy Maher Sponsler ’57 on the death of her sister, Sherry Maher Guzik ’65.

Mary Baach Hartnett ’51 and Carolyn Baach Chaltos N’69 on the death of their sister, Dorothy Baach Wiencek ’59.

Shirley Kerrigan Libbey ’59 and Ruth Kerrigan Keefe ’61 on the death of their brother, and Sandra Keegan Kerrigan ’65 on the death of her husband, James Kerrigan.

Rita Mackert, CSJ ’52 and Janet Mackert Ravotti ’54 on the death of their brother, Mark Mackert. Eleanore Reinhart Jimenez ’53 on the death of her sister and Christine Denk Belcher ’71, Beth Denk ’74, Laura Denk Doyle ’76, Diane Denk Mastronicolas ’79, Sharon Denk Slader ’83 and Annmarie Denk Trickett ’84 on the death of their mother, Hilda Reinhart Denk ’51. Arlene Kauffman Wedding ’53, Nancy Kauffman Nye ’58, Carol Kauffman Steiner ’65 and Mary Kauffman Steiner ’65 on the death of their sister, Margaret Kauffman Joyce ’48. Margaret Cox Granzier ’54 on the death of her sister, Irene Cox Corrigan ’45. Jeanne Hejra Botson ’55 on the death of her husband, Emro Botson. Marcia Laut McBeth ’55 on the death of her sister, Carole Laut Meyers ’51. Kay Schill Libby ’56 on the death of her husband, Richard Libby. Rose McNamara Smith ’56 and Joan McNamara Debarr ’58 on the death of their sister, and Mary Jean Phalen Pendleton ’75 and Joan Phalen Hayes ’77 on the death of their mother, Maureen McNamara Phalen ’51. Elizabeth Vorndran Terepka ’56 on the death of her husband, Francis Terepka.

Aileen Reirdon Palmer ’60 on the death of her sister, Shirley Rierdon Blau ’51. Patricia Nylen Roff N’60 on the death of her husband, Richard Roff. Kathleen Rooney Wiemels ’60, Therese Rooney Norris ’62, Shelia Rooney Lang ’65 and Margaret Rooney Brown ’67 on the death of their sister, Alice Rooney, CSJ ’51. Mary Jane Kikta Salis N’62 on the death of her brother, Raymond Kikta. Jane Maher Hayes N’63 on the death of her husband, George Hayes. Susan Fulton Siliko ’63 on the death of her husband, Dale Siliko. Elizabeth Polito Grosser ’65, Kathleen Polito Wirtz ’66, Ann Polito Sexton ’68, Rose Polito Lewis ’72 and Margaret Polito Butchko ’76 on the death of their brother, and Jennifer Polito ’14 on the death of her father, Anthony Polito. Kathleen Hoch Schmitz N’65, Mary Hoch Vrnak N’69 and Patricia Hoch Karwoski N’74 on the death of their brother, Thomas Hoch. Diane Whitaker Dersi ’66 on the death of her brother, Ralph Whitaker.

Mary Cain Cameron ’57 on the death of her mother, Vienna Cain.

Christine Lynch Dorsey ’66 on the death of her husband and Christine Dorsey ’92 and Eileen Dorsey ’01 on the death of their father, Joseph Dorsey.

Janet Hostal Klenotic ’57 on the death of her mother, Florence Hostal.

Mary Anne Gardner ’66 on the death of her husband, William Roger Bates.

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Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

Linda Doller Gabor N’66 on the death of her husband, Dale Gabor. Kathleen Rosewicz Martosko N’66 on the death of her sister, Ann Rosewicz Schmidt N’70. Kathleen Witkowski McKillip N’66 and Elizabeth Witkowski Good N’73 on the death of their sister, Marlene Witkowski Staley N’66. Lin Sinclair N’66 on the death of her sister, Janice Sinclair N’62. Theresa Ludwig Pfaff ’68 and Marie Ludwig Blum ’74 on the death of their mother, Katharina Ludwig. Joyce Reeves Roman N’68 on the death of her brother, Joseph Edward Reeves. Margaret Cole N’69 and Therese Cole Byrum N’70 on the death of their brother, Joseph Cole. Ellen Holden Egan ’69 on the death of her brother, Frederick Holden. Mary Szumski Keen N’69 on the death of her mother, Betty Szumski. Margaret Lynch ’70 and Kathleen Lynch ’71 on the death of their mother, Margaret Lynch. Linda Decker McKay N’70 on the death of her sister, Marlene Decker Broseman. Rosemary Boone Welsh ’70 on the death of her husband, William Welsh. Anne Watrus Gorski ’71 on the death of her sister and Molly O’Shea Lieb ’99 on the death of her mother, Mary Ellen Watrus O’Shea ’61. Christine Madigan McManamon ’71 on the death of her mother, Betty Madigan. Susan Edwards Wenz N’71 on the death of her husband, Larry Wenz. Barbara Schaefer Greenwood ’72 on the death of her husband, Gregory Greenwood.

Mary Alice Stern ’72 and Kathleen Stern VanNiel ’80 on the death of their mother, Alice Stern. Rose Ann Vasicek Stone N’72 and Donna Vasicek Grosel N’74, on the death of their mother, Clara Vasicek. Catherine Foos Tasi N’72, Eilisa Foos Bender N’75, Karen Foos Testa N’78 and Stephanie Foos Bedigo N’79 on the death of their father, Raymond Foos. Geni Guseila N’73 and Liz Guseila-Rizo N’74 on the death of their mother, Eva Guseila. Corinne Kusa N’73 on the death of her sister, Mary Kusa Schermerhorn N’68. Mary Ellen Pennock Ryan N’73 on the death of her sister, Kathleen Pennock Gibel. Josette Roushkolb Sibert-Street N’73 on the death of her husband, John Street. Kathleen Brittain N’74 on the death of her mother, Katherine Holland. Mary Bogdan Holahan ’74 on the death of her son, Jared Mark Holahan. Karen Lisowski N’74, Donna Lisowski N’76 and Susan Lisowski Kypriotakis N’78 on the death of their mother, Mary Lisowski. Jean Woods McCormick ’74, Patricia Woods SchillingMatthews ’79, Ellen Rae Woods McCafferty ’80 and Jacqueline Woods Marconi ’82 on the death of their brother, Joseph Woods. Debra Kintz Rich N’74 on the death of her brother, Dan Kintz. Patricia Carlin ’75 on the death of her mother, Kathleen Carlin. Lynette Dailey Carter N’76, Michelle Dailey Morse N’78 and Lorraine Dailey Jones N’80 on the death of their mother, Shirley Dailey.


Eternal rest grant unto them O, Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Karen McDonough ’76 on the death of her brother, Thomas McDonough.

Rita Lasko ’80, Laureen Lasko ’82 and Nancy Lasko ’88 on the death of their mother, Arlene Lasko.

Coleen McDonough McCracken ’89 on the death of their father, Thomas McDonough.

Joan Schwab Gardias ’77 on the death of her mother, Arleen Schwab.

Catherine O’Brien ’80 and Patricia O’Brien Parente ’83 on the death of their sister, Noreen O’Brien Beardmore ’79.

Christine Pofok-Dow ’86 on the death of her father, Raymond Pofok.

Tracie Aerni Chudowsky ’78 on the death of her mother-in-law, Linda Chudowsky. Shelia Gallagher ’78, Erin Gallagher Donahue ’82 and Kathleen Gallagher Koehl ’86 on the death of their sister, Margaret Gallagher ’71. Marianne Galvin Toolis ’78 and Maureen Galvin ’83 on the death of their sister, and Aimee Ogilvie ’99 on the death of her mother, Patricia Galvin Ogilvie ’71. Heidi Schnaterbeck Booth N’79 on the death of her father, Richard Schnaterbeck. Mary Schilling Gallagher ’79 and Margaret Schilling-Young ’80 on the death of their mother, Eleanor Schilling. Josie Daum Kramer ’79 on the death of her brother, Michael Daum. Lisa Lasky ’79 and Laura Lasky ’80 on the death of their mother, Dorothy Kobak Lasky ’53. Karen Matysek N’79 and Debra Matysek N’80 on the death of their father, August Matysek. Colleen Hughes Milne N’79 and Patricia Hughes Krakowiak N’80 on the death of their father, Robert Hughes. Linda Brabbs Strunk P’79 and Margaret Brabbs Shaw ’84 on the death of their mother, Mary Margaret Brabbs. Wendy Hahn Grzelewski ’80 on the death of her husband, John Grzelewski. Rose Fields Kiessling ’80 and Elizabeth Fields Solt ’82 on the death of their father, Raymond Fields.

Mary Jeske Orban ’80 on the death of her husband, John Orban. Kathryn Reinhart-Brown ’80 on the death of her father, Carl Reinhart. Susan Canty Winter ’80 and Carol Canty Aquilia ’82 on the death of their father, John Canty. Laura Ali Younes N’80 on the death of her mother, Marie Theresa Ali. Alison Hadney Yovanno ’80 on the death of her mother, Jean Hadney. Mary Willis Hanna ’81 on the death of her father, Clarke Willis. Renita Kolman-McMillen ’81, Cynthia Kolman ’83, Kandace Kolman Trexler ’84 and Jacquelyn Kolman-Indre ’86 on the death of their brother, Kenneth Kolman. Dawn Klepek Jefferies ’83 on the death of her mother, Elaine Klepek. Mary Beth Lipka ’83 and Julie Lipka ’84 on the death of their father, Michael Lipka. Laura Mahon Ritson ’83 on the death of her mother, Georgeann Mahon. Janice Krupa Rozanski ’83 on the death of her mother, Marilyn Krupa. Ursula Vecchio Rauser ’84 on the death of her mother, Rita Vecchio. Kimberly Hlywiak Lawko ’85 on the death of her father, Mike Hlywiak, and the death of her sister, Patricia Hlywiak. Bridget McDonough Stewart ’85, Julie McDonough Fritz ’86 and

Eileen Luna ’87 on the death of her brother, Dennis Luna. Bonnie Balogh Martens ’87 on the death of her mother, Karen Balogh. Nicole Martowitz Bonham ’89, Monica Martowitz Fazekas ’96 and Deanna Martowitz ’00 on the death of their mother, Esther Martowitz. Amy Borisa Smith ’94 on the death of her mother, Dorothy Borisa. Elizabeth Jarema Sullivan ’98 on the death of her father, Edward Jarema. Holly Acklin Ahlmann ’99 and Jamie Acklin Adams ’02 on the death of their mother, Margaret Acklin. Kristi Dylag Rowe ’00 on the death of her brother, Robert Dylag. Amy Melvin-Marko ’04 on the death of her father, Robert Joseph Melvin. Allison Moroney ’07 on the death of her father, John Moroney. Jane Kosko ’12 on the death of her mother, Nancy McDonnell. Kelsey O’Donnell ’17 on the death of her father, John O’Donnell.

Losses from the Academy’s faculty/staff community Taylor Lintz, on the death of his mother, Joan Elizabeth Hazen, and grandmother Margaret Petrella. Tammy Sparks, on the death of her mother-in-law, Sharon Tabor.

Please remember in your prayers the following deceased alumnae: Eileen O’Malley O’Leary T’41 Catherine Lambert Ronyecz ’43 Irene Cox Corrigan ’45 Margaret Kauffman Joyce ‘48 Joan Kosiba Lewis ’49 Joan Bauerlein Geschke P’50 Mary Alice McNally Ramerman ’50 Shirley Reirdon Blau ’51 Hilda Reinhart Denk ’51 Margaret Allen Gerard ’51 Carole Laut Meyers ’51 Maureen McNamara Phalen ’51 Alice Rooney, CSJ ’51 Eileen M. Gallagher ’53 Dorothy Kobak Lasky ’53 Janet Voneman Barry ’55 Carol Dubray Massucci ’56 Janet Giesler Bonsutto P’57 Dorothy Baach Wiencek ’59 Nora Hunt Marshall ’61 Mary Ellen Watrus O’Shea ’61 Norene Kowicki Tokar N’61 Janice Sinclair N’62 Jane Cellars Bouman ’65 Sherry Maher Guzik P’65 Cynthia Kusak Dienes N’66 Marlene Witkowski Staley N’66 Cathy Glaser Denk N’67 Maureen Brogan ’68 Mary Kusa Schermerhorn N’68 Patricia Olsen Tyers N’68 Daria Demjanczuk Basalyk N’69 Ann Rosewicz Schmidt N’70 Margaret Gallagher ’71 Patricia Galvin Ogilvie ’71 Denise Farragher Teramano ’72 Pamela Kleinhenz Benkert N’73 Sarah Schmidt N’73 Noreen O’Brien Beardmore ’79 Diane Brady Rolfe ’80 Stacy Segul Pearson ’88

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ClassNotes Alumnae

1950s

Nearly 30 members of the Class of 1958 gathered for a “Happy 80th Birthday” party in August on Saint Joseph Academy’s campus. It was a lovely day of reconnecting with friends and classmates. Attendees came from as far as Denver, CO and Grosse Pointe, MI and as close as Cleveland.

1960s Christine Laszcz-Davis N’68 was awarded the American Board of Industrial Hygiene’s Lynn C. O’Donnell Lifetime Achievement Award. This highest honor recognizes exceptional contributions to the practice of occupational and environmental hygiene over a lifetime of work. She was also recognized in December 2017, when California passed Senate Resolution #967 to acknowledge her professional achievements and civic leadership.

2000s Jamie Sanchez-Anderson ’00 was recognized as one of Crain’s Cleveland Business “Forty Under 40” honorees for her work as a Managing Director in Healthcare Operations Transformation at KPMG. Kathryn Rybarczyk ’02 married Michele Bahler on October 2, 2021. Marie Dantio Robinson ’06 became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology) in August 2021.

Kelly O’Donnell Sutton ’84 was recently named to an elite group of honorees, The 2021 Power 60 Solution Providers list. Kelly is Vice President of Service Delivery for Peak UpTime.

1990s Angie Tutak Davis ’95 received a Mother of the Year crown in May 2021 from her local twins club, Emerald Valley Mothers of Multiples. She then competed in a state level competition in June and was crowned 2021 State of Ohio Mother of the Year from the Ohio Federation Mothers of Twins.

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Saint Joseph Academy UPDATE

Rebecca “Becca” Sedlak Cotter ’14 was Commissioned as a First Officer with CommutAir. She also married Michael Cotter on October 1, 2021. Members in the bridal party included Maid of Honor Rachael Sedlak ’10 and Bridesmaids Sarah McMahon ’14 and Emily Maxwell ’14, Alesha Vovk-Metzger ’14 and Alison Rogozinski ’14.

Emily Dantio ’08 became a Certified Public Accountant after passing the fourth part of the CPA Exam. She is working for Dantio Grabo & Company. Jessica Lehrke ’08 married Jimmy Smith on June 19, 2021. Maid of Honor was Deborah Nemeh ’08.

1980s Judith Ghazoul Hilow ’81 was recognized for her service and commitment to Malachi House with the Catherine “Kaki” O’Neill Leadership Award. She is noted for staying true to the mission of Malachi House where she serves as Executive Director.

2010s

Front row (L-R): Alison Rogozinski ’14, Jiana Koussa ’13, Becca Sedlak Cotter ’14, Rachael Sedlak ’10, Kathy Cotter Mariner ’95. Back row: Jill Satanek Garlock ’92, Tressa Satanek Kemer ’91, Emily Maxwell ’14, Sarah McMahon ’14, Bridget Stuart ’15 and Alesha VovkMetzger ’14

Emily Hirzel ’14 married Kaylee Duff on June 26, 2021.

Pictured L-R: Mary Grace Adler ’08, Deborah Nemeh ’08, Jessica Lehrke Smith ’08, Katie Bajorek Otter ’08 and Eleanore Hilow Andreani ’08

Christina Pintenich ’09 married Alex Pasini on May 22, 2021. Megan Lowes Bolin ’09 was a member of the wedding party. Alex is the son of Lisa Laugel Pasini ’81, nephew of Lynn Laugel Savron ’67 and Laurie Laugel Juris ’76, and grandson of Bette Roberts Laugel ’40.

Alesha Vovk-Metzger ’14 married Ben Metzger in August 2021. Her sister Alana Vovk ’17 and Alison Rogozinski ’14 were members of the wedding party. Ashley Santora ’14 professed her first vows with the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament on August 15. She has moved to Louisiana to continue her education. Vikki Henderson ’16 married Jake Ponomarenko on June 26, 2021. Beth Brady ’18 was recently recognized with a Division II ADA Academic Achievement honor, awarded to high GPA student-athletes. Emily Antal ’20 has been invited to join Tri-C’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the official international honor society for two-year colleges and academic programs. Emily is in her second year and is studying Criminal Justice.


CubClub Sarah Ackerman Rosenberg ’02 & Cole Ackerman a son, Alexander, born June 21, 2021

Julie Hawk Carroll ’06 & Ryan Carroll a son, Nolan John Carroll, born November 13, 2020

Margaret Sweeney Kresser ’03 & Tony Kresser a daughter, Penelope Rose, born October 21, 2021

Marie Dantio Robinson ’06 & Andrew Robinson, a daughter, Caroline Mae, born April 1, 2021

Abigail Veres Malson ’03 & Jacob Malson a daughter, Josephine Ysabeau, born February 19, 2020 and adopted July 1, 2021

Kelsey Busser Guyer ’07 & Jason Guyer a daughter, Elizabeth Kay, born October 20, 2021

Laura Simna ’03 & Joshua Martin a daughter, Seraphina Rose, born April 2, 2021 Megan Mayer Gaskin ’04 & Mike Gaskin a son, John Anthony, born September 1, 2021 Erin Adler ’06 a son, Matthew Rodriguez Adler, born August 11, 2019 and adopted August 9, 2021

Saint Joseph Academy

Kate Valentino O’Dell ’08 & Tyler O’Dell a son, Hudson Henry, born July 10, 2021 Megan Hope Hinkle ’09 & Andy Hinkle a son, Nathan, born June 24, 2021 Maura Heffernan Jamieson ’09 & Tom Jamieson a daughter, Molly Mae, born June 29, 2021 Meghan Donelon Carroll ’10 & Charles Carroll son, Liam Emmett, born March 14, 2020 and son Maximus Rees born July 13, 2021

Please join Saint Joseph Academy for a fun and memorable evening to benefit student scholarships and academic initiatives. Saturday, February 26 at 6 p.m. Saint Joseph Academy HONORING:

Celebrate the Academy

Patricia Gaul ’76 – 2022 Distinguished Alumna Award Honoree Tari Rivera – 2022 Medaille Shield Award Honoree For more information or to register for the event, please visit www.sja1890.org or contact Development Director Mrs. Melissa Murphy at 216.251.6788 x232.

Saint Joseph Academy WINTER 2021

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PARENTS OF ALUMNAE: If this publication is addressed to your daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumnae Office at 216.251.6788 x221 or email alumnae@sja1890.org. In an effort to be good stewards of both the environment and your generous contributions, we are now sending only one magazine per household.

LOOKINGAHEAD Admission Test

7th Grade Shadowing

Spring Scholarship Luncheon

All 8th grade girls considering enrollment at Saint Joseph Academy are required to take an admission test. Our admission test is scheduled for Saturday, January 8, 2022, 9 a.m.12 p.m. and Wednesday, February 2, 2022, 4-7 p.m. Please note this test is for admission purposes only, not scholarships. Register at www.sja1890. org/admissionevents

Be a Jaguar for the day! Shadowing provides an excellent opportunity for girls to spend a full school day at Saint Joseph Academy. Visiting students should plan to be on campus from 7:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on a shadow day and must provide their own transportation. Girls shadowing will enjoy a complimentary lunch while dining with their host. 7th Grade shadowing dates will be available in Spring 2022.

Save the Date for the annual Spring Scholarship Luncheon on Wednesday, May 4 at Westwood Country Club. More information will be forthcoming. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Alumnae Coordinator Mrs. Tammi Olle P’12 & ’23 at tolle@sja1890.org or 216.251.6788 x245

Easter at the Academy Girls in grades 2-5 are invited to hop into Easter with us at this Saint Joseph Academy tradition, filled with fun, games and a springthemed craft! We look forward to celebrating with you in Friday, April 1, 2022. For more information about any of these events or to register, please visit www.sja1890.org/admissionevents.

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UPDATE Magazine: Winter 2021 by Saint Joseph Academy - Issuu