summer2015
COLLEGE MAGA ZINE
The Inspired Explorer How Place Affects the Creative Mind
Also: The Rome Experience • Commencement 2015 • Relief in South Sudan
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COLLEGE MAGAZINE
VOLUME 10 SUMMER 2015
Features Unbound • 9 One fine arts professor brings a popular children’s book to life.
Statue Story • 10 Explore the story of this unique Hall of Fame artifact.
The Inspired Explorer • 11 Can place inform creativity?
Special Photo Feature: Commencement 2015 • 14 Celebrate the class of 2015!
Departments
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Monk POV • 4 A roundup of some of our favorite posts, and an alumna reflects on SJC’s Portland days.
In Brief • 5 The facts of a campus-wide LED conversion are illuminating, and other news from SJC.
By the Numbers • 8 A recent survey of alumni looks at the numbers behind engagement.
Faculty Thought: Catholic Social Teaching • 20 David Hammond discusses response versus reaction in the Catholic faith.
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In/Outside the Classroom: The Rome Experience • 22 Steven Bridge takes his students beyond the classroom.
Profile: 3 Questions With… • 24 Meet Theresa Hendrix ‘15, three-sport student-athlete.
Profile: Hope in South Sudan • 25 Curtis Tyler ‘01, agent of change in this new African country.
Alumni Highlights Spotlight on Legacy • 26
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2015 Alumni Awards • 28
From the Chair • 29
Class Notes • 30
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contributors COLLEGE MAGA ZINE E D I TO R
Dr. Steven Bridge is a professor of theology at Saint Joseph’s College, where he specializes in Biblical studies and Christian morality. In addition to the Rome trip (page 22), he has also organized dozens of international service trips to Haiti and Guatemala.
David Svenson A R T D I R E C TO R Ian Marquis S E N I O R D I R E C TO R O F M A R K E T I N G & CO M M U N I C AT I O N S Tory Ryden CO V E R P H OTO Mauricio Handler CO N T R I B U T I N G E D I TO R S Liza Darvin Sue Johnson Jean Maginnis
David Michael Hammond received his AB from
Tory Ryden
the University of Notre Dame and his MA and PhD from The Catholic University of America (1986). His articles on topics in systematic theology have been published in British and American journals. His special interests are the works of John Henry Newman and Bernard Lonergan. At Saint Joseph’s College, he teaches online undergraduate courses in Church history and doctrinal development, and a graduate-level course on Christology.
Elizabeth Schran Brent Wooten CO N T R I B U T I N G P H OTO G R A P H E R S Alanna Conn Ian Marquis Jeff Scher Tommy Waltz I N F O R M AT I O N U P DAT E Changes to name, address, phone & email: alumni@sjcme.edu 207-893-7890 or 877-SJC-ALUM TO CO N TAC T M AG A Z I N E David Svenson
Mauricio Handler is a professional marine photojournalist, natural history filmmaker, and expedition leader who was, for many years, part of the premier underwater photography team at National Geographic magazine. Through his company Handlerphoto, he leads wildlife photography and filming expeditions to multiple destinations around the globe. His company Aquaterrafilms produces ultra-high definition content for stock, documentaries, and commercial use. His images and HD footage are represented worldwide exclusively by National Geographic Creative.
Communications Officer Saint Joseph’s College 278 Whites Bridge Road Standish, Maine 04084 magazine@sjcme.edu 207-893-7723 Saint Joseph’s College Magazine welcomes your comments, story ideas, and photos. Opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors, not necessarily of Saint Joseph’s College.
sjcme.edu/magazine
A Catholic college in the Mercy tradition
Stefanie Martel ‘15 double majored in English and publishing and writing in addition to serving as an editorial intern at Saint Joseph’s College. After graduating, she set off to Boston, Massachusetts, to begin her career in publishing.
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president’s letter
Back row: Frank Daggett ‘80, ’07, Bobby Michaud ‘14, Jim Dlugos, Steven Bridge, Camilla Fecteau. Front row: Barbara Daggett ‘82, Sue Kelly, Mary Rose Becker ‘15, Kimberly Post
What it Takes: Heart & Soul
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n April, two highly esteemed members of our community were awarded for their dedication to and passion for community-centered learning and public service. Steven Bridge, PhD, professor of theology, and Mary Rose Becker ’15 received The Donald Harward Award for Faculty Service-Learning Excellence and the Heart and Soul Student Award, respectively. Hosted at the State House in Augusta, Maine Campus Compact—an organization whose mission is to reinvigorate the public purpose and civic mission of higher education—recognized Professor Bridge and Mary Rose among a community of their peers from the College and Maine’s distinct institutions of higher education. Held only a matter of days before our May 9 Commencement exercises (see pages 14–19), this award ceremony was one of several events that complemented a robust year of academic and personal development at the College, for its students, faculty, and staff. We embrace and celebrate these achievements with vigor but also with humility, for what we impart as educators, what our students engage with as active learners, and what our alumni
achieve as successful community members come from a single wellspring: the heart. “This award serves as a reminder for all of the great work that is still to be done,” said Mary Rose after the ceremony, demonstrating that her work and the work of others have only just begun. There is undoubtedly a never-ending source for this dedication. Catherine McAuley wrote often of the heart as a source of spirituality and charity. At Saint Joseph’s College, where we espouse the values McAuley professed and that continue today with the Sisters of Mercy, we fulfill our mission as educators and colleagues in personal and professional development through our passion, our spirit, and our hearts. You’ll read more stories of heart and soul in this issue of Saint Joseph’s College Magazine. I hope they inspire you to continue living by the tenets of your passions.
Jim Dlugos, President
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Monk POV
• A selection of comments, thoughts & insights
Letter to the Editor
Parade Worthy Who’s that grand marshal? Alumni had many kind words for Sister Mary George O’Toole ’51, Hon. ’90, seen here at Portland’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Credit: Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
When I saw the picture of the Motherhouse (“Old School,” Winter 2015), it brought back a heartfelt memory. I flew into Portland’s airport, returning back to school from Connecticut. I was picked up by Sister Mary Carmel, who was then president of the College. Before we could return to Standish, we had to stop at the Motherhouse for a visit. Refreshments were offered, along with warm fellowship from the Sisters of Mercy. I have such a warm feeling when I look back on that day. Some things never change. —Patricia Halle Pabich ’65
Readership Reviews The Winter 2015 issue of Saint Joseph’s College Magazine was a hit—even Blue agrees! Here are the top five most-read stories from the online version of the winter issue. “Fit For Business” “A Welcomed Light” “Milfoil Publication” “Old School” “Lady & the Ram”
Best Seat in the Hall We all have a favorite spot on campus. Of course, this view of Sebago Lake is one of the best.
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Let’s Connect! Tell Us Share your thoughts with us by emailing your comments to magazine@sjcme.edu, or send us a letter at: Saint Joseph’s College Magazine Attn: David Svenson 278 Whites Bridge Road Standish, Maine 04084
Find Us Online You can send us notes using the hashtag #SJCME on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Google+…just about everywhere! Facebook.com /SaintJosephsCollegeofMaine @SaintJosephsME +SjcmeEdu1912 @saintjosephscollege
in brief Keeping Sustainability Sustainable A new fund finds a sustainable path to encourage and maintain green initiatives. Along with their environmental benefits, green practices often come with a high price tag and take many years to recoup their initial investments. To combat these financial burdens, and to make sure the College continues its environmental efforts, a new investment strategy was announced this spring. This Green Revolving Fund has sustainable financial and environmental goals in mind. The Green Revolving Fund (GRF) is an account that finances energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability projects on campus. The fund becomes revolving when project savings are returned to it, and become available to finance other green projects. “The fund provides capital for specific projects that have a demonstrated ability to reduce our environmental impact
and can repay the fund with cost savings within seven years,” says Yvonne Berry, the College’s chief financial officer. “Portions of these savings are used to support a subsidiary Green Community Fund that finances smaller community-led sustainability projects, which may lack monetary savings but are in clear alignment with the College’s sustainability objectives.” At its heart, the GRF is a motivational tool for the College. The fund will finance innovative projects that reduce the College’s environmental impact, improve the educational environment, and generate financial returns while engaging students, staff, faculty, and administrators in the decision-making and implementation process. And that’s important, because this fund, like all initiatives at the College, furthers the broader academic mission of the College while reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.
LE(A)Ding the Charge As the first project administered by the Green Revolving Fund, nearly 4,000 light fixtures across campus are being upgraded to LED fixtures, or light emitting diodes.
3,800 The number of fixtures on campus being replaced with LEDs.
25,000 Hours
The life expectancy for an LED fixture, versus 10,000 hours for a 15W compact fluorescent (CFL) bulb and 1,000 hours for a traditional 60W incandescent light bulb.*
500 Tons
The reduction in the College’s CO2 emissions each year upon complete LED transition.
24%
The resulting reduction in electricity consumption this upgrade provides.
$90,000 The annual savings in operating costs this project will produce for the College. *Source: US Department of Energy
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in brief From ‘Like’ to Life
Breathing Easy
When nurse Emily Gerardo learned on Facebook that Ruth Smillie, a nurse and professor at the College, needed a kidney, the decision to offer one of her own kidneys didn’t take long. The two had met a year earlier, volunteering for a medical mission to Senegal through the Portland, Maine-based organization Partners for World Health. (See “Students Afar,” Fall 2013) “I have polycystic kidney disease,” Smillie posted online. “If you know anyone willing to donate a kidney, please contact me.” While Emily admits that kidney donation wasn’t on her ‘bucket list,’ she felt a need to do something. A friend from high school had gone through the same thing, and her experience as an EMT working with dialysis patients gave her an intimate understanding of a very difficult, debilitating disease. “She had a zest for living,” Emily said, “which I knew dialysis would likely destroy.” Emily first contacted Ruth, then medical professionals who determined her A+ blood type was a perfect match. On December 14, 2014, surgeons removed a kidney from Emily and implanted it into Ruth. The successful operation left Emily feeling great physically and emotionally. And Ruth, living up to her name, beams every day.
Two years since going tobacco free, the College’s campus-wide initiative to improve the health of its students, faculty, staff, and visitors has gained some positive traction. Most recently, the College was honored with the silver level distinction in the 2015 Maine Tobacco-Free College Network Gold Star Standards of Excellence Recognition Program, one of only 12 institutions acknowledged statewide. “Tobacco is still the leading cause of preventable death and diseases in the US,” explains Kristine Avery, the College’s director of human resources. “This award, therefore, represents Saint Joseph’s commitment to our health and wellness program, our health insurance claims and costs, and our sustainability program.”
For more on the story, visit sjcme.edu/magazine.
Sisters in Civil Service During the US Civil War, 30 years after the founding of the Sisters of Mercy, more than 100 sisters followed their foundress’ lead by banding together to tend to wounded Union and Confederate soldiers alike. Although often overlooked in history books, the sisters’ conviction for compassionate care resulted in the advancement of the nursing profession. To celebrate this chapter of the sisters’ history, the South Central Community is hosting the exhibit “Civil War Sisters: Healing the Wounds of the Nation” at the Mercy Heritage Center in Belmont, North Carolina. Don’t have any travel plans? Visit the digital archive at civilwarsisters.com. Photo credit: Sisters of Mercy of the Americas—South Central Community
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in brief Checking in on the Green Dream With all the initiatives across campus to make the College more environmentally friendly, how can we best measure our successes? Seeing STARS is one way. This year, the College participated in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) program, instituted by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. “We used STARS to get an assessment of where our sustainability program currently is,” says Jeanne Gulnick, assistant professor of natural sciences, “and we will use STARS as a means to continue to assess and improve our sustainability initiatives. As a Mercy institution of higher learning, we have a moral imperative to model sound use of resources and instill in our entire campus community a lifelong commitment to sustainability.” To learn how the College is making strides in sustainability, view the report at bit.ly/STARSReport2015.
Lethal Seas Is it possible to peer into the future? Lethal Seas, a program that aired on PBS’ NOVA on May 13 and featured professor of natural sciences Mark Green, attempted to do so, examining a unique coral garden in Papua New Guinea to explore the possible side effects if ocean acidification is allowed to worsen. Warns Mark Green, a National Science Foundation grant winner, “We’re dissolving 20 to 30 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the surface of the ocean each and every day. That is what’s driving down the pH and increasing the acidity.” Watch the video at pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/lethal-seas.html.
Pumping Peace Observing the young, stylishly dressed men and women of Heartbeat, a musical group that performed a free concert for the College in March, it might be easy to mistake them for any other traveling folk band—and that’s just the point. Composed of young Israelis and Palestinians, Heartbeat tours the US to demonstrate how the universal appeal of music can bridge differences and bring peace. Guy Gefen, a member of Heartbeat, commented that he sees “a lot of openness, and a lot of progress to the idea of human rights and equality.” On campuses, the group’s mission for change is drumming up attention.
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PHOTO CREDIT: CHRIS SULLIVAN
Unbound
PHOTO COURTESY OF CIVIL AIR PATROL NATIONAL HISTORY PROGRAM
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wo days a week, Chris Sullivan, assistant professor of fine arts, gets the chance to take the lessons he teaches to his students and give them real-world application through his work creating exhibits and installations for the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine in Portland. Sullivan’s most recent project is an interactive outdoor display based on the children’s book Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee by beloved Maine author Chris Van Dusen. Billed as “Chris Van Dusen’s Down to the Sea: An Outdoor Adventure,” the exhibit marries the 2-D world of Mr. Magee and his little dog Dee with 3-D models and play areas. The museum’s mission calls for its young members to have a safe environment in which they can explore their senses and push boundaries. In the new space, the plot of Down to the Sea leaps off of the page at each station, where sections from the book are presented next to real-life counterparts, including a whale pond for water play and a shipwreck jungle gym to promote gross motor activity. “The exhibit is a good example of utilizing both traditional and new media,” says Sullivan. “A student’s tool kit will change over time, which is why as an educator, I try to impart the skill set of a critical thinker. It’s this philosophical approach that makes the art degree program at Saint Joseph’s so effective.” Sullivan’s well-worn motto—“When art’s done well, it’s always a collaborative process”—informed the exhibit’s connection with the community. Working with a Maine author and a team of local builders, design volunteers, and museum col-
Fine arts professor Chris Sullivan brings Chris Van Dusen’s cherished children’s book to life.
BY LIZA DARVIN
leagues, Sullivan tried to imbue a sense of history into the exhibit through collaboration. The shipwreck jungle gym, for instance, is based off of a real wreck that lies off the coast of Wiscasset, Maine. Saint Joseph’s College even had a hand in the creative process, donating the sapling that sits as the focal point of the exhibit.
“Good exhibits are open-ended. They’re a conversation that is fluid through time, space, and history,” Sullivan waxes philosophically. But for all the high-minded concept work and attention to detail that went into “Down to the Sea,” he’s quick to bring the conversation back to one of the most important aspects for a successful children’s exhibit: enjoyment. “Because it’s hands-on and interactive, it’s just plain fun!”
To get more information on “Down to the Sea” and to plan a visit to the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, see their website at kitetails.org.
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history
Statue Story We pull back the glass to get an inside look at what’s described as SJC’s original monk.
BY LIZA DARVIN
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ucked between the jerseys, bats, and photographs that fill the cases in the Athletics Hall of Fame in the Sablone Alumni Room, sits a rather simple wooden sculpture. Dubbed “The Original Monk” by a plaque at its base, the figurine is cradling a Bible in two hands and smiling serenely. Even surrounded by other memorabilia, this piece stands out, almost as an archeological find—and in many ways, the keepsake is just that, dating back to the College’s early days as the Monks. The Monks moniker fits well with the College’s Catholic identity and symbolizes many of the attributes student-athletes strive for: togetherness, self-sacrifices, discipline, and comradeship. Yet, the mascot came to the College purely on happenstance when, in 1970, the former director of athletics, Chris Kiernan, was tasked with starting a varsity division on a shoestring budget. Knowing that the beleaguered Assumption Prep in Worcester, Massachusetts, was soon to close, Kiernan asked to have their old uniforms—jerseys that were emblazoned with the school’s nickname, The Monks. It obviously stuck, and was an immediate hit with the president at the time, Bernard Currier. So much so, that, during a trip to Ireland shortly thereafter, friends of the College thought to purchase a small, wooden replica of a monk as a souvenir, which sat on Currier’s desk for the remainder of his presidency. Though the official Monks mascot has gone through many interpretations, “The Original Monk” has remained a treasured fixture and symbol for the College’s Athletics Department. “There is a sense of pride among our students who wear the unique name of Monks on their uniforms,” says Brian Curtin, the College’s athletics director. “The name provides students a unique bond and a sense of strength, both when they compete and when they leave here as alums.”
To learn the story behind these shoes and other Hall of Fame items, visit sjcme.edu/magazine.
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Fast Fact Saint Joseph’s is the only college team in any NCAA division (I–III) and in any college athletics association (e.g., NAIA, NJCAA, USCAA) with the Monks name.
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THE
INSPIRED EXPLORER What happens when you transcend your ordinary? It changes your world. STORY BY AL ANNA CONN PHOTOS BY SCOTT FULLER
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ast summer, seven Saint Joseph’s College students—ranging in majors from environmental science to fine arts—headed to Logan International Airport in Boston. Their suitcases, packed tight with wetsuits and waterproof cameras, wheeled along behind them. They were off to Isla Mujeres, an island eight miles off the coast of Cancún, Mexico. They weren’t going for the beaches, but the sharks. Not just any sharks. Whale sharks. This summer excursion was led by fine arts professor Scott Fuller, and was facilitated by professional natural history filmmaker Mauricio Handler. The goal of their trip was to make photographs— more specifically, underwater photographs of whale sharks, the largest living fish species known. And though the students did that, the trip produced more than photographs; it inspired creativity.
“Everyone was there to build documenting skills,” says Fuller. “We worked hard to produce quality footage, both still and moving. Beyond that, we asked the students to be open to creative possibilities, and to realize something new within their creative practice.”
Eight miles off the coast of Cancún, Mexico, SJC faculty and students dived into the world of the whale shark with guide Mauricio Handler.
Cultivating Creativity For years, Mauricio Handler worked for National Geographic magazine as a member of its underwater photography team. Now, the Chilean native produces documentaries, teaches, and leads photography expeditions on both land and sea. (His production company is called Aquaterrafilms.) “We do four to five expeditions a year,” says Handler, “including two 20-day trips to Papua New Guinea, back to back. In the coming year, we’re planning to do Sipadan Island, Malaysia, and ham-
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feature merhead, tiger sharks, and wild dolphins in the Bahamas. We usually cater to small groups of no more than eight participants.” That is, small groups composed of skilled professionals. His typical clients have thousands or tens of thousands of dollars invested in equipment, and they publish books of their photography. So for Handler to lead an expedition of Saint Joseph’s students, most equipped with no more than GoPros and swimsuits, was new for him. “My other clients are after the pictures. “After a week swimming with If they don’t get the whale sharks,” says Fuller, shots, we’ve got an “you get inspired.” issue. These students, though, they were just floored. The photos didn’t matter as much—it was the experience. It altered their planet, I think.” On Deck: Nate Winter ‘17 Handler’s got good reason for thinking that. married his music with the Most psychologists agree that openness to experiocean, filling his guitar with seawater while entertaining ences is the personality trait most closely associhis shipmates with song. ated with creativity. “The richer your catalog of reallife experiences,” says Saint Joseph’s psychology professor Joshua Schoenfeld, “the more ingredients you have for your imagination.” The students certainly tested out new ingredients. “We were on the boat by 7 a.m. every day,”
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says Kaye Peabody ’15, a business communications graduate. “We’d spend about six hours in the water, swimming with and photographing whale sharks. When we got back to the island, we’d have the rest of the day to explore. We’d eat at a different restaurant every night.” “It was a foreign country, foreign food,” says Handler. And even that—just the experience of eating new food—can have a profound effect on an individual’s mind, says Schoenfeld. “We use the term plasticity, which refers to the fact that the brain isn’t fixed—it’s a living organ, just like any other organ. It reorganizes and responds to stimulation no matter the age. Even something psychological like a memory, the axiom goes, is a biological event. It changes the brain at the biological level. So students’ minds, after going on a trip like this, won’t be the same.” The students themselves can confirm that. For one, they became better photographers on Isla Mujeres. With hundreds of whale shark encounters over the course of the trip, they had plenty of opportunities to hone their technical skills. Yet beyond practicing underwater photography, the students explored their imaginations—sometimes for art, other times for entertainment.
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They created a short film. They played baseball with juggling sticks and hacky sacks. One student, business and fine arts double major Nate Winter ’17, wrote and performed songs. At one point, he filled his acoustic guitar with seawater and let his classmates, Fuller, and Handler document while he strummed a tune and the Caribbean came cascading out, literally. Later, he smashed the same guitar rock star-style against a pile of rocks on the shore. It took five hits and less than six seconds to obliterate it. “After a week swimming with whale sharks,” says Fuller, “you get inspired.”
trips to Isla Mujeres, and a new set of students expanded their catalogs. “My hope is that the students, after going on a trip like this, can look at a problem—in their lives or in society—and find creative solutions to it,” says Fuller. “This expedition should be a catalyst for transformation.”
“Students’ minds…won’t be the same,” says psychology professor Joshua Schoenfeld, after going on a trip like this one to film whale sharks.
Going Beyond “Creativity depends on imagination,” says Schoenfeld. “The most creative people are the ones who can see beyond what’s most obvious, beyond what’s right in front of them.” That’s exactly what the whale shark trip did for these students, and what travel in general can do. It enriches the mind’s catalog of experiences. This August, Fuller and Handler led two back-to-back
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feature For the Class of 2015...
Seeing is Believing
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Thoughts on the past and future at #GradsofSJCME
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feature On May 9, 2015, Saint Joseph’s College held its 102nd Commencement, welcoming 561 accomplished individuals from across the country— and the world—into the College’s Alumni Association. Page 15: What did Commencement mean to our grads? We took to the pavement on the big day and asked soon-to-be alumni for their reflections. Find them all on Instagram with the hashtag #GradsofSJCME. Pages 16–17: Ever wonder how you’ve changed? We’ve got that covered. This triptych captures the class of 2015’s portrait from their first year on campus to their last days—complete with a mortarboard toss! This spread, clockwise from top left: Students and their friends and family gathered on campus the day before Commencement for the baccalaureate Mass. This year’s honorary degree recipients included Mary Dempsey, co-founder of The Patrick Dempsey Center for Hope & Healing; Sister Mary Sullivan, RSM, from the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas—New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Region; and Elizabeth McLellan, RN, MSN, MPH, president and founder of Partners for World Health. Students shared their year’s research with visitors at the annual Research Fair on the eve of Commencement. To learn more about their research, visit sjcme.edu/magazine.
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faculty thought
Catholic Social Teaching: Response, not Reaction BY DAVID HAMMOND
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Will we take up the challenge to move beyond reactive charity and instead consider the longterm economics of effective aid?
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odern Catholic social teaching began in earnest with Leo XIII at the end of the 19th century. For over a hundred years, that noble and oftneglected tradition has been to react to events in the world that threaten human dignity and rights. Communism and fascism have been condemned, laissez-faire capitalism’s exploitation of the worker has been denounced, and the need for justice in the marketplace has been affirmed. Basic principles such as subsidiarity have been put forward. Yet the tradition of Catholic social teaching since the onset of the modern industrial age has essentially been a matter of reaction. In other words, the evils of these modern ideologies have been criticized, but little in the way of an intelligible reconstruction of the social and economic order has emerged from Catholic thinkers.
The exception is Bernard Lonergan, who worked on economics during the Great Depression and again in the 1970s. In a 1973 lecture on the need for evangelization to be more engaged with the problems of this world, he commented: “Cardinal Danielou speaks of the poor. It is a worthy topic, but I feel that the basic step in aiding them in a notable manner is a matter of spending one’s nights and days in a deep and prolonged study of economic analysis.” At my age and given my mathematically challenged education, I won’t be following Lonergan’s advice. But there are many scientifically and/or mathematically trained Catholics who take the Catholic social teaching seriously yet feel helpless in the face of the complexities of the world’s economic problems. It’s easy to spot the instances of greed or the moneyed interests that control governments, but in Lonergan’s view, real solutions to economic failure are to be found only in the long haul, and that means understanding how the economy works—or, in most cases, doesn’t. And when it doesn’t work, many people suffer, especially the poor. Lonergan’s work is notoriously difficult, but there is help available. I’ll mention
PHOTO CREDIT: TRUSTEES OF THE ESTATE OF BERNARD LONERGAN
faculty thought
just one book that I found readable for a beginner in economic theory: Stephen Martin’s Healing and Creativity in Economic Ethics: The Contribution of Bernard Lonergan’s Economic Thought to Catholic Social Teaching. Martin breaks down Lonergan’s complex philosophies, whose original writing can be found in The Collected Works of Bernard Lonergan and Macroeconomic Dynamics: An Essay in Circulation Analysis. Without an adequate understanding of how the economy actually works (and why it so often fails), the Christian’s mandate to help the poor will largely be a matter of reacting with charity to problems that can seem so intractable as to be like gravity: nothing really to do about it in the long run. Principles and broad generalizations (“justice for workers” or “the right to private property”) won’t get the job done. The attention that Pope Francis has directed to global financial and economic distortions is an opportunity to consider how those who have the appropriate gifts might respond, and not just react, to the crises and challenges of the present day.
“I feel that the basic step in aiding [the poor] in a notable manner is a matter of spending one’s nights and days in a deep and prolonged study of economic analysis.” —Bernard Lonergan
Without an adequate understanding of how the economy actually works, the Christian’s mandate to help the poor will largely be a matter of reacting with charity to problems that can seem so intractable as to be like gravity: nothing really to do about it in the long run.
Catholic Social Teaching: Response, not Reaction originally appeared on Saint Joseph’s College’s theology blog. For more, visit blogs.sjcme.edu/theology.
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the rome experience Close the books and turn off the lights. For hands-on learning, there’s nothing better than the real thing.
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rom May 10 to the 26, I had the good fortune of leading a group of SJC Honors students to Rome. I was assisted in this endeavor by fellow faculty members Camilla Fecteau and Chris Callaway. The primary purpose of this trip was to allow students the opportunity to experience first-hand some of the topics that they initially learned about in their Introduction to the Judeo-Christian Tradition course. To this end, we visited a variety of historical, cultural, and religious sites throughout Rome and beyond. There were many highlights of this trip. Of course, we managed to hit all of the quintessential tourist spots, including the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, Palentine Hill, and Circus Maximus. Students also toured the ruins of Pompeii, hiked up Mount Vesuvius, strolled through the Borgese Gardens, trod along the Appian Way, shopped the Italian leather districts, and clocked some beach
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BY DR. STEVEN L. BRIDGE
time in Anzio. Throughout our stay, we sampled a wide variety of fresh, artisanal pasta dishes, brick oven pizzas, decadent bakery creations, and dozens of “life-transforming” gelato flavors. These experiences aside, the real heart of this course remained the religious elements. We attended a General Audience with Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square. Despite being engulfed by a throng of thousands, I somehow managed to wind up about seven feet away from His Holiness. The vehicle he was traveling in just happened to pause right in front of me. I got a great picture of him as he stopped for a brief moment to embrace a young child. The joy that Pope Francis exudes is contagious, and the gathered crowd was absolutely thrilled to see him. The very next day, our group surveyed the myriad historical and artistic treasures of the Vatican Museum. We encountered early Christian sarcophagi, world-class statuary, ornate tapestries, antique Roman maps, and Renaissance masterpieces. But
The real heart of this course remained the religious elements. —Steven Bridge
PHOTO CREDIT: CAMILLA FECTEAU
classroom
classroom The timing of our Rome trip was especially fortuitous in two respects. First of all, it coincided with the public exhibition of the Shroud of Turin. This linen cloth—purportedly that of Jesus’—has only been on display twice in the last 15 years, and even then, only for a few months at a time. We took advantage of this opportunity and hopped aboard the bullet train to Turin. I’ve been intrigued by the Shroud for decades, so getting a chance to finally see this mysterious and enigmatic artifact for myself was a rare and meaningful privilege. Our trip also coincided with the liturgical feast of Pentecost. We managed to obtain tickets to the Mass at St. Peter’s, celebrated by Pope Francis. It
the “crown jewel” of the experience had to have been Michelangelo’s incredible Sistine Chapel. The aesthetic power of his frescos combined with this place’s historical and religious import—this is, after all, the very room in which the world’s cardinals gather to elect new popes—make this space singularly unique. There are four major basilicas in Rome, and significant time was devoted to them. Of course, St. Peter’s is the largest and most prominent. There, we encountered Michelangelo’s Pieta, Bernini’s baldachin, and Pope John Paul II’s tomb. We climbed 320 narrow (and at times, claustrophobiainducing) stairs to the cupola, which rewarded us with an unparalleled 360-degree view of Rome. We also ventured deep beneath the foundations of the church itself into the first-century pagan necropolis where Saint Peter himself was (and still is) buried. The remaining three basilicas include St. Mary Major, which houses what is reputed to be the wooden planks of Jesus’ manger; St. John Lateran, which features larger-than-life statues of the disciples, each of whom bears the implements of their martyrdom; and St. Paul’s Outside the Wall. In addition to housing the sarcophagus and bones of its namesake, this church features a beautifully serene rose garden courtyard and a series of small museums dedicated to archaeological finds at the site, saintly relics, and Vatican II. Also located here are the 266 mosaic portraits of the popes, in chronological order, from Saint Peter all the way down to Pope Francis.
My favorite part of this trip has been seeing all the different sites and ruins that you normally only see in pictures. It’s different to see them in person. —Charlotte Mattingly was attended by thousands of laity, hundreds of priests, dozens of bishops, and the Vatican choir. Although conducted in Latin, the entire service was translated into English in our programs. Several of the students described this event as the highlight of their trip. Indeed, witnessing such a diverse crowd from every corner of the earth gathered together to share in, practice, and celebrate this common faith—on Pentecost, no less—could not have better epitomized the notion of the “catholic” (lit. “universal”) church. It’s certainly not a lesson I could have likewise conveyed in the classroom.
Students (back left to right) Charlotte Mattingly, Matt Pfannenstiel , Aprille Hibbard, and Lauren Sharples took SJC on the road to Rome with professors Chris Callaway and Steven Bridge (left to right, front row).
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profile
3 Questions for…
Theresa Hendrix ‘15 • SJC’s Superwoman
“Theresa is one of the most driven and hardworking student-athletes I have coached.” —Rupert Lewis, Field Hockey Coach
In addition to playing basketball, you were a two-year captain for softball and a three-year captain for field hockey. What’s your definition of a leader? Growing up, I was always told that a good leader leads by example. Hard work, determination, love for the game, and the desire to play for the team, not the individual, are traits that I believe make up a good leader.
Did you have a secret organizational skill or strategy to maintain your schedule as a physical education major and a three-sport athlete? Time management was a skill I had to acquire quickly at Saint Joe’s. I found that having multiple commitments helped me to stay focused and on a schedule. And being involved in different activities
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helped me grow in different areas so that I could succeed in them all.
What was your kryptonite? There was always one thing that held me back from competing 100 percent: those six inches between my ears, my mental game. After my years at Saint Joe’s, I’ve been able to turn my mental thinking around. One piece of advice from field hockey coach Rupert Lewis was to focus on what I can control. Getting upset and frustrated about things means you are fighting against the wrong opponent. This translates off the field as well: If you can focus on the aspects you have control over, you will have a more positive outlook on any situation in life.
PHOTO CREDIT: DAVID BATES, FOTOGRAFIXSTUDIO.COM
Theresa Hendrix was a three-sport athlete for 12 seasons, with 168 softball games and 38 career accolades to her name. Not to mention earning the GNAC 2015 Woman of the Year honor. We’re not quite sure her real name isn’t Lois Lane.
PHOTO CREDIT: MEDAIR / WENDY VAN AMERONGEN
profile
Hope in South Sudan BY STEFANIE MARTEL ’15
As South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, faces a critical humanitarian crisis, one of Saint Joseph’s own is doing his part to help alleviate the desperate need for support.
C
Curtis Tyler ’01 (center) supports the humanitarian mission of Medair in the world’s youngest nation, South Sudan.
urtis Tyler ’01 is currently stationed in South Sudan with Medair, an aid organization that works to relieve human suffering in some of the world’s most remote and devastated places by providing relief and recovery to people in crisis. “South Sudan has been classified as an L3 Emergency country,” Tyler explains. That classification denotes a country facing an extreme state of crisis. Due to the nation’s conflict that started in December 2013—approximately two years after its independence—2 million citizens have fled their homes under duress. This mass exodus has drastically impeded the nation’s ability to sustain itself with adequate agricultural activity, hindered livestock cultivation, and diminished the supply of vital trades. “It has left open wounds that will take decades to heal,” Tyler says. But he and his Medair colleagues have faith that the nation is on the road to success. Tyler started with Medair in November of 2014, and a month after joining he moved to northern Africa where he serves as the deputy country director of Medair’s South Sudan operations. “As DCD, I oversee the financial operations, communications, health monitoring and evaluation, and our refugee program.” Medair has been in South Sudan since 1992 and currently has four teams in place to provide relief for specific situations, including working with internally displaced persons (IDP), fighting malnutrition, providing emergency response, and assisting those forced into refugee camps. “We save lives in emergencies and then stay to help people recover from crisis with dignity, working side by side with communities to leave a lasting impact,” says Tyler. “Medair is a Christian organization, and their values closely align with my own,” he says. This connection to the organization was so impactful for Tyler that he partnered with the group because of their commitment to “helping the most vulnerable people.” summer 2015 | 25
legacy
A Decade of Building Florence Dussault’s Legacy
A
decade since the passing of Florence Godfrey “Flo” Dussault ’96, family and friends have kept her legacy going strong by founding and raising funds regularly for the Florence G. Dussault ’96 Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship is for a nursing student from Massachusetts who demonstrates a strong commitment to community service, academic achievement, and athletics. Florence’s husband, Paul, and three daughters worked tirelessly to create a celebration marking the tenth year of her passing, raising money annually to reach their goal. This spring, nearly 100 supporters gathered at the Oliver Wight Tavern in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, for an evening to celebrate the memories of Flo and participate in a silent auction to support the scholarship. To the surprise of everyone, a $5,000 check was presented by Vince and Bianca Wilfork, of the Vince Wilfork Foundation. Thanks to this year’s event, an additional $14,000 will go to support the endowment, which now has a current market value of more than $100,000. This wonderful effort by the Dussault family and friends created moments of shared joy and compassion while continuing Flo’s legacy and making possible additional scholarships for deserving Saint Joseph’s nursing students.
TOP TO BOTTOM: Thanks to many generous contributions from those who loved Florence, the Florence Godfrey Dussault ‘96 Endowed Scholarship saw an additional $14,000 added to the endowment, which now has a market value of more than $100,000. This memorial gathering for Flo included fond recollections of her legacy and fun times.
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legacy
Going Strong in Westbrook
W
hen Matthew Rairdon’s life ended tragically in 2013—the same year he graduated from the College and got a job as a nurse in the emergency room of Mercy Hospital in Portland—his family rallied supporters to kick off the Westbrook Strong 5K, a walk/jog/run event in downtown Westbrook, Maine, that was held this summer on July 18 for its second year. The 5K, which saw 354 participants this year, raises funds for the Matthew Rairdon ’13 Memorial Scholarship, a fund that recognizes a nursing student from Maine who has the same passion that Matt had for his profession. This year, despite passing storms on race day, the 5K raised nearly $17,000 to support the endowed scholarship, ensuring that Matt’s legacy and passion for nursing will continue. To date, the endowment has grown to over $53,000 in a mere 18 months. In gathering hundreds of friends, family members, classmates, neighbors, and SJC alumni, Westbrook Strong has given comfort to the Rairdon family, while making it possible to invest in the life of nursing majors now and for the future.
Gary and Laurie Rairdon (top and bottom right) honor their son’s passion for nursing by raising funds for the Matthew Rairdon ’13 Memorial Scholarship. The 2nd Annual Westbrook Strong 5K raised nearly $17,000 this year. Far left: Principal volunteers Krista Martin and Donna LeClair pose with Laurie Rairdon (center).
summer 2015 | 27
scene¬ed
Out and about with SJC alumni
2015 Alumni Awards May 16, 2015 Falmouth, Maine Continuing the tradition of honoring our alumni, the College held the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner in May at The Woodlands in Falmouth, Maine.
Monk Spirit Award RJ Turner ‘98 RJ demonstrates the Monk spirit through his active involvement with the Alumni Board’s Boston Chapter and the College’s Pearson’s Town Farm. Ellis Baum ‘98 (right), chair of the Alumni Board, presented RJ with the award.
Catherine McAuley Award The Sisters of Saint Joseph’s College
Professional Excellence Award Michael Shea ’72
Named after the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, this award reflects those who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the community. This year, we honored the sisters of Saint Joseph’s College:
Sister Mary George O’Toole ’51 presented the Professional Excellence Award to Michael, who is a trustee, alumnus, SJC parent, and president of Webber Energy, for his practice of integrity and excellence throughout his career.
Back row, left to right: Sr. Mary George O’Toole ’51, Sr. Joyce Mahany, Sr. Patricia Flynn ’74, Sr. Kathleen Sullivan. Front row, left to right: Sr. Sylvia Comer ’62, Sr. Marilyn Sunderman, Sr. Mary Morey. Not shown: Sr. Michele Aronica ’74, Sr. Mary Kneeland ’73
Distinguished Philanthropy Award Bonnie Newman ‘67 Presented by Claire Fraser Bowen ‘70, Bonnie (left) was recognized for outstanding leadership in personal philanthropy while also leading the class of 1967 in establishing an endowed scholarship.
Emerging Leader Award Nicholas Mirabello ‘03
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Nicholas was joined by Father John Tokaz (left) and presenter J.P. Lambert ’03 when he was recognized for his business UROCK Marketing, which helps people turn their visions into reality.
alumninews 2015 – 2016 S J C A LU M N I B OA R D OFFICERS Ellis Baum ’98 CHAIR Jennifer Taylor ‘03, ‘09 VICE CHAIR June Irvine ’09 TREASURER Pam Aliberti ’65 S E C R E TA RY B OA R D M E M B E R S Nichole (Long) Adams ’10 Cheryl Brewster ’00 Stephanie (Tutlis) Briggs ’98 Sam Butts ’13 Jenna Chase ’11 Matt Cotreau ‘10 Lauren D’Urso ’08 James Farrenkopf ’01 Aubrey Gray ’08 Kennedy Johnson ’08 Sister Mary Kneeland ’73 Chris Lee ’00 Ken Marino ’82 Haley Nason ’14 Donna O’Brien ’87 Brett O’Kelly ’16 Ray Ruby ’05 Erin Scanlon ’98 RJ Turner ’98
The Best Kind of Class Attendance Dear fellow alumni, Welcome to the Alumni Association, class of 2015, an extensive community of friends and professional connections that keep the spirit of your college days alive and informed. Now several months past the May Commencement exercises, I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on my time as a student at the College. I remember very clearly spending the last few days of my senior year with my friends in A-Hall being both excited and sad to take my next step forward away from Saint Joe’s. How do I stay connected with them and the College? I thought. Luckily, the opportunities to stay informed and engaged have only continued to increase since I graduated in 1998. So, how can you keep the spirit of the College going? Simple: stay connected and stay involved. Here are some of my favorite ways. Alumni Weekend Of course, this one is the cornerstone of engagement. Every year, alumni gather on campus for a weekend of great food, fun times, and—is there any other way to say it?—to keep the party going! This year was no different, as several hundred alumni attended Alumni Weekend. If you didn’t make it this time, set a calendar reminder to spend next summer on the lake. Get Social Did you know that you can log in to the Association? From Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, there’s an online presence that fits your needs and streams right into your favorite ways of staying informed. Find us on Facebook at facebook. com/SaintJosephsCollegeMEAlumni, on Twitter at @SJCMEAlumni, and on LinkedIn by entering the College as your alma mater. Once you’re connected in LinkedIn, you can see where life has taken your friends in their professional lives—and make some important connections! Keep Us Informed Of course, one of the best ways to stay engaged is by making sure the College has your updated information. Have something to celebrate? Send us a Class Note. Did you update your home or email address, phone number, name? Let us know! Simply send an email to alumni@sjcme.edu. Sincerely, Ellis Baum ’98 Chair of the Alumni Board ebaum@sjcme.edu
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classnotes
Alumni news, views & updates
1940s MARY ANN DEMERS TRUE ‘46 of Branford, CT,
turned 91 on February 12, 2015. GLORIA HALL GALLANT ‘49 of Portland, ME, and
her husband, Ed Gallant, celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary with family members at the Black Point Inn on August 25, 2014. With that motley crew, it was a fun-filled day! In September 2014, Gloria and Ed vacationed for two wonderful weeks in St. Lucia, Eastern Caribbean.
1950s CLAIRE STEELE GOODWIN ‘50 of Salem, OR, turned
86 in November 2014. She would like to hear from any others in the class of 1950 and can be reached by email at iamcdlune1928@yahoo. com.
1960s MARY PENCE GREELY ‘64
of Old Orchard Beach, ME, is opening her third Visibility shop located at 3 Coveside Lane in Kennebunk, ME. Visibility has two other locations in Portland, ME, offering a selection of colorful, comfortable, and afford30 | saint joseph’s
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able clothing for women. Mary would love other alumni to come visit her at the shop(s). CAROL ROCHETTE WRIGHT ‘66 of Worcester, MA,
has completed one full year of retirement. She enjoys it but believes it is a big change. She and her husband go on day trips with a local seniors group. They have a new family member named Sammy, a one-year-old cocker spaniel. They are busy and loving it.
1970s MICHAEL J. MULHARE ‘79 of Radford, VA, is
the current director of Emergency Management at Virginia Tech and was recently honored when his program became the first accredited higher education emergency management program in the country. SUSAN F. WHITTY-KENNEDY ‘79 of Littleton, MA,
is completing 36 years of an awesome nursing career on December 31, 2015, and will be moving to Connecticut to be closer to family.
1980s MARK S. COTE ‘80 of
Mathews, NC, was
recently promoted to COO of Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina based out of Charlotte, NC. He oversees the Corporate Restaurants Department and the Support Department that assist franchisees in 19 states. Having originally come from northern Massachusetts, Mark and his family are loving life in the south away from the snow. DR. MAUREEN MCCARTHY O’ROURKE, PHD ‘80 and
her husband, Ken, of Winston-Salem, NC, are celebrating their son Patrick who recently graduated from Wake Forest University on May 18, 2015. He will be attending the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland on scholarship in the fall. EILEEN SHANAHAN ‘82 of South Portland, ME, is currently working as a nurse epidemiologist at Maine Medical Center. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing at Simmons College back in 1998. MARK (MEL) E. LYONS ‘83
of Delmar, NY, returned to school to obtain a degree in nursing and graduated in 2013. Mark is now a practicing reg-
istered nurse in Albany, NY, and assists individuals with disabilities. PAULA LANDRY RING ‘83 of Millville, NJ, was
recently inducted into the Cumberland County Women’s Hall of Fame. Paula developed New Jersey’s first social services program for housing authorities in Millville, and went on to develop similar programs in the cities of Wildwood, Atlantic City, Pleasantville, Salem, and Vineland. JOSEPHINE FANARA ALVES ‘84, ‘91 of Bristol,
RI, recently retired and wanted her fellow alums to know that Saint Joseph’s College was a great partner in her working years. Career advancement followed each of her degrees, making her retirement comfortable. TIMOTHY BAILEY ‘84 of
Hampton, NH, was named the regional director (New England region) of field operations at the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, a division of the US Department of Homeland Security, and is now responsible for supervising I&A field activities
in New England. He was also selected to the National Intelligence University’s leadership and management program. SUSAN GAGNON JAMISON ‘85 of Turner, ME, is cur-
rently working at Fresenius Medical Care-Maine Home Care as a manager and coordinator. BARBARA SHEEHAN MCCLARY ‘86 of Calera, AL,
has retired after 53 years in nursing. Although she really enjoyed doing the work of Jesus through her nursing, she now considers herself blessed to be with her husband full time. SHERRI FOWLER LORETTE ‘86 of Sharon, ME, mar-
ried Kevin Blakeman on July 5, 2014. She was also awarded the National Nurse Hero of The Year award in Charlotte, NC, on May 17, 2014. JIM JOHNSTON ‘89 and JAY DOBEK ‘89 are com-
ing up on five years as business partners at Last Minute Productions in Needham, MA.
1990s BONNIE BARLETTA VANDER ZOUWEN ‘90 of
Reading, MA, celebrated 25 years at Fidelity
alumninews
Investments in January 2015. Bonnie is currently the vice president of human resources. KATHRYN HOUGHTON CRONE ‘91 and her hus-
band, Jim Crone, of Mabelvale, AR, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on May 6, 2015, by taking the Canadian Railway from Vancover to Toronto. Kathryn sends her blessings to all of her external degree classmates, professors, and staff who were involved with the class of 1991. DR. VICTOR M. BOVE ‘91 of
Lancaster, PA, celebrated his 90th birthday in May 2014. But don’t think that’s slowed him down one bit—he won 22 medals in his community’s 2014 Senior Games. CHERYL MUDGETT BACHINSKI ‘92, RN, of
Northfield, MA, is in her 11th year as a school nurse in Hinsdale, NH. Her husband is now retired after being selfemployed and working in the military. Both of her daughters, Heather and Katie, are now college graduates. She and her family love farming, camping, and outdoor activities. DEBRA ORDWAY KRAMLICH ‘92, ‘09 of Raymond,
ME, is now a doctoral candidate at Duquesne University and was recently published in several peer-reviewed nursing journals.
ANNE DESROSIERS CLOUTIER ‘96 of Gorham,
ME, was promoted to the position of principal at Baker Newman and Noyes (a CPA firm in Portland, ME) in January 2015.
JANE STACK CIRONE ‘99
of Standish, ME, was recently promoted to vice president and finance and accounting manager at Gorham Savings Bank. Cirone joined the bank in 1996 and has served in many roles, including commercial loan credit analyst and senior financial analyst.
her two grandchildren, Erin Thomas (age 7) and Andrew Thomas (age 11). CURTIS L. TYLER ‘01 of Dothan, AL, is working in South Sudan as deputy country director with Medair, a humanitarian and relief organization. Curtis has found that, over the years, the master’s degree he earned at Saint Joseph’s has been invaluable. HEATHER HANNAN WILMOT ‘01 of Brunswick,
ME, was named superintendent of Wiscasset schools in February 2015.
Kathleen A. Verrill ’98 KATHLEEN A. VERRILL ‘98 of Hiram, ME, was
recently promoted to project manager at Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution. Verrill joined the bank in early 2008 as a vice president and commercial services officer and became the manager of business services in 2011. HOLLY TIGANO FAUNCE ‘99, ‘06 of Taunton, MA,
accepted a position for manager of the Geriatric Behavioral Health Program at Brockton Visiting Nurses Association. JAMES DIVINE ‘99 of Colorado Springs, CO, recorded another album, Fellowship of the Swing. Listen for free at jazzysaxman.com. Last year, he was also privileged to become a grandfather for the second time with the birth of his granddaughter, Sadie Divine, in February 2014.
Mikell Reed Carroll ’99 and her family MIKELL REED CARROLL ‘99
of Dulles, VA, was named Mrs. Cumberland County 2016 and will compete for the title of Mrs. Maine America in March 2016. Mikell currently works for the Department of State at the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and is a volunteer with the American Heart Association. Her platform is the prevention of heart disease in women, inspired by her own family’s struggles with the disease.
2000s HARRIETTE DOMARACKI WISKEMANN ‘00, ’07 of
Carlisle, PA, is currently enrolled at Northcentral University and earning her doctorate. She is also a proud grandmother of
PATRICIA JOHNSON CHISANO ‘02 of Hamil-
ton Square, NJ, retired on April 1, 2014. She is enjoying volunteer work at Princeton Hospital and St. Gregory, a local Catholic school. She is working part time at day camps in the summer and enjoying spending time with her husband, John, and their family. ARLENE “LENA” TEBBETTS ‘06 of Framingham, MA,
has achieved tenure as associate professor in nursing at Mass Bay Community College in Framingham. She has also successfully passed the Nurse Educator Certification and has completed course work for her PhD in education/nursing education. DAVID DZIENA ‘06 of Spring, TX, has coauthored the book Catholic Prayer Book
for the Separated and Divorced, published by Our Sunday Visitor Catholic Publishing. DR. DANIEL BERMAN ‘06
of Fernandina Beach, FL, was the keynote speaker at the 2014 Biennial Symposium for the Jacksonville Association of Nurses in Education on November 15, 2014, at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. Dr. Berman was also honored for his success as CEO of The Center of Healthcare Thinking & Innovations by being named in “The Top 100 Healthcare Leaders in the US” by Top 100 Magazine. He was recently appointed to the Jacksonville Community Foundation Committee on the Improvement of Mental Health and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida Nurses Association. DIANA CONWAY ‘09 of Santa Rosa Valley, LA, is currently working as the country manager for an exciting startup company called TheGoodDeal. com, where they create user-friendly online classifieds. NICOLE PRESCOTT ‘09 of Gardner, MA, is now in her sixth year as a registered nurse in Keene, NH. RYAN PRESCOTT ‘09
of Gardner, MA, has received a new job as an athletic director and enrichment coordinator at Sizer School in Fitchburg, MA. summer 2015 | 31
classnotes 2010s MARYAN CLARK DAVIS ‘11 of Laconia, NH, is
now in her second year of a three-year diaconal formation process for ordination at the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire. HILLARY STACY ALLOCCO ‘12 of Denmark, ME,
recently followed her dream by opening a daycare business after graduating with her master’s in education back in 2012. The daycare is located in Denmark and is called Stallaco Lane. ELIZABETH M. WEBBER ‘13 of Portland, ME, was
recently promoted to be a member service representative at cPort Credit Union in Scarborough, ME. FRANCO PACHECO ‘13 of
Waterville, ME, was hired as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s swimming programs at Colorado College. JOHN HARMON ‘13 of
Palmer, AK, was recently appointed by the gover-
nor of Alaska and ratified by the Alaska State Legislature to the Alaska Board of Education and Early Development. LAUREN BAILEY ‘13 of
New Bedford, MA, is teaching English at Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth. She is continuing to work toward her master’s degree in English from Simmons College.
Wedding Bells CONSTANCE POIRIER VENSKUS ‘71 of Rumford,
ME, and her husband, Benjamin Venskus, celebrated the marriage of their son, Aaron Venskus, to Natalie Carson on October 31, 2014. BRITTANY GENDRON MCCUE ‘05 of Wilming-
ton, MA, married Sean Michael McCue on September 27, 2014, at the Grand Summit Hotel and Resort at Sunday River in Newry, ME. KELLY CORRIVEAU MARTIN ‘08, ’12 of New Glouces-
February 22. Kelly is employed by state of Maine as a human services enforcement agent. CHRISTOPHER D. BRANDES ‘10 and ASHLEY L DOLAN ‘11, both former chairs of
the College’s Eco-Reps and active participants at Pearson’s Town Farm, were married on June 14, 2014. Now living in Amherst, NH, Ashley is a pediatric nurse at Elliot Hospital in Manchester, and Chris teaches 9th-grade biology and sustainability courses at the Advanced Math and Science Academy in Marlborough, MA. The wedding took place at the Wolfeboro Inn in Wolfeboro, NH, having SJC friends MATT COUTREAU ’10, AJ DEROSIERS ’10, and NATE SHEARER ’11 as groomsmen. Mother of the bride, DEBRA MCLAUGHLIN ’81, participated in the festivities, and other SJC alumni were also in attendance at the celebration.
ter, ME, married Peter Martin of Lisbon, ME, on
Hillary Allocco ’12 with her boys Benjamin, Eliot, and Oliver. 32 | saint joseph’s
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New Additions MARION PENNY ALBERT ‘62 and her husband,
Gilbert Albert, of Belfast, ME, became grandparents to a set of triplets and are busy as can be! ROBYN WILLIAMS MCELWAIN ‘93 and Shawn
McElwain of St. Albans, VT, welcomed the birth of their daughter, Lucy Esther McElwain, on July 15, 2014. Lucy joins her big brother, Emmet. JEREMY STORER ‘99 and LISA RINGUETTE STORER ‘99 of Poland, ME, wel-
comed the birth of their son, William, on August 30, 2014. He joins his big sister, Bryanna, and big brother, Brandon. He weighed 7 pounds and 3 ounces, measured 20 1/4 inches, and is already a big fan of SJC! MIKELL REED CARROLL ‘99 and her husband,
Daniel Carroll, of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, welcomed the birth of their son, Daniel Travis Carroll, on September 15, 2014, in Brunswick,
John Harmon ’13
ME. He was christened at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Charlton, MA, on October 19, 2014. LISA THOMPSON RIOUX ‘02 and her husband,
Jack Rioux, of Harpswell, ME, welcomed their second child and daughter, Payton Kathleen, on September 29, 2013. Payton joins her older brother, Bryson Cooper, who was born on December 22, 2011. MARY MINSHALL ROWLAND ‘03 of New Holland,
OH, welcomed her first grandson, Adrian John, who was born on August 26, 2014. GAIL THOMPSON BLOCKER ‘05 and her husband,
Joseph, of Hartford, SD, welcomed their sixth grandchild, Abigail, on October 17, 2014. ANDY WALKER ‘07 and AMY CARLETON WALKER ‘05 of Standish, ME,
welcomed their first baby and son, Hudson Andrew Walker, on Wednesday, October 29, 2014.
Brittany Gendron McCue ’05
alumninews
Kelly Corriveau Martin ‘08,’12, Peter Martin, Heather Aceto ‘13 maid of honor.
Baby Lucy Esther McElwain
Christopher D. Brandes ‘10 and Ashley L. Dolan ‘11
MARCY REGAN SANSONE ‘07 and her husband,
Bobby Sansone, of Driftwood, TX, welcomed a baby boy, Brody Patrick Sansone, on January 2, 2015, in Austin, TX. JENNIFER CLEASBY JOHNSON ‘08 of Windham, ME,
and her husband, Dean Johnson, welcomed the birth of their daughter, Lila, on November 4, 2014. SARA BOYLE SHERWOOD ‘13 and her husband,
Robert Sherwood, of Bangor, ME, welcomed their first child, Brody Paul, on February 10, 2015.
Condolences & Prayers The College offers its condolences to… The family of CONSTANCE (CONNIE) COYNE DEVINE ‘51 of Portland, ME.
Connie passed away on January 29, 2015. The family of SR. MARY IMMACULATA DUMONT, RSM ‘57 of Portland, ME.
Sister Mary passed away on January 27, 2015. ELIZABETH SNOW THOMPSON ‘60 of Standish, ME.
Beth’s husband, Lester Thompson, passed away on April 28, 2014. The family of ROSEANNE PERRAULT COTE ‘62 of Biddeford, ME. Roseanne passed away in her home on November 23, 2014. ANN M. SMITH ‘66 of Baltimore, MD. Ann’s husband, Roger D. Jay, died of encephalitis on December 25, 2014. CAROLINE A. CHAFFERS ‘70 of Manchester, NH,
whose mother, Alexandra Chaffers, passed away recently. The family of Bridget Woods Carey, who
Baby Daniel Travis Carroll
passed away on February 4, 2015. Bridget was the mother of PATRICK CAREY ‘74 (TRUSTEE) of Kennebunk, ME, and grandmother of DR. SEAN CAREY ‘99 of Windham, ME. The family of SUSAN ‘SUE’ MICHEL ‘74 of Lewiston, ME. Sue passed away on February 14, 2015, after suffering a stroke. The family of SALLY COULTER BROOKS ‘80 of Orrs Island, ME. Sally passed away on September 10, 2014, after a brief and courageous battle with cancer. SUSAN JONES VONTELL ‘82 of Morris, CN, and CONSTANCE DUDZIC ’76
of Lewiston, ME. Susan’s father and Constance’s brother, George R. Jones, passed away on September 1, 2014.
The family of RUTH SYKAS BEARD ‘85 of Montpelier, VT. Ruth passed away on October 1, 2014. The family of IMA STORALL HURST ‘86 of Abilene, TX. Ima passed away on November 18, 2014.
The family of BARBARA YERGO BATTIN ‘89 of Bangor, PA. Barbara passed away on February 2, 2015. The family of BARBARA BROWN MCHUGH ‘92 of Dayton, OH. Barbara passed away on September 19, 2013. LINDA ROY ‘93 of Lewiston, ME. Linda’s partner, Jim Lydick, passed away on Thursday, September 27, 2014.
The family of LEONARD LABEDNICK ‘97, RN, BA, BS, MHSA. Leonard passed
away on December 4,
Baby William Storer
Baby Brody Sansone
2014, from complications due to Alzheimer’s at 70 years old. The family of LINDA HERRICK ALLEN ‘05 of Portland, ME. Linda passed away on November 27, 2014. The family of CAITLIN J. WESTON ’09 of Gainesville, FL. Caitlin passed away on October 25, 2014, following a long illness. The family of J. EMILY MCMONAGLE of South Portland, ME. Emily was a longtime friend of the College. She passed away on October 25, 2014. SUSAN HENDERSON, professor emeritus of Saint Joseph’s College and current resident of South Portland, ME. Sue’s husband, Robert S. Hatch, passed away on October 28, 2014.
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alumninews
Giving It Her All
D
orothy “Doe” Leckie ’14 arrived to the College’s Sebago Lake campus in the summer of 2011, wide-eyed and ready to take on the world. Fast forward four years, and Leckie’s a newly minted Saint Joseph’s graduate with an impressive resume that now also includes her distinction as a SHAPE America National Award recipient for the title of 2015’s Outstanding Major of the Year for Sports Management. SHAPE America, the Society of Health and Physical Educators, is the nation’s largest membership organization of health and physical education professionals. In mid-March, SHAPE America honored outstanding students in all 50 states. Leckie, senior class president, president of the Sports Management Student Association, resident advisor, peer mentor, member of the Student Government Association, and multi-sport athlete, was selected to represent Maine as the Outstanding Student in Sports Management. To qualify, students needed to achieve a high GPA, take part in extracurricular activities, and be nominated by a faculty member in the sport and exercise science department of their college. For Leckie, that professor was Dr. Amy Rady, director of the Physical Education Teacher Education program at SJC. “Doe is most deserving of this award,” beams Rady. “I was thrilled to be able to introduce her to several of my professional colleagues.”
What’s Your Big Adventure? We want to know. Send us news of your accomplishments and life changes. Contact the Office of Alumni Relations by emailing alumni@sjcme.edu, calling 207-893-7890, or mailing updates to the Office of Alumni Relations, Saint Joseph’s College, 278 Whites Bridge Rd., Standish, ME 04084.
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Finding Mercy A new venture, in honor of Pope Francis’ call for a greater focus on living the values of mercy, is revitalizing the spirit of Catherine’s Cupboard.
A
s Catholics and non-Catholics around the US eagerly await Pope Francis’ visit to Washington, DC, and Philadelphia in September, the faithful are putting into practice his latest encyclical. The pontiff, calling for greater compassion and justice for the world’s poor, said: “We have paid too little heed to those who are hungry…. The times talk to us of so much poverty in the world and this is a scandal. In a world where there is so much wealth, so many resources to feed everyone, it is unfathomable that there are so many hungry children, that there are so many children without an education, so many poor persons. Poverty today is a cry.” Pope Francis has challenged each of us to take responsibility, to care for the homeless and the unfed—if only in our own corner of the world. This call to action is something Saint Joseph’s College already holds dear. In 2008, the College helped to create Catherine’s Cupboard, a food pantry serving the Standish, Maine, community. Operating out of a space in the Town Hall, the Cupboard serves nearly 1,500 men, women, and children every year. Now, thanks to a group of members of the College who are dedicated to the mission and core values of the institution, we’re expanding this effort even more. Launching this fall, the newly created Monks’ Francis Fund will further promote the reach and vision of Catherine’s Cupboard. Named after and dedicated to Pope Francis’ call for greater mercy in our lives, the Monks’ Francis Fund will draw from a larger pool of volunteers who, like those already active with the mission of the Cupboard and the College, will continue to be a life force for the food pantry.
The fund will guide the donations of time and resources directed toward the food pantry, and you too can make a difference. In this truly exciting and pivotal juncture in the life of living the mission of mercy, we encourage you to reach out and ask, how can I make a difference? To get started on your contribution to the Monks’ Francis Fund and Catherine’s Cupboard, contact Monica Gerrish at mgerrish@sjcme.edu.
Many of the volunteers who work at Catherine’s Cupboard also work at the College. These and other community volunteers set up the pantry and help out when it’s open each Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. During the annual Summer Meals program, two College employees begin making more than 600 lunches at 4 a.m. and then drive them to towns scattered around Sebago Lake.
Each Wednesday, Catherine’s Cupboard opens its doors to individuals and families from more than 25 towns in the greater Standish area who are food-challenged. But the food pantry also does more to help alleviate the problem of food shortages. Stuart Leckie, the food services manager at the College, says, “Catherine’s Cupboard educates families and looks beyond just handing out a box of food. Teaching families how to garden, budget food cost, cook healthy food, and be responsible for their own actions is a huge part of what we do.”
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Remembering
Sr. Mary Ellen Murphy, RSM, PhD
BY SISTER MARY GEORGE O’TOOLE ’51, HON. ’90
O
n July 27, 2015, word was received of the unexpected death of Sister Mary Ellen, who served our College for 15 years as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College. I was privileged to work closely with her for six of those 15 years as the associate academic dean. Sister came to us with so many credentials, accomplishments, and awards that it would be difficult to list them without creating the impression that exaggeration is reigning freely. I will take the liberty to cite just a few to let you know what I mean: 1. Sister was co-investigator and the first woman to analyze the moon rocks brought back from the Apollo 11 space flight in 1969; 2. She was a member of NASA’s Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) team in her role as a visiting scientist in the Laboratory of Extraterrestrial Physics at the Goddard Space Flight Center; 3. She engaged in pioneering research in geochemistry and space exploration; 4. She held two US patents for work in her field and was the recipient of two honorary degrees. For many of us, achievements such as these could likely hamper us in down-to-earth, everyday conversations with ordinary people. Not so with Sister. None of her “other life” erased her ability to be simply herself—fun-loving and, above all, humble! Responsible for all things academic here at Saint Joseph’s, Sister promoted among her col-
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leagues scholarship and research, as well as standards for teaching excellence. Her availability to counsel and encourage faculty and students alike was noted and welcomed. Her sole aim was to assist others in developing their gifts so they in turn would assist others. Her love for teaching and her high regard for our college had her continue a relationship with us from 1998 through this present year via our online programs. One of many alumni has stated in words similar to these: “Without Sister’s expertise in the field of chemistry and her ability to teach effectively, I never, ever would have made it in my chosen career!” In recognition of and in gratitude for her untiring efforts on behalf of Saint Joseph’s, the office in Xavier Hall that served as her domain for 15 years was fittingly dedicated and named in her honor: The Sister Mary Ellen Murphy Room. This location presently houses our Alumni Office. I am sure on July 27, 2015, she was greeted by our Lord with the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter the House of the Lord and enjoy forever the fruits of your labor!” Thank you, Sister, for being the leader you were for us. We are the better for having had you among us.
We’ve thought of every detail —down to a tee.
Join us on Friday, September 11, for the 25th Annual Alumni & Friends Golf Classic to support the College’s student-athletes and benefit Athletics’ scholarship fund.
To register and for more information, visit bit.ly/SJCGolf2015 summer 2015 | 37
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Saint Joseph’s College 278 Whites Bridge Road Standish, Maine 04084-5236
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All those late-night, solo practices were worth it. Return to where it all began
on Saturday, September 12, 2015, for the
2015 Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony This year we honor: Stephen Chase ’93 (Basketball) Robert Doyle (Baseball) Billie L’Heureux ’91 (Basketball) Joe Manganaro ’05 (Golf ) XXXXXXXXXX
For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/MonksHOF2015 PHOTO CREDIT: DAVID BATES OF FOTOGRAFIXSTUDIO.COM