St. Catharine Academy Pathways Summer 2020

PATHWAYS

A Publication for the Alumnae, Parents and Friends of St. Catharine Academy

Summer 2020

Congratulations to the Class of

The Class of 2020 earned $19 million in academic scholarships and grants. (see p. 8)

MESSAGE from SSCCAA the PRESIDENT

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Sr. Patricia Wolf, RSM ‘62

his summer edition of Pathways is dedicated to the Class of 2020, the 131st graduating class of St. Catharine Academy. However, that is not their only distinction. The Class of 2020 will also be remembered as the class whose senior year, as they knew it, was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.

Over the past few months I’ve been reminded of the Gospel story of The Road to Emmaus. Jesus has died, a catastrophe for those who put their hope in Him. Cleopas and an unnamed person, perhaps his wife, are traveling away from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They have a profound sense of loss and are mournful and deeply disappointed. It was not supposed to end this way. The people walking on the road could just as well have been our seniors and their families, struggling with the reality of the cancellation of treasured year-end rituals—prom, senior trip, senior countdown, and finally graduation on June 4, 2020. This was not the way they envisioned senior year to end.

It was against this backdrop, and a desire to encourage, that our alumnae office reached out to you, asking if you would share your personal stories of resilience. We are gratified by the response and I invite you to read the stories of four alumnae, who span five decades, on page 6.

We never lost hope in having an in-person graduation.

That reality came to pass on June 27, 2020 when St. Catharine Academy awarded diplomas to 118 accomplished young women. With New York State allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 150 people, SCA re-imagined graduation adhering to State restrictions. Taking place on the school parking lot, SCA held three separate ceremonies over the course of the day with each ceremony broken up alphabetically into groups of 39 graduates, each having two guests who sat with her.

The Class of 2020 had so much to celebrate. They earned

$19 million in academic scholarships and grants, (see page 8), and come fall they will begin at such colleges and universities as Fordham University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Manhattan College, CUNY Grove School of Engineering, CUNY Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Binghamton, and Iona College. Perhaps most importantly, they persevered!

This graduation was very different from the ceremony that they dreamed about, but it was special and unique.

It was in every way a celebration of resilience, hope and promise.

Comings and Goings Just as we bid farewell to the Class of 2020, we say goodbye to three SCA faculty, Margot Gilberg, Roseanne Riolo, and Annette Shanley whose combined service spanned 77 years. To each, SCA owes a debt of gratitude. We wish them good health and rest in their retirement. At the same time, we welcome two new board members, Stephen Stritch, III, executive director of Mercy Center, Bronx, and Dr. Jose De Leon, DMP, PP’19. Dr. De Leon is an attending physician in the surgery/orthopedic department at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. To read more, see page 3.

Construction COVID-19 upended life. It also upended our construction schedule. Ruled as “non-essential” construction, the work ground to a halt for two months. We’re underway again, and the end is coming into sight.

Truly, these have been supremely taxing months. The effects of the pandemic are being felt by all of us and will be for the foreseeable future. One of the central messages of the Emmaus story is that hope is always stronger than despair. In that spirit, let us pray for one another and stay safe and well. v

St. Catharine Academy 2250 Williamsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10469-4891• Phone: 718-882-2882 • Fax: 718-231-9099 • www.scahs.org Sr. Patricia Wolf, RSM ‘62 President

Sr. Ann M. Welch, RSM Principal

Jessica Ruiz

Cathy Colletti

Database Manager

Patrice Athanasidy

Marketing Consultant

Director, Alumnae & Family Relations

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Contributing Writers: Patrice Athanasidy Jessica Ruiz Sr. Patricia Wolf, RSM ‘62

Please remember St. Catharine Academy in your will.

Photography: Kathleen Alston Lors Photography

St. Catharine Academy

Design and Layout: Nanako Inoue

2250 Williamsbridge Road Bronx, New York 10469

Our legal title is

AROUND SSCCAA

Meet the newest members of the Board of Trustees

Meet the two newest members of the SCA Board of Trustees: Jose DeLeon, DPM, Attending Physician: Surgery/Orthopedic Department, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, and Stephen J. Stritch, III, Executive Director of Mercy Center in the Bronx.

Jose DeLeon, DPM, PP ‘19

Stephen J. Stritch, III

Dr. Jose DeLeon is a podiatry specialist with more than 20 years of medical expertise. He is a graduate of New York College of Podiatric Medicine.

Stephen Stritch has worked with Mercy sponsored organizations as an educator, administrator and development specialist for over thirty years in both New York and Philadelphia. He first learned about St. Catharine’s when he served as a Sponsor Council liaison for the Sisters of Mercy.

“I am very pleased with the education my daughter received,” says Dr. DeLeon, whose daughter Ashley graduated from St. Catharine’s in 2019. “The strong academic experience has been commended by many of her professors at Saint Michael’s College, Vermont. The combination of strong academics and strong social programs at SCA was fundamental in the successes my daughter has attained in college.”

As a leader at Montefiore Medical Center, Dr. DeLeon says, “I am very grateful for the SCA community and want to aid in its enhancement in any way. As a board member, I will be able to work in conjunction with all board members to ensure the financial wellbeing of the school in order to continue fulfilling the values of the institution’s mission.”

SCA Retirees

“During those ten years I learned so much,” he says. “Serving as a liaison gave me the opportunity to learn about SCA in great detail.

From the very beginning, I have been impressed by the dedication of the board and the expertise that they willingly share. My hope is to live up to that level of commitment.”

Stritch concludes, “Service has always been important to me.

I am grateful for the opportunity to share my professional experiences and to help advance the mission of the Sisters of Mercy and SCA in particular.”

Three teachers with 77 years of teaching at St. Catharine’s collectively are retiring this year.

The SCA community is grateful for all they have given during their dedicated years of service.

Margot Gilberg, Spanish teacher “Of course, the best part of teaching at SCA is the people that I have encountered. From the first day, the faculty was and continues to be friendly, caring, truly interested in me. It was a family. The students were the light of my day. I enjoyed my classes every day and year….I have always loved teaching at SCA, learning the latest teenage ‘sayings and doings.’

Not one academic year was the same. Teaching gave me energy and motivation.

“After 36 years of teaching at SCA, plus many years before that, I think that it is time to rest, reflect, and spend my days with my husband, daughters, and grandchildren.”

Roseanne Riolo, English Teacher “The best part of teaching at SCA was having a purpose for teaching students through the utilization of Mercy Core Values. In other schools I had taught in, the foundation given to students and to teachers was not as visible. This underlying fabric within the SCA community holds all of us together as a family…. I was also able to grow in my profession, particularly with the implementation of News and Views and the Public Speaking course through St. John’s University.

“I am teaching part-time at The College of Westchester and also writing a memoir about living and caring for a parent with mental illness. I am gratefully getting guidance on this through a wonderful SCA connection, alumna, Valerie Irick Rainford ‘82…. I would like to spend more time with my Mom and my husband who I would like to travel with. And, let’s not forget my pets!”

Annette Shanley, Social Studies Teacher “The best part of teaching at SCA was my daily interaction with all my students in such a nurturing environment. It was very gratifying to see them fulfill their potential and grow into confident young women. Working at SCA confirmed my belief that the best education can be found at a Catholic institution. The faculty and staff here are committed to not only providing a great education but are also concerned about the spiritual and emotional growth of the girls.

“In this next stage of my life, I hope to spend more time with my family and friends, especially with my new granddaughter, Stella.

We will also be celebrating my youngest daughter’s wedding next year, so we have that to look forward to.”

Summer 2020 • Pathways

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This award is given to:

In H Foo er tst Aw eps ard

Amelia Leon

The “In Her Footsteps Award” recognizes a student who has given selflessly of her time and talents in many aspects to the St. Catharine Community and whose person reflects the attributes of the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine McAuley. This student has faced and continues to face her personal life challenges and she does so with confidence. She has represented St. Catharine Academy as part of the Robotics Team. During one of her summer breaks she brought her passion for Robotics to young people in the Dominican Republic, organizing and teaching them about Robotics. In addition, she constantly assisted in welcoming new students and always volunteered her time, whether asked or not.

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This award is presented to:

The Cath 2020 ar Awa inite rd

Emra Redzematovic

The highest award at St. Catharine Academy is known as the Catharinite.

This award is presented by the president of St. Catharine Academy to a young woman who embodies the mission of our school through her character, leadership, scholarship and service.

Graduation!

 Sabrina Santiago and family  Victoria Vieni and family  Sarabeth Vazquez and family  Alisha Wigfall and family 5

SCA ALU MSN AAA E NEWS SCC

Resilience: Alumnae share their stories from the past to help with the challenges in 2020

By Patrice E. Athanasidy

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he Class of 2020 has had to find ways to be resilient as 2020 has been filled with challenges from the pandemic to the country’s hard discussion on racial justice. We invited SCA alumnae to tell their resilience stories to encourage the Class of 2020 to make tomorrow better than today. Thank you to the alumnae who responded.

Farzana Ahmed ‘04 had four surgeries over the course of two years to recover from a benign bone tumor on her hip.

She credits her SCA education with contributing to her “having faith in God and always looking for the silver lining in every situation. We cannot control the situation we find ourselves in, but how we react to these situations makes a world of difference. Stay positive, enjoy the present and work towards the future you want.”

Kamilah Kirsteen Guerrero ‘19 says she struggled with her mental health as a senior, often feeling an emptiness.“My SCA education did help through this rough time period by setting aside time for me to help me pursue what I needed to get done. They made sure I was comfortable and that I can do the work without any struggle. I am so thankful for all the teachers that supported me throughout those years in SCA. To the class of 2020, my advice to you is always to ask questions….

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It will help you through your college life and as well your career life. College is all about exploring your knowledge and discovering what your true passion is. Always follow your gut and never forget to take those big steps in becoming the successful women you’re meant to be.”

Doreen Domenica (Lozupone) Hurley ‘75 says the past year has been one of the most emotionally difficult years due to a number of family illnesses and the death of a close friend. “Everything that has made me the woman I am today is underpinned by my upbringing; this includes 6 Pathways • Summer 2020

the education and family I was fortunate to find at SCA. Many of my classmates as well as our teachers were role models for resilience. Whether I was at home or at school, I was surrounded by caring, strong women who I’ve tried to emulate throughout my life. They taught me that I could achieve anything I set my mind to, and I’ve always tried to remember that. Believe in yourself. You CAN do anything you set out to do if you just believe you can. It won’t be easy—there aren’t many things worth pursuing in life that come easily. And surround yourself with good, caring and giving people—and be the same way yourself.

What you put out into the world is what you’ll get back, so be the person you would want others to emulate.”

Linda Wolchik Sturges, Ph.D., ‘69 says,“I became a math major in college at a time when professors did not think twice about pointing out ‘girls’ belong in the humanities. Attending an all women high school, there was never a doubt women could major in math. …Resilience and perseverance are two traits I have come to embrace. It took too many years for me to understand, yes I can do this. I became a college instructor with a very long road to tenure because I did not believe I could earn a doctorate while being a parent and later caring for my parents. Bit by bit, my husband and colleagues encouraged me. I started a doctoral program at 50. Today, I hold the academic rank of Professor of Mathematics and serve as the Vice Provost for Institutional Assessment at SUNY Maritime.

My education at St. Catharine’s is my foundation, a place where we grow into accomplished women.

The Multi Year Reunion honoring Saturday, April 17, 2021 honoring the classes ending in “0” & “5” Sunday, April 18, 2021 honoring the classes ending in “1” & “6”

CLASS SSCCAA NOTES 1957 Rosemarie Birri D’Alessandro

began the Joan’s Joy Mindful Relaxation and Kindness program this year at St. John’s Academy in New Jersey. This program is in memory of her daughter Joan Angela D’Alessandro. For more information, please visit joansjoy.org/ joans-law/

1962 Lucille Viggiano DiRuocco

writes, “It is such a pleasure to read the stories of the SCA girls and their experiences. It is comforting to know that they experience the friendships, acceptance and solid academic foundation that we did back in the 60s!

We still get together with the “girls” from the class of ‘62….and that says it all!”

1963 Mary Fennell Leonard writes, “I

was sorry to read that Sr. Maria Goretti passed away. I have wonderful memories of knowing her and being in her class.”

1965 Janice Bonanno Imundi writes, “Regards to Sr. Pat, you are doing a great job. Very sad about the death of Sr. Maria Goretti, RSM. I have very fond memories of this great teacher.”

1970 Dolores Attinello Piergentile

is a retired SCA Science teacher. She taught Biology, Anatomy & Physiology and Health during her 23½ year tenure at SCA. Dolores earned both her B.S. and M.S. Ed from Lehman College. Dolores has been married to her prom date, Paul, for almost 47 years. They have 2 children, Paul Matthew and Jennifer (class of ’99) and 2 grandchildren. Dolores is grateful to SCA for the academic skills learned; lifelong social connections attained and spiritual growth achieved. She extends her best wishes to her SCA friends, classmates, colleagues and of course, her students. Congratulations to the Class of 1970!

1975 Donnamarie Greco Jones is cur-

rently the Clinic Director for the Peekskill Clinic of Westchester Jewish Community Services. Donnamarie has been married for 27 years to Roger and are parents to their lovely daughter Angie.

IN MEMORIAM Antonia Ohle October 23, 2019

1993 Olivia Perillo

writes, “I am a Reiki Master teacher and medium who has just written her first young adult novel which is in the process of being published by Archway Books. I gave up alot to live my dream of being a published author and it feels good that my dream is becoming a reality!”

2004 Marisa Totino Villani and

Thomas Villani welcomed their first child, Matteo Thomas on January 25, 2020. Now five months old, Matteo loves music and applesauce. He is a pro at FaceTime and Zoom, which helped him connect with his family during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

2008 Annette Stabile writes, “On

Wednesday, May 20, 2020 I participated as a panelist in the webinar “How to help students and parents keep calm and carry on during this challenging time” hosted by Partners in Mission.

As a certified school counselor and licensed mental health counselor, stress reduction has been a major strategy in helping my students and clients cope with the coronavirus pandemic. Key points that I address in the discussion focus on useful coping skills, the importance of maintaining a routine, asking for help, sense of community, validation of emotions, and self care.”

The recording will be posted here when available: https://www.partnersinmission.com/our-events/past-webinars.

2010 Alessandra Rosso

Detoma pictured with her husband Brandon, daughters Olivia and Lucia who was born on May 10th.

2013 Ashley Morales graduated

with distinction in May 2020 with a masters degree from Mercy College in early childhood education.

In addition, Ashley just completed her first year teaching PreK 3 with the NY Department of Education.

Mother of Allison Ohle Maidhof ‘96

Adele Guarino Soldano ‘57 November 4, 2019 * Teresita Noriega ‘85 December 27, 2019 Mary Dillon Finnegan ‘58 March 23, 2020 Sister of Eileen Dillon Glynn ‘61

Freda Ocran March 28, 2020 Mother of Maame Ocran ‘18

Denise McMahon Murdock ‘90 March 30, 2020 Helen Livingston McMahon ‘75 April 1, 2020 Patrick Knight April 7, 2020 Father of Cassie Knight ‘22

Ken Farnham, Sr. April 7, 2020 Father of Ken Farnham - Choir Director

Nilda Lacayo April 11, 2020 Mother of Nia Anderson ‘20

Sr. Dolores Targiano, RSM (also known as Sr. Dee) April 12, 2020 Betty Ann Lento April 28, 2020 Mother of Dana Minnucci-Teehan ‘89

Neda Vuksic June 8, 2020 Mother of Paula Vuksic ‘86

Lisa Bastone Valle ‘90 June 10, 2020 Muriel Weyl June 28, 2020 Mother of Stephen Weyl - STEM Teacher

Frances Grippo July 2, 2020 Former staff and mother of Catherine Grippo ‘96

*Previously printed in the last edition of Pathways with the incorrect date.

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St. Catharine Academy 2250 Williamsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10469-4891

www.scahs.org

Address Service Requested

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Class of 2020 - Acceptances to College and Universities

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As of today the Class of 2020 has earned $19 million in academic scholarships and grants. The Class has been accepted at the following colleges and universities. An asterick indicates scholarship(s) awarded.

Adelphi University *

CUNY/City College of New York

Albany College of Pharmacy *

CUNY/City College of New York Fashion Institute of Technology Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Felician University * Education Fordham University * CUNY/City College of New York - The George Mason University Grove School of Engineering Hartwick College * CUNY/College of Staten Island Hofstra University * CUNY/Fiorello H. LaGuardia Howard University * Community College

American International College * Barry University * Bay Path University Bethune-Cookman University Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Bloomfield College Bowie State University Clark University * Clarkson University College of Mount Saint Vincent *

Farmingdale State College

CUNY/Hostos Community College

Iona College *

CUNY/Hunter College

Le Moyne College *

CUNY/John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Long Island University, CW Post * Lynn University *

CUNY/Kingsborough Community College

Manhattan College *

Columbia College Concordia College - New York *

CUNY/Lehman College

CUNY/Baruch College

CUNY/Medgar Evers College

Medaille College *

CUNY/Baruch Macaulay Honors College

CUNY/New York City College of Technology

CUNY/Borough of Manhattan Community College CUNY/Bronx Community College CUNY/Brooklyn College

CUNY/York College Delaware State University * Dominican College * Fairfield University *

Manhattanville College * Mercy College * Molloy College Monroe College Montclair State University Mount Saint Mary’s College * New England College * New York Institute of Technology *

Niagara University *

St. John’s University - Queens Campus *

SUNY/Westchester Community College

Paul Smith’s College of Arts and Science *

St. Joseph’s College *

Susquehanna University *

St. Peter’s University

The College of Saint Rose *

Penn State University *

St. Thomas Aquinas College *

The Culinary Institute of America *

Quinnipiac University *

SUNY/Albany

Touro College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute *

SUNY/Alfred State College

University of Bridgeport *

Rider University

SUNY/Binghamton University

University of Connecticut *

Rochester Institute of Technology (College of Engineering or Science) *

SUNY/Brockport

University of Hartford *

SUNY/Buffalo State College * SUNY/Canton *

University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth)

SUNY/Morrisville State College

University of New Haven *

SUNY/New Paltz

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

Pace University *

Rutgers University-New Brunswick * Sacred Heart University * Saint Leo University * Saint Michael’s College * School of Visual Arts * Seton Hall University * Siena College * Southern Connecticut State University Stevens Institute of Technology * St. Francis College * St. John’s University (with College of Saint Benedict)

SUNY/Oneonta * SUNY/ Oswego * SUNY/Plattsburgh * SUNY/Polytechnic Institute * SUNY/Purchase SUNY/Stony Brook University SUNY/Sullivan SUNY/College of Technology at Canton

Utica College Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology * Virginia State University Virginia Union University Western Connecticut State University Wilson College *

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