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THE BIANNUAL MAGAZINE OF MERCY HIGH SCHOOL, SAN FRANCISCO, FALL/WINTER 2019
IN THIS ISSUE
6
Student-Athlete Spotlight
8
Alumnae Spotlights
10
Fr. Greg Boyle Visit
20
Women's Leadership Conference
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FALL / WINTER 2019
WHAT'S INSIDE 4
20
NEW FACULTY & STAFF
WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES | 2018-19 NATALIE CIRIGLIANO, Chair
STUDENT-ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
ALUMNAE OPEN HOUSE
SISTER MARY WASKOWIAK, RSM, Vice Chair
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KATHY BARULICH RYAN '78, Secretary/Treasurer
ALUMNAE SPOTLIGHTS
26
CLASS REUNIONS
DR. LISA WAYNE HARRIS '79
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31
CHARLOTTE WATSON KIESEL '64
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32
FR. GREG BOYLE VISIT
HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE
VPA
ATHLETICS
CHERIE THIBODEAUX BECKY VANDENBOSCH SISTER CAROLYN KROHN '65, RSM, Ph.D., Ex Officio
ADVANCEMENT DEPARTMENT OUR MISSION Mercy High School, San Francisco, educates women to pursue lives of spiritual and intellectual depth, determination, and daring action to improve our world as an inclusive, Catholic college preparatory community enlivened by the gospel of Jesus and the charism of the Sisters of Mercy.
BEKAH PAIGE, Director of Development GEORGIA WASLEY, Alumnae Development Officer SHERI SAM, Director of Athletics BREANNA GUNN, Development Associate MONINA D. ENAGE, Communications Associate
COVER PHOTO:
Mercy SF Sports: fierce leaders achieving both athletic and academic excellence, embodying the complete student-athlete experience. L to R: Precious Rios '19, Amira Lama '20, Jada Harris '21, Alexandra Guzman '21, Jessalyn Fukamoto '20 2 | ANCHOR
MERCY HIGH SCHOOL 3250 19th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132 www.mercyhs.org | 415-334-0525
@MercyHighSF
LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear Mercy Community, It is with great honor that I write to inform you of my appointment as Mercy High School’s Head of School. I am excited to assume the helm and am mindful that my placement in this role signals to our sisterhood, our supporters, and future students and families that the Mercy tradition continues. As you page through this edition of Anchor, you will be given a bird’s eye view of the many exciting and engaging activities our young women have taken part in since our last issue. At the start of the school year, we renewed our commitment to the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy. Our students take personal ownership of social justice issues through our ongoing student service projects and current efforts with the Farkas Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. This year, all students read Tattoos on the Heart, by Fr. Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries. Fr. Greg spoke to the student body, further inspiring our young women to continue their works of mercy in the larger world.
some home to share their talents in service to their alma mater. It is a distinct honor for me to be among these fine graduates, as the very first Mercy alumna to lead Mercy High School. When I reflect on those in whose footsteps I walk, I am in awe to be counted among our school’s leaders – from Sister Mary Grace in 1952 through all who have led the Mercy community in the past 66 years. I believe very strongly, as they did, in the gift that Mercy gives to each young woman who calls our school home. I am so grateful for your continued support and prayers. Your generosity of spirit is essential in keeping us focused on the guiding light of your hopes and expectations for Mercy. Know that we do not take lightly all that you have given us. As we sail forward in achieving our goals, know we hold you and yours in our prayers and wish you a daily taste of God’s Mercy! In Mercy,
Sister Carolyn Krohn '65, RSM, Ph.D.
Mercy’s new partnership with Inspire Music, our championship athletic program, and our Women in the Arts, Performing Arts, Technology, Science and Healthcare programs enrich student learning beyond our high quality, rigorous, college preparatory Catholic education. Our alumnae, some of whom took part in the Women’s Leadership Conference that helped students broaden career horizons, are now celebrating milestone graduation anniversaries. Some are taking on new leadership roles in the community and we are especially blessed to welcome
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WELCOME TO MERCY NEW FACULTY AND STAFF 4 | ANCHOR
Matt Bourdet comes to Mercy's Social Science Department from St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic School in Burlingame. His teaching career showcases his vast repertoire of teaching skills and the list of Mercy alumna in his family is quite impressive. When not at work, Matt is either running in Golden Gate Park or just spending time with his dad. He enjoys music, basketball, and traveling. And he loves "the enthusiasm of all my students and the kindness of faculty and staff."
Austin Choate joined Mercy's History Department this year from St. Patrick's Seminary and University. He is a seventh generation Texan who grew up ranching before moving to California. Austin and his wife live in a tiny house with their three children, and he enjoys beekeeping and barbecuing in his free time.
Darragh Leddy is the newest addition to Mercy's Math Department. She comes to us from New York City where she earned a degree in mathematics from Columbia University and taught at an all-girls Catholic school. The activities Darragh enjoys most include swimming, hiking, yoga, meditation, gardening, and being with friends. Of her colleagues, she has this to say, "They are kind, helpful and all have the girls' best interest at heart!" She finds Mercy students "energetic, hard working, and entertaining." Molly Leitner joined the World Language Department as a Spanish teacher this year. In her quest to learn Spanish she has completed international exchanges in Cuba, Ecuador, and Honduras. When not at school, Molly teaches yoga, knits and crochets, and has fun playing an electric guitar her husband recently gave her. When she first set foot on this campus, she said, "I knew that this was a special place...the sense of community is tight-knit and welcoming...it doesnt even feel like work!" Elaina Polovick is now with our Theology Department, after years of ministry experience. Educated in Chicago, Elaina made her way to the Bay Area for her master’s degree. She has also traveled the world studying sacred spaces and religious traditions. Elaina enjoys whale watching, visiting museums, doing puzzles, and dancing the polka. She says, "Students [at Mercy] are caring and curious in the best way." Cynthia Larsen grew up in the Bay Area before her family relocated to Virginia, where she began teaching in Catholic schools. When her family moved back home, she reached out to Mercy and joined our community as the McAuley Academic Program Coordinator. In her leisure time, Cynthia hikes in Marin and Sonoma counties with her husband. She spent the last Christmas vacation on the south island of New Zealand. About working at Mercy, she says, "Within a few weeks, I felt like I was working with family."
Josh Ornelas has been a dance instructor at Mercy since 2015. This school year he joined us full time as the Dance Program Director, Student Leadership Assistant, and Rental Coordinator. He likes to spend his free time with his two dogs exploring his neighborhood and nearby beaches. Dancing, hiking, kayaking, and cooking are only some of his favorite activities. He is now also exploring aspects of yoga and mindfulness so he can apply them to dance. He would like his students to leave his class "with a new sense of pride, accomplishment, and self-confidence." Yen Hui '95 is our new Director of Wellness. She is a licensed MFT and comes to Mercy with more than 20 years of professional experience working as a high school therapist, classroom instructor, mental health therapist in private practice, and clinical manager. Outside school, Yen and family enjoy Warriors basketball, playing board games, cooking, baking, and bingeing on movies. She is happy to return to Mercy where "everyone is extremely smart, committed, and collaborative."
Carmel McDonnell joined Mercy High School temporarily last year to work in the attendance office. This year she transitioned to the position of Programs Coordinator. When not at Mercy, Carmel loves the time she spends with her husband, two daughters, and cat. She plays poker and Hay Day, and goes bowling. A trip to Puebla, Mexico, where she lived as a toddler, is on her bucket list. Carmel is creative in many ways and her beautiful artwork can be seen throughout the campus. She feels blessed to be here.
SCHOOL THEME: ILLUMINATE Illuminate. Let Your Colors Shine is this year’s school theme on which we have based our activities and outreach. “Illuminate” means “light up.” As strong, educated, young women, we strive to “light up” the world with our ideas and actions, especially in the work each of us does to support the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy: the earth, immigration, antiracism, nonviolence, and women. In a world that is often times shadowed in darkness, we undertake the responsibility of being a light of hope, leading the way toward a brighter future. Our path of resilience is described in the gospel of John, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). It is with this belief that the Campus Life Team (CLT) encourages each student to realize her potential and ability to change our community – locally and globally. Illuminate. Let Your Colors Shine reminds each of us of the power and capability we have to take the lead, no matter how big or small, to light up the world with mercy. WWW.MERCYHS.ORG | 5
STUDENT-ATHLETE HIGHLIGHT
JADA HARRIS
Sophomore Jada Harris goes from a shy and timid 9-yearold to participating in the USA Volleyball High Performance National Team Training Program. Jada sat with Mercy's Director of Athletics, Sheri Sam, to share her remarkable volleyball experiences and insights to her passion for the game. This is her journey. Sheri Sam: How old were you when you first picked up a volleyball? Jada Harris: I started in 3rd grade. Almost every girl from my elementary school tried out for every sport. I really got into it, so when I was 9 going on 10, I started to play club volleyball. S: Do you remember your first game? J: I remember everyone being better than me. I sat and watched my teammates play and it seemed that everyone had talent. From that moment, I was motivated to get better to show everyone how good I could be. S: Thousands of players were invited to a tryout for the USA 6 | ANCHOR
J:
Volleyball training program. You were one of the 125 players selected to participate in the program. What was that experience like? When I tried out, I was shaking the whole time. My mom said, "You’ll have five minutes of nerves and then two hours of playing and it will be fine." I was shocked when I found out I made the cut. I flew out to Michigan to play and I met some fantastic players. It was challenging and it was also a great opportunity.
S: What was your mindset during the training? What motivated you to perform? J: I felt like I might as well just play my heart out. I wanted to do well on my evaluations. So, I played with everything I had. S: You will be a junior next season with the Mercy volleyball team. What are your goals? J: Next season, I believe we will continue to get better. I want to go further than just one round of the playoffs. I want to hang a banner in McAuley Pavilion, our gym.
S: Yes! We definitely need another banner! Who has been an inspiration to you and your volleyball career? J: My first club coach, Nelson. He coached me when I first started playing. He pushed me to be who I am today. He prepared me mentally. He always said "you are going to do great things" and here I am. S: Your club team went undefeated. How did it feel and what did you learn from that experience? J: Our team worked perfectly well together and our mental place grew strong together. When we were undefeated and playing really well, our team gained confidence and believed in each other. When we scored the last point to win, we all broke into tears, it was like, we did this! S: J:
As a former athlete myself, we all set goals and have dreams. What is your big dream for volleyball? Go big or go home! I defintely want to play in college. I believe I could go places like the Olympics or coaching. I would love to keep my career going in volleyball!
USA Volleyball Girl's Select A3 National Training Team of which Jada Harris was a participant.
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ALUMNAE SPOTLIGHT
AMANDA DEL CASTILLO
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manda del Castillo '08, ABC 7 News Reporter, graduated from San Jose State University in 2012 and for the past six years has found herself taking up residency in Casper, Wyoming; then Waco, Texas; and finally Denver, Colorado, before making her way home to the Bay Area. As a 5-year-old girl watching the morning news and evening broadcasts with her parents, she knew the men and women on television news "had the answers, the confidence, the access, and the respect" so she set a goal to chase her dreams—and a good story—to become a news reporter. Amanda credits Mercy's classes with helping prepare her for her eventual career path. She recalls how classes incorporated current events, which as she put it, is all she "lives and breathes in the broadcast industry." "Mercy allowed me to understand the connection between what was happening around the world, and how those incidents and events might impact me. My job requires plenty of critical thinking, effective communication, and empathy. These are all things I learned while at Mercy." A highlight of her career came after the most difficult assignment she has ever worked on as a journalist. On New Year’s Eve day in 2017, a call about a deputy down turned deadly in a suburb outside of Denver, Colorado. Amanda won an Emmy Award for her contribution to the station’s breaking news coverage of this devastating event. She notes that the award and acknowledgement meant that she and her team successfully informed viewers about developments that ultimately impacted their safety, but that the accomplishment was sadly based on such a heartbreaking tragedy. When Amanda is not chasing stories and conducting interviews, her leisure time is spent planning her March 2019 wedding with her fiance. Reconnecting with old friends and spending quality time with her family have also been top priorities since returning to the Bay Area. Amanda's message to current students is that "You matter. What you have to say is important. Teen years are always tough, but if you stay focused on your goals and work hard, everything will be worth the struggle. The Internet is forever, so be mindful of the message you're putting out into the world. Stay curious, ask questions, and remain humble."
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ALUMNAE SPOTLIGHT
ALEXANDRA GHIOZZI
M
any say that to travel is to live and for Alexandra Millard Ghiozzi '89, it could not be more true. Alexandra graduated from Santa Clara University with a BA in Communication in 1993, landed a promising job at Wells Fargo in downtown San Francisco, but dreamed of where else in the world she could be. Her dream became reality when she responded to an ad for United Airlines international flight attendants. She was one of only 4,000 people hired out of 20,000 applicants! However, the airline industry changed after 9/11 and she turned in her wings to purchase a CruiseOne travel agency franchise to better support her young family. She has been running her own business for 14 years and that means she's responsible for everything from marketing, sales, and customer service, to fixing the printer. She is proud to report that for the past two years, her franchise has achieved over $1 million dollars in sales, putting her in the top 6% of travel agencies in the U.S. Alexandra is also deeply passionate about family. She credits her husband of 20 years, Aldo, for getting her into the cruise business by taking her on her first cruise for their 5th anniversary. Alexandra is the proud mother of Adriana (21) who aspires to be the first female White House Chief of Staff and Sophia (17) who has spent the last three summers volunteering with Global Leadership Adventures in Costa Rica, Bali, and Ghana. "Being a mother has been the greatest joy of my life and I am so grateful that I was able to balance my family with a career I love." With both daughters soon to be in college and grad school, Alexandra is excited to have the opportunity to travel more, "...see the world, meet interesting people and get to do incredible things, in the name of work." Some of her recent favorite places to visit are Singapore, Croatia, Montenegro, and Alaska. She also hopes to reconnect with Mercy alumnae and friends on their 2020 cruise, celebrating the 30th reunion of the Class of 1989! Alexandra knows that Mercy is where she found her voice and was taught to "read, digest, write, speak and evaluate with clarity and conviction." It’s also where she found her two lifelong best friends, reminding students that "Mercy gives you the opportunity to expand your horizons in a safe and loving environment," and to "invest time in your friendships—these girls will likely be in your wedding, godmother to your children, and lifelong friends to treasure."
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MESA GIVES MERCY A THUMBS UP The Mercy Education System of the Americas (MESA) visited Mercy in November. MESA is the arm of the Sisters of Mercy that governs all of our schools. Sister Richard Mary Burke, RSM (Board Chair); Sister Michele Aronica, RSM; Tom Burke; and Sister Lisa Griffith, RSM (Executive Director) spent the morning getting a feeling for Mercy High School, San Francisco. They toured the school, talked informally with students and faculty, and participated in some of the Women’s Leadership Conference activities taking place that day. During the afternoon, they met with Mercy’s Board of Trustees and had a rousing response to our school. To put it mildly, they loved our school! Sr. Richard Mary commented that "the atmosphere was alive with excitement and mercy." She added, "We are very encouraged for the future of Mercy High School and look forward to all that is to come."
FR. GREG BOYLE VISITS MERCY On January 24, Father Greg Boyle brought Mercy students into the “vast heart of God,” during his presentation about his book, Tattoos on the Heart, this year’s all-school read. Fr. Greg, S.J., a Jesuit priest, is the founder of Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention program, located in Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights neighborhood, the gang capital of the world. Through Fr. Greg’s words, students encountered former gang members and those previously imprisoned, learning how their lives were resurrected in hope and goodness through Homeboy Industries’ many businesses which include a bakery, a tortilla factory, a silk-screening press, and Homegirl Cafe. Fr. Greg brought his friends and former gang members, Fernando and Jeannette. They met through the program, turning their lives around with Fr. Greg’s help. Now married, Fernando and Jeanette work hand in hand with Father, bringing them on campus to share their harrowing and heartfelt stories about living in East L.A. Through this talk, our speakers, too, have a new story to tell about Fernando’s first airplane ride which brought him to San Francisco. “Stop the car!” Fernando insisted as soon as they pulled into our school’s driveway. The excited request came after reading our front sign on 19th Avenue: “Welcome Jeanette & Fernando.” It was the first time he’d seen his name on a marquee and he wanted to take a photo. It is with this same sense of excitement and awe that Fr. Greg challenged students to see something new on which they could potentially put their name. His talk brought a greater 10 | ANCHOR
understanding of how our society tends to shame instead of “stand in awe at the burdens the poor have to carry.” Each student was called to stand in God’s wonder of every person, regardless of their trials, and engage in creating a community that puts into practice the Corporal Works of Mercy. Fr. Greg’s talk was touched with tenderness, “marinated” with tears and punctuated with laughter. One student described his presentation as a “walk through the book,” allowing Mercy’s young women to experience an amazing pilgrimage through a faith-filled, hopeful land in which each is called to love and “stand with those on the margins so that the margins are erased.” Like Tattoos on the Heart, we at Mercy have been indelibly marked by Fr. Greg’s visit and are so grateful to be awakened to the impact of his work.
MERCY WEEK 2018
This year, we began our traditional Mercy Week with a Mass welcoming several of our fellow Sisters of Mercy as well as honoring alumnae from different class years including special alumnae honorees from the golden class of 1968. Students continued celebrating Mercy Week in various ways. The Campus Ministry Core Team quizzed our Mercy community about the Sisters of Mercy, the history of Mercy High School and Mercy Week, and gave prizes to our student winners. We were also fortunate to have guest speaker Sister Marilyn Lacey, RSM, visit our campus, a highlight of the week! From her, our students learned about having compassion in our world today, spreading mercy to others, and how we can get involved in volunteer opportunities and organizations, like Mercy Beyond Borders. Our Mercy Week events culminated in the highly anticipated Mercy Play Day, where students participated in rallies, played games, and displayed the joy and spirit of being Mercy students! It was a terrific week for Mercy!
SR. MARILYN LACEY EMPOWERS SOUTH SUDANESE WOMEN
Sister Marilyn Lacey, RSM, visited Mercy High School in September, on Mercy Day, to address the entire student body about her work transforming lives through Mercy Beyond Borders. When Sr. Marilyn encountered marginalized women first in South Sudan, then in Haiti, she felt compelled to help. She founded Mercy Beyond Borders (MBB) in 2008 to help women in these countries learn, connect, and lead empowered lives. MBB selects high achieving girls from rural areas and gives them the gift of an education that they would otherwise not have the opportunity to receive. The organization teaches women that they can be advocates for positive change with the help of an education. Throughout the assembly, Sr. Marilyn emphasized what called her to help others: splagchnizomai. This Greek word describes not a reasoned response, but rather an instinctive reaction to suffering – a reaction that moves a person to action to alleviate another’s pain. Sr. Marilyn traveled to South Sudan and saw how women struggle in their day-to-day lives and the feeling of splagchnizomai drove her to found MBB. By the end of the assembly, Mercy students were inspired to embody Sr. Marilyn’s empathy and willingness to help others. We would like to thank Sr. Marilyn for her powerful assembly and for teaching us the importance of raising up women around the world. W W W.MERC YHS.ORG | 11
AN OVERVIEW OF MERCY'S SPECIAL PROGRAMS At Mercy, we take great pride in offering every young woman a learning environment through which she can fully explore her passions and talents. Mercy’s Special Programs are inspired by our students’ desire to learn more in science and medicine, visual and performing arts, and technology. Each Women In… pathway provides a unique, focused curriculum where our students can access guest lectures, internships, and one-to-one mentorship programs with Bay Area professionals. For the Mercy student who chooses a Special Program, the real world is her classroom where she is able to earn credits to graduate with honors and more importantly gain a fuller understanding of how to make her dreams a reality. WIPA (Women in the Performing Arts) WIPA students are immersed in a curriculum specifically designed to develop skills in dance, acting, and theater tech. In partnership with Bay Area artists, as well as local theater and dance companies, WIPA students hone their skills through master classes, school productions, and live performances. Mercy showcases two main stage productions each year. Our fall play consists of either drama, comedy, mystery, or Shakespearean classics. The spring musical explores the full canon of American musical theater. Learning opportunities for WIPA students go beyond center stage. Students are also given the chance to explore all aspects of backstage production through Tech Crew. Tech Crew students design and construct sets, stage props, as well as manage lighting, projection, and sound for all school productions. The WIPA experience at Mercy is designed to fulfill a student’s passion for theatrical arts while preparing her, should she choose, for the reality of a career in the Performing Arts. Whether it’s paving the way toward a future profession or seen as a growth opportunity, WIPA places Mercy’s young women in the spotlight and teaches each how to shine.
WISH (Women in Science and Healthcare) WISH students are provided a curriculum designed to explore career paths in the healthcare and science industries. In partnership with St. Mary’s Hospital, WISH students engage in clinical immersion experiences while taking honors and Advanced Placement courses in math and science. Students develop leadership skills as they organize drives for awareness programs and run blood drives. A WISH student explores the world of medicine in classes that teach suturing and observing open heart surgery. Through the program, students attend lectures from experts in the fields of science and healthcare and gain professional insight about navigating the academic path to a career in medicine. 12 | ANCHOR
WITA (Women in the Arts) WITA students begin their visual arts training in a two-week advanced summer workshop prior to the start of the fall semester. This workshop lays the foundation for WITA students’ four-year college preparatory curriculum in the arts that includes intensive and extensive multimedia instruction and presentation for the serious art student both in and out of the classroom. Each WITA student is paired with a professional artist to help her begin to create a professional network in the local art community. As students develop their skills in a variety of mediums, each is paired with a professional artist in a one-to-one mentorship. Through this mentorship, students meet local artists and explore the Bay Area’s art scene. Throughout the school year, art exhibitions, on- and off-campus, showcase student work created by our WITA students. Professional internships are arranged for those in the program and each student is provided with active feedback and guidance when preparing a portfolio to submit to a university or an equivalent art program. WITA students will graduate from Mercy with a design portfolio for college. The expertise of San Francisco artists and the varied resources found within the Bay Area’s vibrant art community informs the studies of WITA students who are laying a solid foundation for a future career in the arts.
WiTECH (Women in Technology) WiTECH students are given hands-on learning experiences in the technology and digital media industry, and focus their study on the application, function, and impact of technology and media in our modern society. Through the program, students engage in developing technology-based skills. They learn programming, coding, network development, web and mobile app creation, robotics, and film/TV production. With a learning environment that includes some of the Bay Area’s best professional tech companies and startups, WiTECH students have a stable of vast resources to help them explore and create pathways to a future of technological innovation.
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PILGRIMAGE TO ANGEL ISLAND: INCARCERATION THEN AND NOW Sisters Martha Larsen, RSM and Judy Carle '58, RSM, along with Mercy High School theology teacher Jim McGarry, and eight of his students joined 200 other pilgrims who boarded ferries to spend a day of remembrance on September 22. The island was a station of immigration and incarceration from 1910-1940 when it was closed because of fire. With marginalized peoples past and present, the pilgrims made this sacred journey to remember, honor, listen, and learn from those who were stigmatized and harmed on Angel Island, yet whose presence and spirit called all to be compassionate witnesses and actors in similar circumstances today with a climate of hostility to those moving across borders. Since the time of European colonization, racism has played a role in targeting and locking up communities of color, beginning with the genocide of indigenous peoples and African slave trade. The day began with a powerful prayer service remembering and honoring ancestors. With the story of each group honored, those present responded, "We do not want your stories to be forgotten." The pilgrims promised not to forget victims of U.S. wars— Cambodian, Lao, Hmong, and Vietnamese—and recognized the hardships faced by thousands of immigrants presently held in prisons across our country. Pilgrims toured the buildings, now a museum portraying the stories of mostly Chinese immigrants—victims of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Poems carved into the walls of the
barracks spoke of sadness, anger, and resilience of those who traveled across the world with hope of settling in a new land. This journey was personal, as one of the Mercy SF families present, Jillian Wong '20 and her mother Julie, were there to remember and honor Julie’s father. As a very young boy, in 1930, he was incarcerated at the Angel Island detention center, while waiting for reunification with his grandfather. He never talked about the several months he spent there. Many pilgrims, including Sr. Judy, brought stones to place at the Memorial Monument with a name of someone impacted by incarceration, detention, deportation and/or racism. Realizing that what happened then is, sadly, happening today, the group valued the stories remembered and, during the closing prayer, proclaimed, "We honor you, for we, too, need your resilience and fighting spirit." The Mercy students and the Sisters boarded the ferry back to San Francisco with conscience kindled anew to offer radical hospitality and to fight for God’s justice for all peoples, especially those “tempest tossed” and seeking home. Sr. Judy Carle '58 placing a stone name at the Memorial Monument
Jim McGarry, Bethany Thorne-Dixson '20, Tiffany Long '20, Arianna Ramos '20, Jourdaine Gonzalez '20, Caitlyn Lok '20, Cecilia Gonzalez '20 and Jillian Wong '20
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CULMINATING SERVICE PROJECT FAIR 2018 On November 29, Mercy seniors presented culminating service projects (CSP) at the annual CSP fair. Each CSP is a unique service project that Mercy students plan and implement in partnership with local non-profits. All projects reflect hard work and real contributions to the community. One outstanding project was the creation of five gopherproof potato boxes for Pacifica Gardens by Aine Fullerton '19, Maxine Lanier '19, and Jessica Lewis '19. Pacifica Gardens grows produce that is distributed to the food insecure and homeless. Picking up some boards and power tools, the students successfully constructed specially designed planter boxes that will keep out potato loving rodents. This project will continue to help provide wholesome food for years to come. Aine, Maxine and Jessica acquired some valuable skills in the process. As they stated in their presentation, "We learned building skills and techniques, and gained new knowledge about how gardens work. We’ve learned the importance of helping others, even if we can’t see the effects of our work." In another exceptional project, Ava Ragasa '19 gave back to her SOMA neighborhood by creating an art, design, and fashion program for students at WestBay Pilipino MultiService Center, a non-profit located in San Francisco’s newly designated Filipino Cultural Heritage District. WestBay provides services to underprivileged children. Since October, Ava has been teaching after school art classes to elementary school-age children at WestBay. She plans to continue to offer art classes to children and hopes to expand the program with classes for teens and adults. Ava reflected, "Similar to the values of Mercy High School...I am not only teaching my students art and design, but educating them to express themselves, think freely, and respect themselves and others." Zoe Fox '19 and Analisa Lonich '19 traveled to Haiti to work with Mercy Beyond Borders (MBB). MBB empowers young women in Haiti and Sudan through education. Upon their return home, Zoe and Analisa began fundraising to help MBB provide scholarships to Haitian girls. They have raised well over $2,000. They stated in their presentation, "Traveling to Haiti has ignited a passion inside of us to be the change that helps these young women receive an education." WWW.MERCYHS.ORG | 15
MERCY PARTNERS WITH INSPIRE MUSIC Music has always brought a great deal of inspiration to the hearts of mankind. Music has inspired peace in times of war, love in times of hate, and can bring healing to the physical body. At Mercy High School we truly value the importance of the arts and how it can truly pierce the human heart and even change the course of history. Mercy has recently contracted with Inspire Music, a local music program design company, founded by Victor Cervantes, that creates custom music programs that fit the needs of schools throughout San Francisco. With over 700 students and nearly 40 faculty, Inspire Music is one of the largest private music studios in the Bay Area. Their diverse faculty brings a wide range of musical experience, offering instruction in many different instruments and musical styles. They specialize in programs that not only provide rigorous coursework but make for a joyful experience in vocal music. At Mercy, Inspire Music has taken over our concert choir class and has already started teaching the importance of sight reading, music theory, and musicianship. Ear training and harmonization is a top priority for their team and the girls are already singing in two/three part harmony in a very short amount of time. They also specialize in solo work and vocal training, which can really boost our students’ confidence in solo performance. Inspire plans on getting our music program to a level of excellence so that our school can truly be proud of our vocal program. Inspire Music founder Victor Cervantes began his journey into music while singing in church at the age of 12, and by the age of 14, had recorded his first single which sold quickly at events as the young vocalist began drawing crowds. Victor's vocal gift was greeted with tears and applause whenever he performed. After being awarded the Latin Vocal Scholarship at the prestigious Southern Methodist University's Meadow School of Arts in Dallas, Texas, he began his formal training. Soon his gospel music took him on his first singing tour throughout the Southwest. Later, he was invited to sing for the Pope John Paul II papal visit in Denver, Colorado and for international church conferences in Amsterdam, Holland. The singer explains, "While my introduction into performing gospel was an exciting time, I felt a desire to grow… and naturally, my musical tastes started to shift. I began exploring a different way to present my music and my spirituality. Music is revolutionary. My philosophy has been that artists who have the opportunity to stand in front of an audience and sing or compose also have the power to convey a positive message. That is my goal." 16 | ANCHOR
mong his musical influences he lists Stevie Wonder and A Aaron Neville; also the sounds of Enrique Iglesias, Cristian, Kike Satander and the work of Latin producer Rudy Perez. He also credits vocal powerhouse Shakira with being a major influence. Victor has opened shows, worked with, and toured with such names as Pilar Montenegro, Stefani Montiel, MDO, Patti Cabrera, and Shakira's Tour of the Mongoose in 2005. He had a rave review in Billboard Magazine, for his self-titled album, Victor Cervantes. "Opening shows for Shakira has been a big highlight for me along this journey. She provided me with great encouragement when we met. I was so impressed how she not only writes and produces her own albums, but really cares about the production details and the quality of the shows. I've learned a lot." s a teacher, Victor has had many successful students who A have won numerous awards, were admitted to the San Francisco's Boys Chorus at the highest level and into SOTA (School of the Arts), and are continuing careers in Equity Musical Productions. He also has been the musical director for the West Portal Elementary School Musical for the past two years. Leila Cobo of Billboard Magazine describes him thus: "..a soulful, velvety voice...catchy, well-crafted pop songs that immediately sound familiar, not out of triteness but strong melody lines...can work easily on Latin pop radio...a wonderful debut that deserves to be heard." We are excited to welcome Victor and his team of teachers to our campus and look forward to hearing our girls' growth in vocal performance!
A VERY MERRY HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE On December 1, parents, students, alumnae, faculty, staff, and community members gathered at this year’s Holiday Boutique. McAuley Pavilion was transformed into a festive Christmas wonderland by a team of dedicated Mercy parents where guests shopped for unique gifts from more than 40 artisans and local businesses and enjoyed festive food and drinks, a photo booth, activities, and more! Thank you to everyone who helped raise essential funds that directly support our school and our students.
THE FARKAS CENTER Mercy High School is home to the Helen and Joe Farkas Center for the Study of the Holocaust in Catholic Schools. The Center was founded in 1997 by Jim McGarry, currently a Religious Studies teacher at Mercy. The Farkas Center exists to honor Holocaust survivors, to bring them together with today’s students, and to connect this difficult history to how we act locally and globally today. The Farkas Center seeks to preserve the history of the Holocaust for future generations, and to educate both students and their instructors about social justice and moral courage. Helen Farkas was a Holocaust survivor who wrote a memoir entitled Remember the Holocaust in which she bears witness to the rise of anti-Semitism and the Nazi occupation of
Hungary. She recounts her family’s deportation to a local ghetto, the horrific Auschwitz concentration camp and her daring escape. Helen passed away last year at the age of 97. "Everything that begins must end at one time or another," Farkas said. "I was blessed to have a long life. I was blessed to have a wonderful life after the Holocaust. I was blessed to have a wonderful family to belong to, because so many of my family were murdered that I can’t tell you the feeling of belonging, how important that is." Mrs. Farkas’ generosity to Mercy continued after her death. We are incredibly appreciative of the gifts she bequeathed through her estate not only to the Farkas Center which bears her name, but also to the students of Mercy High School. WWW.MERCYHS.ORG | 17
WAYS TO
Give
Mercy’s legacy is rooted in educating young women who are fiercely determined to improve our world every day. Our 11,000 Mercy alumnae now serve as leaders and influencers nationally and internationally. Your gifts continue to shape Mercy’s legacy by advancing the mission of the school and inspiring our future leaders.
CASH GIFTS Gifts of cash, check, or credit card to Mercy High School are tax-deductible and provide immediate support. You can send gifts to:
Mercy High School Development Office 3250 19th Ave San Francisco, CA 94132
Or give online at mercyhs.org/give. MATCHING GIFTS Many companies, small and large, have matching gift programs that double or even triple individual, tax-deductible contributions made by their employees. Your employer may be one of them! Deepen your impact and stretch your giving even further by asking your employer about their matching gift program. RECURRING GIFTS Setting up a monthly, quarterly, or annual gift to Mercy is one of the best ways to show your steadfast commitment to Mercy’s mission by providing meaningful, ongoing support. We can charge your credit card automatically or send you reminders to make your gift. Contact the Development Office to set up your recurring gift today. GIFTS OF STOCK & OTHER SECURITIES Gifts of appreciated stock, mutual funds, or other securities are tax-deductible for the full fair market value of the gift and you avoid capital gains taxes, all while providing essential support to Mercy. Gifts of stock are accepted through a direct
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transmittal from your broker. Contact the Development Office for more information or instructions. AMAZONSMILE AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way to support Mercy every time you shop, at no additional cost to you. For every purchase you make, Amazon will donate a portion of that purchase to Mercy. Select Mercy as the recipient of your generosity and go to smile.amazon.com every time you shop. GIFTS-IN-KIND Mercy welcomes in-kind donations of classroom supplies, athletic equipment, and other items, as well as raffle prizes and auction items for our annual gala. Gifts of goods and services benefit Mercy and may provide you with a tax deduction. PLANNED GIFTS Mercy High School honors those who have included Mercy in their estate plans through our Planned Giving Program, Catherine’s Legacy. You can become a member of Catherine’s Legacy by: ● placing Mercy in your will ● making Mercy the beneficiary of a retirement account ● making a gift of a life insurance policy ● establishing a charitable trust ● making a gift of real estate or other tangible property These gifts provide long-term benefits to Mercy, while providing donors with tax and income benefits during their lifetimes. If you have included Mercy in your plans, please let us know by contacting the Development Office. We would love the opportunity to express our gratitude and welcome you in joining Catherine’s Legacy. For more information about making a gift of any kind, please contact Bekah Paige, Director of Development, at bpaige@mercyhs.org or 415-334-7941. Mercy High School is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Tax ID #94-1231000.
CLAWING OUR WAY UP! On February 9, nearly 250 alumnae, parents, and friends packed McAuley Pavilion for this year’s Crab Feed at Mercy, raising more than $16,000 for our students. Guests were served the best crab in the City by Mercy students and enjoyed a balloon pop raffle, performances by the Mercy Choir, a photo booth, and more! The energy in McAuley Pavilion was infectious and the evening was filled with incredible company as memories were made by all. On behalf of the entire Mercy community, thank you to all who attended and contributed to the success of this event. We are so proud to have such dedicated Mercy supporters in our community! With each Mercy event you attend, you are contributing to our students' education and the vitality of our school. We cannot thank you enough!
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WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2018 On November 2, Mercy hosted our biennial Women’s Leadership Conference (Career Day), celebrating alumnae and friends of Mercy who are making a difference in their communities. Our keynote panel was led by Catherine Jhung '97, Dr. Natasha Brasic, and Geralyn Flood. All three women attended all-girls Catholic schools–one in San Francisco (Mercy High School), one in New York City and the other in Chicago. Jhung '97 invests in startup technology companies around the United States; Brasic is a radiologist at Kaiser in San Bruno and specializes in women’s health; and Flood is a casting director in Los Angeles. Their keynote address captivated the students and demonstrated how the foundations they are receiving at Mercy can open all sorts of doors and interests that will pave the way to their future careers.
DR. NATASHA BRASIC
The student body attended breakout sessions led by more than 40 accomplished alumnae, parents, and community members presenting on Arts & Entertainment, Business & Finance, STEM & Healthcare, Government & Law and many more! The speakers inspired students to pursue their dreams and to take any opportunities that will lead to personal and professional growth. At the end of the conference, presenters, faculty, and staff enjoyed a luncheon in Rist Hall, hosted by the Advancement Office. A special congratulatory shout out was also given to alumnae guest presenter and San Francisco Fire Department Chief Joanne Hayes-White '82 on her upcoming retirement.
CATHERINE JHUNG '97
GERALYN FLOOD
Theater is Life by Ada May '13
Bridging Our Roads Together by Mary Lou Masko (Class of '76 Mercy Farmington Hills, MI)
The Write Stuff by Ana Marie Torrea '13
STEM Needs You! by Juanita Tamayo Lott '66
Advocating for Innocent Lives by Catharine Lubey Ralph '68
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Serve Your Country by Christine Borgognoni, I’ve Got My Eye on You by Jennifer Costanzo McKown '83, Sound the Alarm by Joanne Hayes-White '82, Crunch the Numbers by Marilyn Torrano Martini '83
Crunch the Numbers by Kelny Denebeim
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Rebel with a Cause by Stephanie Mischak Lyons '67
Analyze This by Meies Blagburn Matz '87
Research + Compassion = Change by Tara Gamboa-Eastman '11
Walk the Runway by Jenni Riccetti '12
Enriching Lives of Children & Adults with Challenges by Ronald Wu, Caitlin Crowley, Ben Cavara & Aimee Castro '95
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ALUMNAE CELEBRATE MERCY The Alumnae Open House, All-Class Reunion was a hit! On September 28, Skippers from every decade got their elevator passes to the 4th floor to enjoy small bites and drinks while reminiscing with classmates, looking through yearbooks, dipping their toes in the pool, meeting Mercy sisters from other classes, and walking the halls, remembering their days in uniform! It was an honor to host our alumnae and celebrate the Mercy Sisterhood together. The laughter and smiles shared by everyone who attended were infectious. You always have a home here—it is our hope that you will visit often and soon!
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The Class of '68 celebrated their 50th reunion on September 29 at the Basque Cultural Center. More than 70 alumnae gathered to celebrate this milestone. Thank you, Class of '68 for your generous class donation! "The reunion for the Class of 1968 was full of warmth and joy. Classmates enjoyed seeing each other and look forward to our next reunion." —Lynne Carberry '68
Dede Bassi Garaventa, Mary Ryan, Carol Christensen Nienaber
Arlene Ahtty McCarthy, Deena Gresh McCarthy
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Mary Lou Rivera, Joanne McGovern Carr
Donna Piva Morris, Rosemarie Maring Troccoe, Kathy Magri Woo
Diane Pigott Stanley, Marilynn Graham Hickam
Lynne Carberry, Diane Ryken
Rosemarie Maring Troccoe, Karen Krause Aeschliman
Margarita Vargas, Breda Mehigan Cassidy, Apryl Williams
Rhonda Ramos Egan, Susan Lapin
Victoria Ruiz Gonzalez, Noreen Hagerty, Elaine Fazio Dellinges
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The Class of '58 celebrated their 60th reunion on September 16 in the M Lounge at Mercy High School. More than 50 alumnae gathered to celebrate this milestone. Thank you, Class of '58 for your generous class donation! "Our 60th reunion was a great success. The weather was beautiful, the food was very good and my classmates seem to really enjoy the reunion!"—Loretta DiRienzo '58
Donna Dooley Bruzzone, Joan Scott Taylor, Betty Laskey Sullivan, Pat Delahanty Grady
Linda Hubbard Hassapakis, Pat Brown Rando
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Joan Murray Armistead, Pat Marra McGough, Anne Girimonte Down, Diane Cadden Hayes
Mary McCarthy O'Reilly, Pat Hanley Thomas
Catherine Toschi Tauber, Fran Shanley Ferry
CLASS OF 1975 43rd Reunion
The Class of '75, along with a few spouses and friends from elementary school, reunited in Rist Hall on September 23. Skippers came from Illinois, Texas, and around the Bay Area. "We were a small group but very joyous to have the opportunity to catch up, remember adventures, and see each other." –Belinda De La Rosa '75 Mary Fogarty, Denise Carr, Belinda De La Rosa, Hella Langschwager Schafner, Sabrina Collins Lawrence, Leona Dang-Kilduff, Lorrie Fogarty, Theresa Scheifler-Harris, Sue Thorpe Faina.
CLASS OF 1978 40th Reunion
The Class of '78 celebrated their 40th reunion on October 14 at Villa d’Este. Sixty classmates enjoyed lunch together and then walked over to Mercy for dessert and cocktails in the M Lounge!
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CLASS OF 1983 35th Reunion
More than 70 alumnae from the Class of '83 celebrated their 35th reunion at Mission Rock Resort on November 3. They enjoyed their time reminiscing about their days in plaid, laughing, and celebrating this milestone together!
CLASS OF 1988 30th Reunion
Members of the Class of '88 celebrated their 30th reunion at Thirsty Bear Brewing Co. on September 8. Laughs and memories were shared by all!
CLASS OF 2008 10th Reunion
"Our little group had the absolute best time roaming the halls, reminiscing about old teachers marveling at how some things – LIKE THE LIBRARY – look exactly the same as they did 10 years ago! We left already talking about what to do for our 15-year reunion!" –Veronica Granucci '08 30 | ANCHOR
Kate Conefrey Gray, Veronica Granucci, Tammy Zeng, Muriel Macaire Ma, Betsy Weidner, Victoria Ng, April Gubatina
VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS
FALL PLAY: THE THIRD WAVE
CHRISTMAS CAROLING
This year's Fall Play, The Third Wave, set in the late 1960's, is a true story about a classroom experiment in fascism gone completely out of control. A Bay Area native, Ron Jones reveals the story of a week-long exercise he created for his high school students. The Third Wave centers around a young Mr. Jones in his classroom as he tries to get his students to understand how so many individuals could be led to deny the Holocaust. This impressively poignant play is both refreshing and real during our current political climate. The students are joined by the original Mr. Jones as he expedites the plot and provides keen insight into a pivotal time in history. Since its inception, The Third Wave has gone on to be reproduced for film, TV, and print and has won several awards including "Christian Book of the Year" according to The Acorn People.
deep, unexplainable, connection to. Through solos, duets, and large groups, dancers portrayed different aspects of individual identity while still committing to the whole of the community. The dance ensemble welcomed back long-time choreographers Jhyl Reid and Monique Goldwater, as well as Mercy High School alum Patricia Lam '06, and introduced choreographer Ayana Yonesaka; with guest performances by requisitedance, a San Francisco-based, professional modern dance company.
In this year’s Winter Dance Concert, Sympathetic Vibrations, the Dance Ensemble, under new direction by Joshua Ornelas, explored what it means to find your tribe and "vibrate at similar frequencies." Many times in our lives we find a friend or a group of people that we feel a
The Mercy Choir has reassembled under the new direction of Victor Cervantes with Inspire Music and offered a bright holiday medley featuring songs from Bette Midler, Cyndi Lauper, and other seasonal favorites. The Mercy Choir delighted audiences during a quaint evening performance in the main lobby of Mercy High School. Although different from the large Winter Pops productions of the past, these empowered female vocalists offered an intimate feeling and unique experience to show-goers. Many students and families are excited to welcome the newly envisioned program and are eagerly waiting for the choir’s next appearance. MERCY HIGH SCHOOL SAN FRANCISCO VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT
Cinderella presents
BY RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN
April 5, 6, 12 & 13 7 p.m. | April 14 2 p.m. Mercy Theatre Tickets: Mercycinderella.eventbrite.com
WINTER DANCE CONCERT: SYMPATHETIC VIBRATIONS
UPCOMING SPRING MUSICAL: CINDERELLA
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ATHLETICS: FALL SPORTS RECAP Our fall sports season was one of change. All of our fall teams were led by new head coaches. Coaches Nga Tran, Raymond Wong, and Kate Girlich began their tenure on our Mercy athletics coaching staff for volleyball, tennis, and cross country respectively. We are very excited and eager to have these coaches lead our programs!
VOLLEYBALL
finished 6th place in the WBAL Skyline division but showed remarkable strength competing throughout the season. The team was led by WBAL All-League Second Team selectee Ruby Khan '19 and Honorable Mention selections Amanda Perez '21 and Jessalyn Fukumoto '20. A word from Coach Wong: "It was very rewarding to watch the team develop their tennis skills this season. The team responded very well to my coaching and the standards I introduced. Team bonding was amazing with the team having fun throughout the season. I am very fortunate that I was able to coach at Mercy and I'm looking forward to our next season, with the new challenges and goals they will present."
Varsity volleyball qualified for the Central Coast Section playoffs. The team was defeated in the first round in an exciting five-set match where they displayed a lot of heart and grit! The team was led by Zaire Best '19 and Rachel Gan '19 who were respectively named to the WBAL All-League Second Team and Honorable Mention selectee. The future of the program looks bright with a number of young players, including Jada Harris '21, contributing to our overall success. A word from coach Tran: "It was a pleasure to step into the head coaching position of a traditional and well-establised program. The players competed with pride for their school and for their teammates. I am proud of the players' ability to embrace learning new things and showing their love for Mercy on and off the court. Truly a great program to be a part of."
TENNIS
The record of this season's tennis team does not measure the hard work and improvements shown by the players. The team 32 | ANCHOR
CROSS COUNTRY
The girls competed in three WBAL meets this season, diving into a new training plan and learning the benefits of interval training, core workouts, body circuits, and hill sprints. The girls set goals at the beginning of the season for teamwork, performance, and sportsmanship. The meets were competitive and challenging and all members of the team crossed the finish lines with a sense of accomplishment. A word from Coach Girlich: "Joining Mercy as the head coach for cross country was completely unexpected. But I always appreciate a good challenge. As much as I was able to teach the team, I also learned quite a bit myself. We have a very young team with lots of rising talent."
ATHLETICS: SKIPPERS IN THE COMMUNITY We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us. —CATHERINE MCAULEY—
STUDENT INSIGHTS: I was touched hearing an eighth grader's dream about wanting to return to Guam to attend the Mercy High School there. I hope we can do more things like this, helping more families. —Jessica Avila '22 It was great to see where these families lived and how the community works together. —Angelica Balingit '21 I learned to appreciate my health and all that I have in my life. —Jasmine Cortes '21 Wrapping gifts was meaningful because it was for the families. It was a great opportunity to volunteer and be able to give back to the community. —Brenda Escobar '19
One of the core values of the Mercy Athletics Department is community. As part of our Mercy mission, we are dedicated to service and fellowship. It is meaningful when our student-athletes make a positive impact in our local community. Our varsity basketball team recently volunteered at the Family House, Inc. to help support and spread Christmas cheer to the kids and families at the residency. They helped with various tasks around the Family House – wrapping and packing gifts, hosting an arts and crafts station, and handing out some Mercy swag gifts. The day was inspirational for the girls. It was an enormous opportunity that allowed them to experience the nature of kindness and good will.
The experience was an eye-opener...these kids have gone through so much...our gifts meant a lot to them. It brought to mind my mom's frequent reminder that little things matter. —Zailea Mae Flores '22 The experience was very new and interesting...made me appreciate what I have in my life. —Nayeli Gonzalez '21 At first, I wasn't talking to the kids or to the parents. When I started feeling more comfortable, I spoke to all the different families. I hope to do this again! —Michaela Jones '22 I had a lot of fun at the Family House. I loved being able to help do something I might consider small but made such a huge impact on others. —Amanda Perez '21 I had fun today. It felt good to help families out during the holidays. —Adriana Zamora '19
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IN MEMORIAM
as of January 2019
ALUMNAE
Westine Nasser Carlomagno '62 sister of Stephanie Nasser Mazzola '64, Toni Nasser O’Brien '66 Mary Lou Connelly Degliantoni '56 sister of Jean Connelly Kerr '58, aunt of Matt Bourdet, MHS Social Science teacher Nina Lizzio Fenell '71 Pauline Kenney Helweg '63 Sylvia Smith McCrea '60 Susan Matlock Musgrove '70 Mary Cota Palmer '59 sister of Margaret Cota Castro '60, aunt of Renee Castro '93, Aimee Castro '95, Danielle Castro '96 Maureen O’Donnell Seyler '59 Kathleen Freiling Smith '69 Carol Brodie Tomasello '65 sister of Joan Brodie Curry '65, sister-in-law of Nancy Hunsucker Brodie '59, Sue Tomasello O'Leary '75 Deanne Plummer Willers '56
FAMILY
Helen Baiss mother of Bridget Baiss Howard '84 Michelle Barrosso mother of Melissa Barrosso '16 Robert Bianco brother of Sandra Bianco Breen '59 Anna Marie Bianculli mother of Teresa Bianculli Hansel '76 Joan Bourdet mother of Matthew Bourdet, MHS Social Science Teacher Mary Bruton sister of Jean Bruton Anderson '66, Shirley Bruton '70, Patrice Bruton Cotham '73✝, Karen Bruton Connell '78 Thomas Burke uncle of Ana Burke '84, Stacia Burke Ibrahim '87 Sr. Patricia Bussman, SNJM aunt of Stephanie Mazely '83 Robert Byrne, III son of Sharon Barrett Byrne '61 Robert Cantwell father of Sandra Cantwell '79, Dianne Cantwell Dronkers '81 Richard Caravelli grandfather of Vanessa Caravelli '20 Willis Casey husband of Patricia Dwyer Casey '56✝, brother-in-law of Elizabeth Dwyer Murray '60, Joan Dwyer Murphy '63, Marie Dwyer Lozano '66 Shirley Castaneda aunt of Sean Warren, MHS Assistant Athletic Director Matthew Cervelli brother of Kathie Cervelli Parker '59, Francesca Cervelli Browner '74
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CECE GONZALEZ '20
Sebastian Cimino father of Cynthia Cimino Hnatt '75 Matthew Cole son of Christine Fotinos Cole '69, nephew of Teresa Fotinos Frey '81 Sandra Collins mother of Teresa Collins Mason '83 Marilyn Cosentino mother of Lisa Cosentino '77 Norma Costello mother of Michele Costello '75, Jeanne Costello-Morris '77 Bridie Cremin mother of Kathleen Cremin Bergerson '74 John Cullen husband of Jacklyn O'Malley Cullen '60, brother-in-law of Marilyn O'Malley Hemingway '62, Rosalyn O’Malley Bradley '67 Joseph Denefeld father of Mary Elizabeth Denefeld '81 Jim Doran husband of Anne Marra Doran '56, brother-in-law of Patricia Marra McGough '58 Willa Duggan sister of Paula Duggan Metzger '56✝, Molly Duggan Dowd '59 Michael Durkin husband of Maureen Kelly Durkin '56✝, brother-in-law of Sue Kelly Harty '74 Anna Fanucchi mother of Margaret Fanucchi '81, Lydia Fanucchi Fontana '84 Michael Farrah husband of Julie Driscoll Farrah '58, father of Anne Farrah, former CAO of MHS, brother-in-law of Barbara Driscoll Callan '59, Michele Driscoll Alioto '63 Walter Farrell husband of Kathe McDonnell Farrell '58 Lucia Flaherty mother of Diane Flaherty
Petruzzella '71, Elaine Flaherty '78, Maria Flaherty de Palma '87, mother-in-law of Joan Corcoran Flaherty '79 Mary Fogarty mother of Sue Fogarty Sanchez '73, Lorrie Fogarty '75, Terry Fogarty '78 Rita Fogarty mother of Jean Fogarty Shriver '73, Jane Fogarty Gibbons '74, Mary Fogarty '75, Eileen Fogarty '83, grandmother of Katie Shriver Weibert '96, Nancy Shriver '00, Ann Shriver '02, Elizabeth Gibbons '06 Philip Francesconi uncle of Danielle Miller '11 Paul Giannini father of Samantha Giannini '97, Stefanie Giannini '00 Nancy Halloran mother of Nora Halloran '17 Jim Haugh husband of Jeanne Christensen Haugh '63, brother-in-law of Joanne Christensen Haas '65✝, Carol Christensen Nienaber '68, Geralyn Christensen Lindh '73 Elizabeth Hughes mother of Mary Hughes O'Reilly-English '72, Jane Hughes White '80, aunt of Carol West Henderson '70, Barbara West '74✝, Kathy West '76 Thomas Kerrigan brother of Laurie Kerrigan '74, MHS Science Teacher, Linda Kerrigan Penney '70 Frederick Theodore Kitt brother of RoseAnn Kitt '58 Margaret Koewler mother of Janet Reilly (Bay Scholars) Eva Kriletich mother of Teresa Kriletich Bruce '73, Lydia Kriletich Vidovich '75 Louis LaTorre father of Linda LaTorre Beltramo '65, Cindy LaTorre Baxter '68, Lori LaTorre Bernardo '75, father-in-law of Tina Prescott LaTorre '79 Cynthia Laine sister of Linda Laine, RSM '58 Lawrence Lawson father of Nancy Lawson Washmera '72✝, Lori Lawson Frischerz '78
SABRINA JARMAN '22
NATALIE RUFFNER '19
Stephen Lubey brother of Catherine Lubey Ralph '68, Christine Lubey Arriaza '71, Lorraine Lubey Bongiovanni '74, Karen Lubey Barrett '75, Janice Lubey '81, Diane Lubey Imbach '83 John (Sean) McNulty father of Teresa McNulty Duggan '80 Thomas Miller husband of Theresa Lynch Miller '67 John Monfredini father of Janet Monfredini Plumley '71 Rev. James Morris brother of Judy Morris '60 Evelyn Mullen mother of Sharon Mullen '63, Jane Mullen Spindle '65, Linda Mullen Spindle '66 Kathleen Mulligan mother of Marie Mulligan '75, Kathleen Mulligan '77, Eileen Mulligan White '81, mother-in-law of Karren Murray Mulligan '78
Terry Nelson husband of Diana Doherty Lawson Nelson '63 Patricia O’Hara sister-in-law of Annie Arceo O'Hara ’81, aunt of Elizabeth O’Hara '01 James O’Looney father of Erin O’Looney '75 Eileen O'Sullivan mother of Margaret O’Sullivan '79 Robert O’Sullivan, Sr. husband of Cheryl Robinson O‘Sullivan '62 Demetrios Papakonstantino father of Kathy Papakonstantino '89 Mira Margaret Pereira mother of Mira L. Pereira '73✝, Mary Ellen Pereira '74 Franklin Petiti father of Nora Petiti '83 Dennis Pierotti husband of Mary Daumler Pierotti '61 Matthew Plescia husband of Mary Walsh Plescia '65, brother-in-law of Maureen Walsh George '71, Margaret Walsh '74, Helen Walsh '76 Robert Quigley husband of Carol Phelan Quigley '56, brother-in-law of Patricia Phelan Veale '61 William "Bill" Ramirez father of Marguerite Ramirez Damewood '69, Theresa Ramirez Grosvenor '70, Kathleen Ramirez '72, Noelle Ramirez Marler '76 Ivo Rangel father of Tatiana Rangel '19 Gloria Riordan sister-in-law of Janelle Greggins Becerra '60, aunt of Kerry Riordan Sykes '79, Victoria McKeever Humphrey '88 Helen Major Robbins mother of Judy Major Matthews '58 Robert Ruperto step-father of Karina Mathisen, MHS Math teacher Mihran Sagatelyan father of Ani Sagatelyan
Burke '82 Espanola Sanders mother of Marguerite Sanders Carmichael '83, Achieve Program Gloria Santana mother of Helen Santana '84, Kim Santana '90 Florence Savarese mother of Rose Savarese '87 Shirley Schoen mother of Susan Schoen '77 John Sellai father of Christine Sellai '84 Phillip Sillivos husband of Mary Ellen Kelleher-Sillivos '80 Bert Simonian uncle of Lori Simonian Carpenter '75✝, Marianne Simonian Hollman '79, Deborah Simonian Leutza '84 Bill Slepnikoff husband of Therese Corsiglia Slepnikoff '70, brother-in-law of Nancy Corsiglia '59✝, Mimi Corsiglia '66 Scott St. John husband of Helen Artelis St. John '76, brother-in-law of Christine Artelis Dewan '78 Grace Ternullo mother of Christine Ternullo Retta '72 Richard Thompson father of Donna Thompson Antosiak '70 Candace Tom mother of Caitlin Tom '09 Phil Tomasello husband of Carol Brodie Tomasello '65✝, brother-in-law of Joan Brodie Currie '65, Nancy Hunsucker Brodie '59, Sue Tomasello O'Leary '75 Carole Turner mother of Christiane Turner '97✝ and former MHS Math teacher Patricia West mother of Carol West Henderson '70, Barbara West '74✝, Kathy West '76, aunt of Mary Hughes O'Reilly English '72, Jane Hughes White '80 James Wong father of Jeanette Wong '79, Leslie Wong '82
LET’S SET SAIL! ALL-ALUMNAE COASTAL CRUISE JANUARY 2020 5 Nights – Round Trip from San Francisco | Aboard the Grand Princess
January 22-27, 2020
Visit San Diego and Ensenada Wine Country and help the class of 1989 celebrate 30 years! A LIMITED NUMBER OF CABINS AVAILABLE AT THESE PRICES
Interior from
Balcony from
Mini Suite from
$499pp
$799pp
$949pp
Deposit is 20% of cruise fare | Insurance Additional | Taxes $110 pp Book by May 20, 2019 READY TO BOOK OR NEED MORE INFORMATION? CONTACT ALEXANDRA AT: Contact Alexandra Ghiozzi '89: aghiozzi@cruiseone.com, (925) 240-0932, www.cruiseone.com/aghiozzi or Georgia Wasley '09, Alumnae Development Officer, gwasley@mercyhs.org WWW.MERCYHS.ORG | 35
Non-Profit Organization
MERCY HIGH SCHOOL, SAN FRANCISCO 3250 19th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132
U.S. Postage
PAID
Mercy High School
UPCOMING EVENTS Spring Musical
April 5, 6, 12, 13, 2019 | 7 p.m. April 14, 2019 | 2 p.m. | Mercy Theatre
Spring Musical Alumnae Sip ’n Social April 13, 2019 | 5:30 p.m. | Mercy High School
Junior-Senior Prom May 3, 2019
Spring Sports Awards Banquet
May 11, 2019 | 6:00 p.m. | McAuley Pavilion
VPA Festival
May 15 & 16, 2019 | Mercy Theatre
Senior Dinner
May 30, 2019 | McAuley Pavilion
Senior Awards Assembly May 31, 2019 | Mercy Theatre
Graduation June 1, 2019
Where women graduate with fierce determination to improve their world