Distinguished Alumnae/Athletic Hall of Fame

ALUMNAE RECOGNITION FOR DISTINGUISHED ALUMNAE AND ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

On Friday, May 7, Holy Cross celebrated the three recipients of the Distinguished Alumnae Award and the two inductees into the Athletic Hall of Fame for 2021. The honorees attended an in-person event on campus along with a small number of special guests and family members. The event was livestreamed on the Holy Cross YouTube channel as well.

2021 Distinguished Alumnae:

• Helen “Jean” Gleason White ’59 • Mary Joy Ellis Hurlburt ’68 • Paula Kirlew Grant ’85

2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees:

• Patricia Dillon ’68, outstanding contributor to lacrosse • Mary Jane Walton, founder of Holy Cross tennis program

HELEN “JEAN” GLEASON WHITE ’59

Jean served with distinction in federal service for 31 years at the National Security Agency with top security clearance. She was among the first 60 women to graduate from UVA’s College of Arts and Science, and she earned a master’s degree in Information Resources Management, a Certificate of Accounting, and a Certificate in Configuration and Data Management. She holds membership in many professional and volunteer organizations, most notably the National Press Club, and is active in the American News Women’s Club. Jean is also an accomplished author of three murder mysteries (a fourth on the way) and a biography of her father-in-law, Frank Russell White, architect of the Wardman Park Hotel.

MARY JOY ELLIS HURLBURT ’68

Mary Joy began her career teaching art at St. Mary’s Ryken High School in 1985, and in 2005 was named its President. She is the first female president of a Xaverian Brotherssponsored school. During her time as president, she oversaw a comprehensive campus master plan that included major renovations, creation of a campus ministry center, and construction of a turf field and stadium. The completion during the summer of 2019 of the MIL STEM/Robotics Lab and the Donnie Williams Center, wellness center, brought the campus master plan to closure. Having led several successful capital and comprehensive campaigns, Mary Joy was able to raise significant funds for the endowment, capital projects, scholarships and financial aid. Mary Joy has served on the board of directors of numerous schools, including The Academy of the Holy Cross, and she is a past-president of the Archdiocese of Washington High School Presidents’ Association.

PAULA KIRLEW GRANT ’85

Paula is an Emmy Award-winning television and radio broadcaster and marketing/ multimedia professional who currently serves as secretary for communications for the Archdiocese of Washington and is the media spokesperson and representative of the Cardinal Archbishop. Paula previously served as director of communications for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. While at her first job at WUSA TV/CBS she became the host of a teen talk show, eventually winning her first Emmy Award as a producer. She was a radio co-host on Majic 102.3 (“Radio One”) and eventually won the prestigious “Best Individual in Radio” award from the American Women in Radio and Television. Paula has served as public relations counsel in numerous fields and hosted numerous special television programs for well-known entities such as the Children’s Miracle Network, the WB (Warner Bros. Television, now the “CW”), UPS, and the YMCA of Greater Atlanta. Paula currently serves as a board member for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. In 1989, Paula answered a dare from a friend and tried out for the national Miss Black America pageant—and won.

PATRICIA DILLON ’68

Outstanding Contributor to Lacrosse Pat came from a family of athletes and at Holy Cross, Pat played on the basketball team. Pat graduated from Towson with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education where she also played basketball and lacrosse. She soon began a 43-year career at Costabile Associates Inc., a firm providing technical assistance and cataloging for libraries. Pat also continued to be involved with lacrosse and has served as an official and an administrator for the past 38 years. Pat officiated high school games in the Washington area and umpired collegiately across the country, including many NCAA championship games. She led the Washington Lacrosse Umpires Association for years, teaching and mentoring new officials, and continues to work with WLUA as Treasurer. She’s also a long-time board member for the Potomac Chapter of US Lacrosse, also serving as Treasurer. Nationally, Pat has served in numerous roles with USL as well as with the NCAA including the Rules Committee chair, National Umpiring Committee, Executive Committee member, and Board Chair. Pat has been inducted into the Potomac Chapter Hall of Fame (2004) as well as the US Lacrosse National Hall of Fame (2008).

MARY JANE WALTON

Founder of the Holy Cross Tennis Program

A native of Boston, MA, Mary Jane graduated cum laude from the School of Nursing at Boston College. As a student she served as president of the Massachusetts Student Nurses’ Association. After graduation she taught pediatric nursing at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton, MA and married her husband Don. Her five children were always active in sports at school. Their three girls were involved in swimming, diving, track and field, soccer, and tennis at The Academy of the Holy Cross, while their sons were involved in swimming, diving and softball at St. John’s High School. In 1980, Mary Jane was asked to start and coach a tennis team at Holy Cross, which she embraced and grew. All players were accepted, and she built a program to improve each player’s ability. Since then, she has also substituted at Holy Cross as a nurse, teacher, and librarian. Mary Jane and her husband have been active for years at St. Patrick’s Church, Rockville, and Manor Country Club. Currently, she volunteers with the Gold Star Mothers of America and she and her husband participate in the Salute Military Golf Association, which works with the Wounded Warriors from Walter Reed NMMC on weekends.