Assumption Assumption College Magazine • Volume 9, Number 1 • Winter 2011
Magazine
thE liFE oF thE MinD
Photo: Dan Vaillancourt
Psychology at Work
PLUS
leadership in cognitive Behavioral therapy
Faculty Emeritus and tenure updates
assumption ranks high
From The PreSIDeNT
Assumption’s Contributions Belie Its Size
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ince 1904, Assumption College has been part of the fabric of Worcester. Our students and our graduates have contributed their time and talents in nonprofit agencies, education, healthcare, government and businesses of every size, in every field. Our faculty and staff are deeply committed to the community and can be found serving on charitable organization boards and offering their expertise as volunteers. As an institution of higher education, we have consistently demonstrated our commitment to the development of individuals in our community. Our involvement with the Worcester public schools and the Catholic schools in our region is a natural alignment of our mission and the needs of our community. We will continue to explore opportunities and implement programs that build Worcester youth and encourage them to achieve their full potential.
“our involvement with the Worcester public schools and the catholic schools in our region is a natural alignment of our mission and the needs of our community. We will continue to explore opportunities and implement programs that build Worcester youth and encourage them to achieve their full potential.” Our contributions belie our size. We have an undergraduate population of approximately 2,100 students and a modest endowment of less than $75 million. Yet last year alone, our students spent approximately 120,000 hours volunteering in and around Worcester. Economically, Assumption spends $5 million every year with local vendors. Over the last 10 years, we have spent more than $85 million on capital improvements, hiring local contractors and purchasing from
vendors to develop our campus. All that we have achieved has been done while maintaining a strong sense of fiscal responsibility to our students and their families. More than 90 percent of our students receive some form of financial aid, and in last year’s economic downturn, we provided more financial aid than ever to our current students. The fact that our endowment is modest has required that we support our operations through tuition and not endowment income. We must maintain a very conservative stewardship of our resources. Our responsibility to be good citizens of this community, which we take seriously, reflects the legacy of Fr. d’Alzon, founder of the Assumptionists, who viewed education as a means to be of service to society. We regularly open our campus to community groups like W.I.S.E. and the Worcester Children’s Chorus, and we serve as a polling site. We are proud of what we have accomplished and we look forward to a future that continues to attract bright, young minds to Worcester and retain them after graduation.
Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D. President
Photo: WorcEstEr tElEgraM anD gazEttE
Assumption College in the Worcester Community
light the night walk at assumption raises funds for cancer research.
students volunteer for rebuilding together in Worcester
a word to the W.i.s.E. – Worcester institute for senior Education keeps the intellectual dialogue going.
Winter 2011 Assumption College Magazine • Volume 9, Number 1 www.assumption.edu/magazine
Features
4 We encourage your feedback. Please address your letters, class notes and story ideas to: Assumption College Magazine Assumption College 500 Salisbury Street Worcester, MA 01609-1296 e-mail: twatkins@assumption.edu
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lynch, thea Bowman and adopt-a-student scholars
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life of the Mind: alumni in Psychology
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aaron t. Beck institute for cognitive studies
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2010 Prep reunion
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President’s council Dinner
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assumption authors
Departments
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Assumption College Magazine Assumption College ISSN 1089-3903 Winter 2011
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Editor Troy Watkins Associate Editor Elizabeth Walker Director of Public Affairs Renee Buisson Contributing Writers Fr. Dennis Gallagher, A.A. ’69 Stephen Kostrzewa Steve Morris ’72 Jessie Nixon ’10 Art Direction/Design Centuria Inc., Belmont, MA Printing The Lane Press, Burlington, VT Assumption College Magazine is published four times a year (winter, spring, summer, fall) by the office of Institutional Advancement, Assumption College, 500 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609-1296. Telephone: (508) 767-7175. Periodical Postage Paid at Worcester, Massachusetts, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Forwarding address and correction requested. Send address changes to: Office of Institutional Advancement, Assumption College, 500 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609-1296. Printed in the U.S.A., Assumption College Magazine is distributed free of charge to alumni, friends, faculty, staff, administration and parents of undergraduate students.
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Editor’s Page
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campus news
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hounds Watch
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alumni news
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class notes
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in Memoriam
26 on the cover Jane noonan rothrock ’77 is vice president of Psychological consultants, inc., in richmond, Va.
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eDITor’S LeTTer
Photo: Dan Vaillancourt
Alumni Excel in Human Services and Counseling
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ssumption alumni make their mark in virtually every field, here and around the globe. As I talk with alumni at events, on campus or in interviews for Assumption Magazine, I find a constant thread – that their liberal arts education enables them to take their degrees in a variety of professional directions, often in ways they had not anticipated. This issue focuses on alumni in the field of psychology, most of whom studied psychology at Assumption. In every case, they have applied their degrees in different industries like business, education, social work and health care. Psychology continues to be one of the most popular majors for Assumption undergraduates. Three of our psychology professors recently established the Laboratory for Cognitive and Effective Science so that our students could conduct research with the faculty. We also strongly encourage internships so that students gain hands-on experience that can help them fine-tune their interest in the field. Graduate students in counseling psychology are firmly grounded in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), a programmatic characteristic that makes Assumption attractive far beyond the New England region. The Aaron T. Beck Institute for Cognitive Studies at Assumption also helps shape their experience and provides access to CBT experts from around the world. In addition, the Institute also serves as a valued
resource for mental health professionals throughout this region. Assumption has always encouraged bold forays into “the life of the mind” for all of our students. Psychology students take that knowledge, as well as their studies of literature, science, theology, philosophy and history, and combine it with their critical thinking and communication skills to create a life of meaning. That approach to learning is what makes the Assumption educational experience so distinctive. I know you’ll find this issue of the Magazine thought-provoking. Please let me know how we’re doing or what’s on your mind.
letter to the Editor A Treasure
Correction
Your alumni magazine is a treasure. Even when I don’t recognize a face or name, I still find the photography a visual pleasure with the expressions of joy and enthusiasm on the faces of your students and alumni, along with the consistent emphasis on service in the feature articles.
Graduating senior Stephanie L’Esperance ’10 was incorrectly identified in the summer 2010 issue.
Ed Powers, Former English professor, Assumption Prep School
Class Notes Submissions Guidelines Assumption College Magazine, the quarterly magazine of Assumption College, publishes Class Notes three times per year—in January, April, and August. This section of the magazine provides an opportunity for alumni (undergraduate, graduate, and Assumption Prep) to share announcements of promotions, graduate degrees, political elections or appointments, marriages or civil unions, births, adoptions, and grandchildren. The magazine does not publish engagement notices. Alumni may submit Class Notes in three ways: via e-mail to either the College (alumni@assumption.edu) or their Class Agent, or by mailing the
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Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
information to us. Additional alumni information may be reproduced from print and online clipping services. Class Notes may include photos from corporate press releases and small alumni gatherings. Group photos of Assumption graduates at a wedding reception can be posted on the Alumni Web site: www.assumption.edu/alums. A icon will be placed by the wedding announcement in Class Notes indicating a photo is posted on the Web. The editorial staff makes every effort to print announcements accurately, but cannot always verify the accuracy of information submitted for publication. Additionally, the publication of information is undertaken as a service to our alumni and does not reflect any opinion or endorsement on the part of the editorial staff or the College. weblink
Photo: taMMy WooDarD
Photo: Erika siDor
Edmund Pellegrino, M.D., georgetown university
Photo: taMMy WooDarD
President’s Lecture Series
Delia gallagher, Vatican Press corps
Distinguished Medical Ethicist Opens 2010-2011 Series “You’re going to get sick, then you enter the very heart of medical ethics,” internationally renowned medical ethicist and prolific author Edmund Pellegrino, M.D., Hon ’09, told a packed audience when he opened the third season of the President’s Lecture Series with a talk, “Whose Call is it? The Future of Medical Ethics.” Pellegrino, a professor emeritus of medicine and medical ethics at Georgetown University, explored the concept and practice of patient autonomy within today’s framework of the physician/patient relationship. “The major change that has occurred in my lifetime in medicine has been in how the physician and the patient relate to each other,” said Pellegrino, who established the Center for Clinical Bioethics at Georgetown University Medical Center and is a senior research scholar at Georgetown’s Kennedy Institute of Ethics. “When I graduated from medical school 66 years ago, the doctor was always right. Today some say that that the patient should be in charge of his or her own medical care. Today we talk about patient autonomy – or the right of the patient to refuse care, even if it’s live-saving. We respect the human dignity of the patient and have accepted his autonomy, but I believe we have overdone it.” One of the founders of contemporary bioethics, as well as a former flight surgeon during his military service, Pellegrino has been committed to the advancement of the human, theological, philosophical and ethical dimensions of medicine throughout his long and distinguished career.
Vatican CNN Analyst Shares Church Communication Insights Delia Gallagher, a member of the Vatican Press Corps and an analyst for CNN, visited the campus in October to present the second talk in the 2010-11 President’s Lecture Series (PLS). She shared observations and experiences as a secular media member and as a journalist at the Vatican during her talk, “Church and Society in Communication.” Gallagher addressed the way that media has changed with the
rabbi David Dalin, ave Maria university
immediate access of social media and the lack of thorough reporting today. She explained that the Vatican and its communication practices do not fit in well with such practices. “The Vatican follows an Italian culture … and sometimes there’s not a consideration for an international outlook as to how things may play out,” Gallagher said. “Pope Benedict XVI has a wonderful freshness of language and has a lot to offer in terms of his vision, but I don’t think it has come across [in the media].” She added that Pope John Paul II was “a natural on the world stage,” while Pope Benedict “doesn’t have that kind of ability. He is very shy and self-effacing.” She concluded, “I think the ultimate message of the Catholic Church is not something that can be communicated in the mass media.”
Rabbi David Dalin Addresses “Jewish-Catholic Relations” “John Paul II’s time as pope profoundly changed Catholic-Jewish relations in our time and for all time,” author and Professor of History and Politics at Ave Maria University Rabbi David Dalin said at the annual Rabbi Joseph Klein lecture in November, the third PLS event. His presentation, “Jewish Catholic Relations: John Paul II and the Jews,” explored John Paul II’s personal relationship with Judaism and the policies that would make him “the 20th Century’s greatest papal friend to the Jewish people,” according to Dalin. Growing up in Wadowice, Poland, among the town’s vibrant Jewish community, John Paul II developed an “unprecedented commitment to furthering Jewish-Catholic cooperation and communication” according to Dalin, a commitment that would manifest in his initiation of diplomatic relations with Israel and his historic visits to the Great Synagogue of Rome (1986) and Israel (2000). Dalin said that John Paul II’s commitment to speaking out against anti-Semitism further strengthened Catholic-Jewish relations. Under John Paul’s auspices the first official Holy See document concerning the Holocaust, “We Remember: A reflection on the Shoah,” was drafted. Dalin believes these actions began a new era of communication between Catholics and the Jewish community, one of “dialogue, not diatribe.”
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Photo: Dan Vaillancourt
CamPUS NewS
Inspiring Scholars ESTABLISHED IN 2006 BY CAROLYN AND PETER LYNCH THROUGH THE LYNCH FOUNDATION, THE LynCH SCHoLArSHiP/LEADErSHiP ProgrAM PROVIDES ONE SCHOLARSHIP EACH YEAR TO A STUDENT FROM AN INNER-CITY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN THE BOSTON ARCHDIOCESE. IN 2003 CAROLYN AND PETER LYNCH DELIVERED THE COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AT ASSUMPTION COLLEGE AND RECEIVED HONORARY DEGREES FOR THEIR REMARKABLE SUPPORT OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS.
■ Bianca Ravida ’11, Lynch Scholar “I felt at home when I stepped foot on campus for Accepted Students Day,” recalls Bianca ravida ’11. “Assumption was the first and only college I visited and I told my parents that this was the school for me.” A Saugus native, Ravida is majoring in business management with a minor in economics. She is a graduate of the Student Leadership Institute, president of the Students for Safe Choices club on campus, and an active member of the ALANA (African, Latino/Hispanic, Asian, and Native-American) Network. “These activities have helped me grow as a person because they challenge me to push myself,” she explained. “At the leadership camp, I was trained in communication and organization, which has helped me become a better speaker, leader and person.” She enjoyed the opportunity to meet Carolyn and Peter Lynch, benefactors of the Lynch Scholarship, and Katie Everett, executive director of the Lynch Foundation. “Without their support, I don’t think I’d be the person I am,” Ravida said. “I’m so grateful for the Lynch Scholarship and for the people I’ve met because of it.” Individual attention has highlighted her Assumption experience. Ravida said, “The faculty has made me feel special. I am not just a student, I am a person and they make that known to me.” After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in human resources, with aspirations of working in either a hospital or hotel.
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■ Jaclyn Meers ’13, Lynch Scholar Jaclyn Meers ’13 of Woburn visited Assumption College while on winter break during her sophomore year. “I instantly felt a connection to the campus and its overwhelming sense of community,” she said. A sophomore majoring in human services with a concentration in children and adolescents in a community setting, Meers is a theatre arts minor. She is in rehearsal to perform in Assumption Theatre’s spring musical, “Children of Eden,” and went to New Orleans during winter break on a service mission through Campus Ministry. “I find it so fulfilling and rewarding to be a part of a community that helps those in need,” said Meers. “I’m very fortunate that the people I have met through the Lynch Scholarship have helped to open doors to my future. The guidance that Allen Bruehl, director of the Academic Support Center, and Tom Ryan, vice president for Institutional Advancement, have provided me, in making the transition from high school to college and beyond has been so helpful and reassuring. Allen has an open door and offers great advice while Tom is always checking with me to ensure things are going well.” Meers plans to apply to Assumption’s 6-in-5 master’s program next year, which will enable her to pursue an advanced degree in rehabilitation counseling, on her way to becoming a high school guidance counselor.
■ Ryan O’Connell ’14, Lynch Scholar Lynch Scholarship recipient ryan o’Connell ’14 would not have been able to attend Assumption without the foundation’s generosity. “It gave me the opportunity to further my education,” he said. Attracted by the beautiful campus and friendly people, the Milton native has liked the College since his first visit. During his first semester, O’Connell decided to focus on his coursework before participating in any co-curricular activities, though he plans to get involved during the spring semester. (photo left to right) William king ’14, Joshua henry ’14, Bianca ravida ’11, tolitha henry ’14, ryan o’connell ’14, Jaclyn Meers ’13, roupnel Pierre ’14
Several members of the campus community have eased his transition to college. “Dr. Lance Lazar, assistant professor of history, and Fr. Richard Simpson, lecturer in theology, have both shown me that the professors care about their students. Rev. Simpson met me for lunch to discuss a paper and all of my professors knew my name within the first week of school,” he said. O’Connell has had an excellent experience at Assumption so far and knows that he made the right decision to come here. “So many people have made an effort to make me feel comfortable and welcomed here. It’s awesome.” SISTER THEA BOWMAN, FSPA, PH.D. (1947–1990) EARNED MASTER’S AND DOCTORAL DEGREES FROM THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF
AMERICA. AN INSPIRATIONAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN NUN, TEACHER AND EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT, SHE TOURED THE U.S. AND ABROAD TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THEIR GIFTS AND THEIR POTENTIAL, WHILE UNITING RACES AND SPREADING HER “MINISTRY OF JOY.” SISTER THEA WAS A CONVERT TO CATHOLICISM AND JOINED THE FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF PERPETUAL ADORATION. SiStEr tHEA BoWMAn SCHoLArSHiPS ARE AWARDED ANNUALLY TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS IN HER HONOR TO ATTEND A SELECT NUMBER OF CATHOLIC COLLEGES.
■ Joshua and Tolitha Henry ’14, Thea Bowman Scholars Coming from Roosevelt, NY, on Long Island, tolitha Henry ’14 was unsure how comfortable she’d feel at Assumption, despite attending the same college as her twin brother and fellow Thea Bowman Scholar, Joshua ’14. Fortunately, they both enrolled at Assumption , where her fears disappeared quickly. “We were greeted with open arms and offered help right away,” Tolitha recalled of their first days on campus. And they both enjoy having each other on campus, according to Joshua. “We help each other organize and strategize,” he said. “I’m sure that her support will help me get better grades.” The siblings have found many ways to get involved on campus. Joshua enjoys the competition of intramural sports and they both joined the ALANA Network which “encourages students to make Assumption a comfortable place for fellow minority students,” Joshua said. They have been inspired by the legacy of Sr. Thea Bowman and the scholarship in her name. “I want to live up to the ideals of Thea Bowman,” Tolitha said. “I want to excel and go beyond what people expect of me.” Joshua added, “We wouldn’t be here without this scholarship and I hope it will help us become successful in the future.” Planning to major in either chemistry or biology, Joshua has enjoyed the humor that Professors Hubert Meunier (chemistry) and Estaban Loustaunau (Spanish) bring to the classroom. “They are both enjoyable, but also explain material so students can understand it.” Tolitha is a political science major and has bonded with Brenda Safford ’00, director of multicultural affairs. “She’s like a mother to many of us and encourages us to push ourselves,” Tolitha said. They’re both looking toward a bright future. “I have my resume together and hope to get an internship,” said Tolitha. “I’d like to become a public administrator, working with community organizations and hope to earn a doctorate in African-American studies.” Joshua aspires to help people. “I’m interested in a career in either the medical field, science or human services,” he concluded.
■ Roupnel Pierre ’14, Thea Bowman Scholar When Irvington, NJ, native roupnel Pierre ’14 heard that he was selected to receive the Thea Bowman Scholarship, he learned all he could about this incredible woman for a paper he would write about her. “She was very intelligent and used all of the resources she could find to give back to communities,” Pierre said. “She put other people first, which is what I hope to do.” One of five in his family, Pierre shared that the Thea Bowman Scholarship is “taking much of the financial stress away from his mother,” and he is “honored to be among the first three recipients of this scholarship” at Assumption. Although an injury is keeping him from participating in intramurals, Pierre is hoping to play basketball next year and try out for the Greyhounds. In his resident director, Amelinda Vazquez, Pierre has found someone with whom he can talk. “We have similar backgrounds and we ‘clicked’ right away,” he said. “It’s great to have someone to talk to.” Visiting Instructor of History David Cohen also has made an impression on Pierre. “I enjoy his sense of humor and willingness to help.” Pierre has not declared a major, but he hopes to become an architect. “I’d like to take courses at some of the other Worcester colleges [through the Colleges of Worcester Consortium cross-registration program].” During semester break, he will travel with a group from his home parish on a two-week service mission trip to Haiti. “I want to help people and this is a great opportunity,” he said. CREATED IN 2008 THROUGH THE JOHN TINSLEY TRUST, THE JoHn AnD HELEn tinSLEy SCHoLArSHiP FunD IS AWARDED BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED TO A STUDENT WHO BENEFITED FROM THE ADOPT-A-STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT ONE OF THE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE WORCESTER DIOCESE. ONE STUDENT IN EACH CLASS RECEIVES A FULL ACADEMIC TINSLEY/ADOPT-A-STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP.
■ William King ’14, Tinsley/Adopt-A-Student Scholar Worcester native William King ’14 didn’t have far to travel to find the right college. “I chose Assumption because it offers an environment of hospitality and acceptance, which makes it so appealing,” he said. King, who plans to major in political science and sociology, is the beneficiary of an Adopt-A-Student Scholarship. “My scholarship is a once in a lifetime opportunity where scholars like me can mature spiritually, academically and socially. In addition to my family, the gracious members of the committee who selected me for this award have been most influential in my life.” He also expressed his appreciation to Wilfred and Bette Iandoli, who sponsored his Adopt-A-Student Scholarship in high school. He’s made great friends on the floor of his residence hall and they have helped him adjust to college and get involved in intramural activities. “Next semester I plan to get involved in the START Retreat program and I hope to make a difference in the life of the community,” he said. During his first semester, Nick Opanasets, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor of political science, has made an impression on King. “He is one of the most down-to-earth professors and clearly explains confusing topics,” he said. With post-graduate aspirations of earning a law degree, King hopes to become a governmental lawyer and one day represent the United States in immigration cases.
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CamPUS NewS
Four Receive Presidential Awards for Excellence A quartet of veteran faculty and staff received Presidential Awards for Excellence at the annual Fall Convocation. Leslie Choquette, Ph.D., professor of history and director of the French Institute, received the Paul Ziegler Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarship, named in honor of the venerable history professor who served the college for 39 years and passed away in 2008. On sabbatical leave this year, Dr. Choquette joined the faculty in 1989 and is widely recognized as a “scholar par excellence,” said President Francesco Cesareo. She has published 30 articles and 33 book reviews and has made 55 presentations of her work at national and international conferences. She is also the recipient of a teaching award from Harvard University, where she earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in history. This year’s recipient of the Michael O’Shea Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching is Richard Bonanno, Ph.D., associate professor of Italian. This award honors the late professor emeritus of English, who was a beloved teacher and mentor at Assumption for nearly 40 years. Dr. Bonanno, according to President Cesareo, is known for his enthusiasm for his work and his students and for the dynamism he displays in the classroom. He earned both an M.A. and Ph.D. from Rutgers University and joined the Assumption faculty in 2002. Associate Professor of Geography Kevin Hickey P’99 received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Service. A member of the Assumption faculty since 1972, Hickey has served at the College’s faculty representative to the National Collegiate Athletic Association since 1988, overseeing academic eligibility for 400 student/athletes.
leslie choquette, Ph.D.
He is also the public address announcer for home basketball and football games. Hickey was commended for his dedication to students and athletes, which has helped to maintain Assumption’s student/athlete graduation rate to rank among the top 20 percent of colleges nationwide. He holds master’s degrees from both Boston and Harvard universities. Neil Castronovo, Ph.D., dean of student development, received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Contribution to the Mission. A faithful servant of the College since 1985, Dr. Castronovo consistently serves on numerous committees, putting first the needs and the betterment of the Assumption community. He is highly respected by his co-workers and peers and holds a B.A. and M.A. from Catholic University, an M.A.T. from Johns Hopkins and a Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth.
Four faculty members appointed to Emeritus status
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neil castronovo, President cesareo, kevin hickey and richard Bonanno
Prof. linda ammons
Prof. Duane Berquist
Prof. stuart lynn
Prof. charles Brusard
Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
Four dedicated and distinguished faculty members were appointed to emeritus status this fall, announced President Francesco Cesareo. “Professors Linda Ammons, Duane Berquist, Charles Brusard and Stuart Lynn have served Assumption College with honor and distinction in their respective disciplines,” he said. “These appointments are made with the full support of the Office of the Provost and the unanimous recommendation of their departments.” Professor Linda Ammons, appointed professor emerita of anthropology, has been held in high esteem by her students as a challenging and fair-minded teacher during her 25 years of service to Assumption. Her colleagues have valued her calm presence, thoughtful demeanor and prudential wisdom.
Professor Duane Berquist, appointed professor emeritus of philosophy, has modeled what it means to be a Christian scholar and a true gentleman of the academy during his 40 years of service to the College. Professor Stuart Lynn, appointed professor emeritus of economics, has been an exemplary faculty member who has been greatly admired by his colleagues during his long and meritorious service to Assumption and its students. Professor Charles Brusard, appointed professor emeritus of mathematics, has modeled what it means to be a dedicated teacher, colleague par excellence and faculty leader throughout his long and distinguished service to the College over more than four decades. He has earned the affection and respect of all within the Assumption community.
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New Tenure-Track Faculty
Mark z. christensen
aisling s. Dugan
allison Machlis Meyer
Professor Dobski Speaks on Shakespeare and Modern Political Policy
Brian D. Volz Professor Dobski (center)
Four tenure-track faculty members joined the Assumption community this fall. they are:
Mark Z. Christensen, assistant professor of history (Latin American history) Professor Christensen earned a Ph.D. in history in 2010 from The Pennsylvania State University. He was awarded a two-month residency research grant from the Friends of the Princeton University Library, as well as an Academy of American Franciscan History Dissertation Fellowship and various travel awards. His doctoral project, using the Nahuatl and Yacatec Maya languages, was titled Nahua and Maya Catholicisms: Ecclesiastical Texts and Local Religion in Colonial Central Mexico and Yucatan. Aisling S. Dugan, assistant professor of biology (microbiology) Professor Dugan earned a Ph.D. in biology and medicine in 2008 at Brown University. She was a Howard Hughes Postdoctoral Research Associate at Tufts University and a postdoctoral research associate at Brown University. She has held fellowships from the National Institutes of Health and from the institutions where she studied. One of her NIH grants was a curriculum development grant, Great Diseases: a Collaborative Approach to Real World Science in the Classroom. She is an associate member of the American Society for Virology; her research has focused on the host-pathogen relationship for viruses and bacteria.
Allison Machlis Meyer, assistant professor of English (Shakespeare and early modern literature) Professor Meyer earned a Ph.D. in English in 2010 at University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. She received several travel awards and a summer research fellowship, as well as the University of Illinois Donald A. Smalley Fellowship. Meyer has made presentations at the conferences of the Shakespeare Association of America and the Group for Early Modern Cultural Studies. She has extensive experience in mentoring instructors of rhetoric. She wrote her dissertation on the topic of Agents of History: Women and Royal Politics in Early Modern Historical Narratives and Dramas. Brian D. Volz, assistant professor of economics Professor Volz earned a Ph.D. in economics in 2009 at University of Connecticut. He received the Albert E. Waugh Scholarship in recognition of academic achievement and promise as a teacher. His areas of specialization are labor economics, applied microeconomics, and industrial organization. Volz published a series of papers relating to Major League Baseball. In his dissertation, he used the technique of data envelopment analysis from the field of industrial organization to measure discrimination and productivity in the professional baseball market.
By Kelly Moran ’11, Public Affairs Intern Assumption College Assistant Professor of Political Science Bernard J. Dobski took part in the highly regarded annual “Shakespeare and the Law Series” of theatre and political debate. The event featured a dramatic reading of Henry V followed by a panel discussion regarding the justification for going to war in Iraq and expanding the powers of the President of the United States in times of crisis. Others members of the panel included two George W. Bush administration officials – host Andrew H. Card Jr., who served as White House chief of staff; and former Justice Department official John Yoo. The panel also included former trial lawyer and Suffolk University Law School Professor Michael Avery. Professor Dobski opened the panel with a discussion of the play’s political and legal themes followed by comments from Mr. Yoo and Mr. Avery. Mr. Card moderated the discussion. The event, held at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston, was sponsored by the Federalist Society’s Boston Lawyers Chapter, the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, the Massachusetts Bar Association and McCarter & English LLP.
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CamPUS NewS
Assumption Ranked Among Best Colleges in Northeast Assumption College continues to move up in national surveys of colleges and universities as a premier academic institution in the Northeast. The most recent rankings, based on national survey results, demonstrate how well Assumption competes among schools in the Northeast in terms of size, selectivity, character, value, student satisfaction and return on investment (ROI).
U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 Best Colleges Assumption College ranks #36 in U. S. News & World Report’s 2011 Best Colleges ratings of colleges and universities in the Northeast. Assumption has moved up two places in the Best Regional Universities (North) category, which includes almost 200 liberal arts colleges. This category also includes 572 schools nationwide that offer a wide range of undergraduate and master’s degree programs. In addition to moving up among Best Regional Universities, Assumption’s academic reputation score has improved based on peer assessments. The College also has improved its scores in four other weighted areas, including SAT scores. U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges rankings offer a comprehensive look at how schools compare on 16 broad indicators. They include peer assessments, retention and graduation rates, student/faculty ratio, acceptance rate and annual giving rates, among other criteria.
Princeton Review: 2011 Best in the Northeast The recently-published Princeton Review: 2011 Best Colleges: Region by Region ranks Assumption as one of the best colleges in the Northeast. Assumption is one of 218 institutions The Princeton Review recommends in the “Best in the Northeast” section of its Web site feature, “2011 Best Colleges: Region by Region.” Assumption also is featured in its book, The Best Northeastern Colleges: 2011 Edition (Random House/ Princeton Review Books). Colleges and universities included in this cross section of schools nationwide stand out as academically excellent and have strong regional reputations. Criteria for selection as a “regional best college that offers excellent academic programs” include institutional data and an 80-question student survey. Students rate their schools on everything from the accessibility of their professors to the quality of the campus life.
Barron’s Best Buys in College Education The most recent Barron’s Best Buys in College Education places Assumption College among 230 accredited four-year colleges nationwide that offer “a first-rate education at a reasonable price,” calling them “outstanding schools where costs are lower than average.” Also highlighted was the Assumption faculty’s devotion to helping students achieve their goals.
Ranks in Top 19% in PayScale’s 2010 ROI comparison PayScale, a market leader in global online compensation data, ranks Assumption high in its 2010 Return on Investment Data Package, Compare College Costs & ROI. Positioned at 163rd, Assumption is ranked in the top 19 percent of 850 colleges and universities that offer a strong rate of return, 9.9 percent over 30 years, on our graduates’ investment in tuition and other costs of attending college. Also, Assumption is ranked 25th among New England colleges for rate of return on investment. PayScale calculated how much more a college graduate of a certain school earns over 30 years of working when compared to a high school graduate, then subtracted tuition, room and board costs. The company factored the college’s graduation rate into the calculation, along with other variables, such as selfreported alumni salaries, and came up with a breakdown of whether college tuition is worth the investment. Financial aid was not factored in.
2010 Colleges of Distinction Assumption was invited to appear again in the Colleges of Distinction, 2010 edition, published by Student Horizons, Inc. Colleges of Distinction includes schools that have a “proven record” in four key areas – engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities and successful outcomes.
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Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
Photo: Dan Vaillancourt
Dunkin’ Donuts Opens on Campus A Dunkin’ Donuts opened on campus this fall in Charlie’s Café in the Hagan Campus Center. Students and Assumption staff members floated the idea of opening the restaurant and Sodexo, the College’s food service provider, followed through on the suggestion. The franchise is owned by alumni Matt & Christine Batista Doyle ’98 and offers much of the brand’s standard fare – coffee, doughnuts and bagels – as well as breakfast sandwiches. Replacing Sodexo’s coffee bar, Dunkin’ Donuts has been well-received, extending its hours to cater to the needs of the campus.
By FR. DENNIS GALLAGHER, A.A.’69, VICE PRESIDENT FOR MISSION
hat is at stake in the effort to fortify the enterprise of Catholic liberal education? One answer to that question hinges on the Catholic appreciation for the place of faith and reason in the understanding and practice of a properly human life. Heirs of the Enlightenment, we have received a decidedly truncated rationality that effectively, one might say deliberately excludes God from the sphere of intelligibility. This has led to a demotion of those questions that do not fall within the purview of an instrumental and calculating reason. The difficulty here, as it bears upon the life of the academy, is that these are arguably the most interesting questions, which have the greatest capacity to ignite and foster a love for learning. To declare them “out of bounds” is to exclude from view large swaths of intellectual ground upon which the quest for wisdom stands and to dramatically restrict the options for the consideration of the most compelling of those questions: what is the good life? At the same time this exclusion robs students of a privileged opportunity to gain some distance from the oppressive force of current alternatives. By no means the exclusive domain of philosophy and theology – however much these disciplines have pride of place in a Catholic college – these questions are the stock in trade of every field of study that claims to give an account of the richness of human experience. Implicit
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the Mission
Photo: Dan Vaillancourt
Catholic Liberal Education: What is at Stake?
in the Catholic intellectual tradition is an anthropology that takes seriously the natural inclination of the soul toward wholeness, a soul drawn toward the light of the Creator shining through the study of nature and well-ordered social arrangements. To be drawn out of oneself by a fine work of literature, to be brought to wonder about the intricacies of the natural world, to come to know the virtues required to govern well, to see the love of God reflected in the lives of the saints: in the parlance of the day, these are some of the prized “outcomes” of a Catholic liberal education. The vigilance to which we are called includes the sobering truth that none of the great products of civilization can be simply taken for granted. They can be lost. They can be lost through the imposition of alien force, and they can be lost through negligence. An education that aims to keep alive those civilizing and sanctifying works, that gives students an acquired appreciation for what is best in a culture threatened by forces from within and without, is worth every effort of mind, heart, imagination and will.
d’Alzon Sculpture Dedicated During homecoming Weekend in october, a three-figure bronze sculpture of Emmanuel d’alzon, founder of the augustinians of the assumption, was dedicated. located in the d’alzon library plaza, the life-size sculpture was one of several projects and events held by the college over the past year to celebrate the bicentennial year of Fr. d’alzon’s birth. renowned sculptor sister Margaret Beaudette, a sister of charity from Mount st. Vincent college in new york, created the sculpture, depicting Fr. d’alzon in conversation with two assumption students. For more than 30 years, sister Margaret has devoted her talents to art, teaching and creating original liturgical and religious sculptures in bronze, bonded bronze and fiberglass. her work is found in churches, hospitals and other venues across the united states as well as in south korea, Bermuda, haiti, canada, and lourdes, France. Working from her studio in the Bronx, new york, sister Margaret’s style is uniquely her own, emphasizing traditional figurative work with clarity of line and form. other bicentennial events included the inauguration of the Emmanuel d’alzon Memorial in nimes, France. assumption
college featured opening and closing liturgical celebrations, published two publications in d’alzon’s honor and hosted an academic conference in spring 2010 on the spirit of French catholicism in america. at the 2010 commencement, a President’s Medal was awarded to the assumptionists, recognizing their extraordinary contributions and honoring the d’alzon bicentennial. Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
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CamPUS NewS
Teaching, Living and Learning in Italy: New Internship Opportunity for Italian Majors Assumption College seniors majoring in Italian studies have a dreamcome-true opportunity – to apply for internships to live, study and train to teach in Italy after graduation. Assumption has been invited to participate in the international Teaching Assistant Internship in Italy program offered by the Network of Autonomous Schools of Lombardy. The invitation was extended through the Education Office of the Consulate General of Italy in Boston. Assumption joins Harvard and Brown universities, Boston College, UMass and several other select New England colleges and universities already participating in the intercultural experience program. The one- or two-semester internships are located in secondary schools near Milan. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our Italian studies majors,” said Francesco Cesareo, president of Assumption College. “The internships offer our graduates an opportunity to spend extended time in an Italian-speaking work environment that offers continuous linguistic and cultural exchanges. They also offer immersion in teacher training in the language about which our Italian majors are so passionate. The program is geared toward students who plan to teach Italian in schools in the United States.” Facilitated by the Italian Consulate in Boston, the agreement guarantees English teaching assistant internships for eligible Assumption graduates. The interns assist teachers in schools in the Lombardy region as native-language English speakers. They also teach classes in content areas that relate to their areas of competence and specific interests. The internships offer valuable experience as foreign language teachers. The 25-hour weekly program focuses on study, and teacher and language training. The interns receive a monthly stipend and can enroll in classes at a local university. “After our initial meeting with President Cesareo, we were very impressed with the college, and with his enthusiasm, abilities and effectiveness,” said Carlo Cipollone, former director of education at the Consulate General of Italy in Boston. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Assumption students. The value of the internship lies in students experiencing another country and in its school system, and testing their skills as teachers while immersed in the Italian lifestyle.” Assumption seniors with an Italian studies major or minor and a minimum 3.25 GPA (3.0 in their Italian courses) are eligible to apply for the internship. Selected applicants are recommended to the direc-
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giulia risita ’11, interning in Mantua, italy
tor of education at the Italian Consulate in Boston. If approved they are placed in a secondary school in the Lombardy region in northern Italy the following year. giulia risita ’11 of Cromwell, CT, is Assumption’s first participant in the new Teaching Assistant Internship in Italy program. Giulia, who completed her coursework last summer and will graduate in May, will intern in Mantua, Italy. “The internship provides a wonderful opportunity for students of Italian, especially those interested in undertaking careers in teaching,” said Dr. Richard Bonanno, associate professor of Italian studies, who directs the Internship in Italy program at Assumption. “The internship program promotes cultural exchange, while offering a unique experience, both personal and professional, for the intern. Working with Carlo Cipollone at the Italian Consulate was a pleasure, and I have no doubt that our students will benefit for years to come. Also, this a great boost to Assumption’s program in Italian studies.” In addition to the Teaching Assistant Internship in Italy program, Assumption has signed articulation agreements with colleges and universities throughout the United States to extend academic opportunities for Assumption students. The college has agreements with University of Notre Dame’s School of Engineering for a 3-2 program in engineering, with Duke University for undergraduate and graduate degrees in environmental science, including marine science, and with Duquesne University Law School; Northeastern University in biotechnology and the health professions; New York Chiropractic College, and with the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, among other regional and national colleges and universities. For more information about Assumption’s undergraduate and graduate degree program partnerships, visit www.assumption.edu/partners.
Life of the
Mind Alumni in the field of Psychology
invisible to all but the mind’s eye, the psyche holds sway over thoughts, emotions and behavior in humans. As an academic discipline, psychology offers a window into the soul for those who study it and for those who benefit from the insights and therapies that have evolved over many centuries. At Assumption, students who major in psychology explore the science and the complexity of human thought and behavior at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. They learn through their studies, analyses and clinical experiences that understanding how the mind works – and how it heals – can raise more questions than answers. The alumni profiled in the following pages have traveled very different paths in the field of psychology. Yet each applies his or her special knowledge with competence, confidence and compassion on behalf of others.
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Photo: crittEnDEn stuDio
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Jane Noonan Rothrock ’77 Vice president, Psychological Consultants, Inc., Richmond, VA B Y T ROY WATKINS
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hen Jane noonan rothrock ’77 inquired about the position as a training coordinator with Psychological Consultants, Inc. (PCI) in Richmond, Virginia, the company was searching for someone who could work once or twice a week in a role-playing scenario, portraying a pharmaceutical sales representative. Rothrock’s degree and two years of experience as a pharmaceutical sales rep helped her to land the position. “My career has not been a straight path, but my Assumption education really prepared me to think broadly and apply my knowledge and skills creatively,” said Rothrock. “I’ve been a rehabilitation counselor, a pharmaceutical sales person, an office assistant and a clinic attendant in a county school system. In every case, I’ve found I’ve learned from my experiences and been able to apply that in the next situation.” PCI has been her professional home for the last 13 years. After two years as a training coordinator, she went full-time as the office manager, and now vice president. Established in 1953, PCI operates assessment and development centers, working primarily with pharmaceutical companies. During these programs, participants are observed in real-life management simulations exercises, resulting in detailed accounts of managers’ and sales people’s strengths and developmental needs to assess their readiness for next-level responsibilities. It is not quite what she expected to do with her degree in social rehabilitation. A native of Stratford, CT, Rothrock found Assumption to be the “right size” for her and it offered the financial aid package she needed. After realizing that a major in chemistry wasn’t for her, she became a social rehabilitation major in anticipation of pursuing a social work or counseling career. “I received a top-notch education and had a great experience at Assumption,” she says. Rothrock began her career right after graduation as a rehabilitation counselor for the State of Connecticut. She attended a training program for new counselors at the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center in Virginia. “I spent five weeks at the Center and came back with a lot of insight into my job and with a boyfriend,” she said. “We were married less than a year later and I moved to Richmond.” She and her husband settled comfortably in the community and raised a son. Rothrock’s career has changed in accordance with the priorities of her life. She found that the strong liberal arts foundation she established at Assumption has enabled her to move into different fields, and that she continues to enjoy the intellectual challenges of new professional situations. In fact, she has thrived on the various opportunities that PCI has offered. Companies from across the United States send small groups of six to 12 employees to The Jefferson Hotel in downtown Richmond, where PCI conducts all of its programs. Participants spend between one and a half to three days in simulated management situations while they are observed by PCI’s professional assessors. “We compile reports on each person’s strengths and developmental opportunities,” she explained. “Those participants who take the program seriously and work on the
areas we have outlined, along with taking advantage of the developmental resources we offer, are strong candidates for promotion and become effective managers/directors. We also do pre-employment testing for companies throughout the U.S.” While Rothrock takes part in all aspects of the assessment process, she is primarily responsible for the logistics of PCI’s programs and for marketing the company. She travels with the president of PCI to participate in and present at various conferences. The assessment business has felt the economic downturn; however, Rothrock identifies a silver lining. “In these economic times, training, development and assessment are usually among the first things trimmed from a company’s budget,” she said. “Many of our clients have cut back on a number of their programs. However, smaller biotech companies and medical device companies are seeing the benefits of developing their sales reps, so we have stayed busy. Likewise, companies also are letting middle management take early retirement, so developing their first-line managers for promotion is important. We have found that there is business to be had at every level … it just doesn’t come quite as easy.”
PCI OPERATES ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, WORKING PRIMARILY WITH PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.
DURING THESE PROGRAMS, PARTICIPANTS ARE OBSERVED IN REAL-LIFE MANAGEMENT SIMULATIONS EXERCISES. While Rothrock is very busy leading her team at PCI, she also finds time to give back to her community. A former president of the board of A Grace Place, a nonprofit adult care center, she has remained involved in all of their activities since stepping down from the board. In addition, she and husband Jim, commissioner of the Department of Rehabilitative Services for the Commonwealth of Virginia and the acting commissioner for the Department of Aging, are actively involved in their church. They also enjoy spending time with their son, daughter-in-law and two young grandchildren.
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Kevin Casey ’75 Coordinator/Healthcare for Reentry Veterans Specialist, VA B Y T ROY WATKINS
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hat is often lost behind both the enormous price tag of war and the terrible casualties are the long-term effects upon soldiers and their families. Kevin Casey ’75, deputy network homeless coordinator for the Veterans Administration New England Healthcare System, helps veterans and their families readjust to civilian life despite the numerous physical, psychological and social complications faced by servicemen and women. He oversees the prison reentry and jail diversion initiatives for veterans, among other programs (emergency shelter, residential care, etc.) that are part of the Obama administration’s five-year plan to end homelessness among veterans. “The Department of Veterans Affairs has an overwhelming task to deal with the effects of the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq,” said Casey. “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, traumatic brain injuries, major depression, and the resultant substance abuse, domestic violence, risky behavior, aggression ... and homelessness have taken their toll on service members and their families, neighbors, communities, etc. This requires a significant response on the part of the VA and other state, federal and community agencies to provide needed post-deployment services.” Casey’s call to a career of serving others germinated in Assumption’s caring community. His father had attended Assumption Prep School in the late 1930s before he left to work in a furniture factory in Gardner, MA. He followed his dad to the Prep, but when it closed in 1970, due to financial issues, he returned to Gardner for his high school diploma. Chosing Assumption College was easy for Casey. “It had the small community and academic programs I wanted and, since I was a part of the community at the Prep, I expected to receive a good education in an environment that fostered growth and learning,” he said. On campus, he befriended Brother Armand Lemaire, A.A. ’48, who still serves the College today as alumni ambassador. Casey shared, “He was always there to listen, to counsel, and to share, and he embodied the spirit of the College. He has never lost interest in me and is a lasting remembrance of that safe, caring environment.” Casey continues to support the College and enjoyed attending his 35th Reunion in June. “I think it’s important to give back to those people and institutions that influence your life,” he explained. “I try to take care of the people who take care of me.” During the summer of his sophomore year at Assumption, Casey was torn between work in a Gardner furniture factory, or a local state hospital. The state hospital’s competitive pay, board and meals sealed the deal, which began his migration toward a caring profession. After graduating with a degree in psychology, Casey gained a wealth of experience in various jobs before earning a MSW from Boston College in 1986. He became a licensed social worker in 1988 and earned an advanced certificate in family and couples therapy from Harvard University/Cambridge Hospital in 1994. “What helped me immeasurably later on as an administrator was
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I had done most of the jobs of those I oversaw; I had been a mental health worker, recreational therapist, behavioral specialist, social worker, and clinical team leader,” Casey said. “You can do so many things as a social worker, and I’ve taken advantage of that to maintain my level of interest and investment. I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of designing, developing and overseeing new programs. A number of my career moves have been for that reason. Other times I’ve made changes because of a newfound interest in a population I haven’t worked with (e.g. prison mental health, geriatrics, etc.). I’ve managed to move around and enjoy many varied experiences.”
PTSD, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES, MAJOR DEPRESSION, AND THE RESULTANT SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, RISKY BEHAVIOR , AGGRESSION
...
AND HOMELESSNESS HAVE TAKEN THEIR TOLL AND HAVE REqUIRED A SIGNIFICANT RESPONSE BY THE
VETERAN’S ADMINISTRATION. In addition to the VA, Casey is in his eighth year as an adjunct professor in the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work. He previously taught at Simmons College Graduate School of Social Work for 10 years and held a concurrent Harvard Medical School appointment for 13 years, which involved teaching, consulting and supervising. He admits, “Since I don’t do as much direct clinical work these days, the teaching and the supervision fill that void.” Casey’s 20-year-old son, Ryan, attends NYU, and is a nationally known tap dancer. And when Casey needs to unwind, golf is therapeutic. He said, “There’s nothing like spending 4-5 hours with friends, enjoying each other’s company.” With so much on his plate, he’s earned a few trips to the links.
Photo: Dan Vaillancourt
Serving Veterans Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
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Creating Community Melanie Duarte ’95, G’98 Director of Counseling, Boston Conservatory B Y E LIZABETH WALKER
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elanie Duarte came to Assumption with a longterm plan. The Topsham, Maine, native knew she wanted to major in psychology. Even as a high school student, she had imagined a career in counseling. After her first visit to Assumption, she was certain that this college would help her realize her professional dreams. “Since I was 16 and a peer counselor in high school, I’ve known that I wanted to be a counselor,” said Duarte, who is the director of counseling at the Boston Conservatory. “I also knew that Assumption was perfect for me when I was applying to colleges. Worcester is a city with a small-town feel and it was three hours from home.” Duarte followed her plan. After graduation, she enrolled in Assumption’s master’s in counseling psychology program, the Aaron T. Beck Institute for Cognitive Studies. “Two of my professors were very influential for me, though they weren’t counseling professors,” Duarte said. “When I started at Assumption, I was pretty quiet and shy. Psychology Professor Jeanie
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Barnes asked me to present at a meeting on gender differences. It meant so much that she trusted me to be the expert and to present. Also, I had Professor Castaldi for English, who also took a special interest in me and really helped me find my voice. At my master’s graduation ceremony, Professor Castaldi got up from her seat, shook my hand and gave me a little hug. That gesture stayed with me. I try to make students feel as warm and as welcome as my Assumption professors made me feel.” Duarte also has high praise for the professors in her graduate program at Assumption and the resources of the Beck Institute. She especially enjoyed those who also worked in the field. “The professors who also practiced were willing to share their mistakes as well as their successes,” she said. “They could talk about what really happened in the field – what you could expect. As a graduate student, I had a practicum at Y.O.U., Inc., doing home-based work with adolescents involved with the Department of Social Services. That was a great experience.” In her first jobs, Duarte worked with adolescents and families. For some families, their first child was transitioning to college. While there
Photo: Dan Vaillancourt
are many adjustment issues involved as children leave home, many of these young people were leaving homes where they had experienced abuse or neglect history. “I knew then that I really wanted to work with the college-age population,” Duarte said. Duarte has directed the counseling office at the Boston Conservatory since 2007. As the only professional in a clinical position, she juggles many responsibilities on the Conservatory’s urban campus. “This is my fourth school year at Boston Conservatory,” she said. “I love my job. I work individually with students, and do programming on campus and other outreach. The top four mental health issues that students here deal with – stress, depression, anxiety and relationships – are the same for students at other colleges and universities, according to national assessments. Some students also deal with body image issues because of perceived industry standards of what an actor’s or a dancer’s body should look like.” College counselors play many roles, Duarte said. In addition to individual counseling, they spend a large percentage of their time reaching out to the campus community. It is imperative that they educate faculty and staff about what to do for students who are in distress. “All colleges are reporting increases in mental health issues,” she said. “I need to work with the faculty and staff because they need to know what to look for. I also do programming in residence halls. I only see about 15 percent of our students. That’s why outreach is so important.”
COLLEGE COUNSELORS PLAY MANY ROLES. IN ADDITION TO INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, THEY SPEND A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THEIR TIME REACHING OUT TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY. Duarte is still refining her long-range career plan. This fall, she enrolled in a doctoral program at Boston University. “My plan is to move into higher education administration,” she said. “The focus of my doctoral program is on educational leadership and development with a specialty in higher education administration. I’ll be moving out of counseling, but I’ll take all of the skills and experiences with me. It’s important for me to create a small, supportive community. I learned that at Assumption where the community helped me grow as a person and as a clinician.”
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Photo: Dan Vaillancourt
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Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
Kevin J. O’Connor ’93 Educational Psychology Professor, Providence College B Y E LIZABETH WALKER
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evin J. o’Connor, Ph.D., points to “crystallizing moments” in his life as he describes his path from his first year at Assumption as a would-be business major to what is now his third year as an assistant professor in the secondary education program at Providence College. O’Connor knows from personal experience how limiting it is to have well-meaning teachers point a student in the wrong direction. O’Connor had the first of many “moments” at Assumption that ultimately led him to a career that fits – and he has found both purpose and passion. “I was very social and my high school teachers suggested that I go into sales,” O’Connor said. “After three semesters of economics and accounting, I knew that business wasn’t the path for me, even though my professors were great. Then I had a ‘crystallizing moment.’ I took a psychology class and immediately thought, ‘I want to do that.’ In a subsequent course, a professor invited me to do a poster session at a conference. Kelley O’Neil, then my classmate and now my wife, was the co-author.” O’Connor, who lives in Franklin, MA, with Kelley ’93 and their two young children, describes himself as an ideal candidate for a liberal arts curriculum like Assumption’s. He credits his parents for having a better sense of both who he was and the right academic environment for him. “My parents provided me with the aspirations – the connection from college to my future,” O’Connor said. “They knew that a small college would be ideal for me and that Assumption’s liberal arts curriculum would offer me other options if I changed my mind.” As a sophomore, O’Connor changed his mind about business and declared himself a psychology major. He never looked back. After graduation, he went on for a master’s degree at Boston University for guidance counseling, then for a doctorate in educational psychology. His focus was – and still is – on learning disabilities and gifted education. “I can’t imagine myself doing anything else,” he said. “People don’t realize that “gifted” can commingle with almost all areas of disability. For many students, their learning disability seems to trump their giftedness. That might be the student’s whole school experience – feeling as though they’re getting beat over the head for what they’re not good at.” “I was a hybrid – drawn to both psychology and education,” he said. “I worked in group therapy and in afterschool programs with children. I taught strategies for enhancing self-esteem and social skills.” Given O’Connor’s personal and professional experiences, it comes as no surprise that he encourages prospective teachers and educators to see the full value of who their students are, as he shares with them what psychology knows about education. “My first teaching job was in a middle school in Bedford, where I got a part-time job as a guidance counselor the day before school began,” O’Connor said. “The principal also let me teach two classes. What a great experience for a school counselor. It really grounded me and prepared me to be a professor of education – to traverse and blend education and psychology.”
O’Connor’s next crystallizing moment happened at a workshop where a professor from UConn talked about differentiating the curriculum for students of different abilities. Intrigued by the concept, he went up to speak with her and she invited him to have a conversation about furthering his education.
TEACHERS HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO RELATE TO THEIR STUDENTS AND TO DEVELOP A LEVEL OF TRUST.
THEY ALSO
NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE COMPLEX NATURE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A STUDENT. “While I worked on my doctorate at UConn, I had an assistantship in the office for disabilities,” O’Connor said. “For three years, I saw the downside of pigeon-holing kids. I think teaching has to be a relationship. Teachers have to know how to relate to their students and to develop a level of trust. They also need to be aware of the complex nature of what it means to be a student and the rich diversity that exists in their students – including their differences in ability.” In his clinical work O’Connor focused on the disconnect in the lives of gifted students who have learning disabilities. “These are the students who have a frustrating dichotomy of abilities,” he said. “Perfectionism, or the inability to put ink on paper, can indicate organization or planning concerns. A lot of cognitive process goes into writing a paper or taking notes in class.” O’Connor helps students with learning disabilities and their parents talk about college and the inevitable transition issues. “Kids traverse K-12 education with a lot of help from others,” O’Connor said. “When the postsecondary transition comes, students with learning disabilities need to learn to advocate for themselves. Some kids just need more effective study skills as an intervention, not Freud.” They also need to be prepared for those moments of clarity when a new idea or opportunity reveals a new career path that might just be a perfect fit for their interests, passions – and abilities.
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Combining Academic Rigor and Clinical Excellence Assumption’s Aaron T. Beck Institute for Cognitive Studies and the Counseling Psychology Graduate Program
leonard Doerfler, Ph.D., director of the aaron t. Beck institute for cognitive studies meeting with sara Bilbao, M.a. ’11 counseling Psychology candidate
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epression. Anxiety. Alcohol or drug abuse. These mental health issues can have an enormous personal impact on families and exact a huge toll on work productivity. There are as many treatment options – medication, psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to name a few – as there are schools of thought in psychology to address these issues. But one treatment option, CBT, has emerged as especially effective in treating a variety of conditions and disorders without medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy is fully embraced as a foundational focus of the graduate program in counseling psychology at Assumption. The Aaron T. Beck Institute for Cognitive Studies, which was established on campus in 1996, is known both nationally and globally as a proponent and a resource for this type of therapy. Named for Aaron T. Beck, M.D., a pioneer in CBT, it is one of only two institutes bearing his name. “The Aaron T. Beck Institute for Cognitive Studies at Assumption is an incredible resource for our psychology graduate students and our undergraduates, as well as mental health professionals in this region,” says Leonard Doerfler, Ph.D., director of the Institute. “Our Institute annually offers four to five programs about specific CBT topics that provide continuing education credits for mental health professionals and that complement the academic course work for our graduate students.” Extensive research has demonstrated that people who experience depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, personality disorders and relationship problems benefit from CBT. Working with a psychologist, patients examine their self-defeating thoughts and change specific behaviors, using CBT strategies. It has proven to be a very effective alternative to medication. The United Kingdom recently announced a nationwide initiative to utilize CBT treatment where appropriate. A review of the economic impact of treating depression and anxiety within the healthcare system prompted the British government to make a 10-year, 300-millionGBP (British pound sterling) commitment to train or retrain mental health professionals in CBT to treat patients more effectively and save long-term health care expenses. The Aaron T. Beck Institute has hosted
programs focused on topics such as “Treating the Phases of Bipolar Disorder in Adulthood,” “Cognitive Therapy For Obsessions,” and “Strategies for Helping Individuals Who Have an Over-Eating Disorder or Binge Eating Disorders.” Guest speakers have come from Canada, the United Kingdom, and throughout the United States. “The fact that mental health professionals in this region have easy access to hear nationally and internationally regarded researchers, scholars and clinicians is extremely beneficial,” says Barent Walsh, Ph.D., executive director of The Bridge, a human services agency in Worcester comprised of 40 programs. “Our programs are committed to treatment using evidence-based practice models, specifically CBT. The Institute and Assumption’s graduate counseling program are firmly grounded in CBT and the latest developments in that area.” “Assumption’s graduate program is distinctive because of the Aaron T. Beck Institute,” says Doerfler. “Our faculty are involved with cutting-edge research focused on how CBT can be applied in any number of situations, including children experiencing bipolar disorders, adolescents with panic disorders and cardiac patients experiencing post-traumatic stress.” The Counseling Psychology graduate program and the Aaron T. Beck Institute attract attention nationwide. One graduate student, Sara Bilbao, came from Texas to Worcester after learning about Assumption’s 60-credit master’s degree program that emphasizes cognitive behavioral therapy. “I wanted a graduate program that would prepare me to be a clinician, without necessarily pursuing a Ph.D.,” says Bilbao. “I definitely made the right choice.” “The Assumption College master’s program in counseling program is our preferred source when we’re looking to hire mental health professionals to work in our programs,” says Walsh. “They understand our practice model and they hit the ground running.” As the evolving U.S. healthcare system continues to refine treatment protocols for both medical and mental health issues, CBT offers a highly effective treatment option for an array of mental health issues. Assumption and its Aaron T. Beck Institute will continue to prepare clinicians to help people with psychological issues to move toward a brighter future.
Counseling Psychology Graduate Program Faculty Leonard Doerfler, Ph.D., director of the Aaron T. Beck Institute for Cognitive Studies Regina Kuersten Hogan, Ph.D. Edmund O’Reilly, Ph.D. Peter Toscano, Ph.D., chair, department of psychology number of students 110 to 120 annually recent Employers The Bridge/Illness, Management and Recovery clinician Massachusetts Department of Public Health/Case Manager South Bay Early Intervention/Early Intervention Therapist Worcester Youth Guidance Center/Mental Health Clinician Spencer/East Brookfield Regional Schools/Director of Guidance Worcester District Court/Probation Officer
Aaron T. Beck, M.D., Hon. ’95 Aaron T. Beck, M.D., is a pioneer in the field of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which fundamentally changed the way that psychopathology is viewed and its treatment is conducted. Beck has published nearly 20 books and 550 scholarly articles on the topic. He has been listed as one of the “10 individuals who shaped the face of American Psychiatry” and one of the five most influential psychotherapists of all time. He is the president emeritus of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research, and university professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1995 Assumption College awarded Beck an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for his contributions to the development of CBT. The Institute still enjoys his active support and involvement. He has visited the Assumption campus several times in recent years to lecture on cognitive therapy and to meet with the counseling psychology program's faculty and graduate students.
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hoUNDS waTCh
Fall Sports Roundup Mario Bisol ’80 (103 points). Blaisdell was named first-team all-conference while freshman midfielder Max Roche made the all-freshman team. Senior goalkeeper Brandon Sullivan set team records for games (66), minutes (6,203) and shutouts (20).
WOMEN’S SOCCER Sophomore midfielder Nicole Savi paced the squad with five goals and a pair of assists for 12 points, as the team recorded a 4-11-2 season. Freshman defender Katie Lydon made the conference all-freshman team. David canney
FOOTBALL Head coach Cory Bailey led the Greyhounds to a 6-5 finish, the team’s first back-to-back winning seasons since 1994–95. Highlights included two wins against Division I teams, 24-9 over Wagner and 30-24 at Fordham and several outstanding individual performances and accomplishments. Senior wide receiver David Canney finished among the national leaders in receptions (86) and receiving yardage (1,046), both Hound records, while rewriting the career record book with 239 receptions for 3,012 yards, 20 touchdowns and 4,662 allpurpose yards. Canney was named Northeast10 Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Year and senior offensive tackle Matt Sidebottom earned NE-10 Offensive Lineman-of-theYear. Senior quarterback Andrew Kupec finished among the conference leaders with 2,662 yards and 22 TDs and earned a Gold Helmet and New England Player-of-the-Week award for his AC record 402 passing yards and 6 TDs in a 45-40 win over St. Anselm. Senior running back Herbert Woodard became the first Hound with two seasons of 1,000 or more rushing yards and ended his career with a record 3,695 yards, 43 TDs and 258 points . Sophomore running back Uly Gibson earned a Gold Helment and New England Player-of-the-Week honors with 239 rushing yards and three TDs in the 45-28 win over Northeast-10 Conference champion
22
FIELD HOCKEy Senior forward Brittany
herbert Woodard
Boyle led the team in scoring with three goals and three assists for nine points.
New Haven. Senior defensive tackle Michael Foley, son of former baseball player and coach Brian ’73, earned CoSIDA academic allregion honors. Canney and Sidebottom were also named to the conference’s first all-star team, while Woodard, junior offensive guard Dan Duggan and junior placekicker Brian Nowak earned second team offense. Senior defensive tackle Matt Chalmers and senior linebacker Ethan Maxfield were named to the secondteam defense.
CROSS COUNTRy Both the men’s and women’s teams competed in the N.C.A.A. regional meet.
MEN’S GOLF Senior captain Rick Bylund, whose father Steve ’80 played hockey for the Hounds, was the medalist for the fall with a 77.3 scoring average. Overall, the team finished 22nd of 37 teams at the New England regional.
VOLLEyBALL Freshman outside hitter MEN’S SOCCER With a 6-7-2 record, the team narrowly missed the conference playoffs. Senior forward Steve Blaisdell led the team in scoring with nine goals and three assists for 21 points and ended his career as the No. 2 scorer (3415 –83 points) behind only Hall of Famer
Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
nicole savi
steve Blaisdell
Lauren Ostafin led the team with 263 kills and 35 services aces.
SWIMMING The women’s swimming and diving team received votes in the national poll for the first time in its history.
lauren ostafin
aluMni EVEnts
alumniNews February 12, 2011
from the alumni association president DonnA o’neill ConnollY ’78 Fall brings back memories of our arrival on campus and the new world that was beginning for us. This year I enjoyed meeting first-year students and their families when I helped on Move-In Day. It was a great opportunity to meet future alumni and parents and offer words of encouragement and a few hugs to those who needed them. A football game and alumni reception at Fordham University (where the Greyhounds were victorious!) was well-attended by many from Assumption. Also, the trip to Yankee Stadium to see Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly ’83 play Army was a fall semester highlight for many from Central Mass. and the NY/NJ area. Fall Homecoming was combined again with Family Weekend and was a hit for all. Many families attended the Alumni Admissions program and it was standing room only to watch the football team beat St. Anselm on a glorious fall afternoon. Later, 100 alumni, families and friends celebrated the induction of a new class of Hall of Famers. Leaving the dinner that night, there was a still a crowd at the Multi-Sport Stadium as the men’s soccer team played Franklin Pierce. Breakfast with Santa continues to be a popular event, as does the Laska Yuletide Invitational, which hosted local boys’ basketball teams and sellout crowds. As always, we would like your suggestions for the alumni awards, which will be presented during Reunion Weekend. Last year’s Fr. Louis Dion Outstanding Achievement Award recipient Larry thayer ’70, and his nonprofit organization, CapeAbilities, were mentioned on Oprah in September as the recipients of proceeds from chicken potpies currently marketed by the Harry and David company. As I tell many people, “there is always an Assumption connection!” Find us on Facebook, join our networking site, attend an event or visit the campus. You’ll be glad you did.
• central Ma regional club’s annual Winter homecoming/Mini-carnival - Bring the family to see the women’s (1:30 p.m.) and men’s (3:30 p.m.) basketball teams host adelphi and enjoy a kid’s Winter Mini-carnival and congratulate the 1970–71 basketball team on the 40th anniversary of its #1 national ranking by uPi.
March 15 • central Ma President’s reception (location tBD)
March 31 • Boston regional alumni club – Boston Bruins vs. toronto Maple leafs
April 10 • central Ma regional club’s annual alumni children’s Easter – Mass, Egg hunt and Brunch
April 16 • central Ma regional club alumni reception at assumption’s presentation of “children of Eden” at Worcester’s hanover theatre
May 4 • Boston President’s reception (location tBD)
June 3-5 • reunion: a family barbecue, the alumni awards ceremony, private dinners for classes with years ending in either “6” or “1,” and much more!
Please provide us with your most current e-mail address as events, locations, times and dates can change frequently. Watch your e-mail or visit www.assumption.edu to confirm arrangements. if traveling, join fellow alumni at any regional event!
Questions? Contact Alumni Relations at 508-767-7223 or e-mail alumni@assumption.edu
Alumni Awards Nominations sought for: • Fr. louis Dion, a.a. ’35 outstanding achievement award • Jack l. Bresciani ’72 outstanding alumnus/alumna award • honorary alumnus/alumna award • young alumnus/alumna award • alumni-athletics hall of Fame Visit www.assumption.edu/alums/alumni/awards.html for detailed information and award criteria.
The 3rd annual A Very Merry Alumni Children’s Christmas Party almost 200 alumni and their families attended children’s Mass presided over by Fr. aidan Furlong, a.a.; a bountiful breakfast buffet; special christmas readings by President cesareo; beautiful entertainment by the assumption student VocE carolers directed by Dr. Michelle graveline; and a very exciting visit by santa and Mrs. claus.
Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
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aLUmNI NewS
2010Prep Reunion
the family of the late charlie Bibaud ’51. sitting: timmy, carol, taylor and alli Bibaud ac’09 standing: chip ac’79 & kathy, tim & liz, Billy Bibaud and kelly nelson.
The 16th annual Assumption Prep Reunion was attended by more than 120 alumni and friends in September. Fr. Claude grenache, A.A. AP’55, presented a talk titled “d’Alzon: Vision of an Assumptionist Education.” An Assumption trustee, Fr. Claude is the director of the Spiritual Life Center and the adviser to the Catholic community at Bentley University in Waltham. He shared a thoughtful biography of Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon, founder of the Augustinians of the Assumption. Fr. Claude shared that at the age of 24, Fr. d’Alzon wrote to a friend, “For a long time I’ve been thinking about a Catholic university, which I know would be successful given the approach I’d take.” Fr. Claude also surmised what Fr. d’Alzon might think of what Assumption College has become, as he concluded, “[Fr. d’Alzon] would be faithfilled enough to admire the devotion of [Assumption’s] professors and staff, the community spirit, the work of grace always, like the mustard seed, humble, hidden yet powerful.” Emcee Moe Boisvert AP’62 shared a touching tribute to the life and accomplishments of the late Charlie Bibaud AP’51, a former Prep basketball coach and long-time co-chair of past Prep Reunions. Several members of Charlie’s family, including his wife Carol, children and grandchildren also enjoyed a brief slideshow presentation of Charlie’s life.
Fr. roger corriveau, a.a. ’62, Moe Boisvert ’62 and gerard “Jigs” laFleche ’61
Frank landry ’45 and Fr. roland guilmain, a.a. ’45
class of 1970: Mike Berry, gene Ferland, Dan centi, ray chagnon, roland Mandler, rich riley, Paul Bachand, David Walsh and Marc courchesne
Photos: ashlEy DaigE ’07
Peter Deckers, M.D. ’58 hon. ’08 and henry Prunier ’40
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Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
2010 Hall of Fame Inductees Five former student-athletes – Thomas Connors ’83, Drew Cooper ’99, Sean Kenney ’03, Libby Lodovico West ’93 and Lisa Mastracchio Wittman ’96 – were inducted into the Alumni-Athletics Hall of Fame in October at a ceremony held during fall homecoming weekend. thomas Connors ’83 was a member of the ice hockey team’s “Arlington Connection” line, with fellow AC Hall of Famers Bob LoConte ’83 and Gerry Rochon ’83. They amassed 556 career points and were once the highest scoring line in ECAC hockey history. Connors is the fifth-leading scorer in the history of the program with 55 goals, 98 assists for 153 points. The team had a 47-34 record during his career and enjoyed its finest season with a 17-4 record in 1981–82 and a first place finish in ECAC Division III. Connors passed away on October 28, 2008. Andrew “Drew” Cooper ’99, who did not play basketball in high school, became the fourth 2,000-point scorer in Greyhound history. He received first-team all-conference, Daktronics all-region and ECAC Division II North all-star honors in each of his last three seasons. Cooper was also named a Division II Basketball Bulletin all-America as a junior and senior and an NABC (coaches) all-region and all-America in 1998–99. The Greyhounds finished 23-10 overall in 1997–98, won the NE-10 postseason tournament and earned an NCAA regional tournament berth. He also earned the Andrew Laska Award as the male athlete-of-the-year at the College as the Hounds advanced to the conference tournament final for the second straight year. After graduating, he played for three years in the International Basketball Association in both Ireland and Germany. Cooper is nearing completion of a MBA from Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY, where he also serves as assistant men’s basketball coach. Sean Kenney ’03 is generally regarded as the top tennis player in the history of the Northeast-10 Conference. During his Assumption career he led the Hounds to four conference regular-season and playoff titles and four NCAA regional tournaments. He capped his career by being named the NE-10 Conference Male Scholar Athlete-of-the-Year and earned an NCAA postgraduate scholarship. Assumption posted an overall record of 77-15 during his four years and won all 43 of its NE-10 matches. Kenney is the first NE-10 athlete to earn four Playerof-the-Year awards. He is the all-time singles (71-7 overall, 44-2 conference) and doubles (80-5, 51-0 conference) records holder, and was ranked No. 7 nationally in 2002 and ’03. A two-time academic all-region first team selection, Kenney was also a CoSIDA academic all-American and became the only person to win the Andrew Laska Award (College’s male athlete-of-the-year) four times. Kenney works for MFS Investment Management. He and wife Jessica Parriera ’04 reside in Boston. Libby Lodovico West ’93 was one of Assumption’s top tennis players, finishing her career with the third-best singles record (41-5) and the second-best doubles record (37-4). Playing with Kelley O’Neil ’93, she won the Northeast-10 Conference No. 2 singles championship as a freshman and finished second at No. 1 doubles as a senior with Hall of Famer Kristen Coker ’95. A team captain as a junior and
sitting: sean kenney ’03 and Drew cooper ’99 standing: libby lodovico West ’93, President cesareo and lisa Mastracchio Wittman ’96
senior, she was named first-team all-conference as a senior at both No. 1 singles after posting a 14-2 record and in doubles with a 16-0 slate, becoming the first and only player with an undefeated doubles record. In the USTA rankings she earned a No. 7 in singles and No. 9 in doubles in the East as a senior. West helped the team to three straight runner-up spots in the conference tournament. She earned the Rev. Armand Desautels Memorial Award as the top female senior student-athlete in 1993. Co-founder and vice president of Broward Elevator & Lift, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, where she also resides with husband Michael ’93 and sons Michael III and Parker. Lisa Mastracchio Wittman ’96 was a standout field hockey player for the Greyhounds (1992–95). She was a two-time captain as a junior and senior, earned CFHCA (coaches) all-American honors twice and played in the national all-star game as a senior. She left the program as the No. 2 scorer in Greyhound history with 30 goals, 15 assists and 75 points (now seventh). In 1992 she tallied 10 goals and two assists, helping the team to a 10-5-2 record. As a senior, she earned the Andrew Laska Award as the female athlete-of-the-year, the Rev. Armand Desautels Memorial Award as the premier female studentathlete and was named second team all-America. She and husband Michael reside in Manassas, VA, with son Christopher (4) and daughter Katie (2). She is employed by CGI Federal, an information technology consulting firm in northern Virginia.
Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
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aLUmNI NewS
President’s Council Dinner Student Speaker Alexandria Orlando ’11 and President Cesareo Provide Highlights
T
Photos: taMMy WooDarD
student speaker allie orlando ’12
David grenon, hon. ’86; Bob kenney ’65 and norm Marois ’57
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Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
he 280 alumni, parents, friends, faculty and guest attending the 28th annual President’s Council dinner on October 16 at Worcester’s Mechanics Hall celebrated the success of The Trustee Challenge, which helped raise the alumni giving rate in the 2010 Fund. Guests gathered for a reception in Washburn Hall to begin the festivities, followed by a welcome from President’s Council Chair Jim Paugh ’77 prior to dinner in the Great Hall. He introduced new President’s Council members as they received their membership symbols from President Francesco Cesareo. Individuals who have agreed to support the College annually at a level of $1,000 or more become members of the President’s Council. Membership in the Council stands at 491 as of November 23. Associate membership is extended to recent graduates to commit to an annual contribution of either $250 (alumni who graduated within 1–4 years) or $500 (for alumni who graduated within 5–9 years). Members are invited to the dinner each fall. While the guests enjoyed coffee and dessert, Assumption’s student-run male a cappella ensemble, The Offbeats, performed their own versions of “Where is the Love?” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours.” Senior Alexandria Orlando represented the student body as a guest speaker. A recipient of both the Augustine and Aquinas scholarships, Orlando studied abroad in Italy last spring, and is majoring in accounting with a 3.95 GPA. She is a member of the Honors Program and Omicron Delta Kappa (the Leadership Honors Society), and is also a resident assistant, a tutor in the Academic Support Center, and treasurer and a student government senator for her class. In her speach she thanked Assumption for a fulfilling college experience and thanked President’s Council members for helping her to afford the many opportunities she has enjoyed at the College. “I am honored to speak to the President’s Council, as your support has enabled me to be here tonight. Without your generous donations many students, including myself, would not be able to attend Assumption College. Thank you for your continuing support.” During President Cesareo’s remarks, he provided an update on the College and shared news about the progress of the Campus Ministry Center addition to the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, which will break ground in the spring and is scheduled for completion in December 2011.
Jack ’13 with kate & Don rasweiler P’13
President cesareo welcomes new members David kozak ’86 and wife cheryl
austin Potter ’10 and Brian Foley ’10 with christie & Paul Belsito ’00
President’s council chair Jim Paugh ’77
trustee steve ’69 & cindy o’Brien with Paulene & tim Mulligan ’69
sga President carleigh Baldwin ’11, kaitlin Bevins ’09, Dan Ferry ’10 and Meghan cassidy ’09 al ’68 and irene Mcgee g’71 with Maribeth DiPietro P’02
Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
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CLaSS NoTeS
ClassNotes assumption College
’66
45Th
class agEnts
Emile trahan led a talk at Worcester Art Museum as part of a series of arts and literature discussions. 50Th
Hon. Jay garcia-gregory recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of his appointment as a federal judge in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
reunion
omer LeClerc is retired. He worked at Seekonk (MA) High School as a teacher, athletic director and vice principal. He currently serves as chair of the Seekonk School Committee.
’64 John J. Barnosky of Farrell Fritz, P.C., was selected for inclusion in the list of 2010 New York Super Lawyers. His practice focuses on estate litigation; estate planning, probate and administration of estates and trusts; and taxation. Don D’Amour and wife Michele were among eight recipients of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award from the National Catholic Educational Association at the NCEA’s annual ceremony on October 4 in Washington, DC. The Seton Award is the NCEA’s highest honor, given in recognition of significant contributions to Catholic education. Long-time supporters of Assumption and Catholic education, the D’Amours $4.2 million gift to Assumption in 2008 is the largest in the College’s history and helped to endow the Fortin/Gonthier Foundations of Western Civilization Program and established the Donald and Michele D’Amour Chair in the Catholic intellectual tradition. The D’Amours were featured in the Nov. issue of Legatus Magazine, North America’s only Catholic faith & business magazine. rev. Joseph nally recently moved from pastor of St. Stephen Parish, Worcester, to minister to priests and temporary administrator of St. Ann Parish, North Oxford.
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reunion
Jim connors (connorsesquire@gmail.com) Paul kirby (pkirby@assumption.edu) geoff smith (staghart30@aol.com)
’60 ’61
the deadline for spring 2011 is February 10.
’70 Larry thayer’s CapeAbilities program (AC Magazine Summer 2009 issue) was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show in September. When Oprah was in town for Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s funeral last year, she loved the meat pies that two Cape women make – with the help of clients from CapeAbilities. The meat pies are sold via Harry & David catalogues.
’71
40Th
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’68
class agEnts
Bob Mercier (pploon2@aol.com) chuck Murphy (ts1925@aol.com)
Michael nizankiewicz authored his first book, I Did It My Way … and it wasn’t always the right way, published in 2010. The executive director/CEO of the Washington Center for Psychoanalysis, Washington, DC, Mike has nearly 40 years of experience in executive leadership and organizational development. Michael Pregot was been appointed the program coordinator of educational leadership at Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Pregot was a professor of educational leadership for five years at Iona College. Ed Sullivan was named High School Umpire of the Year in Nassau County (Long Island, NY) in June. Ed is a teacher on Long Island.
class agEnts
Lionel Lamoureux is the owner of Lamoureux Ford in E. Brookfield, winner of the 2009 President’s Award, Ford Motor Company’s highest honor. This is the 13th consecutive and 16th overall President’s Award for Lamoureux Ford. Only 225 out of nearly 3,800 dealerships receive this award for first-rate treatment of their customers throughout the life of their vehicle. tom o’Connor, director of athletics at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, was selected in June as the recipient of the 2010 Gary Cunningham Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest award presented by the NCAA’s Division IAAA Athletic Directors Association. Tom was the 2006-07 Southeast Divison Athletic Director of the Year. He served a five-year term on the prestigious NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Committee and served as its chair in 2007-08. He recently completed his 16th year at GMU, including the last 12 years as AD/assistant vice president.
’69
class agEnts ron coderre (ron.coderre@snet.net) tom Manning (manningtomd@yahoo.com)
Allen goguen has been elected chairman of the board of directors of GFA Federal Credit Union. He has been on the board since 1983 and became vice chairman in 2006. Mr. Goguen taught U.S. history in Gardner for 35 years, retiring in 2004.
Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
lou D’abramo (ldabramo@grad.msstate.edu) Dan Micari (dmicari@yahoo.com)
’72
class agEnts John DiPietro (originaljohndipietro@gmail.com) Jim Phelan (jdphelan@verizon.net)
Charles Demers, owner of AMI International, a management consulting and training company, authored and published his first book, Communicate Clearly Now, in 2010.
’73
class agEnt Maureen ryan Doyle (mryandoyle@aol.com)
rev. H. Edward Chalmers recently moved from pastor of newly established St. Bernard Parish, Fitchburg, to pastor of St. Stephen Parish, Worcester.
Send us your Class Notes online at www.assumption.edu/classnotes director of life sciences at Palmer College of Chiropractic, Port Orange, FL, where she is a professor. Mark Kowlzan was appointed in June as CEO of Packaging Corporation of America (PCA). He served for the past 10 years as a PCA senior vice president. PCA is the fifth largest producer of containerboard and corrugated packing products in the U.S., operating four paper mills and 68 product plants in 26 states.
’78
class agEnt kerry Daigle (kerry@boxboroughinsurance.com)
David Matson was named to the board of directors at Millbury National Bank. He is the fourth generation of his family to serve on the bank’s board.
Bill sutherland ’76 and Joe Barbato ’76 reunite at a Patriots game. William Connelly has authored his second book, James Madison Rules America: The Constitutional Origins of Congressional Partisanship, published in 2010. William is a politics professor at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, where he has taught for two decades. Daniel McKee, Democratic mayor of Cumberland, RI, was re-elected in November to a fifth two-year term. He amassed 64 percent of the votes.
Hartford, CT, since 2008, has been awarded tenure. His research focuses on the politics of ethnicity and immigration within contemporary Western Europe. Luis Perez has retired after 23 years as a Juvenile Court Judge. He spent 11 years as associate justice and nine as a first justice of the Worcester Juvenile Court.
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’74 rick Lincoln is retiring as police chief of Lantana, CA, after 37 years of fighting crime in Palm Beach County. He recently received special recognition at an awards ceremony that honored police officers and community activists for their work. He plans to spend time with his wife, Lynda, at their vacation house in the mountains of northern Georgia. Jay Moore, family physician, ran the Denver Marathon with his wife and children in October to support Insulin dependence through insulindependence.org, an organization which supports and inspires individuals to use exercise to manage their disease. Jay’s son has had Type 1 diabetes for 29 years.
’75 Anthony Messina, the John R. Reitemeyer Professor of Political Science at Trinity College,
Maura connelly chasse (mchasse2@comcast.net)
Bill Sutherland was promoted in November to vice president of travel services for AAA (American Automobile Association) National. He previously served for 13 years as vice president of travel for AAA Southern New England. At a New England Patriots game in the fall, Bill bumped into his freshman year roommate, Joe Barbato. A “Revolutionary Soldier” for the Patriots, Joe is president and CEO of Millbury Federal Credit Union.
’79
class agEnts roy angel (rangel@massdevelopment.com) kevin Mcsherry (kevin195774@yahoo.com)
gail Bulman was appointed chair of the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics at Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences. A member of the Syracuse faculty since 1990, she is also an associate professor of Spanish and Latin American literature and director of the program on Latin America and the Caribbean. tom Connelly officiated the Eastern Massachusetts MIAA state basketball final at Boston’s TD Garden in March. He has been officiating high school basketball for 15 years. Tom and wife Kristin reside in Amesbury with son Ryan and daughter Rachel.
’80
class agEnts
’77
Mike robinson (mr8549@att.com) colette gushue rowland (rowlandhing@aol.com) sarah thomas tracy (sjttracy@verizon.net)
Jim Phaneuf (jphaneuf@bellandhudson.com)
Monique Doyle Spencer ’80 co-authored her third book, The Real Life Body Book: A Young Woman’s Complete Guide to Health and Wellness, published in 2010. She teamed with Dr. Hope Riccioti, a Harvard Medical School Ob-Gyn. Monique is a contributing columnist for The Boston Globe.
class agEnt Cynthia Bioteau, president of Salt Lake Community College, was honored in September as one of four recipients of an Outstanding Achievement Award from the YWCA in Salt Lake City, UT. She has 30 years of experience in educational, mental health and higher education institutions. Anne Canty was promoted in August to
Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
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CLaSS NoTeS
’81
30Th
reunion
class agEnt John c. shea (johnkimshea@comcast.net)
roosevelt “Mel” Crosland is a prosperity network facilitator in San Diego, CA.
’82
class agEnts carolyn clancy (carolynmclancy@comcast.net) Phil sarocco (pwsarocco@gmail.com)
richard DesLauriers was appointed in July as Special Agent in Charge of the Boston office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). A counterintelligence and espionage investigator, Richard has 23 years of experience with the FBI and will oversee operations in MA, ME, NH and RI. He previously served as deputy assistant director of the Counterintelligence Division of at FBI headquarters in Washington since 2008. James MacKoul was ordained an Orthodox priest on 1/17/10. He graduated in May from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Theological Seminary in Brookline. He continues his job as a financial planner and resides with his family in St. Louis. Hank naughton was re-elected in November as a Massachusetts State Representative for the 12th Worcester District. He has served in the MA House of Representatives since 1995. Lisa Sutton was promoted to director of development and outreach at Opportunity Works, headquartered in Newburyport. Opportunity Works provides employment and day habilitation services for people with developmental disabilities throughout the Merrimack Valley. gregory ugalde, president and chief legal officer of T&M Building Co. in Torrington, CT, was elected as the 2010 moderator of state representatives for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and also elected as the 2011–13 NAHB New England area chairman.
’83
class agEnts
gathering for a dinner in West hartford in october were class of ’84 alumni (l-r) and former roommates Deb ovian hopper, katie greenwood o’connell, sue Dailey Malanga, therese reynolds gauthier and Maureen Bailey kelly. Ellen Moynihan Long is a recently tenured assistant professor of special education at Millersville (PA) University, where she works with Adele Ruszak, daughter of the late ray Marion ’46. Adele is an assistant professor of wellness and sport sciences. Sandra Merlini read her narrative poem and sketch “A Noble Animal” at the September meeting of the Longfellow Poetry Society, of which she is a member. Sandra is also a member of the Marlborough Artists Group and enjoys painting watercolors.
’84
class agEnt Ed McDonald (emcd6114@aol.com)
Carolyn Burbine was appointed by Abington Bank to its board of directors. She is assistant district attorney, Appellate Division, for Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz. richard greene was appointed vice president of sales/general manager of Inside Out Communications of Holliston in October.
Beth Waldron Boothe (bboothe4@gmail.com) Danielle Dugas Molleur (sixmolars@verizon.net) Mike sullivan (linchris01@aol.com)
Maura Murphy Burke was appointed principal of St. Brendan Elementary School in Boston. She has worked in Catholic education for the past 15 years. Maura lives in Braintree with husband Jim and daughters Bridget and Christine.
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Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
’87
class agEnts neil isakson (neil.isakson@worcesteracademy.org) Jackie Jones (jjones@acchs.info) scott White (scott@swhitecpa.com)
John DelPozzo was named vice president, northeast division of the Producing General Agent Marketing organization of Ohio National Financial Services, based in Cincinnati. John joined Ohio National in 2007 and will be responsible for managing regional offices in the northeast and midatlantic U.S. James trainor, Jr. was named Intelligence Division Special Agent in Charge for FBI New York. BirtHS: Alana Connolly Mitchell and husband Eric welcomed Julia Smith Mitchell, on 10/12/10.
’88
class agEnt
News to share? E-mail alumni@assumption.edu or your class agent (listed in class notes). include photos with names and graduation years of alumni pictured. Please print or type.
rob ames (rames@sovereignbank.com)
Michelle Picard has been appointed by the Arlington (MA) School Board to the newly-created position of director of early childhood and elementary education.
Send us your Class Notes online at www.assumption.edu/classnotes
’89
’91
chris Picard sawicki (sawicki3@comcast.net)
Bryan Dockett (bryan.dockett@yahoo.com)
Elaine Bruzios was appointed senior vice president of finance for North American delivery by Staples, Inc. in September. She joined Staples in 1995 and has held roles of increasing responsibilities in corporate finance, where she was named vice president assistant corporate controller in 2008. John Clancy was named president/CEO of Azuki Systems, Inc. in August. Azuki is a top mobile media provider based in Acton. John was previously the CEO of Schooner Capital and past president of Iron Mountain Digital’s business unit. richard turcott was appointed as chief marketing officer of HiveFire, a content marketing software company. He previously served in a similar position at both RatePoint and Constant Contact.
Bruce Coffin married Kimberly Cloutier on 7/19/10 at Lake Seneca, NY. Mark Mossa, S.J., recently authored his first book, Already There: Letting God Find You, published in 2010. He studies and teaches theology at Fordham University and blogs at “GODsTALKed: Pursuits of a Hyphenated Priest.” Mary Egan Aleksiewicz is the recipient of this year’s Knollwood Alumna Award, presented by the board of trustees of Notre Dame Academy in Worcester. Mary is a member of the NDA Class of 1963 and vice president of nursing and risk management at Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital in Worcester. BirtHS: Janine Cinto Symes and husband robert welcomed Elina Donoghue on 6/18/10. She joins sister Kiera (6) and brother Will (5).
class agEnt
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class agEnts cliff Jefferson (ctjeff@charter.net)
Barbara Jean Shaw took her children, Michael (11) and Emma (9) to Assumption this summer and toured the college. She writes that it looked great and that is was nice to share with her family some of the experiences she had while attending college. rob Silveri is performing as a stand-up comedian at locations throughout Massachusetts.
20Th
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class agEnt
’92
class agEnts kerry haughey Dockett (kdockett96@yahoo.com) Will Waldron (waldronw@mercersburg.edu)
Kristin Formato Cataldo has founded the law firm Cataldo & Fisher, LLC, in Woburn. The firm handles legal matters including civil litigation, criminal defense, intellectual property matters and personal injury cases.
after meeting at the ncaa lacrosse championships in Baltimore, former ac lacrosse team members visited Ed neafsey ’81 on the Jersey shore. Pictured left to right: Paul Duquette ’81, Joe Picard, Jr., Joe Picard ’81, Ed, John hackett ’81 and John hannon ’76.
New District Court Judge Janet McGuiggan ’90 Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick nominated Janet McGuiggan ’90 as a district court judge in July. confirmed and sworn in by lieutenant governor tim Murray at an october ceremony, she was appointed to Worcester central District court. Judge Mcguiggan was the head of litigation for the city of Worcester law Department, where she had served as an assistant city solicitor since 1997. highly active in the Worcester county Bar association, she previously practiced law with the Worcester firm of reardon and reardon. she earned her law degree at Wake Forest university school of law. her mother, carol, is assumption’s co-director of career services and has served the college and its student population for 25 years. Judge Mcguiggan joins timothy Bibaud, assumption’s head golf coach and son of the late charlie Bibaud ’55, as a recently appointed district court judge. Judge Bibaud, an assistant district attorney in Worcester for two decades, will serve the Western Worcester District court in East Brookfield. in his nomination of the new judges, governor Patrick said, “Each of these nominees has demonstrated extraordinary litigation expertise and a proven commitment to public service, and i am confident that they will serve the district court well.” lieutenant governor tim Murray added, “Both nominees are talented attorneys who will bring a professionalism and work ethic to the bench that i am confident will benefit our judicial system.”
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CLaSS NoTeS
Grace; and Max iori, with daughter Isabella, at a celebration of the baptism of Max’s daughter, on 7/18/10 in Greenwich, CT. Mike is a public information officer for the City of West Haven, CT
’95
class agEnts Matt kojalo (matt@kojalo.com) kiersten chapman Marich (themarichs@mac.com) cindy Denaples silva (csilva8462@gmail.com)
John giordano, DMD ’92 is a member of the Mass. army national guard Medical command.
John giordano graduated in October from the Army Medical Department’s basic officer leader course at Fort Sam Houston, TX, where he received an Academy of Health Sciences diploma from the United States Army Medical Department Center and School. He was commissioned as a Captain in November 2009 and serves with the Massachusetts Army National Guard Medical Command as a dental corps officer and reservist. He continues to maintain both his general and forensic dentistry practices in Worcester. ted Wilson has joined Waterfield Sotheby’s International Realty in Winchester.
’94
class agEnts
Jen Caissie was elected to the Massachusetts Governor’s Council, 7th District, in November. A member of the Oxford, MA, board of selectmen since 2003 and chair since 2005, Jen is a full-time attorney with a diversified law practice, which she has owned since 1998. BirtHS: Maura Connelly Loving and husband Glenn welcomed Timothy Jeffrey on 10/17/10.
’96
15Th
reunion
scott klimaj (dr.scott2@yahoo.com) Mike Walsh (mpwalsh@snet.net)
class agEnt
Michael gondek was appointed director of alumni relations at St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury in the fall. Mike Walsh, (pictured below, L-R) with son Ryan; Catherine Hopkins Zaneski, ’95, with daughter
Jennifer Lucarelli Shimer is the editor of the new Shrewsbury Patch (shrewsbury.patch.com), an online, interactive newspaper featuring news and events from Shrewsbury. Lisa Howarth Welcome was promoted to vice
Wendy Vautour Durkin (wdurkin@comcast.net)
’93
class agEnt scott cavallo (sac0019@yahoo.com)
Frank guinta, a former two-term republican mayor of Manchester, NH, was elected in November to the U.S. Congress in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. BirtHS: Meghan Moylan Anderson and husband Chris welcomed Owen Murphy on 9/14/10. He joins brothers Christopher (4) and Collin (2). The family resides in Old Lyme, CT. Meghan is a stay-at-home mom. tricia King Berube and husband Peter welcomed Logan Michael on 3/12/10. Logan joins brothers Ryan (4) and Liam (2). The family moved to Anchorage, AK, in June 2010 where Peter is a Lt. Colonel commander of the 773 Civil Engineering Squadron at Joint Base ElmendorfRichardson.
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Mike Walsh ’94, catherine hopkins zaneski ’95 and Max iori ’94 at isabella iori’s baptism.
Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
Send us your Class Notes online at www.assumption.edu/classnotes president of operations and compliance by Training Resources of America Inc. of Worcester in August. She joined the company in 2002 as regional manager of the Worcester and Fitchburg training sites and had served as statewide program director since 2007. BirtHS: Darin Haig and Chantal royerHaig ’97 announce the birth of Lillian Mae on 11/2/09. She joins sisters Sophie and Norah.
resides in Holden. Ben Pogue and wife Susan Strasser announce the birth of Hayleigh Alice Strasser-Pogue on 9/13/08. nicole Vaughn Swain and husband Justin welcomed Jackson James on 6/3/10. He joins brother Landan.
’97
class agEnt
class agEnts
’00
’02
Doug Brown (douglas_brown15@hotmail.com)
BirtHS: Amanda Ashe gibbons and husband Tom welcome Lucy Fitzgerald on 6/25/10. She joins sisters Mary (5) and Sophie (3).
BirtHS: Kristen Watson Wing and husband Michael welcomed their first child on 12/14/09, Delilah Michelle. Kristen is an academic advisor for the GEAR UP program (a federally funded college readiness program) at Springfield (MA) Central High School.
’98
’01
carl cafaro (carl.cafaro@bankofamerica.com) Jon Jankowski (jjankows@hotmail.com) anne-Marie kenney (annemariekenney@gmail.com)
tim Monahan (tmm915@hotmail.com)
Jared Bouzon (jbouz751@verizon.net) Mark cleland (mcleland@assumption.edu)
class agEnts
Jessica Perrault married Robert Boyer on 8/1/09. Scott yusinas marked a lifelong dream of being on TV, when he appeared in a few commercials which aired in the fall. During his time in the world of TV, Scott suffered heartburn for a national antacid campaign, was Gellin’ with new insoles, and followed every insomniac’s favorite butterfly. BirtHS: Kristen Picone Barricelli and husband Jeffrey announce the birth of Katherine Elizabeth on 5/12/10. Kate joins sister Ava (2). Michelle Micari Filiault and husband J.J. welcomed Landon Thames on 8/25/10. Grandfather Dan Micari ’71 shared the news. Kristen Wheelock oliver and husband Jason welcomed Olivia Elaine on 5/29/09. She joined twin brothers Michael and Nicholas (4).
’99
class agEnts lauren D’angelo (laurend7@msn.com) laura ramsdell Parrillo (laura.parrillo@gmail.com)
BirtHS: Erica Sheehan Fallon and husband Ron welcomed Chase Andrew on 4/8/10. Chase joins brothers Connor (5) and Cameron (3). Danielle Molineaux Murphy and husband David welcomed Ryan David on 4/20/10. He was welcomed home by sister Madelyn (2). The family
10Th
Cherise Price Barrett and husband Eric Barrett announced the birth of Adriana Courtney on 5/16/10. Cherise is a guidance counselor at Bay Path RVTHS in Charlton. Kelley Murphy Heneghan and husband Daniel announced the birth of Grace Kathlin on 9/3/09. They reside in NJ, just outside Philadelphia. Jason and Amanda Barbieri Patnode ’02 welcomed daughter Allie Jean on 08/06/10.
reunion
class agEnt Bill Barron married Shannon Cahoon on 4/18/09. Alumni in attendance were Michael Basile, Shane Bacchiocci, Jason Bricault, Robert Burgholzer, Nick Cafaro, Anne Mingolelli ’00 and Mike Pelose ’02. Bethann Johnson received a Ph.D. in pharmacology and experimental therapeutics from Boston University School of Medicine in April and is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Julie LePain Landesman and husband Daniel reside in Longmeadow with their daughters, Sadie (3) and Isabel (1). Julie is a Pampered Chef consultant and teaches a non-credit conversational French class at Holyoke Community College. John Stagikas recently celebrated his 10th year as a professional wrestler. He wrestled as “Hurricane” John Walters for several years and now wrestles as RJ Brewer for Lucha Libre USA. A former Greyhound wide receiver, John was trained by legendary wrestler Killer Kowalski, who passed away in 2008. BirtHS: Erin Jones Barata and husband John ’00 welcomed Elizabeth Grace on 7/12/10. She joins brother Timmy. Bill Barron and wife Shannon welcomed William Edward on 8/27/10.
class agEnts laura Daros (laura.daros@gmail.com) amy Beadle lacroix (amy.b.lacroix@gmail.com)
Paul “P.J.” Murphy and Katharine theroux ’03 were married on 5/22/10 in Springfield, MA. weblink Alumni in attendance were: Michael Brady ’03, Michelle Goulet Brady ’01, groomsman Steven Bellanti, bridesmaid Franca Bonavita ’03, groomsman Jarrid Couture, Andrew Goddard, Keegan Holt, Kristin Robidas Mauer, Matthew Puzio, groomsman Jason Puzio, Joseph Russell ’03, Lesley Simmons Sederman, Jason Speirs ’03, bridesmaid Nicole Allaire Tourigny ’03 and Tony Tourigny ’05. P.J. is a software engineer at EMC and Katie is an assistant managing editor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The couple resides in Boston. Louisa tompkins married robb McCoy ’01 on 8/7/10 in Seekonk. BirtHS: Carey rawson Davis and husband Jim announce the birth of Caden James on 9/18/10. nicole Leone Laviolette and husband Mark welcomed Lea Mary on 2/3/10. Maria rodriguez Maniaci and husband Piero ’03 welcomed their first child, Antonio, on 07/18/10. The couple was married on 2/20/09. Jennifer Allen Marino and husband Rob announce the birth of Brody on 9/30/10.
’03
class agEnt Joe Dicarlo (jdicarlo05@comcast.net)
nicole Martinelli Burchell opened Beach Way Sweet Shop in Harwich Port in 2010. She is owner/operator after previously co-owning a similar establishment. Mark D’Angelo and Sascha Werner were married on 12/19/09, during a blizzard in Newport, RI, where two feet of snow fell. Mark earned a M.A. in special education from Assumption in
Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
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2008 and is a special education teacher at Needham High School, where he also coaches baseball and football. Justin Smith, AC’s senior assistant director of admissions, was recognized in Worcester Business Journal’s 2010 “40 under Forty.” WBJ annually recognizes 40 up-and-coming business leaders under the age of 40. A 10-year survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Justin has been involved in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and currently serves as vice president of the Massachusetts chapter of L&LS and is also a member of the national board of representatives and serves on its national task force on advocacy. tom Wilkins was promoted in June to assistant athletic director for media and public relations at the University of New Hampshire. BirtHS: thom Mcnamara and wife Kristin announced the birth of Brynlee Virginia on 7/29/10. Thom is a senior quality analyst for Covidien in Mansfield.
’04
class agEnts ryan cody (ryanjcody@gmail.com) Jill Witham (jillianwitham@gmail.com)
Brian Bishop completed the Lake Placid Iron Man Triathlon in 12 hours and 32 minutes in July. After surviving a heart attack at age 28, he lost 112 pounds and has been competing in triathlons since 2005. Adrienne gardner married Lucas Snow on 7/10/10 in Latham, NY. Alumni in attendance were Tiffany Gull and Alicia Kuchar. Adrienne was recently promoted to dean of students at Ballston Spa (NY) High School. Seth Lopes was elected to The Arc of Massachusetts Board in April 2010. Seth is assistant vice president, business relationship manager of Cambridge Savings Bank in Harvard Square. He resides in South Boston. Bridget McKenney married Andrew Malachowski in Warwick, RI on 8/8/10. weblink Other Assumption alumni and students in attendance were: Erin Bennett ’06, Lindsay Warren Bolduc, Brendan Covey ’14, Hilary Fobes, Katie Gilman, Stephanie Goan Kuokkanen, Erin Markos, bridesmaid Colleen McKenney ’06, Alicia Kuchar Petteruti and Rachael Whitney. The cou-
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ple resides in Boston. Stephanie Montaquila married Joshua Sweeney on 8/8/10. Alumni in attendance included Dr. Maria Nemerowicz G’02, a lecturer in special education at Assumption. Stephanie earned a master’s degree in special education in 2007 from Lesley University and has been teaching in Hudson for four years. The couple resides in Ayer. nate Sorensen, owner of Worcester Heat and Hit quarters, was recognized in Worcester Business Journal’s 2010 “40 under Forty.” WBJ annually recognizes 40 up-and-coming business leaders under the age of 40. Hit quarters is a 30,000-square-foot indoor sports training facility in Shrewsbury that the Worcester Heat, a developmental baseball program for players of all ages, calls home.
’05
class agEnts ryan Brennan (rybrennan@gmail.com)
Erin Ahearn married Roger Burns on 8/7/10. Kristin Howdy married T. Weston Shifone on weblink 8/27/10. Classmates in attendance included: Jill Amicangelo, Sara Dolloff, Parker Gately, Jacqui Greene, Kathleen Keating, Dawn Kingston, Michelle O’Connor McLaughlin, Andrea McSherry, Kate Mulvihill, Shannon Nuzzelillo, Colleen Oteri and Stephanie Essenberg Yermalovich. Justin richards married Brigid Mullen on 7/17/10 in Sturbridge. Justin is a math teacher at Westborough High School and varsity baseball coach at Oxford High School. The couple resides in Grafton. tim rougeau and Sarah Biros were married on 6/26/10 in Pittsfield. In attendance was best man Jonathan Grabowski.
’06
5Th
reunion
class agEnts casey hatten (hatten.casey@gmail.com) Jay laperriere (jason.laperriere@gmail.com) Erica Mandeville (emandevi@assumption.edu)
Katie Burns earned a graduate degree from DeSales University in Center Valley, PA. She is a physician assistant at an ENT office in Dartmouth. Elise gross authored and published a book, titled Sa Derniere Chanson (CreateSpace, 2010).
Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
The fictional work is about a woman who reminisces about her past while walking on the beach. Casey Hatten married Emily Moffat on 8/14/10 in Woodstock, VT. Eighteen alumni from the Classes of ’77 and 2005, ’06, ’07 and ’08 attended. Christina Paskalis and Arthur rogan ’04 were married on 6/27/10, and instead of wedding favors they made a donation to Children’s Hospital in Boston. Sara Prendeville married Patrick Joyce on 7/10/10 in Stow. One of her bridesmaids was Michelle Orlando Lyons. nicole romer married Andy Triola on 6/26/10 and they reside in West Boylston. Nicole is a daycare teacher for New England Center for Children. She earned a master’s in counseling psychology from Assumption in 2008 and was a mental health clinician at a DYS-contracted residential program in North Grafton for the last two years. Leann D’Ettore Solotke is one of REALTOR Magazine’s “30 Under 30,” honoring real estate professional nationwide under the age of 30 for their business success, community involvement and leadership. Leann is president/owner of Next Home Real Estate, in Cranston, RI. She has received bronze and gold sales awards for her success, as her sales earnings has risen steadily and topped $8.9 million last year. Jessica Williams married Robert Pantazelos on 6/26/10 in Freeport, ME. Alumni in attendance were John Adams, Vanessa DeLuca, Emily Makin, Jessica Oliva and Allison Smith. The couple resides in Upton.
’07
class agEnts Frank galligan (fgalliga@yahoo.com) kristen st. Martin Marshall (kristenrose1010@gmail.com) Danielle st. Martin (dstmarti@gmail.com)
Brian Burlas was appointed head coach of the men’s and women’s cross country teams at Clark University in August. Brian is also an instructional support liaison at Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough. Jaclyn Carriveau and Mark Daniels ’06 were married on 5/1/10 in the Chapel of the Holy weblink Alumni in attendance were Marc Spirit. LePain ’65, Fr. Barry Bercier, A.A. ’67; Fr. Dennis Gallagher, A.A. ’69; Andy ’03 & Gina Piermarini
Send us your Class Notes online at www.assumption.edu/classnotes ent communities across the country. Liz Papp is pursuing an MBA at Bentley University.
’09
class agEnts stephanie Boucher (sboucher786@gmail.com) andy rudzinski (andyrudz@yahoo.com)
Alumni United Through Service (PicturED, l-r) kerry Joachim ’08, Jackie carriveau Daniels ’07, Megan chenaille ’05 and current student Mike Webber ’12 recently crossed paths in July on a catholicheart Workcamp service trip. Forty-five kids from holy Family Parish in concord and st. Brigid’s Parish in lexington volunteered for one week in Prince Frederick, MD. the group did yard work, construction, housecleaning and day visits to developmental facilities, chaperoned by a dozen adult and young adult leaders. these four assumption family members ended up together by chance as chaperones/leaders of their groups. Meghan is the coordinator of youth ministry at st. Brigid’s. kerry was a young adult leader at holy Family, where Mike is a parishioner and Jackie is a youth minister.
O’Neil ’05, Jessica Guzzi ’05, Dan Carelli ’06, Chris Harrigan ’06, Colin Potter ’06, Jason Crotty ’07, Kristen Donahue ’07, Caitlin Fitzpatrick ’07, Frank Galligan ’07, Jonas Halley ’07, Timothy Holmes ’07, Amanda Laut ’07, Bill McKinnon ’07, Christine Aubin Nawrocki ’07, Abi Peterson ’07, Chris ’08 & Christina Pandolfi Pichette ’07, Danielle St. Martin ’07, Bryan Wrenn ’07, Karyn Boys ’08, Andrew Buckley ’08, Amanda Carelli ’08, Melissa Cournoyer ’08, Krissy DeLuca ’08, Katie Durham ’08, Cait Jones ’08, Billy Lewand ’08, Kevin O’Connell ’08, Kathryn Pietrosimone ’08, Jeff Roy ’08, Holly Engvall ’09, Gerard Magnarelli ’09, Nick Montesano ’09, Melissa Nally ’09, Andrea Fandetti ’10, Pete Gati ’10 and Sarah Wyman ’10. Also in attendance were current AC students Leslie Carriveau ’12 and Hannah Donovan ’12, AC Asst. Director of Campus Ministry Stephanie McCaffrey and AC Professors Patrick Corrigan and Cathleen Stutz. Mark is a manager at Applebee’s in Sturbridge and Jaclyn is the youth minister for Holy Family Parish in Concord. Kristen Donahue and Jason Crotty were married on 8/7/10 in North Andover, the same town in which they also reside. Andrew Mahoney was one of seven (selected from among 600) to receive a 2009 Employee of
the Year award from Youth Opportunities Upheld (YOU), Inc., a Worcester-based nonprofit child welfare agency where he has worked since 2006. Andrew is a day shift supervisor. Karen Provencal married Michael Romegialli on 8/7/10 in Bristol, CT. Alumni in attendance were: Stacy Comer, Sarah Gath, bridesmaid Amanda Nadaskay ’08, Nicole Pankey, bridesmaid Lindsay Rosa and Alisha Sanzone.
’08
class agEnts kevin o’connell (oconnell@assumption.edu)
Brian garafola completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL. During the eight-week program, he completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, shipboard and aircraft safety and physical fitness. Angela Martano completed her 10-month tour of full-time community service with AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) in July. She was one of 26 NCCC team leaders who directed groups of about 10 volunteers to complete a series of six- to eight-week-long projects in differ-
Kristen Carnevale is a program director with The Charles River Center and studying for her master’s in psychology at Bridgewater State University. Ashley Chapdelaine married Vincent Ciricola on 8/7/10. Amanda Knox married Jeffrey Caputo in Westborough on 6/26/10. Mike Rodier ’06 attended. Erin Moloney is pursuing a master’s in counseling psychology at Assumption. Kimberly ricciardone is pursuing a master’s in social work at Boston University. Jackie twomey is a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest and is serving as a child advocate in Sitka, Alaska. Mitchell Welch graduated from the Connecticut State Police Academy in November. After a month as a field training officer, he was appointed as a Connecticut State Trooper.
’10
class agEnts Dan anastas (dganastas@gmail.com) Brian Foley (brfoley@assumption.edu) laura hall (laurahall1228@yahoo.com) hugo Jury (hugojury@gmail.com) austin Potter (austinbpotter@gmail.com)
Kathryn Branca is employed by Liberty Mutual. April Brunelle is a teacher at Holliston (MA) Extended Day. Kimberly Cohen joined the audit and accounting department of G.T. Reilly & Co. in Milton as a staff accountant. Michela DeLuca is volunteering a year of service to the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. She is stationed at Most Holy Trinity School in San Jose, CA. The JVCs are dedicated to living simply and working for social justice in a spiritually supportive community of volunteers who work with people living on the margins of society. tim Dupuis signed a Major League Baseball free agent contract with the Washington Nationals.
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He is expected to play this summer for the Gulf Coast League Nationals in Viera, FL. Katelyn giacoppo is an auditor for Parent McLaughlin Nangle, CPAs. Margaret giles is volunteering with Jesuit Volunteer Corps at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Houston, TX. Chelsea gilson took a cross-country road trip with her father in the fall and plans to relocate to California in January. weblink indicates that a wedding photo is Note: available online at www.assumption.edu/alums/ Alumni/weddings.html
Retiring Counselor Bill McGrath G’72 Bill McGrath G’72 recently stepped down in september after 16 years of coordinating weekly bereavement support groups at st. catherine’s catholic church in orange Park, Fl. During that time he also established a similar program at st. anastasia catholic church on anastasia island, located across the bay from st. augustine, Fl, where Bill and wife nancy reside. Bill’s deteriorating vision hastened his retirement. in 16 years, he estimates that he worked with more than 650 people who have suffered the loss of loved ones. in an article posted on st. augustine.com, he said that the group helps its members work through the bereavement process and “a facilitator’s job is to help the members help one another. When you get to know someone who has experienced the terrible pain, frustration, uncertainty and loneliness of grief, you grow to love and respect their courage and determination to carry on with their lives.” Bill holds a master’s in counseling psychology from assumption. he served his country for more than 30 years and retired as a u.s. Marine corps colonel in 1986. Bill has worked in a variety of counseling capacities in several states. his volunteer work for hospice with terminally ill patients led him to participate in bereavement support groups. in 1997, Bill and wife nancy received the catholic charities “good samaritan award” for their work with community hospice of northeast Florida.
assumption Prep
G’84 Judith Kappenman, CSJ recently self-published the biography she wrote about her grandfather, John Donahue. To Dakota and Back: The Story of an Orphan Train Rider, is available at www.lulu.com. Judith is director of the Irish Cultural Center at Elms College in Chicopee.
G’05 Mary Ellen Blunt was elected to a 10-year term on Millbury Savings Bank’s Board of Corporators. The transportation program manager for the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, Mary Ellen lives in Millbury.
G’08
Save the Date
Lauren Mcnally is a guidance counselor at Norwood High School.
September 12, 2011
G’09
Prep Reunion
Graduate alumni
G’74 Stephen Brewer was re-elected in November as a Massachusetts State Senator, representing the 2nd largest senate district in the Commonwealth, representing 29 towns in Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. He has served the Senate since 1997.
Mary Connaughton, CPA, was narrowly defeated in her bid to become the Massachusetts State Auditor, losing to Susanne Bump, who gained 49 percent of the votes to Connaughton’s 46 percent. Connaughton is a partner in the business development firm of Ascentage Group, Concord, NH. She, husband Rick and their three children reside in Framingham. Kelly Martin was appointed to teach in a crosscategorical classroom for special needs students from kindergarten through second grade in South Salem.
G’10 Sarah Aubuchon, agricultural therapist for Victory Farm, has been recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for demonstrating dedication, leadership and excellence in agricultural maintenance.
News to share? E-mail alumni@assumption.edu or your class agent (listed in class notes). include photos with names and graduation years of alumni pictured. Please print or type.
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Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
IN memorIam
george S. Elias, Ed.D. (1926-2010) He also contributed to the Americans with Disabilities Act and received a Presidential Citation from the National Council on Disability. His involvement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education enabled him to affect positive change in the lives of others through legislation designed to lift people up and help them achieve their potential. At Assumption, he leaves a legacy of alumni who received their degrees in rehabilitation counseling, special education and school guidance counseling and carry on their professional careers serving others in need. He is survived by his daughter, Nora G’98; son Louis; sister Mary; two grandsons and many nieces and nephews.
Assumption College and the world lost a pioneer of the Human Rights Movement with the death of George Elias, Ed.D., founding director of the College’s nationallyrenowned Institute for Social and Rehabilitations Services (1968) and emeritus professor of social and rehabilitation services (1966–98). A native of Boston, Dr. Elias earned a bachelor’s from Suffolk University and his M.A. and Ed.D. from Boston University. He served in the U.S. Army in the Philippines during WWII. He later wrote the guidelines for the use of psychological testing and the ethical use of test results which were included in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These guidelines were legislated into law and became guidelines for Equal Opportunity Employment.
Father Steven torraco (1953–2010) In September, the Assumption community mourned the sudden death of Fr. Steven Torraco, a dedicated professor of theology and servant to God. He came to Assumption in 1988 and served as the department chair (2004–08). Fr. Torraco made an indelible impression on many of the students he taught during his 22-year tenure. Born in Cambridge, Fr. Torraco lived much of his life in the Boston area. After setting his sights on becoming a missionary at the age of 14, he visited Brazil and contracted Malaria, which affected his health. He returned to the States, continued his seminarian studies at St. Francis de Sales Seminary in Wisconsin and was ordained a priest in 1980. He earned a master’s of divinity from Harvard University and both his master’s and doctorate from Boston College.
Donald F. yelle AP’37, ’41 Colorado Springs, CO, died June 22, 2010 Born in Holyoke, Don earned a DDS from Georgetown University. He served as a traveling dentist for the U.S. Coast Guard at bases along the gulf shore during the last few years of World War II. Don established a dental practice in North Adams in 1954, where he practiced until his 1985 retirement. He retired to Florida with his wife, Vivian, until she passed away in 2000, and then moved to Colorado to live with family in 2003. Don leaves his sons, Richard and Raymond; and five grandchildren. Francis W. Letourneau AP ’38, ’42 Auburn, MA, died October 13, 2010 Francis was owner of Medical Arts Hearing Aid Center in Worcester. An Army veteran of WWII and Korea, he was a member of the American
He was mentored by Fr. Ernest Fortin, A.A. at Boston College. Assumption’s Fortin and Gonthier Foundations of Western Civilization Program is named in part for Fr. Fortin. Fr. Torraco celebrated the Eucharist daily with the Sisters of Mercy and served as editor of Catholic International Magazine in the mid-1990s. Students and colleagues will remember Fr. Torraco for his storytelling ability. “He helped his students understand that the goal of theology is to come to know God,” said President Cesareo. “Fr. Torraco had a gift of taking students from being disinterested in what the Church teaches to arriving at an understanding of the Church’s teaching that they came to affirm and personally appropriate.” Fr. Torraco leaves his mother, Clorinda, for whom he was caretaker; brothers Daniel and Ronald, and three nieces.
Legion, La Societe Des 40 Hommes & 8 Chevaux, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Notre Dame, St. Jean de Baptiste Society, and a volunteer at Notre Dame Food Pantry. Francis leaves a son, Stephen; daughters Susan, Denise and Mimi; sister, Bertha; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and two nieces. rev. Bertrand F. Demers AP’39, ’43 Knoxville, TN, died September 16, 2010 Father Bert Demers was a longtime chaplain at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Knoxville, TN, and a missionary priest in the Philippines for 25 years. Born in Fall River, Fr. Demers was ordained a priest for the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1948. He leaves his caretakers Nanette and David Ganancial; a niece and extended family.
Leopold Borret ’50 Southbury, CT, died June 13, 2010 A former resident of Stamford, CT, Leopold leaves his wife, Mona; daughters Jeanne, Rachel, Lisa, Mona and Lizabeth; and son Peter. Armand L. Bonvouloir, Jr., M.D. AP’45, ’50 Newport, VT, died August 1, 2010 Born in North Adams, Armand was a standout basketball player at Assumption Prep and the College and was later inducted into the Alumni-Athletics Hall of Fame. He served in World War II with the U.S. Navy and later graduated from the University of Montreal’s medical school. He trained in surgery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital and worked at Orleans Medical Clinic and the North Country Memorial Hospital in Vermont for nearly 30 years. He leaves his wife of 56 years, Monique; daughters
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IN memorIam
Joanne, Celine and Odette; sons John, Richard, Jack and Paul; sisters Clair, Antoinette and Louise and several grandchildren. richard J. DesLauriers, D.M.D. AP’46, ’50 Longmeadow, MA, died November 22, 2010 Born in Springfield, Richard graduated from Tus School of Dental Medicine and served in the U.S. Army as a Captain (1953–57). He operated his dental practice in Chicopee Falls (1958–2001) and was a member of both the Massachusetts and Valley District dental societies. He was a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and a former member of both Assumption College’s President’s Council and the Chicopee Savings Banks’s Board of Trustees. Dedicated to his Franco-American heritage, he was appointed to the American and Canadian French Cultural Exchange Commission in 2005. Richard leaves his sons Richard ’82 and David; daughter Noelle; brother Pierre ’54; sisters Pauline and Marguerite; and grandson, Stephen. raymond C. Langevin AP’50, ’54 Killingly, CT, died August 28, 2010 Born in Wauregan, CT, Raymond graduated from Laval Medical School and became a surgeon. He served in the Army Medical Corps for eight years and worked at Rogers Corporation, where he developed the antenna window used for missile guidance and later discovered and invented antagonistic polyelectrolytes, which are used in missiles today. He also worked for American Standard and taught in Killingly Public Schools. In addition Raymond was a skilled carpenter and designer. He designed and built several structures, including homes, bowling alleys and the Jorgensen Auditorium at the University of Connecticut. He leaves his son, Keith; daughter Lynne; brother Mark; sister Clarisse; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Dr. raymond Bosse ’52 Peabody, MA died June 24, 2010 Dr. Bosse enjoyed a long and prolific career as a teacher and a researcher. He taught at Hellenic College for 28 years and retired as professor emeritus in 1995. He authored more than 30 articles in scientific journals, one book on smoking and aging and numerous book chapters on various aspects of the aging process. He was a member of the American Sociological Association, the American Society on Aging and an elected fellow of the Gerontology Society of America. He leaves his wife, Rose; brothers Paul and Hector; sisters Jeanne and erese and numerous nieces and nephews. Paul r. rudd AP’58 Greenwich, CT died August 12, 2010 Paul worked as a professional actor and director both on and off Broadway from 1967 to 1986. His Broadway credits include the gentleman caller in “e Glass Menagerie,” Henry V in “Henry V” and Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet.” His television credits include JFK in “Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye,”
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Brian Mallory in “Beacon Hill,” and guest roles on episodes of Moonlighting, Knot’s Landing and Murder, She Wrote. He later taught theatre and poetry in middle and high schools, Sarah Lawrence College and the New School for Drama in New York. Paul is survived by his wife, Martha; children Graeme, Kathryn and Eliza; and mother Kathryn. Warren Eddy AP’61 Shrewsbury, MA, died August 18, 2010 Warren was a Merchant Marine and lived in Massachusetts and Rhode Island before moving to Maine in 1971. He worked as a human resources manager for an industrial construction firm which took him from Maine to Texas and California. He leaves his wife, Marie; children Douglas, Ronald and Margaret; six grandchildren; three brothers; three sisters and many nieces and nephews. Daniel J. Healy ’62 Shark River Hills, NJ, died June 29, 2010 Born in Jersey City, NJ, Dan graduated from Fordham Law School in NYC and practiced law in the shore area for many years. He was president and longtime member of the Board of Directors of the Collier Services in Wickatunk. His passions in life were his family, his friends, music and swims in the ocean. He leaves his wife, Ann; children, Patrick, Michael ’87, Maureen, Daniel ’93 and Ann; brothers Patrick and Jerramiah; sisters Cathleen and Mary Ellen; six grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Donald P. Simard AP’62 Cape Neddick, ME, died July 22, 2010 Don worked as a supervisor for Sylvania in Danvers for several years and subsequently worked for United Airlines. He and his wife Joanie also owned and operated Danvers Driving School. Don was instrumental in the establishment of the “BookNook” at York Public Library. In the early 1990s he became a volunteer with Hospice in York, where he also served as president. He leaves his wife, Joan; sons Steven and Christopher; daughters Michelle and Jennifer; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Judge Stanford Strogoff CE’62 Worcester, MA, died October 23, 2010 Judge Strogoff was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar as well as both the U.S. District and Tax courts and served as a lawyer from 1947 to 1974. Appointed as a special justice to the Clinton District Court in 1974, he became presiding justice of that court in 1981. He was president of both the B’nai B’rith Cemetery Corporation and the Kiwanis Club of South Worcester, a director of Jewish Family Service and the Worcester Better Business Bureau and a member of several organizations. Survivors include his wife, Harriet; son Joel; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
rev. John D. omas g’64 Shrewsbury, MA, died July 15, 2010 Father omas was ordained a priest in 1954 at the Pontifical North American College where he had completed his studies for the priesthood and received his bachelor’s and licentiate degrees from the Gregorian University. He worked in parishes at St. Mary of the Assumption, Milford; St. Anne, Southborough and Our Lady of the Rosary, Spencer. He also taught at St. Stephen’s Elementary School and Sacred Heart Academy. Fr. omas served as headmaster of St. Peter’s High School and was the assistant to the diocesan superintendant of schools. From 1985 until his retirement in 2003, Fr. omas served as pastor of St. Colomba Parish in Paxton, MA. He leaves several nieces and nephews. omas J. Shaughnessy g’69 Holden, MA, died July 24, 2010 Tom was a lifetime educator, working as a teacher, guidance counselor, acting principal and assistant principal at several middle and high schools in central Massachusetts. He served as a member and chairman of the Sterling’s Town Personnel Board and the Sterling Recreation Committee and for 16 years was involved with the Senior Girls’ Lassie League and the Senior Girls’ Soball League as a coach, commissioner and president. He was the recipient of the Town of Sterling’s Frank J. Kaminski Leadership Award for outstanding public service. He leaves his wife, Maureen; daughters Colleen and Erin; brothers Brian and Kevin; five grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Sister Frances Scribner CE’70 Framingham, MA, died August 30, 2010 Sister Scribner entered the Marist Missionary Sisters in Bedford, ME, in 1941 and made her final profession in 1944. Aer returning from Mission assignments in Hawaii and Jamaica, she began counseling at her home convent in Framingham in 1977 and continued until her health prohibited her from continuing her work. She leaves her nephew, Robert; and a grandniece, Patricia. richard M. Dandini, Jr. ’89 Englewood, FL, died July 21, 2010 Richard led the Greyhound football team during his four seasons as a running back, earning all-conference honors three times and rushing for a career club record of 2,335 yards. Richard was co-founder of Ricaldee’s Restaurant in Englewood, FL. He leaves his mother, Deanna; stepfather Alfonse; father Richard; sister Lori; brother Steven; maternal grandparents Nicholas and Dea; as well as several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Constance J. reidy CE’90 Worcester, MA, died August 29, 2010 Connie was born in Boston and lived in Worcester most of her life. She was a registered nurse specializing in care for patients with infectious diseases. Constance worked for several Worcester-area
healthcare organizations, including Worcester City Hospital and the Visiting Nurses Association. She was a member of St. George’s Parish, serving as a Eucharistic minister and lector, and participated in the shawl ministry. She is survived by sons omas and James; daughters Denise and Mary-erese; sister Ruth and 11 grandchildren. Catherine A. Mcnamara CE’95 Clinton, MA, died August 12, 2010 Catherine worked as a billing clerk at UMass Memorial Healthcare for 10 years, retiring in 2009 due to illness. Her special interests included travelling, reading and painting, and spending time with family and friends. She leaves her sons, omas, Matthew and Patrick; sister Ellen; former husband omas; six grandchildren; three nieces and several cousins. Pamela A. Williams g’01 Fairbanks, AK, died August 12, 2010 Pamela worked as a counselor in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Florida before moving to Alaska where she was the Veteran’s program director of the Fairbanks Rescue Mission. She was an accomplished pianist and vocalist, a wonderful cook and she was bilingual. Pamela leaves her parents, Linda and Wally; brother Michael; grandmother Fona; four uncles and boyfriend Steve.
-Friends of the CollegeMary Ellen Anton, mother of Audrey ’02 and sister of James Phaneuf ’77; Elizabeth Ash, mother of Joseph ’66 and omas AP ’67; richard Babineau, brother of Elaine Babineau Lomenzo ’76; Lillian Blier, mother of Carl ’63; Dr. Charles Brink, husband of Barbara ’85 and mother of Christopher ’86; Edna Cardillo, mother of Anita Danker, AC lecturer in the Education Department; Josephine Cesary, mother of Linda Oroszko ’75 and motherin-law of Charles Oroszko ’68; Kathleen Checola, mother of Karen Checola McDonald ’84, motherin-law of Edward McDonald ’84 and grandmother of Ed McDonald ’12; Fr. ronald Cullen, former Assumption Prep School teacher; gerald D’Amour, uncle of Donald ’64; Mary Ann Delaney, mother of Julie Delaney Piantedosi ’84; Michaele Dobski, mother of B.J., AC assistant professor of political science; Dr. Matthew Finn, husband of Jo-Ann G’84; Paul Fistori, father of Amy Trow ’81 and Margaret Spence ’84; Victoria Kowalczyk, mother of David, AC co-director of Career Services and grandmother of Joseph ’06; Michael Kupstas, son of Brian ’90; Donna LaMarche, mother of Geoffrey ’04; Frank Lanzo, father of Anne Lanzo Costello ’82; ruth LaPointe, mother of Mark ’63; eodore Lotkiewicz, father of Robert ’81; Dorothea Loughlin, former AC volunteer; Fatemeh Mashhoon, mother of Dr. Neda
Mashhoon, AC adjunct professor of chemistry and mother-in-law of Saeed Mohaghegh, AC assistant professor of management; george “Larry” Munro, Jr., father of Gregory ’90; Ann Pagano, mother of Joseph ’81; Joseph Paolucci, father of Patricia, AC associate director of career services for CCE and Graduate Studies; reed Parker, son of Christine Zanfini-Parker, AC director of health services; raffaele Pica, father of Cinzia Pica-Smith, AC assistant professor of human services and rehabilitation studies; Frances Scanlon, mother of Maureen DeMarco CE ’95; Stuart Shields, father of Paul, AC assistant professor of English; James Smith, father of Bernadette ’08; Harrison taylor, husband of Cynthia G’72; Arlene ompson, mother of Cindy Washbourne, secretary in the human services and rehabilitation studies department; Basilios tsantinis, father of Nina, AC cataloger for the French Institute; Paul turgeon, Sr. father of Paul, Jr. ’67 and Bernard ’81; Dr. James Walsh, former AC physician; nil Whitton, father of Sandra Whitton Roth ’91.
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Continue your Legacy
at Assumption College “My career and personal life have allowed me great joy and reasonable comforts, but I would not consider myself among the “wealthy elite” in the financial sense. I have been able to raise a wonderful family, and set them on a course for their own futures, and have supported the College as best I could each year. But I look to the Heritage Society to allow me to fulfill my strong desire to repay the college in a far more generous manner, after my death, without impairing any aspect of enjoyment for me and my family. How terrific is that?!” –Bob Lewis ’74 lori and Bob lewis ’74
Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
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assumptionAuthors c losE r EaDing : a n i ntroDuction to l itEraturE By Elisabeth howe, Ph.D. professor of French In Close Reading (Prentice Hall, 2009) there is a strong focus on the processes of analyzing the literary elements of poetry, prose and drama, and writing about them. Howe examines the language and structure of a text, as well as the ideas or feelings it expresses and investigates the intricate links between form and content. By heeding these suggestions one is compelled to read differently and examine the connection between the ideas expressed and the way in which they are expressed. The book is ideal for those interested in studying a poem, story, or play for various literary elements. Howe joined the Assumption faculty in 2004.
h anDBook oF V iolEncE r isk a ssEssMEnt anD t rEatMEnt: n EW a PProachEs For M Ental h Ealth P roFEssionals Edited by Joel andrade, Ph.D. ’96 Mental health practitioners are confronted with the difficult task of assessing the risk that offenders pose to the general public. Handbook of Violence Risk Assessment (Springer Publishing, 2009) provides practitioners with the knowledge and insight necessary to conduct violence risk assessments, and to synthesize clinical and research data into comprehensive reports and oral testimony. Violence risk assessment requires a well-formulated and comprehensive risk management plan. The book presents that plan and demonstrates how it can be implemented in practice. It illustrates the process of conducting violence risk assessments, outlines the tools used in these evaluations and explains how information is translated into an overall assessment and guide for future risk management.
u ncoMPlicating M anagEMEnt: F ocus on y our s tars anD y our c oMPany W ill s oar By rick Dacri ’74 Don’t let problem employees monopolize your time, rather focus on the people who make your organization work—your star performers. When managers do this, success follows. In Uncomplicating Management ( Just Write Books Publishing, 2009) Dacri states, “To be a successful, managers need to emphasize raising the bar in their organization—rather than coddling the bottom.” Dacri provides 21st Century advice for managers, supervisors or anyone who works with other people. During a time when profits are slim in the most productive of firms, he says, “it is imperative that every effort, every person be productive every minute of the working day.” Dacri is a human resources/organizational development consultant, national speaker and founder/president of Dacri & Associates, LLC in Kennebunkport, ME.
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Assumption College Magazine • Winter 2011
c aPE c oD aBc s By leslie horne hatton ’92 Cape Cod ABCs (2010) is a children’s book about the simple beauties and joys of Cape Cod, from A to Z. It is to be read aloud and enjoyed by anyone who wants to discover or reminisce about the Cape and has simple rhymes to captivate readers both young and old. T. M. Murphy of CapeCodWriter.com said, “Children no longer have to collect seashells, sea glass or sand to remember their Cape vacation. Leslie Hatton cleverly bottles up those magical memories in this educational and entertaining book that also contains brilliant illustrations by artist Kate Walls!” Leslie, husband Tom and their three children reside in Bourne on Cape Cod.
t hE F rankFurt s chool in E xilE By thomas Wheatland, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor of history A review of The Frankfurt School in Exile (University of Minnesota Press, 2009) in The Atlantic stated, “Wheatland has produced a worthy successor to Martin Jay’s The Dialectical Imagination and Rolf Wiggershaus’s The Frankfurt School.” Adam Kirsch of Tablet contends Wheatland’s work is “an unusually thorough blend of intellectual and institutional history. [Wheatland’s] book ought to bring new attention to this highly suggestive part of the Frankfurt School’s story.” The Nation’s Eric Alterman said the book is a “more solid, albeit a bit more theoretical intellectual history of the period in which America grew up and joined the rest of the world. [It is] worth the effort.” Wheatland has taught at Assumption since 2006.
J aMEs M aDison r ulEs a MErica : t hE c onstitutional o rigins oF c ongrEssional PartisanshiP By William connelly, Jr. Ph.D. ’73 James Madison (Roman & Littlefield, 2010) examines congressional party legislative and electoral strategy in the context of our constitutional separation of powers. Connelly argues that partisanship, polarization and the permanent campaign are an inevitable part of congressional politics. James Madison Rules America is as topical as current debates over partisan polarization and the permanent campaign, while being grounded in two enduring and important schools of thought within political science pluralism and party government. Connelly is a politics professor at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, where he has taught for two decades.
alumni and faculty who have published books are encouraged to contact the editor at twatkins@assumption.edu.
500 Salisbury Street Worcester, MA 01609-1296 www.assumption.edu
The Venetian Experience in May 2010, 11 assumption students enrolled in the Fortin and gonthier Foundations of Western civilization program toured Venice, italy, with Barbara Beall-Fofana, Ph.D, associate professor of art history, and lance lazar, Ph.D., assistant professor of art history. all of the students on the trip contributed to a blog, describing their twoweek tour of the “city of canals.” the group visited Venice’s storied landmarks and absorbed the city’s rich culture by attending concerts and theatrical performances. the Western civilization program integrates the study of politics, arts, literature, philosophy, theology and history to help students reflect upon the heritage of the Western world and better understand the interconnected nature of the various disciplines. Visit the blog and learn more at www.assumption.edu/venice.
Photos: MatthEW BrEnnan, BarBara BEall-FoFana, Ph.D. anD Patrick corrigan, Ph.D.