In Memoriam

2021

Rachel RASLOWSKY completed her first year at Georgetown and returned to Camp Nellie Huckins in Freedom, New Hampshire as a counselor this past summer, where she was responsible for training CITs in the senior division.

2022

Susan SALGADO was part of the Queens Teens program at the Queens Museum throughout high school, and the program was recently featured in the New York Times. They interviewed her and captured pictures of her at work. Susan is extremely proud of this coverage and is pleased to inform the Chez Nous community about this amazing program.

Excerpts from the NY Times Article: “They also took a took a tour through Suzanne Lacy’s exhibition on racism, labor rights, poverty, aging and violence against women. Susan Salgado, 18, said the artwork on feminism in 1982 made her feel ‘so empowered’ in 2022”. “Ms. Salgado, shown with Milton Ortega, 18, plans to participate in a youth summit on July 23, which will serve as an open house for the institute.” Laura van Straaten, Reporter I am the resurrection and the life; those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.

John 11: 25-26

We extend our deepest sympathy to the graduates, Sisters of St. Ursula, families and friends of Chez Nous who have experienced a recent loss. In particular, the individuals listed below will be greatly missed by the Notre Dame School community.

Richard Batesky Rodolfo Casals, S.J. John King Catherine Flynn McCarthy ’79 Catherine Morrisey Mary Ellen O’Brien Joseph Ricardo Christina Regino Michael Shaden Fred Shanks Sheila Sheenan '52 Robert Steeley Mary Carolyn Thaman Deacon William Williamsen Fred & Joan Walters Mohamed Said Zohny

The Notre Dame community mourns the loss of Mary Ellen O’Brien, beloved sister of ND President Sr. Virginia O’Brien, S.U. and Vincent de Paul O’Brien. Mary Ellen was one of the school’s original board members, and she worked tirelessly to promote Notre Dame and especially to support its annual Chez Nous Benefit. Her life was guided by her faith and also by a passion for and dedication to education. Raised in Brooklyn, NY, she attended St. Joseph's College there and became a specialist in early childhood education and later a regional supervisor in that field for the NYC Board of Education before retiring to the Jersey Shore 25 years ago. She was director of the Rite of Christian Initiation at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Forest Hills, NY, where she also served as a parish council member and Eucharistic minister. Mary Ellen passed away peacefully at home on Friday, August 5, 2022 at age 80. Born and raised in Tarrytown, New York, Rev. Rodolfo (Rudy) Casals, S.J. graduated from the United States Naval Academy, and after several years of active duty, entered the Society of Jesus in 2006. During his formation as a Jesuit, he served as a chaplain at San Quentin State Prison and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 10, 2017, at Fordham University Church and went on to dedicate himself to young adult and social justice ministries. He served as the assistant director of vocations for the USA East Province for two years. After finishing his master’s in social work at Columbia University, he was preparing to start a practicum working with veterans suffering from PTSD. Most recently, he led a retreat for veterans in Missouri and for Catholic Boy Scouts in the Arizona desert.

A frequent and generous celebrant at Notre Dame School’s liturgies, Fr. Casal’s homilies inspired and engaged our school community. He passed away unexpectedly at his Jesuit community in New York on August 2, 2022 at age 47.