EDUCATING WOMEN OF FAITH, VISION, AND PURPOSE SINCE 1799
FRONT PHOTO
Natalia Gonzalez Rivas ’25 portrays Lady Macbeth in last spring’s performance of The Scottish Play.
PHOTO CREDIT: CORY ROYSTER
BACK PHOTO
Students compete in a tug-of-war on a “Just Because” day of fun and game last spring.
PHOTO CREDIT: CAROLINE COLEMAN HANDORF ‘96
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN
Dear Friends, MESSAGE FROM VISITATION’S PRESIDENT
The mark of God’s Love is the love of our neighbor…we must believe that we are without true love of God if we do not love our neighbors.
ST. JANE DE CHANTAL
The 2024 school year opened with great energy and excitement as we welcomed the Class of 2028 along with a cadre of new faculty and staff. Students also welcomed new directors of both athletics and performing arts. The presentation of our new teachers was met with joyful enthusiasm in anticipation of the year ahead and all its possibilities. The exuberance and cheer could not be contained as team assignments were revealed. Our Visi newbies joined in the fun when they learned their team and officially became a part of the Gold-White tradition!
The fall edition of the alumnae magazine is my favorite. The highlights of graduation and reunion bring a smile to this reader. I am humbled by the gift of the incredible young women in matching white gowns carrying lovely red roses as they take their place as Visitation graduates; and equally captivated by the women they will become as witnessed by the alumnae who return to campus each spring to be reunited with beloved classmates. The bonds of sisterhood and the prayerful embrace of the Sisters bring joy and light to this community.
Our alumnae truly embody the skills and values that define a Visitation education. In reading about our alumnae who have followed their vocation in the field of journalism (page 22), I was struck by how both the technical skills and the virtues they learned here equipped them to make a difference in our world.
Each year, in concert with our sister schools in St. Louis and Mendota Heights, Minnesota, a Salesian theme is chosen to guide our prayer, reflection, and learning. Taken from I John 4:16, “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him,” the Visitation School Network 2024–2025 school theme is simple yet powerful—“Abide in Love.” I cannot imagine a timelier theme for this year as we navigate division and uncertainty in our world near and far. We invite our students, faculty and staff, and the Visitation family beyond the Green Gate to join us as companions on a journey that seeks peace and understanding for one another to “Live Jesus.”
As always, we look forward to your return to campus for Esprit de Noel, Reunion, and other special alumnae events or simply a visit to campus. It would be my delight to welcome you back home to 35th Street.
In Christ,
Barbara McGraw Edmonson President
Monastery NEWS
Church Celebrates 350th Jubilee of Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
We are in the midst of the 350th Jubilee Year that commemorates the apparitions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, VHM. The Roman Catholic Church is marking this particular gift to the world, to the Order of the Visitation, and to each of us from December 27, 2023 until June 27, 2025, mirroring the span of the eighteen months from 1673–1675 when Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary in the Visitation chapel and monastery garden in Paray le Monial, France.
Jesus revealed His burning heart to St. Margaret Mary and invited her to exchange her heart for his. He asked her to create art that would depict his heart, burning with love for each person, thirsting for each person to love him in return, and promising boundless graces to anyone who helps to promote love of his Sacred Heart to others. He told her, “My Divine Heart is so passionately in love with humanity, and with you in particular, that it cannot keep back the pent-up flames of its burning charity any longer. They must burst out through you.”
Jesus asked people to receive communion on nine consecutive First Fridays and for a universal feast day to be established in the Church (which happened in 1856), in reparation for the indifference and ingratitude of so many people to Christ’s offer of love and salvation.
Pope Francis has called for this 350th Jubilee Year and has announced his intent to publish a document on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, saying, “I believe it will be very beneficial for us to meditate on various aspects of the Lord’s love that can illuminate the path of ecclesial renewal; but also to say something significant to a world that seems to have lost its heart.”
Jesus Christ gifted Visitation communities with the care and promulgation of this beautiful offer of God’s love and mercy through the image of the Sacred Heart. Let us pray for our world and our communities to better love Jesus and to allow him to live through our words and deeds.
1 “History of Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.” Sisters of Reparation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 14 August 2024, http://www.sistersofreparation. org/history-of-devotion-to-the-sacred-heart.html
2 Bordoni, Linda. “Pope to write document on Sacred Heart for a world that ’has lost its heart.’” Vatican News, 05 June 2024, https://www.vaticannews.va/en/ pope/news/2024-06/pope-general-audience-sacred-heart-jesus-document-appeal-peace.html
Sr. Emma Morris Enters the Novitiate
On April 14, Emma Morris entered into the novitiate at Georgetown Visitation Monastery. At a small ceremony, surrounded by the Sisters, Sr. Emma recieved the veil, signifying her deeper commitment to religious life.
Sr. Emma grew up attending the Lutheran Church, though her family was not particularly devout. As she grew older, Sr. Emma searched for a spiritual home. After attending Quaker meetings, Sister realized she preferred more structure; she found the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours online and began praying it regularly. The ancient practice resonated with her, priming her to learn more about Catholicism; she began attending weekly Mass. “The thing I love most about Catholicism is that God is here with us. He wants to be here with us. And every day, around the world, priests bring Him to us,” she shared.
After completing the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, she was confirmed on August 15, 2020. With a desire to work in a Catholic environment, Emma became a kindergarten teacher in Louisville, Kentucky. The school served many students living in poverty; the work was challenging and rewarding,
offering Emma the opportunity to share her faith with others.
While she had begun to hear a calling to the professed life, she “fought it for a while.” After a time, she decided to explore the idea. Using a vocation match service online, she identified and visited several different communities. She felt very drawn to Georgetown Visitation and kept returning. Emma was particularly inspired by St. Francis and St. Jane’s vision of a religious community that is welcoming to all. “Everybody has always belonged,” she noted.
This is Sister Emma’s Vaticanrequired canonical year, during which she will continue to focus on her relationship with God and life in the community with deep intensity. Following, she will have another year in the novitiate, after which she may choose to make her temporary vows.
BECOMING A SISTER OF THE VISITATION
Joining a convent is not like joining a gym. As befits the lifelong commitment of a religious vocation, entering a monastery is a long, multi-stage process of discernment and deepening one’s relationships—with God, self, and others. A young woman interested in joining the Georgetown Visitation Monastery begins with a visit. If this goes well, she may be invited back to stay for a longer period of time as an aspirant. Following that, the community may extend the invitation for her to become a postulant; this is a decision made by the community. Postulant comes from the Latin postulare, to ask. This time—which can last from six months to several years— fosters deeper inquiry and reflection.
Postulants live the full community life; they are invited into the cloister areas and participate in all aspects of the Sisters’ lives together. Postulants also use this time to learn more about the Catholic Church and faith. While a postulant does not yet wear a habit, she does wear simple clothes that are distinct from typical street clothes.
A postulancy is a time of discernment for both the individual and the community; if and when the community decides, they may invite the postulant into the novitiate to continue her vocational journey. There is a special ceremony during which the young woman is given a habit and novice’s veil, an outward sign of her commitment to God and the community.
Monastery NEWS
VISITATION ARCHIVES CONSORTIUM HELPS OTHER WOMEN RELIGIOUS PRESERVE THEIR HISTORY
This September, the Visitation Archives Consortium (VAC) participated in the Triennial Conference of the Archivists of Congregations of Women Religious (ACWR). VAC comprises the archivists at all of our Visitation schools and monasteries: Sr.
Brenda Lisenby, VHM, Visitation Monastery of Minneapolis; Colleen Hansen, Visitation School, Mendota Heights; Amanda Gesiorski, Visitation Academy, St. Louis; Cassandra Berman, Georgetown Visitation Monastery; and Genevieve Kocienda, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School. They work together to preserve and protect the Visitation collections, helping guarantee that the charism of the Visitation will be carried well into the future.
At the conference, the archivists presented a panel discussion, during which they discussed the creation of the VAC and reflected on the process of implementing a consortium model for a single religious order but across independent monasteries and schools, including both the opportunities and challenges.
Second Federation of the Visitation Sisters Meets in Georgetown
The Second Federation of the Visitation Sisters of Holy Mary gathered at the end of June here in Georgetown for their Federation Assembly. In God’s providence, this timing matched with the 225th anniversary of the founding of Georgetown Visitation in 1799.
The Sisters chose a theme for their gathering which marks this moment and the coming years: Legacy: Being and Becoming. The Sisters articulated their intention and prayer posture in 2024 and the years that follow:
• “From its beginning in 1610, the legacy of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary has been to live Jesus in his humility before God and in his gentleness toward all others, doing so in both community and ministry.
• Every monastery and each sister of the Second Federation is dedicated to being generously and creatively faithful to that legacy today, doing so in the concrete circumstances that the divine good pleasure has permitted in both our communities and ministries.
• In the years ahead of us, we will continue to embrace with generosity of heart and Salesian indifference whatever will be the shape and scope of our becoming, trusting lovingly in the care and goodness of Providence.
• In the spirit of our legacy, we wish to imitate Mary who, after giving her great-hearted ‘Fiat’ to let JESUS LIVE in her, set out to support her cousin, Elizabeth, and to share with her the promises of God.”
The Sisters concluded by committing to creatively respond to the Holy Spirit’s invitation to pass on their legacy to those who follow.
Cassandra Berman, Amanda Gesiorski, Gileen Hansen, Sr. Brenda Lisenby, and Genevieve Kocienda
The Second Federation leadership team gathers in the Georgetown Visitation Monastery garden in June.
From the Archives
Throughout Visitation’s history, the school has honored accomplished and virtuous students with awards at the conclusion of the school year. Today’s book prizes have a long history, as evidenced by this beautiful copy of Le Chercheur D’or, awarded to Miss Emma Tenny for “French Conversation” in July 1865. Our academic medals of excellence have a predecessor in this medal of “General Excellence” awarded to Margaret Shippen Casey in 1923. Still other awards, like this fan given to Miss Nancy Clark in 1830 for “1st Class of Lace work” do not have a modern equivalent.
1 ROUND MEDAL
Medal of “General Excellence” awarded to Margaret Shippen Casey 1923
2 CROSS-SHAPED MEDAL
“The Academic Honors in the Senior Circle are awarded to Miss Catalina Davis for Excellence of Conduct by the Sisters of the Visitation Georgetown D.C. June 26 1872”
3 BLUE BOOK
Le Chercheur D’or, Awarded to Miss Emma Tenny for French Conversation July 1865
4 BROWN BOOK
Heroines of Charity; Academy of the Visitation Georgetown, D.C. Sec of 2nd Class Awarded to Miss Emma Etheridge for Arithmetic July 1869
5 FAN
”1st Class of Lace work” to Miss Nancy Clark, Ladies’ Academy of the Visitation, G.T., D.C., July 28th 1830
Sophomore Johanna Fernando was chosen as the winner of the Congressional Art Competition for D.C. Her artwork, a self-portrait called “Lost in Thought,” will be on display in the Capitol for the next year.
Members of Congress hold the annual competition for their districts; an art committee organized by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton chose Johanna’s piece out of the 56 submitted.
Johanna has not yet taken any official art classes; it is a beloved hobby and she participates in Art Club with moderator and art teacher Kelli Smith
“When I found out I won the contest, I was in complete shock. I had put in so much time and effort on my own at home, as I didn’t take art in school, making me doubt my skills. I wasn’t even sure if I would be worthy enough to compete amongst other talented students from all over the District, however, I was proved wrong,” she said. “I felt immediate relief, joy, and pride coming out of the hard work I put in during my free time.”
Smith noted that this is the first time she remembers a Visitation student earning first prize, though students have received honorable mentions and placed as runner-up.
“I am happy that a student from Art Club won because it represents the desire to create even when an art class cannot fit into one’s schedule,” said Smith.
Johanna Fernando ’26 Wins Congressional Art Competition
Johanna Fernando ’26 poses with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) and Fine Arts Department Chair Kelli Smith.
Annual Art Show Demonstrates Students’ Passion & Creativity
Visitation artists captivated faculty, family, and friends with a stunning array of over 200 works showcased across Berchmans Hall at the 2024 annual art show. Spanning photography, digital art, drawing, painting, and multimedia creations—including custom-designed dresses and decorated cakes—the event showcased the vision, creativity, skill, and talent of Visitation’s artists in full bloom.
Guest judges awarded prizes to the following pieces:
DRAWING
FIRST Lost in Thought, Johanna Fernando
SECOND Let Me Go, Kelly Arocho
THIRD Safari, Jade Adams
HONORABLE MENTION Tyler, Madison Beeman
PAINTING
FIRST Anatomy, Ellsi O
SECOND Bad Habits, Chloe Flax
THIRD Woman in Black, Jackie Carroll
HONORABLE MENTION A Day on the Water, Ari Walsh
MIXED MEDIA/DIGITAL/3-D
FIRST Night Out, Jackie Carroll
SECOND Citrus, Maeve Obrist
THIRD Blinded Beauty, Jade Adams
HONORABLE MENTION Topsy Turvy, Blair Todd
PHOTOGRAPHY
FIRST Bethany Beach, Molly McGee
FIRST San Juan Cathedral, Annie Madden
THIRD Snow Top Mountains, Aly Bradshaw
HONORABLE MENTION Roman Archways, Anonymous
PHOTOS BY AVA PERRY-JUNIOR ’26
Standout Seniors
Selena Reyes-Flores ’24 Honored as Milken Scholar
Selena Reyes-Flores was named a 2024 Milken Scholar; the scholarship program, a joint initiative of the Milken Institute and the Milken Family Foundation, honors high school seniors in Washington, D.C., New York City and Los Angeles County each year with a $10,000 cash prize and lifelong access to college advising, career counseling, internship assistance, community service opportunities, and a fund to help with graduate school applications, unpaid internships, study abroad programs, and other costs associated with their pursuit of a career.
A first-generation college student, Selena is studying chemistry at Yale, with plans to pursue a career in medicine. With Spanish as her first language, she has served as a translator for her family as well as Spanish-speaking patients at Children’s National Hospital, where she volunteered greeting visitors, leading activities, and shadowing nurses.
During a public health internship through Leadership Initiatives, Selena led a team that researched international healthcare, communicated with international health officials, and designed workshops to increase awareness in Bauchi, Nigeria, about acute respiratory tract infection and urinary tract infection.
Here at Visitation, Selena served as vice president of Vamos Community Tutoring Club, tutoring K–10 students in math, reading, and Spanish; communicating with families; planning events; designing lesson plans; and fundraising for learning materials. A founding member of Latinas Unidas, Selena helped plan school celebrations of Latina culture and promoted inclusivity. She performed with the multi-genre dance group, EnVISIon, helped teach choreography to young dancers, and worked on the theater crew as a costume designer and set builder. Selena continued her advocacy for minority youth through volunteer work with Visitation’s mental health club and afterschool academic programs. Kudos, Selena!
ADAPTED FROM MILKEN INSTITUTE PRESS MATERIALS
Stephanie Muoka ’24 Named “Extraordinary Teen” by Bethesda Magazine
With a brilliant mind and a heart for service, Stephanie Muoka is the type of teenager that gives you hope for our future.
The daughter of two firstgeneration Americans from Nigeria, Stephanie aspires to earn a PhD in engineering to find new ways to limit the outsized impact of climate change on marginalized groups and people of color. Since sophomore year, she has interned at the University of Maryland SENSE Lab, looking at the impact of carbon emissions in different DC neighborhoods; her analysis of CO2 emissions revealed that wards with a higher concentration of low-income residents are harder hit. Her work helped place her team in the top 30 (out of 1100) in the global X-Prize Competition.
Since July 2022, she has also helped the principal investigator of an interdisciplinary lab in the chemistry department at Georgetown, developing a tagging program that investigates the effects of different protein manipulations. She also earned a summer job as a software engineering consultant at Biodesign Innovation Labs, an international organization that designs and allocates critical care devices like portable ventilators to underserved and under-resourced communities; in that role, she authored their first cybersecurity protocol to protect their clients. After working through details with the CEO, she presented her proposal to a panel of judges from the U.S. Department of Defense, who granted Biodesign a total of $51,000 to implement her plan.
Stephanie is also an activist and fundraiser. She serves as a fundraising team lead for Project Pink Tax, an organization dedicated to fighting for menstrual equality. She has raised $25,000 and 60,000 period products through donation drives. A fierce advocate, she also helped raise awareness of the cause by speaking about Project Pink Tax in front of more than 500 people—including Virginia Senator Jennifer McClellan—at the N.O.W. conference.
In addition, Stephanie served as president of Visitation’s peer tutoring program, overseeing a team of 35 students and connecting them with peers who need extra support. During her tenure, she helped expand the program to include standardized testing preparation.
Brava, Stephanie!
A Life of Service and Leadership, Shaped by Catholic Education
CATHERINE BUCKLER, CATHOLIC STANDARD
As Anne-Sophie Gray graduates…she leaves a legacy of hard work in both her academic and personal achievements and lasting impressions on peers and teachers from the past four years.
Gray plans to study political science at Fordham University, a Jesuit university in New York, and intends to work in public policy or public affairs in the future. Her interest in politics and government can already be seen, as she was voted president of her senior class. Her other leadership positions include yearbook editor and co-president of the French club. She also helped coordinate events as a member of Kaleidoscope, a diversity, equity, and inclusion club.
Catholic education has been an important part of Gray’s life; she attended middle school at Holy Trinity School in Washington, D.C.
“The people I meet at these Catholic schools have done a lot for me, and they’ve just helped me form my faith. The retreats are my favorite part. It’s a nice time to just get away, focus on myself, focus on my relationship with God,” Gray said.
She was also a regular altar server at Masses at Visitation and was a student ambassador at the school, which is sponsored by the Visitation Sisters.
Gray participated in her school’s civil rights trip for two summers in a row and served as a student leader on the second trip. The trip takes students to Alabama and Georgia for about a week for an immersive learning experience, including visits to different historical sites such as Stone Mountain, where members of the Ku Klux Klan would meet.
“It’s a rare trip, it was something incredibly special. Because when you go down to Alabama (and) Georgia, you learn things you can’t learn sitting here in AP U.S. history, reading from a textbook,” Gray said, adding that the teachers who organized the trip put in a lot of effort. “(They) have dedicated themselves to making this trip be so informative, and they just want us to think, they just want us to learn.”
The people I meet at these Catholic schools have done a lot for me, and they’ve just helped me form my faith.
ANNE SOPHIE GRAY ’24
One of her favorite memories at Visitation is from her senior year when she served on the executive board of the Black Women’s Society. The society organizes a program that includes a skit with a theme, and this year’s was in the vein of a Miss Universe pageant highlighting different countries students’ families are from. Gray, whose family is Haitian, wore a Karabela dress that her grandmother made for her.
“We played music from whatever country, we answered trivia questions,” Gray said. “One of the most important things about the assembly is we want to be informative, we don’t want to just be entertaining. I think people learned a lot.”
Another standout memory was a Welcome Mass for the incoming students, where Gray played guitar.
“I think that moment will probably stand out to me in a couple of years. I’ll look back on that moment and think that was awesome… It’s one of the most amazing things that I’ve gotten to do… (I) just got to get up there and play,” Gray said.
Gray plays guitar, piano and African drums in her personal time and continues to set goals for herself. She would like to play five instruments proficiently, and the remaining instruments that she hopes to learn to play include a complete drum kit, the saxophone and violin.
This determination speaks to Gray’s work ethic as she strives to take on more and do well.
“It’s kind of like, I have this right now, let me do it, and then let me do what has to be done next. Some people say I work too much, but I think it’s just like I’m ready for what’s next to come,” Gray said. “I want to enjoy what’s happening now, I do, but there’s so much more that will eventually get my attention, and I want to get to that.”
Visi Students Join Visters on Pilgrimmage to Annecy
This summer, students from Georgetown Visitation, Visitation Academy in St. Louis, and Visitation School in Mendota Heights joined together for a pilgrimage to “the place of our delight and rest” (Annecy, France), where the Order of the Visitation was founded. A pilgrimage is different from a vacation or trip. It is an experience where you come as you are and leave as a disciple. Students were invited to be open to God and to a transformative experience as they learned about our founders, St. Jane de Chantal and St. Francis de Sales, and discerned their place in their spiritual procession of living and carrying the Visitation charism. Here, two students reflect on their experience.
Maggie McCarthy ’25
This summer, I had the opportunity to go on the student pilgrimage to Annecy, France. Until Annecy, I turned down every opportunity to travel with Visitation. The promise of this pilgrimage pushed me to step out of my comfort zone. I struggle to try new things, and I have a tendency to turn down amazing opportunities because of my fears. When [Principal Leonor Limarzi Ponzio ’97] told me about the Annecy pilgrimage, I knew it was the perfect trip for me. Not only was it a shorter trip with two of my favorite teachers, it was a trip all about Visitation! If you know anything about me, you know that Visitation is my happy place—my favorite place in the world.
Despite my fear of flying and my resistance to traveling, I knew that God was calling me to go on this pilgrimage.
Maggie (center) with her friends Anna Francis and Hannah Rae Schreier, both Class of 2025 at Visitation School in Mendota Heights.
Saying “yes” to the Annecy pilgrimage was the best decision I have ever made. The opportunity to connect with the girls from the other Visitation schools in Mendota Heights and St. Louis was incredibly special. Despite the significant distance between the three Visitation schools, we came together in Annecy to learn about the history of the Visitation Order and its founders. As the only rising senior on the trip from Georgetown Visitation, I was in a unique (and intimidating) position. Little did I know that two seniors from the Mendota Heights Visitation in Minnesota would become some of my best friends. When I met Hannah Rae and Anna, I immediately felt comfortable and at home with them. They kindly introduced me to their friends, and I quickly found myself doing everything with them. The week with Hannah Rae and Anna in Annecy was the best week of my life. The bond between “Visters” is unmatched. Even though I hadn’t even known Hannah Rae and Anna for a week, it felt as if I had known them my whole life.
As I reflect on my pilgrimage to Annecy, the word that comes to mind is gratitude. I am grateful to my parents and Mrs. Ponzio, who lovingly encouraged me to travel to Annecy, because they knew it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The pilgrimage to Annecy brought me a better understanding of the foundation of the Visitation Order and schools, fostered a newfound independence within myself, and created an unbreakable bond with new best friends that will last a lifetime. Perhaps most importantly, this pilgrimage facilitated an even deeper love for all things Visitation.
Amelia Gormsen ’26
When I first heard about the opportunity to visit France, I was really excited to have the chance to visit Europe with my classmates. I now realize, after the trip, that this experience was so much more than a trip to France with my friends. The pilgrimage allowed me to see the beauty all around us, through the eyes of those who came before us like St. Francis de Sales, St. Jane de Chantal, and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. Visiting places that our founders walked through helped me connect to them not just on a spiritual level but on a human level.
One of the places that really spoke to me was the Gallerie House, which was
the first monastery founded by the Visitation Order under St. Francis and St. Jane. Seeing the place where St. Francis held Mass and the small rooms where St. Jane and some of the Sisters slept made me realize they were young people like me, being led by their faith to the Visitation community. They weren’t just figures who we learn about in theology class.
Seeing the Gallerie House and actually walking in our founders’ footsteps deepened my faith, urging me to try to be more like the young women who had complete trust in God. Finding this connection to our founders inspires me to continue to grow my faith and makes me realize the significance of this pilgrimage. This pilgrimage has shaped me as a Visitation student by showing me the faith that our founders had and has encouraged me to follow my faith.
Amelia Gormsen ‘26 and Willow Stone ‘26
Hope Dickson ’25 Reaches for the Stars with Aerospace Summer Programs
When Hope Dickson ’25 was in third grade, she helped to build and launch a “CubeSat,” a small satellite; she traveled to Cape Canaveral for its launch, and she became set on her career of choice: aerospace engineer. At Visitation, she has pursued this dream with a passion, becoming president of Cubs Who Code, participating in BEDA (Building, Engineering, Design & Architecture), and taking advanced math courses and AP Computer Science. This summer, she took the next step toward her dream when she participated in the NASA SEES program at UT Austin’s Center for Space Research.
Out of over 2,000 applicants, only 100 were chosen for the two-week on-site internship program pursuing a theme of their choice. For Hope, it was the fundamentals of positioning for drone swarming.
Most recently, the public has seen “drone swarms” in fireworks-like displays, but drone positioning, Hope explains, can ensure people remain safe while a team of drones enters a dangerous or inaccessible location. It has impacts in search and rescue missions, fires, medicine delivery, and more. It also offers an opportunity to explore other planets. In many of these situations, there is no GPS signal to help guide the drones, and they must rely on other positioning systems—light, sonar, and local estimation.
The project is an ongoing one with graduate students at UT Austin. “It was pretty intimidating…ideally the work we’ve done will help them with it,” Hope said. “It’s inspiring to be on the forefront of this new technology.”
Her group was tasked with building three drones with which to collect data, and the ten young engineers split into three small groups. Hope was thrilled when her group managed to build their drone, despite some manufacturing errors they fixed by hand, and get it flying by Thursday of the first week. Then, as it took off Friday morning, the drone caught fire.
She persevered and pivoted to begin working with another small group who had yet to get their drone in the air, and started on the next step of their project—a mathematical filter through which to run their data and address inaccuracies. The math itself was graduate-level work, Hope explained. While she was disappointed her drone had become unusable, “I love math. I would have found my way to [this part of the project] regardless.”
When they finally got another drone up and running the
Hope poses at her second NASA summer experience in Virginia
next week, the mathematical filter on which Hope worked allowed the group to collect the data they needed to create their final presentation and deliverables at the end of the program.
“It was stressful going into the second week not having a drone off the ground. It was nerve-wracking seeing other groups already working on their presentations. Having the final product, seeing everything come into one visual—we did get it done,” said Hope.
The confidence that came from her three years at Visitation made a difference for Hope in a male-dominated space, she said. While she had attended a co-ed parochial school, she had
not been in an academic-based co-ed environment since eighth grade. “The ability to be confident and say, ‘I belong here,’ was key,” said Hope, who noted that her first week at the internship showcased mostly male speakers and scientists.
“Then, finally, we had a female speaker. Our faces lit up. It was awesome to see a woman there who was a leader of the research center,” said Hope. “There have been strides [for women in STEM], but there’s definitely still a gap…it was a reminder that there’s still work to be done after seeing the group dynamics or attitudes in the classroom. We still have work to do to bring more women into engineering.”
She felt ready for the mathematical and scientific challenges of the project, and her presentation skills, honed
I’ve always loved math and science… There’s always one answer, but there are multiple approaches to get there.
HOPE DICKSON ’25
in BEDA Club and Cubs Who Code, helped her to take their findings and make them accessible to both scientists and her family members watching their final product in an online symposium. Hope has been inspired to get more hands-on with Cubs Who Code this year after her NASA experience, to ensure other girls get a chance to see practical applications of math beyond graduation. “SEES was a great opportunity to see how math is used in a real career setting,” she said.
She put the Little Virtue of patience into practice with her group’s project. “We were all leaders in different subjects. It was really helpful to see how people of different skill sets work together; we led together to get different parts of the project complete and work as a team,” she said.
Being a part of the NASA internship program, she said, “was full-circle for me.” She even met the professor who invented the CubeSat during her time in Austin. And her work’s not over yet—her team will present their research at a conference in December.
“I’ve always loved math and science,” said Hope. “There’s always one answer, but there are multiple approaches to get there. As far as aerospace, rockets and space are so cool. Things happening millions of miles away, they’re affecting our daily lives.”
That feeling was cemented by the second NASA-sponsored program Hope participated in this past summer, Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars,(as Hope described it, “a Model UN for space nerds”) planning a mission to Mars. She worked on the strategic communications team that wrote messaging to justify the mission to the public, government officials, and international partners.
“The technology we gain from space missions turns into spin-offs affecting our daily lives,” she said. “Heart rate monitors, cordless vacuums. The summer has helped me see that. Traveling in space and learning about the universe is really exciting, and on a deeper level, the work that goes into planning these missions makes an impact on us in a practical way.”
Hope and her drone at UT Austin
Visitations Honors More than 75 Years of Service as Mrs. McGovern, Mme. Brinkmann Retire
In June, Visitation faculty and staff gathered to celebrate not just the culmination of two careers of service, but the legacy of remarkable women who have touched countless lives with their passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to excellence: Claire Brinkmann and Christine McGovern
Claire Brinkmann had a profound impact on Georgetown Visitation and leaves an enduring imprint on the hearts of students and colleagues alike. Throughout her tenure, Claire embodied patience and encouragement. She fostered a classroom environment where students felt empowered to take risks, make mistakes, and ultimately grow into confident and proficient speakers of French—as well as lovers of Francophone culture.
Her gentle guidance and unwavering support encouraged students as they navigated the complexities of the French language; she instilled a sense of confidence and self-assurance that transcended the classroom walls. In recent years, she shared her love of languages—not just French, but Spanish and Latin—with students through Visitation’s academic support program, helping students reach their full potential. Colleagues effused that she was also an exceptional mentor and coach—offering honest, constructive feedback with warmth and encouragement.
Though she may be retiring from her role as a teacher, her impact will continue to reverberate throughout Visitation for years to come. Among a few of her lasting accomplishments:
• Claire was instrumental in tailoring Visitation’s chapter of the National Honor Society to our unique history and charism, helping create the Cloriviere Society, which we still celebrate today.
• Claire founded Visitation’s chapter of the Société Honoraire de Français, early in this millennium.
• She launched Visitation’s summer study abroad program in La Rochelle, France.
• Claire was also a driving force in the creation of Visitation’s day care in the early 1980s. It endured for over 35 years and cared for the children of countless
Claire Brinkmann had a profound impact on Georgetown Visitation and leaves an enduring imprint on the hearts of students and colleagues.
faculty and staff members.
Forty-three years is truly a remarkable tenure, made all the more special because Claire—along with Sue Foreman and Kenny Purcell—has been one of our living links to the Sisters who
Mme. Claire Brinkmann
taught here at Visitation. Claire came to Visitation in a season of our school’s history when Sisters were still quite present on campus—still in some classrooms, moderating clubs, in the Headmistress’ Office, the Bursar’s Office, and the Infirmary. That spirit of working alongside the Sisters—having fun with them, eating lunch with them, being on the bleachers with them— was embedded in her from the start and it’s moved with her through her Visitation career.
She has always cared deeply about the Sisters, visiting them in the Monastery over the years, and speaking French to the Sisters who knew the language. Through the decades, Claire nurtured deep holy friendships with many of them, carrying their gentle way of life and their stories into Visitation classrooms years after the Sisters were able to be there themselves.
Claire has left an indelible mark on Visitation, and for that, we will be forever grateful. Bonne retraite!
Chrstine McGovern has worn many hats at Visitation, from teaching English and moderating the Wicket to serving as Visitation’s first Dean of the Faculty and helping carry the charism of the Sisters. To each of these roles, she has brought her incredible sense of humor, her talent for storytelling, her writing acumen, her love of reading, and her gift of bringing people together. For 35 years, she has been a teacher, a mentor, cheerleader, and friend to countless students and colleagues alike.
Christine has challenged and inspired thousands of young women during her career. Kristin Thorne ’00 credits her with inspiring her career in journalism (see “Trailblazing Women” on p. 22). Voicing the sentiment of many students, she said, “Mrs McGovern saw something in me that I was too young to see in myself.”
A reflective educator, Christine has been published at least twice in The Washington Post, with pieces sharing lessons she has learned teaching
For 35 years, Christine McGovern has been a teacher, a mentor, cheerleader, and friend to countless students and colleagues.
students Lord of the Flies and Tale of Two Cities, to say nothing of her insightful letters to the editor. A treasure trove of vignettes of Visitation history recent and long-past, Christine has kept countless students and peers in her thrall long after the bell has rung. She even wrote a play for the school’s bicentennial!
Christine is the model of a lifelong learner. As Dean of Faculty, she introduced Visitation to emergent ideas in education: differentiated instruction, teaching all kinds of minds, and learning and the brain. She initiated Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and Summer Sojourns.
She also planned a trip to Annecy for more than 40 faculty and staff. Along the way, she helped build a fledgling professional development budget into a robust program.
Through it all, Christine has rooted her work here in relationship, true to our Visitation charism. Every class, meeting, trip, and activity has been thoughtfully planned and deliberate in how we encounter one another. Maya Angelou said that “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” With her listening ear and empathetic heart, Christine has a gift of making people feel seen. She is known for an open door and full candy dish, invitations to sit and stay awhile.
Chrstine McGovern will long be remembered not only as a gifted teacher, but as a true daughter of the Visitation.
Mrs. Christine McGovern
BEDA Club wins first prize for Olympic Stadium design at DC competition
Visitation’s BEDA club (Building, Engineering, Design & Architecture) earned first prize in a presentation night hosted by the DC branch of the Architecture, Construction, & Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program in May 2024. At the Smith Group office in Foggy Bottom, four groups from area high schools presented their plans to design a building or space— and Visitation came out on top.
The competition was judged by a panel of ACE professionals, who agreed Visitation’s presentation—from design process to zoning to estimates—was streamlined. Former moderator and science teacher Grace Hofmann said the dedication of considerable time and effort from club members made the project stand out.
Club co-president Elizabeth Krueger ’24 hopes to study civil engineering in college at Notre Dame. She credits BEDA Club for getting her there—she’s been a member since her first year at Visitation, when the club itself was only virtual due to the pandemic, and she was drawn in by the idea of integrating STEM and art.
“I loved the community of great Visi minds that got together to put together project designs for fun,” Elizabeth said. By junior year, as co-president with Ava Bell ’25, Elizabeth reached out to the ACE Mentorship Program to collaborate and receive support for designs to present at the ACE annual competition. Unfortunately, with limited time, they did not have a chance to finish their project—a redesign of Gallerie.
This year, the club presented something brand-new: an Olympic Stadium in DC to replace RFK Stadium, a culmination of hard work and,
Elizabeth noted, many emails back and forth with their mentors.
“We decided to design an Olympic Stadium in DC because we all have an interest in sports and thought it would be a good representation of how diverse groups can unite together and play sports,” said Ava. “We felt this stadium best encompassed Visitation’s focus on well-rounded women.”
“[All the time was] very worth getting to present at the Smith group last week, not only because we won but also because of all of the bonding the club did over it. We even made matching T-shirts to commemorate our time together,” Elizabeth said. The shirts read, “Anything you can do, we can do BEDA.”
“With such amazing results, I certainly learned the value of pouring
time and energy into something difficult but rewarding and fun. I learned how to put in effort up front knowing that it will be worth it in the end,” said Elizabeth.
“I think what made our presentation stand out from the rest was our 3D model of the Olympic Stadium, as it was a unique aspect no other teams had and showed our design in a physical way,” said Ava.
Elizabeth also received a scholarship from ACE towards her first two years of college. “I am very grateful to my recommenders, because on my own I could never have done it, and am humbled to receive an honor because of their hard work,” she said. “I hope that I can live out the legacy of the scholarship and contribute to the ACE field someday.”
BEDA club members Ana Pin ’26, Elizabeth Krueger ’24, Hope Dickson ’25, Ava Bell ’25, Mikayla Edmunds ’25, Mahilet Girma ’25, Elena Rossi ’25, Nadia Licamele ’27, and Olivia Lawrence ’27 pose prior to the group’s presentation.
“It was wonderful getting the opportunity to play Macbeth
in my last Visi production. Macbeth has been one of my favorite Shakespeare plays since the first time I read it in sophomore year, and I was delighted to get to interpret the words on paper into a performance onstage.”
BELLA AGUILAR ’24 , WHO PLAYED THE LEAD ROLE OF MACBETH
CUBS ATHLETICS
The 2023-2024 winter and spring seasons showcased the best of the Cubs - back-to-back championships, new records, and outstanding dedication from our student-athletes.
The SWIM team found success in the water, with Clara Moschella ’24 (Lehigh) breaking school records throughout the season including the 50 free at 24.13 and 100 butterfly at 53.68. The AquaCubs placed ninth at the ISLs.
INDOOR TRACK set numerous records during the season, including in the 4x200m medley relay and the sprint medley relay. Team Captain and two-time girls’ cross country DC Gatorade Player of the Year Vivian Kelly ‘25 set a record in the 3200m, as did her teammate Abigail Anstett ‘27 Madison Rasses set a 500m individual record as well. Performances like these helped propel them to a third place finish at DC states (just a half-point out of second!) and produced many New Balance National qualifiers.
The young BASKETBALL team dedicated themselves over the season to personal growth, celebrating as Toby Nweke ’24 (Princeton) scored her 1,000th point in her Visitation career. The Cubs made it to the quarter finals for both ISL and DCSAA.
ICE HOCKEY clinched another win in the MAGHL finals 12 seconds into overtime, becoming back-to-back champions with a last minute-score by sophomore Charlotte Morrell
The spring gave us another incredible season with the Cubs. LACROSSE , led by captains Madison Rassas ’24 (Notre Dame), Maeve Obrist ’24 (Virginia Tech), and Quinn Murray ’25 and new Varsity coach Jude Collins, fought hard for their season record of 15–7. The Cubs managed to beat rival Stone Ridge by just three goals in one exciting game
and closed the season with a win over St. John’s, earning their second consecutive DC State Championship, and became co-ISL champions, earning a share of the banner.
Spring TENNIS , led by juniors McKayla Paleologos and Bridget Sheridan, finished strong with three wins out of their five matches, including a memorable match against Madeira with all doubles teams playing their very best and a comeback from Josie Saxe ’26, helping the team win 4–3.
TRACK & FIELD team members set records this season and took home second place at the DCSAA State Championship. Over the season, Abby Anstett ’27 continued to set records, including a state record for the 1600 meter at the championship, earning her a gold medal. Top state finishes also included field events MVP Jocelyn Gill ’27, who placed first for triple jump.
SOFTBALL also had a fantastic season, which included their trip to Disney for spring break training camp. This year, the team kicked off with three new coaches, all familiar faces to Visitation as classroom teachers: Rick Thomas, Eric Chalfin, and Daniel Petri Softball was also led by the three captains, Sophia Brinkman ’24, Lila Easton ’24, and Helen Maynard ’24 The Cubs came in second in the ISL and made it to the finals for both ISL and DC State tournaments, finishing as runnerup in both.
CREW enjoyed success over the season, including boats placing third at the Charlie Butt Regatta and the St. Andrew’s Regatta this spring, with the support of captains Charlotte Marrone ’24, Elizabeth Cooney ’24, and Hope Dickson ’25
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM KENNEDY MOORE ’25 AND CJ SANDS ’26, WICKET STUDENT NEWSPAPER STAFF
[ SWIMMING ] Clara Moschella ’24 hugs a teammate after a race
[ BASKETBALL ] Toby Nweke ’24 dribbles down the home court.
[ CREW ] Early morning practices resulted in wins for the crew team.
[ TRACK ] Jocelyn Gill ’27 jumps the distance.
[ INDOOR TRACK ] Abigail Anstett ’27 and Vivian Kelly ’25 pose after a meet.
[ LACROSSE ] The varsity lacrosse team gathers around the DCSAA championship banner. [ SOFTBALL ] Lucie Toumou ’27 talks with coach Daniel Petri. [ ICE HOCKEY ] Charlotte Morrell ’26 holds up the MAGHL cup following her team’s big win.
ELEVEN CUBS TO PLAY COLLEGE ATHLETICS IN FIVE DIFFERENT SPORTS
Kate Leland
Bates College, Soccer
Alex Maloney
Villanova University, Lacrosse
Clara Moschella
Lehigh University, Swim
Makaela Morrell
United States Military Academy - West Point, Soccer
Toby Nweke
Princeton University, Basketball
Maeve Obrist
Virginia Tech University, Lacrosse
Madison Rassas
University of Notre Dame, Lacrosse
Jackie Shores
Bowdoin College, Soccer
Kira Waller
University of Virginia, Soccer
Emma West
College of William & Mary, Basketball
Maddie Wojciak
Bowdoin College, Ice Hockey
THE LENS
EYES ON THE ECLIPSE
All eyes were on the sky on Monday, April 8, as Visitation experienced a near-total solar eclipse. With special glasses in hand, donated by the National Science Foundation, faculty and students spilled onto the fields, porches, and patios, finding space to safely watch the event; the science department even set up a telescope outside Berchmans Hall for a closer look.
BY CAROLINE COLEMAN HANDORF ’96
PHOTO
Alumnae Journalists Make Headlines and Inspire the Next Generation
TRAILBLAZING WOMEN
With a strong writing program and a mission to empower women to make a difference in the world, Visitation is a launchpad for FEMALE
JOURNALISTS
. We sat down with seven women in the field who shared what drew them to journalism, how Visitation prepared them for their careers, and what being a journalist means to them and to society.
EVERY PATH IS UNIQUE (BUT BEING A WICKETEER HELPS!)
Whether they wanted to be a journalist since childhood or discovered their calling after Visitation, the women we spoke with agreed that time spent in a newsroom is time well spent. From sharpening skills, to building relationships, to finding inspiration, the challenge of collaborating and hustling to putting together a paper is the foundation of a successful career.
KATIA PATIN ’12 , a multimedia reporter, producer, and editor, shared that the collegiality and teamwork she experienced as a newspaper reporter back in her days at Holy Trinity got her hooked: “What I fell in love with back then is what I still enjoy the most about journalism today—the collaborative nature of publishing.” She continued on her path at Visitation, where she joined the Wicket team. “Many of my favorite memories from Visitation are from working on the Wicket. Ahead of publishing an issue, the editors would come into school on the weekend, order from Wisemiller’s, blast music, and lay out the paper. There was such a strong sense of camaraderie,” she shared.
After graduating from Visi, Katia got a job at Northern Virginia Magazine’s food desk the summer before college; at New York University, she worked in several newsrooms, then had the chance to work at an American TV station in Prague while she was studying abroad: “The war in Ukraine had just started and I went to Kyiv to work on a documentary about the fighting.” Those experiences helped her understand, “how important it is in journalism to learn by doing.”
JULIA DEPENBROCK ’09 , an audio journalist at NPR who formerly worked at the Washington Post, started in journalism here at Visi, serving as editor-in-chief of the Wicket and, later, of her college paper. However, she took a detour after graduation, joining Teach for America and serving students in North Dakota. She later returned to school, got a masters in journalism, and began working at the Kojo Nnamdi show on WAMU. Admitting that she was inspired by Rory on “Gilmore Girls,” she shared, “I’ve always loved journalism as a career, particularly the investigative focus. I love to tell a story.”
The Wicket was also an important start for KRISTIN THORNE ’00 , an investigative reporter at WABC Channel 7 Eyewitness News in New York, who shared, “The Wicket allowed me to explore being a journalist—reporting, proofing others’ writing, designing a page layout. All of these experiences stack on top of each other. You need the foundational elements.”
Not everyone starts their career in journalism in school, though. “I didn’t study journalism or do the school paper,” shared CAITLIN REILLY ’08 , a tax and economics reporter for CQ and Roll Call. She didn’t let that regret hold her back from pursuing her goal of covering Congress.
KATIA PATIN ’12
Explaining how she landed on the Hill, she said, “I graduated and wanted a job that I felt mattered, that would make a difference and that played to the subjects I enjoyed in school,” including writing. It took her two years to break in, weathering a lot of rejection and jobs she didn’t love. “It’s an industry where you have to pay your dues and keep the hope alive that it is leading somewhere and building toward something you actually want to do,” she said.
CAROLINE CUMMINGS ’13 , a political reporter at WCCO CBS News Minnesota, also wanted to make a difference. After thriving at Visitation, particularly in history and English classes, she decided to major in journalism at the University of Maryland. “I wanted to do something worthwhile that had a purpose; I wanted to use my talents as a force for good,” she said.
CHRISTINE COMIZIO ’09 also took a non-traditional path to journalism. After studying health policy and administration at Penn State, Christine went to work for the American Student Medical Association. After just four months, a colleague retired from their communications department and she jumped at the chance to try something different; the role was a hybrid of communications and journalism and served as a springboard for her to become a health editor at US News & World Report. Christine shared that while there “was a huge learning curve,” her “willingness to learn and try new things” were keys to success. She just finished her masters in public health and is excited for the next chapter of her career.
FAITH, KNOWLEDGE… AND CONFIDENCE
Every single woman interviewed for this article cited Visitation’s English department as transformational and instrumental in developing their skills as a writer. Today’s excellent lay faculty follow in the footsteps of the Sisters before them. “The rigors of Sr. Baptista’s English class completely changed me as a writer. We were diagramming sentences and learning the etymology of words. She made me a much better writer,” said SUSAN FALVELLA GARRATY ’80 , who has worked for Fox Business Network, CNN, and MSNBC as a producer.
Three decades later, EMMA LINGAN ’12 , a sports journalist covering professional ice hockey, felt the next generation of Visitation English teachers helped her grow as a writer too. “My friends in college had a much more difficult transition, particularly in terms of writing and that was the easiest for me. I had already been writing at a college level the whole time I was at Visi,” she shared.
“Being able to write well, cleanly, and quickly is something I have a strong foundation doing from Visi English classes,” shared Caitlin.
Beyond cultivating strong writing skills, Visitation teachers help students see themselves on bigger stages, helping them build the confidence they need to succeed beyond the Green Gate. Kristin said, “I credit my entire career in journalism to Mrs. McGovern. At the end of my freshman year, she told me I was a really good writer and recommended I go to a summer journalism camp at the University of Maryland. … I loved it! … I returned and joined the Wicket as a staff writer.” She added, “Mrs. McGovern saw something in me I was too young to see in myself.”
Teachers at Visitation are known for challenging students and supporting them as they rise to the occasion. “At Visitation, you’re always encouraged to talk in class, and that carried to college and made me not bashful to speak up. That has carried over to confidence approaching and speaking with lawmakers; I am confident that what I have to say and what I think are worthwhile,” shared Caitlin.
The poise, curiosity, and assertiveness cultivated at Visitation prepare women to lead and learn in college. “I figured out when I got to college that not everyone had the same high school education that I did. College was easier than high school, academics-wise,” shared PAMELA LEAHIGH ’92, the weekend assignment editor at NBC4 WRC-TV here in DC. Classmates and professors alike immediately noticed her inquisitiveness and confidence: “I asked a lot of questions and wasn’t afraid to look smart in front of the boys.”
Kristin agrees, noting, “I have no doubt that Visitation formed the woman I am today—a strong female who isn’t afraid to raise her hand, who values hard work and can do hard work.”
Julie also noted that she cultivated the ability to speak her mind in class at Visitation: “I’ve always been introverted and particularly in my English classes, I learned to get comfortable speaking up. Doing that in a space that felt safe was a very important step forward.”
KRISTIN THORNE ’00
THE POWER OF AN ALL-GIRLS EDUCATION
Research shared by the International Coalition of Girls Schools affirms that girls’ schools empower young women to lead.
According to Dr. Katherine Kinzler at the University of Chicago, “At girls’ schools, girls demonstrate great confidence in female leadership and become increasingly interested in leadership positions themselves.”
Pamela’s experience at Visi supports that assertion: “I loved going to an all-female school. All the leaders were female; there wasn’t anything you weren’t allowed to do. Nobody thought you couldn’t do something because you were female. I took that into college and my career.” Caroline said it well when she observed, “Visitation set the bar high in terms of what I expect from the people I surround myself with.”
Emma also found that having women as role models empowered her as she entered the male-dominated fields of athletics and sports journalism: “At Visi, you don’t think about there being a difference between men and women in terms of their ability to be leaders … My experience at Visi helped my confidence in my own ability and work ethic.”
While leadership in newsrooms is still largely male-dominated, I’ve been lucky enough to have fantastic female editors.
KATIA PATIN ’12
Katia specifically called out Jenny Mayo, the former Director of Communications at Visitation and Wicket moderator: “While leadership in newsrooms is still largely male-dominated, I’ve been lucky enough to have fantastic female editors … starting with the Wicket’s Ms. Mayo.… Female journalists just a generation ahead of me have paved the way for reporters my age,” shared Katia.
That female mentorship is particularly important when women face harassment and discrimination. Julie shared that while she’s experienced discrimination, “since #metoo and the reckonings we’ve experienced, its been a lot better.” When she encountered men in senior positions who wouldn’t listen to her, Julie sought out women in the office who could help her network and give her career guidance. But there is cause for hope—“there is more equality and respect for women in journalism now,” according to Julie.
CHRISTINE COMIZIO ’09
LIFELONG LEARNERS
One of the aims of a Visitation education is to form women who are curious and eager to learn, skills that are also invaluable for journalists. Katia notes, “Journalism gives you an excuse to be curious about everything. Being a reporter is an exercise in constantly learning.”
Julie also shared that her curiosity has expanded her professional horizons: “Journalism is based in curiosity and wanting to learn more about things. I get to spend my days answering questions and exploring my interests. I am working on so many things now: swing states, a new comedy movie with Aubrey Plaza, a series about the Olympics, and a piece about crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay.”
Beyond being curious, journalists are also constantly adapting. “I’ve always had a ‘say yes’ mentality,” Christine shared. “I approach things with an open mind, ready to learn. I’m always looking for how I can improve and grow.”
In particular, the advent of the internet and later social media has transformed the news industry dramatically over the past few decades, requiring adept journalists to grow and evolve. Susan noted that she returned to college when she saw the digital wave coming toward her. In class, she built on the skills she first learned at Visi: “I might have taken the first Visitation computer class … we were taught how to code. Sr. Mary de Sales [who taught the class] was amazing.”
Journalism gives you an excuse to be curious about everything.
Being a reporter is an exercise in constantly learning.
KATIA PATIN ’12
SALESIAN SPIRITUALITY: WISDOM FOR LIFE
St. Francis de Sales is the patron saint of writers and journalists. In his lifetime, he used his oratory skills and extensive writing to help convert Calvinists and spread his vision for what today is called “Salesian Spirituality.” His promulgation of the Little Virtues reflected his belief that all are called to a life of holiness, whether you are a priest, a mother, or…a journalist.
Several Visitation journalists noted that gentleness is a virtue that enhances their professional acumen. “Being gentle and thoughtful and approaching sources in a very human way is the best way to get answers. There are situations where you need to dig in and ask hard questions, but I think you can do that in a way that you will actually get the answers you’re looking for. Gentleness is more important in this field than I would have guessed,” shared Julie.
Kristin noted, “Being a journalist, you need to be able to talk to everybody from a homeless person to a Fortune 500 CEO. We are all God’s people and everybody deserves respect and to have their voices heard. I think that [perspective] comes from the Salesian virtues, the humility.” Caroline also called out that virtue: “Humility is important. I remind myself that I don’t know everything.”
When you can impact people’s lives with your job, that’s what is rewarding.
KRISTIN THORNE ’00
Kristin loves having the opportunity to share people’s stories and even, sometimes, help them. “My favorite work is storytelling—giving a voice to those who get lost in the mix. … I love stories when I’ve been able to get an insurance company to pay for a wheelchair for a child or to give coverage to a patient for an experimental treatment. … When you can impact people’s lives with your job, that’s what is rewarding.” Pamela also echoed this idea: “You can see something wrong in our community and you can get it changed.”
Pamela further affirmed that as a journalist, you need to respect the dignity of all persons. After looking at Visitation’s profile of a graduate, Pamela noted that the section on purpose really resonated with her. As a graduate, she was awarded the Headmaster’s award for integrity, a virtue that has shaped her professional life as she faces a “morally complex world.”
Caroline connected her career back to St. Francis’ exhortation to “Be who you are and be that well”: it means, “bringing your whole self to what you do. I do that. I have to be fair and balanced and listen carefully and intently. … I have empathy and understanding. Visitation empowered me to be a human first in my reporting and to be the best journalist I can be.” She also echoed Kristin’s thoughts on being a voice for the marginalized: “The [stories] that linger with me the most are the stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things—communities wrapping their arms around people who have lost everything. There is such grace and kindness and bravery in the lowest of the low moments. People can show you the best of humanity and make you feel like you’ve had an impact by elevating their stories. There’s a mantra in journalism of ‘comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable’— challenge those in power and comfort ordinary people and elevate their voice. Those are the moments that mean the most and that tie back to what I was taught at Visitation.”
EMMA LINGAN ’12
EMBRACING THE WORLD
BEYOND VISITATION
When compared to coeducated peers, graduates of girls’ school like Visitation are more likely to help promote racial understanding; value improving their understanding of other countries and cultures; count their desire to understand others with different beliefs as a strength; and view their ability to work cooperatively with diverse people as strength. While this may be the case for all-girls’ schools, it is particularly true at Visitation, where women are encouraged to “model service, empathy, and humanity” in their leadership, following in the footsteps of St. Francis, St. Jane, and the generations of Sisters who have devoted their lives to Living Jesus and educating women at Visitation.
Being a journalist is more than a job; for many, like Caitlin, it is a true calling, a vocation. “I wanted a career where I felt what I was doing mattered and made the world a better place. … Visi really reinforced that sense of having a purpose in my professional life,” shared Caitlin.
Susan felt called to the profession as a way to make a difference in the world. “Journalism is the only profession to be mentioned in our constitution—‘the freedom of the press.’ It doesn’t say anything about lawyers or doctors or companies. It is the press. I feel like it is a calling rather than merely a profession,” she said. “Being at Visitation, I was surrounded by women who felt a calling. I was really inspired by them.”
As a student at Maryland, Caroline started her career on one of the biggest stages in journalism: Capitol Hill. “I worked on the Hill with some of the luminaries I had looked up to and was in the front row for history,” she said, but soon her career path took her away from home. “I wanted to cover politics and government; my mentor connected me with someone in Iowa to be a statehouse reporter for five stations across Iowa, based in the capital—the eyes and ears on state politics. I moved from DC—my lifelong home—to the middle of the country
Journalism is the only profession to be mentioned in our constitution—
‘the freedom of the press.’
SUSAN FALVELLA GARRATY ’80
where I knew nobody, but I had determination and drive to pursue the career I wanted to.” Today, she appreciates “what it means to leave the Beltway bubble. Getting outside of the DC echo chamber has made me a better reporter.”
Katia’s time in Prague was just the beginning of a career that would take her around the globe, covering the human toll of conflict, “I’ve traveled throughout [Eastern Europe] to report, especially to Russia, where steady repression has made life unbearable for the LGBTQ+ community, journalists, religious minorities, activists, and anyone speaking out against Russia. … I’ve spent the last couple of years based in Istanbul where so many global stories converge: Ukraine peace talks, Gaza diplomacy, and the recent prison swap between western countries and Russia.”
Katia shared that one of the most meaningful experiences she had as a journalist was when she met two young women who had escaped from their abusive family in Saudi Arabia. They were hiding in Georgia [the country], hoping to get asylum in Europe. “For a few weeks, I followed the sisters as they appealed for asylum at embassy after embassy all while hiding from their family members trying to hunt them down in Tbilisi. I was able to get their story out on US and European news channels and believe that the mounting media pressure contributed to the two sisters getting asylum. … It was really special to be with the sisters when they finally got on a plane to start their new, free life,” she said.
PAMELA LEAHIGH ’92
THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM: REALISM AND OPTIMISM
Trust is the most valuable currency in journalism and the profession is experiencing the same crisis in trust affecting so many other professional fields today. But it is crucial to have hope.
KATIA PATIN ’12
The economic pressures of publishing, combined with the rise of social media influencers and authoritarian leaders around the world are conspiring to snuff the light of a free press, a foundation of democracy.
Caitlin expressed particular concern that the shuttering of small papers is a threat to developing the next generation of journalists. “The big challenge is … that it is a shrinking industry,” shared Caitlin, noting the disappearance of local and regional papers, which were traditionally a critical stepping stone in a journalism career.
Even more concerning are the deadly attacks on journalists, noted Katia. “We are living in the deadliest period for journalists since the Committee to Protect Journalists started collecting data, largely due to the shockingly high number of journalists killed in Palestine in the last year [116 people as of September 2024]. I’ve had colleagues killed, imprisoned, and forced into exile for doing their jobs … that shouldn’t be normal. Journalism as a profession is also under attack from authoritarian-leaning leaders, from AI disruption, and from the bleak financial realities of digital publishing. Trust is the most valuable currency in journalism and the profession is experiencing the same crisis in trust affecting so many other professional fields today. … But it is crucial to have hope. What inspires me is how much more collaborative journalism has become in the past few years,” she shared.
It will take a new class of women like these to ensure that the flame of independent journalism continues to burn brightly. Caitlin’s message to the young women following in her footsteps is to start early and be fearless: “I’ve become more comfortable with failing and trying again and not giving up; that’s part of the learning process. It’s not the end, it’s just the start.”
CAITLIN REILLY ’08
WITH VALERIE HOPKINS ’05
INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES, COVERING THE WAR IN UKRAINE
What are you currently doing professionally?
I cover Russia, Ukraine, and the former Soviet Union for The New York Times. When our paper made the decision to leave Russia in early March 2022 because of draconian censorship laws, I was in Ukraine, and I realized I might not be back there until someone new was in power. But after carefully considering the risks, I decided to go back in August, and I [was] the only journalist from my paper working there. It is a responsibility I don’t take lightly. So much of the world is angry at Russia and horrified at what the Kremlin is doing every day to its neighbor and the way it has upended the global order. I think it is important for us to understand what’s happening in Russia right now, and how Russians see the war, their country, and the world.
Do you have any advice for current students?
Every piece of advice that I think of seems cheesy and cliché. But one thing that has helped me a lot in my journalism career, where we have this widely-held believe that “you’re only as good as your last story,” is something someone shared with me at William and Mary, also a cliché from Winston Churchill: “Success is not final, and failure is not fatal.” I keep it in my mind when I am having a bad day or hitting a wall with my reporting, but it also keeps me on my toes and helps me not be complacent when I do feel proud of something that I’ve done.
Excerpted, with permission, from World Minded, a publication of William & Mary’s Reeves Center for International Studies
CONGRATULATIONS
CLASS OF
2024
Abigail G. Adams
Isabella Nichole Aguilar
Mahedere Getnet Amare
Kelly Morgan Arocho
Chiara Barsantini
Rachel Margaret Bath
Carmell Moriah Beamon
Madison Rose Beeman
Fawzia Bassem Beidas
Trinity Arielle Borno
Alyssa Bradshaw
Sophia Marie Brinkman*
Sara Michelle Brodnik
Alexandra Francesca
Browning
Caroline Quinn Ford Burstein*
Milady Natalia Carcamo
Jacqueline Carroll
Eilish Kathryn
Carroll-Gavula
Avery Ruth Evelyn Chadwick
Tahlia Grace Conway
Elizabeth Anne Cooney*
Katherine Cope
Ceane Haughney Corbett*
Alese Nancy Cowardin
Alaina Kelsey Crossett
Marie Ava Cunningham*
Aurora Gonzalez Dolojan
Michaela Larkin Duffy
Lila Marie Easton
Jessica Joseph Edem*
Grace Sotak Elling
Katherine Murray Erceg
Chloe Ruth Flax
Grace Ann Fogarty*
Caroline Reese Garagusi
Paulina Gomez Orbegozo
Campbell Lawson Graham
Anne-Sophie C. Gray
Mariamawit Haileab Hagos
Caroline Joan Hauck
Madeline Llorente-Das Heffernan
Bryce Elizabeth Helmer
Caroline Thorson Hines
Anina Pamonia Holley*
Ayebatontei Christabel Ikoli
Rebecca Marie Island*
Antonella Izurieta
Malena Montero Johnson*
Chloe Ella Kaczmarek*
Margaret Murphy Kavanaugh
Jessica Maria Khoury
Naomi Navuri Kiondo
Madeleine Mariska Kitlinski
Elizabeth Grace Krueger*
Emma Watson Lake
Margaret Mary Lannan
Rachel Alise LeHanka
Catherine Kerr Leland
Julianna Gisele Lightfoot
Jacqueline Ann Lopes*
Catherine Genevieve Lukken
Rachel Selassie Akusika Lumor
Maya Grace Mahoney
Alexandra Anne Maloney
Estelle Ricci Maloney*
Emma Ryan Markey
Charlotte Isabelle Marrone
Helen Catherine Maynard
Katherine Shirley McBeath
Nadia Alexandra Bradley McBeth*
Katherine Elizabeth McCabe
Abigail Beatrice McCarthy
Virginia Annette McCarthy
Molly Kathleen McGee
Sophia Elizabeth McGill*
Mavourneen Marie McGreevy
Genevieve Elizabeth McLaughlin
Mira Rose Meale
Rosalie Angela Miller
Ella Serena Miner
Audrey E. Monlux*
Julia L. Monlux*
Kate Victoria Morelli
Makaela Reeder Morrell
Clara Anne Moschella
Fiona Qi Mullen
Stephanie Muoka
Evangeline Elizabeth Nader
Meaghan Grogan Neill
Olivia Grace Newberry
Toby Nweke
Ellsi Seri O
Anna O’Brien
Maeve Malloy Obrist
Brigid Maeve O’Donnell*
Annaka Margaret Peterson
Catlynh Truong Phan
Anastacia Barbara Popil
Chloe MacNeil Quinn
Madison Theresa Rassas
Keller Shannon Reilly*
Selena Reyes-Flores*
Kaitlin Emilia Rodriguez
Conley Marie Rohall
Nora Walsh Rohall
Alexandra Nicole Ross
Ella Rose Schulz
Elizabeth Grace Carey Shearer
Jacquelyn Suzanne Shores*
Catherine Cole Sieving
Gabriella Ruth Solomon
Sophia Isabella Spizuoco
Maya Lynn Stumpf
Elisabeth Marie Symington
Feven Avani Tadele
Lucia Jane Thiessen
Noelle Catherine Thomas
Carolyn Thompson*
Taryn Toomer
Lauren Elizabeth Trifilo
Erica Saha Trindade
Nora Catherine Turner
Lucinda Grace Walker*
Kira Rae Waller
Lillie Ann Weaver*
Emma Marie West
Noeme Toshi White
Claire McCann Whitty
Grace Wickham
Caroline Alejandra Williamson
Madeline Ann Wojciak
Ivy Jane Wydler*
Olivia Noelle Zullo
* Cum Laude Scholars
CLASS OF 2024 MATRICULATIONS
as of July 2024
The University of Alabama
American University
Auburn University
Bates College
Boston College
Bowdoin College
California College of the Arts
University of California, Davis
University of Central Florida
College of Charleston
Christopher Newport University
Clemson University
Colgate University
College of Charleston
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Connecticut
Connecticut College
CUNY City College
Dartmouth College
DePaul University
Dickinson College
Drexel University
Duke University
Fairfield University
University of Florida
Florida International University
Florida State University
Fordham University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Hamilton College
College of the Holy Cross
Howard University
IE University – Madrid, Spain
James Madison University
Lehigh University
Louisiana State University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Maryland
McGill University
University of Michigan
University of Mississippi
Northwestern University
University of Notre Dame
Parsons School of Design at The New School
Pennsylvania State University
University of Pittsburgh
Princeton University
Providence College
Purdue University
University of Rhode Island
University of Richmond
Rochester Institute of Technology
Saint Joseph’s University
University of San Diego
University of South Carolina
University of Southern California
Southern Methodist University
University of St Andrews
Syracuse University
The University of Tennessee
Texas Christian University
Trinity College
Tulane University
United States Military Academy at West Point
Universidad de Navarra
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
University of Virginia
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University
Wake Forest University
University of Washington
William & Mary
Yale University
FIRST ROW Conley Rohall, Nora Rohall, Larkin Duffy, Elizabeth Krueger, Carolyn Thompson, Emma Lake, Caroline Williamson, Mavourneen McGreevy, Sophie McGill, Caroline Hines, Ella Schulz, Molly McGee, Lexi Ross, Chloe Quinn SECOND ROW Anne Parette Rohall-Andrade ’86, Mary McCarten Casey ’58 (Visitation Convent School, St. Paul, MN), Molly Casey Duffy ’91, Kati Hylden Krueger ’99, Meg Snyder Thompson ’88, Lisa Racioppi ’76, Carola Rubio Williamson ’92, Mary Kirsh McGreevy ’95, Stephanie Conway McGill ’86, Lara Mongini Hines ’89, Kate Ryan Schulz ’88, Maura Farley McGee ’88, Michelle Singer Ross ’82 NOT PICTURED Nancy Conway Quinn ’92
The Place Where We Have Been the Most Ourselves
BY MALENA JOHNSON ’24
I am honored to represent the class of 2024 as we conclude our time together at Visitation. I am extremely proud of the graduating class’ accomplishments, as I know all of you are. I am grateful for them, and I know I speak for all my classmates when I say we are grateful for all of you. This is not just our accomplishment, it is also the accomplishment of everyone who has supported us throughout the years. Without you, we would never have been able to walk across this stage.
To my peers and friends, to put it simply, I love you. You have worked incredibly hard your entire lives and particularly in these past four years, and I hope you take the time to enjoy this day. Or, as St. Francis de Sales would have said—enjoy the present moment.
The past four years at Visitation, we have all studied, written about, and divulged our true selves through all types of assignments. In reflecting back on the work we have done and how we have grown, a line from a piece of literature stands out as the heart of our time here as a class, and I hope it resonates with you as much as it does with me: “I could never love anyone as I love my sisters.”
In Little Women, Louisa May Alcott introduces us to the March sisters exploring the complexities of sisterly love and the notion of one’s true identity. Despite their differences, the sisters are unified by their love. They take different paths in life, but they end up together bound by their shared experiences and values. They are each other’s home. I’d like to share a little bit about how the 133 members of the class of 2024 have come to understand what home is for us.
Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy are extremely
different—but together, they complete the March family. Meg is the oldest who wants to live a simple life. Jo is a short-tempered, strong writer. Beth is a quiet soul with a love for playing the piano. And Amy is a passionate artist. Meg is the simple and mature sister who married a mere tutor, and raised her children in a loving and plain home.
I have met many Megs during my time at Visitation. They know what they want in life, and know how to get it. They lead their class in wisdom. Megs love to support others and find fulfillment in the smallest of moments. Of course, she reminds me of the little virtue of simplicity, but also gentle strength. Megs don’t focus on themselves too much, and have a quiet strength that is admirable.
Jo is the hot-headed but determined sister who advises her dying sister saying “don’t go quietly,” supporting her persevering attitude.
I have met many Jos during my time at Visitation. You can tell who they are almost immediately. They chase after their goals, even when there is a lack of clarity. I’ve never seen people work so hard as the Jos at our school. There is optimism and stewardship in the Jos at
Visitation, as they live fully in their identity.
Beth is the quiet but dedicated sister who played the piano for the lonely neighbor and fell ill while taking care of the poor sick neighbors without anyone asking her to do so.
I have met many Beths during my time at Visitation. They constantly put others before themselves, whether it be cheering others on for getting a good grade on a test or comforting someone while they cry, never bringing up their own successes or struggles. They are talented and dedicated, and it shows. They might keep to themselves, but they have the greatest hearts. The Beths at Visitation remind me of the Little Virtues of humility and kindness. They encourage those around them, while always accomplishing their goals.
Amy is the passionate and stubborn sister who plaster casted her foot to show Laurie her feet were the prettiest, demonstrating her love with over-thetop enthusiasm and showmanship.
I have met many Amys during my time at Visitation. They truly have the biggest hearts. They scream at the top of their lungs how much they love others. Amys fight for others, but also
fight for their beliefs. They are the activists and the painters of our class. They remind me of courage and liberty of spirit as they fight for what they believe in.
Just as you have been many things for me over the years, Visitation has been many things for all of us. It was the place many of us found our forever friends. It was the place where we competed on the field and performed on stage. It was the place we answered questions, and asked so many more. It was the place we learned to selfadvocate. It was the place where we grew in faith. It was the place we cheered on our friends. It was the place where we laughed frequently. It was the place where we cried, also frequently. Most importantly, it was the place where we have been most ourselves.
Freshman year we entered into a completely new environment, not knowing what to expect. Personally, I cried every day after math class, struggling to keep up with the curriculum. I went to my first all-school Mass and stayed silent as I knew none of the prayers. While I still occasionally cry over math, and trip over some of the words during prayer, Visitation has allowed all of us to foster our learning and faith.
Of course, our learning includes all of the day to day lessons, but, most importantly, Visitation has fostered learning about our unique identities. We have learned that we need to open up our minds to new experiences in which we have found that in those moments where we set aside our preconceived notions we can gain a new appreciation, learning the true gift of our Visitation education.
We’ve learned that we can run down the porch and give a friend a huge hug without any judgment. There is a need for Visitation women to let others know that they love them. It makes for bonds that are unbreakable.
We’ve learned that teachers are
there for you and always free to talk. Yes, of course they are always available to help with classwork, but most importantly, they are there during the most crucial times as we share both our struggles and accomplishments. Our teachers have led us to our success and their cheers are always the loudest. And for this, we thank them immensely.
Love is not a strong enough word to describe how we feel about one another. Visitation has cultivated an environment that allows us to be unified under one heart, spirit, and body.
We’ve learned what it means to work hard as we watch our peers strive for greatness, and achieve it. The work you have all put in is unmatched and a remarkable sight to see.
We’ve learned what it means to love so deeply that it will pain us to say goodbye. Love is not a strong enough word to describe how we feel about one another. Visitation has cultivated an environment that allows us to be unified under one heart, spirit, and body. We can claim this sisterhood, one that looks and feels like the March sisters because of this invisible string that ties us all together.
We have swayed, laughed, sang, danced, smiled, and cried together over the years. While we leave these moments behind, we go into a new chapter ready to spread our love. Do not be afraid of what we will leave behind, rather be excited for what is to come.
We’ve learned to be ourselves, always, because those are our best selves.
I knew we would learn so much here, but personally, I never expected how
I would have been inspired in my faith. I was not very religious before Visitation, but found myself fascinated with the importance of social justice and struggling with the complexity of ethics.
I discovered that faith is all about the people around you that bring you closer to your true self. That is what it means to live and breathe in the image of God. Visitation has allowed me to dive into my spirituality through the relationships with my sisters.
And so, to my sisters: Jo March once said, “Women have minds and souls as well as just hearts. They’ve got ambition and talent as well as just beauty. And I’m sick of people saying that love is all a woman is fit for.” We are fit for love— but we are also fit for so much more. I challenge you all to remember these words as you reach for your goals. Find people in the future who will allow you to be your true self. These are all small moments that will allow you to, as St. Francis de Sales said, “Be who you are and be that well.” Visitation has allowed us to grow in the Little Virtues as we began to understand our true selves. All of the tools have been given to us, so now it’s our turn to take the Visitation ideals and carry them into the world. Find the love you are all feeling right now in your future endeavors as you live fully in your identity. We have learned that we are not insignificant, but rather we are women who, just like the March sisters, can run the world.
Today we walked across this stage to begin a new chapter of our lives. We will all go on different paths filled with new experiences and new people. But, we will always be together because of Visitation. We have all found a home at this school. While today we leave the building and the people we have surrounded ourselves with, we don’t leave Visitation because the values and the sisterhood will stay with us. While we might joke about “visterhood,” it is truly the most essential aspect of who we have become because of Visitation.
Visitation, A Center of Learning & Values
SISTER MARY BERCHMANS HANNAN, VHM, ’48 & ’50, PRESIDENT EMERITA
As I watched you walk into this space this morning, my thoughts turned to the many classes I have seen process into their graduation venues. The Class of 1993 was the last to walk into the hot and unairconditioned Odeon; it was totally destroyed by fire one month to the day after their graduation. For several years after the fire, our graduates appeared on the stage in Gaston Hall at Georgetown University. Finally, in recent years, our graduates have processed into this tented hilltop. With one exception—and maybe now I have to say two—this venue has greeted us with a gentle breeze and moderate temperatures. But where are you, Lord, today? It’s a bit toasty.
Georgetown Visitation has grown up with our country. Our school, founded in 1799, has been in existence through every president’s tenure, except our first president, George Washington.
Like our nation, Visitation has evolved and grown from 1799 to 2024, a span of 225 years during which “The Young Ladies Academy” grew into Georgetown Visitation Convent, known as GVC, and finally as Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, or fondly said by many, “Visi.” Ours is a school that has flourished and exists today as a strong, faith-filled, Salesian educational institution. Through these long years, Visitation has maintained its mission of educating young women of faith, who have a clear vision of the school’s mission and an unfaltering sense of its purpose.
Visitation’s mission has stood firm through many of its unique challenges: wars, depressions, 9/11, a devastating fire—the list could go on. Each challenge has been met with stalwart
courage. This is the role which faith has played in the life of our school.
There is a sentence in our Mission Statement that was offered to us by Father William Byron, an outstanding Jesuit educator who served on the school’s Board at least 20 years ago, if not longer. This statement remains a strong, articulate description of our school’s mission: “Our mission is to empower our students to meet the demands and challenges of today’s rapidly changing and morally complex world. We guide our students to become self-reliant, intellectually mature women of faith, vision and purpose.”
Today, you, our proud graduates of 2024, join the many classes that have preceded you. Like them you have faced and will face again times of trial and opportunity. Look upon them as gifts to be accepted and nurtured. My own class of 1948 graduated 42 strong women 79 years ago. Our bonds of friendship have lasted through the lifetimes of many and remain with a few of us still on this side
of the Great Divide. I arrived here at Visitation, as a sophomore resident student, from Rye, New York, in 1945, just one month after the Second World War had ended. In retrospect, I find it heartening to reflect on the spirit of sacrifice the war engendered in our lives and how its ending created a new sense of freedom. Deprivations caused by the wars, simultaneously waged in Europe and the South Pacific, had the effect of leveling ranks within our society. Ration books limited purchases of food, clothing, and other articles, especially shoes, to bare necessities. Bicycles replaced cars as our mode of local transportation. Victory Gardens in backyards provided vegetables. Frozen foods were unknown. We learned how to live within the limits of these deprivations and emerged as stronger individuals.
But here we are in the year 2024. You, the Class of ’24, began your four years at Visitation with your own set of deprivations and challenges. COVID
forced you to spend your first months as freshmen in isolation in your bedrooms or some other quiet spot in your home in front of a computer screen. You were attached to a machine, deprived of personal interactions with new classmates and teachers. How disappointing this was for you! Marshmallow Roast and Gold-White games were postponed—the very activities that create opportunities for new friendships to flourish.
As so often happens in our lives, difficult situations can lead us to develop an inner strength and outward calm to meet challenges head on. The Class of 2024 will go down in the annals of Visitation as a class that rebounded from the forced isolation that marked its first few months in a new school with vim, vigor, and vitality. Most importantly, the deprivations of your first few months of high school have resulted in your appreciation and value of good friends and their place in your lives.
Visitation’s mission has stood firm through many of its unique challenges: wars, depressions, 9/11, a devastating fire—the list could go on. Each challenge has been met with stalwart courage. This is the role which faith has played in the life of our school.
As you continue to navigate this next phase in your life, you have lovely qualities of mind and heart that will guide your steps. Words that come to mind in describing many of you are: resilience, inquisitiveness, vision, and compassion. The needs are great; you have qualities that can make a difference in the lives of those who need you the most. Use them well.
Traditionally, monasteries have been described as centers of learning, places of light in contrast to the darkness in the society about them; places where eternal values are translated into concrete ways of meeting the signs of the times; places where the Gospel is lived.
This is the environment your teachers and school leaders have devoted their energies to create for you during your years of learning here. You have discovered touchstones in the “Little Virtues” of our Salesian Spirituality. Thank you for sharing insights into the values underlying these virtues in our school assemblies and all-school Masses. Use them now as signposts as you meet challenges in your life after Visitation. Carry them with you in mind and heart and share them with your new friends. Remember alway the importance of the gift of relationship, which we see so beautifully exemplified in the lives of Mary and Elizabeth in the Gospel story of the Visitation. In their relationship rests the heart of our Visitation spirit which you
will be carrying beyond these walls.
In the spirit of the Gospel of Visitation, I wish for each one of you, abiding friendships as you move into a new phase in your lives. In this relentlessly technological age, don’t let cell phones and all their social media apps substitute for close, human connections. Let technology have its place. but don’t let it deprive you of the beauty and grace of faithful friends, a treasured gift.
And now, I bequeath to you the motto of the Class of 1948, developed 76 years ago: “Onward, upward, Christward, together.”
Finally, as you leave this campus today, please remember that the doors on 35th Street always remain open to you and that the Sisters are always on the alert to offer prayers for you and your families, especially during times of challenge. Don’t hesitate to call.
Goodbye, dear graduates of 2024, graduates in this special year in the history of our school. You have made your mark.
God bless you all!
Academic Awards
SENIOR AWARDS
Medal of Overall Academic Excellence
Given to the graduate who has the highest grade point average over all four years at Georgetown Visitation
Chloe Ella Kaczmarek
Senior Medal of Excellence
Given to the graduate who has the highest grade point average during her senior year
Elizabeth Anne Cooney
Medals of Excellence
Awarded to graduates who show exemplary scholarship in each academic discipline
Excellence in Theology
Ivy Jane Wydler
Excellence in English
Isabella Nichole Aguilar
Excellence in History –
Eileen Guzikowski Medal
Malena Montero Johnson
Excellence in Mathematics
Elizabeth Anne Cooney
Excellence in Science
Ivy Jane Wydler
Excellence in French –
Susan Limberg Medal
Rebecca Marie Island
Excellence in Spanish –
Christy Joria Medal
Elizabeth Anne Cooney
Excellence in Fine and Performing Arts
Jacqueline Carroll
Archbishop’s Award for Catholic Citizenship
Given to a graduate who exemplifies, in her school and personal life, the attributes of Catholic principles and values
Elizabeth Grace Krueger
Julie Ellis LeMoult ’93
Salesian Heritage Award
Given to a graduate who has lived the values of loyalty, kindness, generosity, initiative, and determination—the Little Virtues of St. Francis de Sales
Grace Ann Fogarty
Marian G. Canney
Christian Friendship Award
Given to a graduate who is a faithful friend who has been spontaneously gracious in giving her time and talents to her friends, in honor of Marian G. Canney ’38 & ’40
Molly Kathleen McGee
Geri Titus Fidelity Award
Given to a graduate who exhibits the qualities of faith, simplicity, and cheerful optimism in memory of Geri Titus ’73
Emma Watson Lake
St. Jane de Chantal Service Award
Given to a graduate who, during her four years, best exemplified the noble virtues and selfless habits of St. Jane de Chantal, with emphasis placed on humble service to others at school and in the community through the Corporal Works of Mercy
Ella Serena Miner
Kelly Brodnik Spirit Award
Given to a graduate who has immersed herself in the culture of the Little Virtues and, like Kelly Brodnik ’21, possesses a unique spirit of compassion for her classmates, even in the face of adversity
Emma Ryan Markey
Margaret Kilpatrick Adams Scholarship
Given to a graduate who radiates dignity, poise, patience, and excellence and who places a very high value on education, both formal and self-taught, in honor of Margaret Kilpatrick Adams
Anne-Sophie C. Gray
Christine Weeks Scofield Citizenship Award
Given to a graduate who exhibits qualities of citizenship, responsibility, loyalty to school, and leadership in memory of Christine Weeks Scofield ’95
Jacqueline Ann Lopes
Molly Moriarty Creative Arts Award
Given to a graduate whose creative spirit has enriched our stage, studios, and/or publications
Aurora Gonzalez Dolojan
Margaret Mary Spirit Award
Given to graduates who have reflected the qualities of dependability, loyalty, friendship, and enthusiasm in memory of Sr. Margaret Mary Sheerin, VHM, former Headmistress
Conley Marie Rohall
Jacquelyn Suzanne Shores
Madeline Ann Wojciak
Rubacky 3-E Award
Given to graduates who display efficiency of effort and enthusiasm for learning, in memory of former science teacher, husband, and father of Visitation alumnae, Dr. Eugene Rubacky
Madeline Llorente-Das Heffernan
Anina Pamonia Holley
Sophia Isabella Spizuoco
Continued on page 42
Isabella Aguillar and JEANNE E.
Molly
Anna
Greta
1 CUM LAUDE SCHOLARS, BACK ROW Ivy Wydler, Audrey Monlux, Caroline Burstein, Lucinda Walker, Elizabeth Cooney, Jessica Edem, Rebecca Island, Brigid O’Donnell, Malena Johnson, Ceane Corbett, Nadia McBeth, Julia Monlux, Chloe Kaczmarek FRONT ROW Anina Holley, Elizabeth Krueger, Carolyn Thompson, Selena ReyesFlores, Jacqueline Lopes, Estelle Maloney, Keller Reilly, Sophia McGill, Marie Cunningham, Jacquelyn Shores, Lillie Weaver, Grace Fogarty, Sophia Brinkman 2 MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE WINNERS Isabella Aguillar, Jacqueline Carroll, Rebecca Island, Elizabeth Cooney, Malena Johnson, Chloe Kaczmarek, Ivy Wydler 3 PERCY H. WILLIAMS, JR. WRITING AWARD WINNER
WILLIAMS ART AWARD WINNER Madison Beeman 4 MARGARET MARY SPIRIT AWARD WINNERS
Schmidtlein ‘27,
Schmidtlein ‘26,
Rank Videaurri ‘26, Ana Pin ‘26, Anna Alspach ‘27, Elena Rossi ‘25, Sophia Beahn ‘25, Claire Jacobs ‘25, Catherine Moran ‘27, Conley Rohall ‘24, Madeline Wojciak ‘24, Jacquelyn Shores ‘24
Academic Awards 2024
SENIOR AWARDS
Continued from page 40
Benedicta Cup
Awarded to a graduate who has contributed to the athletic program and has been a cooperative and supportive member of the student body in all aspects of school life
Madison Theresa Rassas
Athletic Association Hall of Fame
Given to graduates with a minimum of 1000 points who have earned six or more varsity letters
Bryce Elizabeth Helmer Mavourneen Marie McGreevy
Rosalie Angela Miller
Audrey E. Monlux
Julia L. Monlux
Annaka Margaret Peterson
Madison Theresa Rassas
Elizabeth Grace Carey Shearer
President’s Awards
Given to graduates who have emulated the spirit of the Visitation through their humility, hospitality, and gratitude, leaving an indelible heart print on our campus
Lila Marie Easton
Jessica Joseph Edem
Alexandra Anne Maloney
Paulina Gomez Orbegozo
Selena Reyes-Flores
Catlynh Truong Phan
Noeme Toshi White
Caroline Alejandra Williamson
ALL-SCHOOL AWARDS
Medals of General Excellence
Heidi Linnartz ’25
Ana Pin ’26
Nadia Licamele ’27
Rubacky 3-E Awards
Elliotte Crowell ’25
Brenda Gonzalez-Gomez ’25
Lucy O’Brien ’25
Gloria Burkhardt ’26
Mia O’Neill ’26
Annie Rutherford ’26
Mo Buczek ’27
Carys Kang ’27
Khloe Roberts ’27
Margaret Mary Spirit Award
Sophia Beahn ’25
Claire Jacobs ’25
Elena Rossi ’25
Ana Pin ’26
Greta Rank Vidaurri ’26
Anna Schmidtlein ’26
Anna Alspach ’27
Cate Moran ’27
Molly Schmidtlein ’27
Percy H. Williams, Jr. Writing Award
Established in honor of Mr. & Mrs. Williams, parents of Ms. Anne Williams ’68. As a mother, nurse, teacher, musician, artist, and advocate of social justice, Mrs. Jeanne Williams was much beloved by her family and the communities she was a part of. A beloved grandfather and great-grandfather, Mr. Williams also served as a Sergeant Major in World War II, the highest rank attainable for African Americans at the time. He spent his life fighting for Civil Rights and equality in the federal government and in the Catholic Church.
Isabella Aguilar ’24
Jeanne E. Williams Art Award
Madison Beeman ’24
Letty Caldwell Award
Established by the Class of 1986 in memory of their classmate, this award is given to a member of the freshman class who has shown Letty’s selfless spirit of friendliness, courage, and stamina in the face of difficulties
Sophia Tellez
Mary Cecilia Freshman Trophy
No word describes Sr. Mary Cecilia Clark, for whom this trophy is named, better than “enthusiastic!” A graduate of the Class of 1917, outstanding teacher of biology, mastermind and fundraiser for the building of St. Joseph Hall in the late 1950s, and Monastery Superior in the 1960s and early 1970s, Sr. Mary Cecilia also served as moderator of the Athletic Association and was an attentive caretaker of the then “new” gymnasium. The Mary Cecilia Freshman trophy is awarded to the member of the freshman class who has accumulated the highest number of Athletic Association points.
Jocelyn Gill
Monlux,
Elizabeth Shearer, Bryce Helmer 3 RUBACKY 3E AWARD WINNERS Sophia Spizuoco ‘24, Mo Buczek ‘27, Madeline Heffernan ‘24, Gloria Burkhardt ‘26, Mia O’Neill ‘26, Annie Rutherford ‘26, Carys Kang ‘27, Khloe Roberts ‘27, Anina Holley ‘24, Brenda Gomez-Gonzalez ‘25 4 MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS Ana Pin ‘26, Elizabeth Cooney ‘24, Heidi Linnartz ‘25, Nadia Licamele ‘27 5 LETTY CALDWELL AWARD Sophia Tellez ‘27 6 WHITE TEAM VICTORS Mary Gormly ‘25, Madeline Hauck ‘27, Maeve Obrist ‘24, Claire Whitty ‘24, Sara Brodnik ‘24, Gigi Lukken ‘24, Kieran Murray ‘26
1 PRESIDENT’S AWARD WINNERS Catlynh Phan, Alexandra Maloney, Caroline Williamson, Jessica Edem, Noeme White, Lila Easton, Paulina Gomez Orbegozo, Selena Reyes-Flores 2 ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME Julia Monlux, Audrey
Madison Rassas, Rosalie Miller, Annaka Peterson, Mavourneen McGreevy,
GREEN GATE GALA
MARCH
9
1 Gala Committee Members and Maddy Cuddihy-Haire ‘12 (Advancement Events Coordinator) 2 John & Kelly Stevens (P ‘23, ‘26), Mother Anne-Francis Ng’ang’a, VHM, and Matt Shank (P‘25) 3 Clay & Bruce Deming (P’26) and family
Thank You to the Green Gate Gala Advisory Committee!
Kate Beers (P ‘27)
Katie McDonnell Breslin ‘96 (P ‘25 & ‘27)
Alana Chouquette (P ‘25)
Heather Errigo (P ‘26)
Jeran Gimigliano (P ‘25, ‘26)
Murray Whitehead Gormly ‘88 (P ‘22, ‘25)
Elizabeth Hall (P ‘25)
Alison Heafitz (P ‘27)
Lara Mongini Hines ‘88 (P ‘24, ‘27)
Maria Kelly (P ‘26)
Carole Krogmann (P ‘27, ‘28)
Maura Lannan (P ‘24)
Susan Buikema Miller ‘92 (P ‘27)
Colleen Morton (P ‘25)
Daisy Newberry (P ‘24)
Loretta Roby (P ‘23)
Traci Rodriguez (P ‘26)
Christy Stute (P ‘26)
Sisters, parents, faculty, staff, alumnae, and friends made the night one to remember as we celebrated our 225th Birthday Bash in true gala style, supporting Visitation and our incredible students. Together, we raised more than $320,000 for Visitation’s scholarship fund and over $65,000 for the Financial Aid Supplement Fund, helping us honor the Sisters’ commitment to ensuring cost is not a barrier to a Visitation education.
Chaired by Visitation fathers George Sifakis P ’22 & ’28, Charles Gormley P ’22 & ’25, and Omar Shiblaq P ’22, the 1799 Classic raised over $90,000 for financial aid and scholarship in its third year, supporting Visitation students and their families. More than 160 Visitation community members came together to play golf and pickleball on the day of the solar eclipse, which participants watched from the course.
1799 CLASSIC
APRIL 8
1 Daisy Newberry P ’24 and Cathleen Mullen P ’24
2 Jackie Abell Maloney ’71 (P ’03 & ’06) 3 Mary Pat Brogan ’07 and Kathleen Brogan ’99 (Board Chair)
4 Guests of 1799 Classic enjoy the eclipse during play.
5 Tom McCarthy (P ’24, ’22), Andrew Farkas, Eric May, Bob McCarthy (P ’25, ’26, ’27)
TEDDY BEAR TEA
1 Johlize McNeil ’10, Kaley Beins ’10 and Clarissa Wilber Berger ’10 2 Anna Lopes Meuwissen ’92 3 Cara Baldini Warner ‘09 and Liz Baldini ‘76 4 Claire Carlin ’73
5 Dr. Danielle Oliver Morton ’07, Ellin Washington Phiri ’07, Chanelle Johnson Sjolander ’07
What a joy it was to have so many alumnae join us at our Teddy Bear Tea, where the Visitation spirit shone brightly through the laughter and love shared among mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, aunts, and all the little ones (and their cuddly companions)!
Over 300 members of our community came together to celebrate the Feast of the Visitation and the holy friendship between Mary and Elizabeth, which inspires the close connections of our students and alumnae, in honor of our 225th anniversary. His Eminence Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, presided over the Mass in Nolan Center, praising our institution for reaching this milestone. A reception followed in the Quadrangle.
225TH
MAY 31
1 Principal Leonor Limarzi Ponzio ’95, Wilton Cardinal Gregory, and President Barbara McGraw Edmondson
2 Board Member Leena Donaldson ’93, Caroline Kelly ’08, and Kimya Stoute Bradshaw ’91 3 Ann Bigley Robertson ’70 and her husband Jim Robertson
5 Kitty Wach ’82, Kathleen Curtin- Miskovsky ’79, Annette Barr 6 Henry Mere P’22, Neso Mere ’22, Dr. Chinelo Mere P’22, Sobi Mere ’22, Yamona Pierce P’22, Hannah Pierce ’22
FROM THE ALUMNAE OFFICE
Dear Alums,
This past spring, I had the particular pleasure both to plan our Reunion 2024 and to celebrate it with my classmates from 1979. For most of us, our time at Visitation feels as though it was only yesterday. We can still distinctly remember what it felt like to slide into our desks as the bell rang, to prepare with anxiety and excitement for a school dance, or to celebrate a tradition like Marshmallow Roast, together. You’ll see in Class Notes, time and time again, that we refer to our classmates looking just the same as they did when we walked through the Green Gate in our white dresses with roses in hand.
And yet, we acknowledge that we are changing as the world around us changes too. As we age, we find that our time on 35th Street has prepared us well for life: the joyful optimism and courage needed for a career pivot, the perseverance and faith to weather a health challenge, the simplicity and contentment that illuminate the beauty of God’s creation each day.
It is no wonder that many alumnae describe Reunion as “coming home.”
Each year, as more than 400 alums return to campus for this event, I marvel at the countless incredible women I meet. Visitation has truly done a remarkable job forming “self-reliant, intellectually mature, and morally responsible women of faith, vision, and purpose.” And we’re a lot of fun too!
We honored three such women at our reunion luncheon, who have given of themselves and their talents for the betterment of others; these alums exemplify what it means to be strong and gentle, confident and humble, spirited and spiritual. You can read about these impressive women on p. 66, 73, and 74. Today’s students graduate with these same skill sets which will allow them to model service, empathy, and humanity in their lives beyond the Green Gate.
Thank you all for your dedication and devotion to Visitation and for being impressive examples of what it means to be a graduate of Georgetown Visitation. You make us proud, and we are so grateful for all you do to give back to our alma mater.
I hope to see you soon,
Suzie Koones Egan ’79
Reunion 2025
Classes ending in 0’s and 5’s
Please join us back on campus this spring to celebrate, reconnect, and reminisce! You’ll hear from us and your class agents soon.
2025 REUNION Class Agents
JC ’55 Helen Field-McNally Richards minniefield129@gmail.com
‘55 Joan Connor Lee JRC20815@aol.com
JC ’60 Ann Samouce Russell anntomrussell@gmail.com
‘60 Pat McAndrews Connell pfconnell@gmail.com
Mary Seider West westmleo@verizon.net
‘65 Linda Miller Nystrom duane.nystrom@verizon.net
FRONT ROW L TO R Dot Furey Gates, Mary Grove Rupp, Mary Pat Shea Gaffney, Jane Locraft Head TOP ROW L TO R Ginny Kilroy McKaig, Maureen Root Mylander, Mollie Buckley, Donna Wilson Slingluff 1959
FRONT ROW L TO R Karen O’Brien Risher, Ellen Caulfield White, Anne Conroy Bader TOP ROW Sue Carroll DuFour, Mary Maher Sherwood, Mary Lou Lanham Kenary, Terry Johnson Matan JC’64
FRONT ROW L TO R Jane Denningham McCall, Susan Fusaro Imbert, Suzan Billmeier Renz, Suzy Coleman Leahigh TOP ROW L TO R Patricia Slichter Williams, Margie Seaton Elkins, Alice Beffel Cruse, Kathy Nolan Cortese 1964
FRONT ROW L TO R Mary Claire Tappan Steinbraker, Mary Jane Lloyd Phelan, Stephanie Whalen
Cosgrove, Barbara Murphy Piontkowski, Jean Guiliani Terheyen, Beth Jenkins Bromberg, Mary Pat Donelan, Christie Cusack O’Neill TOP ROW Rosa Di Francesco Lee, Marilyn Davis Coolidge, Joanne McDonald Gerber, Theresa Branson McVeary, Mary Kate Dammen Dugan, Cathy McGraw Bahl, Anne Withers, Chris Moretti Shaffer, Lila O’Brien Sullivan, Kathy Madden Kaminiski, Anne McGrath Thomas. 1969
FIRST ROW (SEATED) Judy Carr Guttenplan, Linda Reap Gwinn, Susie Dugan, Martha Withers, Maria Difrancesco Christmann, Connie Kulik Morgan
SECOND ROW L TO R M.C. Thomas Tapscott, Mary McManus, Ann Marie Brennan-Zelenka, Nora Shea Scott
1974
FRONT ROW L TO R Felicia Goins, Claire Meyer Kaufman, Pamela Beech-Whatley, Patricia McMahon, Mary Gasperetti, Beth Mickum Greene, Mary Jo Provenzano, Joan Aburrow Leader, Carol
Rubacky Sheridan, Noreen Lavan Poulsen, Debbie Meehan Hallock, Barbara Brendes Flanagan TOP ROW L TO R Ryan Dorsey Revel, Eva Mirski Rotolo, Jude Franco Doherty, Janet Conley, Margalee DuBois Becker, Nancy Stimpfle Smith, Maura Daly, Diane Robertson, Sandra Beyer Morrin, Terri Slattery Sullivan, Mary Duke Ruleman, Kris Koones Veirs
1979
FRONT ROW L TO R Kathy Murray, Beth Knepshield Dunkelberger, Danielle Hendon, Joanie Turner, Katie Costabile Katinas, Anne Griffith Hennessy, Kathleen Lynch Battista MIDDLE ROW L TO R Therese Peters Rodriguez, Jeannine Bellanti McSorley, Ellen Miskovsky Kentz, Paula Miller, Janet Donnelly Keller, Suzie Koones Egan, Ellen Gilday Witts, Kate Egan, Julie Walsh Jeffers, Betsy Schiebel Lombardy TOP
ROW L TO R Kashia Figueroa, Beth Murphy, Kathleen Curtin, Patricia Ellis Williams, Joan Casey DeFranceaux, Kelly Balek Formant
Continued on next page
REUNION CLASSES 2024, CONT’D
1984
FRONT ROW L TO R Lisa Grisby Solomon, Nik O’Dell Odim, Anne-Marie McPeak Staples, Mary Ellen Lynch Comisso, Jaqui Coan McCloskey, Jackie Connolly, Suzanne Gorman Donofrio, Alejandra Gil-Montero Sweeney, Polly McKenna-Cress. MIDDLE
ROW L TO R Francesa Repetti Ryan, Monica Zanovello Jurrisen, Kathy Gill McDermott, Beth McCarthy Gusler, Missy Freeman Reingruber, Susan Griffith Giuliani, Danne Futterer, Teresa Giral TOP ROW
L TO R Ana Molina, Kristin Blomquist Treacy, Meghan Molloy McCaleb, Elizabeth Brown Rembold, Alice Kelley Scanlon, Mary Beth Conway Greene 1989
FRONT ROW, L TO R Francoise Thalacker Thomas, Jeanne Manning Webster, Nora Lober, Michelle Acevedo, Trish Sweeney TOP/BACK ROW, L TO R Teresa Williams Pope, Katie Wooten, Alison Talbott Durland, Caroline Scott Miller, Evan Ryan
1994
FRONT ROW, L TO R Liz Dawson Dangio, Anne Harshaw, Alicia Labuda Bilbao, Jenny Morgan, Claire Kelly Chadwick, Jay-Cheree Edwards Burns, Katie Baker Leasure, Erin Trodden, Katherine Williams, Christine Camposano Rabe MIDDLE ROW
L TO R Kerry O’Neill, Valerie Vehemente Woo, Amanda Burns Robbins, Carolyn McGuire Carroccio, Jeanne Walsh Parlin, Allegra Chapman, Gen Bader, Carla Sloane, Allison Gans, Christine Tioseco, Colleen Durbin, Alison Calabia Buckley, Kerry Huber Zwick, Ann Gildea Gallagher, Christine Basso Fitzgerald TOP ROW, L TO R Massiel Aspron-Williams, Sarah Cleary Stokely, Christina Bernardi Isabal, Noel Dooley Adams, Hillary Gazzola, Darcy O’Donnell Marshall, Maggie Cadeaux, Caroline Whitehead Korn, Jenny Grant Brown, Isabelle Fennell McHugh, Angela Schmidt, Katie Dye, Naomi Cavanaugh, Carolina Rodriguez-Rad, Michelle Covington Harmon
1999
FRONT ROW L TO R Emily Collins Corbi, Mary McVearry Austin, Mary Clare Fleury Glover, Missy Ziombra, Kati Hylden Krueger, Dorsey Fiske Breslin, Megan Lucey Rounsaville, Gillian Smith Mullins, Kathleen Brogan, Kristina Fierstein MIDDLE ROW L TO R Kiki Messina Aktar, Kathleen McDonnell Breslin, Kate Ferrell Avery, Megan Barnett, Meaghan McNamara Larsen, Ellen McGovern Hatherhill, Jessica Herrington Shuster, Ann Reilly, Sarah Morris Hummer TOP ROW L TO R Alex Lane, Kathleen Malliarakis McMahon, Elizabeth Firth, Meaghan Kelly, Abby Reinecker Cikanovich
Continued on next page
REUNION CLASSES 2024, CONT’D
Geneva Gehring King, Katie Hercik Rediger, Janice
2009
FRONT ROW L TO R Marina Isgro, Melissa Armelin Rothenburg, Macarena Fernandez, Lauren Wasp Lennon, Lois Foote Haggerty, Emily Thompson Brant, Anne-Marie Ribas Coakley, Betsy Coleman
Jones, Lisa Leonard, Kate Perito Colvin 2ND ROW L TO R Evelyn Sorto, Melissa Lafionatis, Amanda Reinecker Callahan, Caitlin Dunn Conant, Cassie Whiteside Fay, Alison Ungerleider Comstock, Julia Alexander, Laura Hughes, Annie Geissenhainer, Megan McDonald McConnell, Holly Brown Barber,
Pardue Gregerson, Maggie Erickson Brett-Bowen 3RD ROW L TO R Danielle Geanacopoulus, Jessica Abel Ganjamie, Mallary Forrestel Burke, Katie Guida Calhoun, Anne Glassie Cirello, Emily Skoda-Mount, Katrina LeMense Newman, Hart Franko, Florencia Segura Damavandy, Grace Dobbyn, Claire Maloney Veres, Ashley Peck Houk, Lizzy Doyle TOP ROW L TO R Kathleen Nealon O’Donovan, Annie Healy, Tracy Fitzgerald Rodgers, Maura McCagh, Emily Lechner Lucco
FRONT L TO R Michelle Cassidy, Caitlin Mudd, Mary Elizabeth Jarosz, Stephanie Clark, Maggie O’Boyle Scheeler, Cara Baldini Warner , Lesley McGee, Nicole Guenette, Christine Comizio Igo , Anna Steuart Hill TOP L TO R Anne Keeney, Isabelle DeLeon, Mary Pullano Butcher, Kelsey Bonner, Shannon McGuigan, Megan Moriarty, Victoria Mulroy, Meghan McCarthy Horning, Meredith Cantwell Epperson, Alex Rodriguez, Nicole DaDamio, Megan McGlynn
FRONT ROW L TO R Chloe Reynolds, Theresa L’Etoile, Marisa Coene, Molly Caulfield, Katie Keating, Abbey Weis, Meg Troxell, Aileen Grau, Katie Krivda
MIDDLE ROW L TO R Channing Gatewood, Abby Spires, Sophia Labas, Megan Burke, Daryn Robinson, Kate Schuler, Julia Clarke, Erin Gilday, Rena Wallace, Kathleen Greene, Cydney Hamilton, Pauline Collamore Mitchell TOP ROW L TO R Katie B.
FRONT ROW L TO R Eleanor Miskovsky, Kylie Guelcher, Sofia Lang, Caroline Kannapell, Maddie Keating, Kailey Fitzgerald, Maggie Lyons, Kennan O’Neill, Molly Sullivan, Grace McCarthy MIDDLE ROW
L TO R Emily Kwiatkowski , Macey Porter, Meghan Ourand, Caitlin Shirvinski, Sophie Moyer, Missy Molloy, Jane McAvoy, Maddie Horrigan, Elizabeth McGinn, Anna Touhey, Molly Dailey TOP ROW L TO R Kira Adiz, Sophia Colosi, Joanna Malits, Gina DeChristopher, Maddy Guiliani, Maggie Maynard, Madeline Filpi, Therese Dombo
Class Notes
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School welcomes and joyfully shares news from all members of our community. Our community is rooted in the Roman Catholic faith and Salesian tradition. As Catholics, we are blessed with both the richness of Church teaching and the abundance of the Gospel commandment of love. They are compatible and the fullness of our faith invites us to lives that embrace both. It is God’s love that inspires us to ensure all members of our community feel equally valued and respected.
JC ’55
“Hail, JC Class of ’55! We are moving up in the notes—pretty soon, we’ll be a picture on the stairs and a twinkle in the sky!
I finally found Linda Roche Fitzsimons, right where she said she was moving: Westchester, PA. She has six children. One son founded a school for disadvantaged children in Hartford, CT, and it has been wildly successful.
Frances Grace Glinka has been in her same house for 65 years now with her third husband, Stan, who is battling the snares of old age. Stan gets the prize for the only living husband for our class!
Last year we lost Beau Lange Erbe of fire escape fame! She was a bright light in our class but, with the death of her father, left us and graduated from the College of New Rochelle.
Jackie Daley Bercik holds the record for the most great-grandchildren, a whopping 15!
Sandy Flood Feeks married Admiral Ed Feeks. Sadly, she, too, has left us, leaving behind Ed and numerous children. Beau, Jackie, and Sandy all came to Visi from Florida.
Joan Olssen Johnston is in Charlotte and has eight adorable grandchildren and 31/2 greats! Irma Hinchliffe Dunn is near me in Connecticut Heritage Village—we plan to meet for lunch before the snow flies. She is still driving!
Lucy Daly Baker, my other roomie, lived in my hometown, Chappaqua, NY. I never could beat her in golf! She and I will be neighbors again one day in Fair Ridge Cemetery.
Finally, we come to our two Helens. Helen Bragg White Curtin is not riding anymore, but remains very active! She has been on the board of Washington, DC’s antique show for many years.
1955
Joan Connor Lee, class agent, sent these updates, “Spoke with Margaret Manogue Dimond, who was sitting on her screenedin porch enjoying the glorious weather. She was sorting through her photos to bring some to her friend, Cissie Miller Coy
I, Helen Field, am still upright and nosy as ever! My favorite (only) grandson is heading to Colorado College. Looking back at the 59 years since we graduated and left our beloved Georgetown Visitation, I’m grateful for this group of strong Catholic women who have been a wonderful support network for each other!
I’m sorry if I missed you in this class report. Please keep sending for our 60th!
Respectfully submitted, Helen FieldMcNally Richards, JC ’55”
Judy Lahey Nigro writes to us from Odessa, Florida. Judy is my most reliable contact. When I ask for ‘a few lines,’ she replies almost immediately, and when I’m asking for photos, soon one pops up. Judy writes: ‘Things are going well here in Florida. My great-grandson Oliver started kindergarten this week and his brother Andrew starts full-time nursery school next week. My son Ted (one of the twins) lives here in Tampa and rides his bike a minimum of 50 miles a day. That’s about it from Tampa!’
Marty Cleland Gibson reports that she is coming from California for our April 2025 Reunion. Cheers for Marty! Among those things for which she is grateful is the support and friendship of her two sons, Bill and John.”
Helen Bragg White Curtin and some of her family in Weekapaug, Rhode Island
Christian Sanford, superstar of Westfield, NJ High School headed to Colorado College,” says proud grandmother Helen Field-McNally Richards JC ’55
Molly Murray Ruppert and Joan Connor Lee enjoying dinner at La Ferme in Chevy Chase
From Judith Cavanagh Stoll, “l spent a week in June, 2024 celebrating my friend Mitsy Campbell Kovacs’ 90th Birthday.We worked together at Free Europe Committee/Radio Free Europe in the early seventies and are still friends. Mitsy is a real Francophile. Since she had celebrated her 70th and 80th in Paris, why not 90? And who knows maybe 91 to 100. Paris was preparing for the Summer Olympics. The weather and the food are great. The city is wonderful for walking.”
From Lucie Watson Wade, “I’ve never been able to throw away my yearbooks. So when Judy called to see if I could send something for our Alumnae Magazine, I found my 1955 Green Gate yearbook to give me some ideas. When I opened the book, a letter I’d received several years ago fell out. It was from a man with a return address in Hinsdale, New Hampshire. On the back of his letter was a copy of my picture in the yearbook which reminded me of how young I was then and how old I am now. When I read his letter, I laughed out loud realizing why he had contacted me.
‘Dear Mrs. Wade, I happened to run across a Georgetown Prep 1955 yearbook when you were a senior in 1955. I thought you might like to see it, if nothing else to bring back old pleasant memories. I have the yearbook for sale right now on eBay, item number 265110824953…Enjoy the picture anyway. I thought it might brighten your day. I know we have all been cramped up and bored because of covid. Take care and God bless you and your loved ones.’”
1958
Anne Weeks Hancock shared, “Thanks to a liberal arts education, my plans to focus on English or biology got derailed by a growing interest in art. Happily, my parents did not point out that a major in studio art wasn’t a practical career choice! So I became a budget analyst for an income, and an artist for the inner satisfaction it provided.
In 1974, I rented studio space in the newly opened Arlington Arts Center (recently renamed the Museum of Contemporary Art-Arlington). Then, in 1989, I helped establish the Columbia Pike Artist Studios, where I currently have my studio. I have served on the Boards of Directors of both organizations and have enjoyed watching them grow and thrive. My early work focused on family and friends, and I participated in two public art projects (‘Party Animals’ in Washington, DC, and ‘Beach Birds’ in Ocean City, NJ.)
Recently I was selected for the 50th Gala exhibition at MoCCA. Current environmental and political concerns have become a new focus in my work, using acrylics, collage and oils.”
JC ’60
Anne Samouce Russell shares this note, “Thank you Clare Hogan Cumberland for all your years as our faithful class agent. God be with you! I’ll do my best to follow in your footsteps.
Anne Matthews Burroughs at last count has 12 great-grandchildren! Probably the class record. We were the first to marry in the class, within days of graduating! Sadly, her husband Gene passed away a few years ago.
Joyce Nott Melvin and Jim have had a rough 2024 recovering from a fall and surgery so please keep them in your prayers.
Tom and I live in a CCRC in Williamsburg and are vertical and validated! We have four children, 11 grandchildren and almost seven great-grands. Life is good!”
JC ’61
Mary Lou Lanman Kenary shared this photo of a gathering of classmates from JC ’61, including Joe and Mary Lou Lanman Kenary, Terry Johnson Matan, Mo and Sue Carroll Dufour, and Jean Merrifield Fitzgerald and Mike Fitzgerald. “Jean came from Sonoma, California for a visit here in DC. It was a great visit.”
Looking back at the 59 years since we graduated and left our beloved Georgetown Visitation, I’m grateful for this group of strong Catholic women who have been a wonderful support network for each other!
HELEN FIELD JC’55
Judith and Misty in Paris
“Cider Pressing”, an early work featuring my sister, mother, me, my brother, and my father, by Anne Weeks Hancock ’58
“Floods,” a small piece by Anne Weeks Hancock ’58
JC ’61 friends
Class Notes
1961
This from Maureen Ingham McMahon, “I am having a great time this summer since I am now almost retired! I sold my auditing practice and now play pickleball two days a week, along with golfing in a ladies league! I’m still the president of Volunteer Accountants for Nonprofits, so I continue providing accounting training to start up nonprofits; I plan to get back to doing some research on my family history in Ireland before I return again next year for the fifth time. My sisters and I are hoping to get back to DC this fall and will definitely visit Visi.”
JC ’62
Juni Van Dyke was recently invited to be part of a two personal painting exhibition at Concord Arts in Concord, Massachusetts. The exhibition ran through April.
JC ’63
From class agent Julie Danielsson Thomas: “Hopefully, many of our classmates reported directly to the Visi alumnae website as the only news I received was from our dear Susie Hannan (please see below). Time really flies, as they say, when you’re busy. It truly seems like there’s not enough time to do everything I want to do! Bill and I celebrated our 60th anniversary in June and took a weeklong trip to our favorite vacation state, Maine, in July. Then in August we went to hot, humid Orlando, FL, for a week of convention events with his postmaster’s association and its associated credit union that he continues to chair the supervisory committee. In April, we helped our grandson celebrate his 21st birthday. We had attended several of his baseball games both in Maryland
where he goes to college and away games in Pennsylvania. He has returned to Southern Maryland to complete his senior year. Both Bill and I continue to be busy with our Lions Club. I try to get some quilting done in between keeping an eye on our newest Westie who still needs close surveillance to keep her out of puppy mischief.”
Susie Hannan sent this note: “Well, in just a few short weeks I will have lived at The View Alexandria for a full year. It is an attractive place, and I have found a niche with a friendly group. Apparently, the gossip line has dubbed our dinner table, ‘The Fun Table.’ In fact we do have fun: Peg and Ken, Judy, Bevra, and an interesting man named Jerry. Each of us is good for a story or two, so there is often a burst of laughter. At other meals I move around, trying to sit with friendly people. There are many disabled people with Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. It can be a heavy burden witnessing people who must struggle with the illnesses of old age. I try to bring stories and humor to the table, as meals are our best opportunity to socialize. Mostly, I try to stay lighthearted. I also participate in exercise classes and use the
CREATE A LASTING LEGACY
Join the 1799 Society!
The 1799 Society honors and celebrates loyal supporters who have made a planned gift to the school.
Your planned gift will have an enduring impact, helping Visitation in countless ways:
Sustaining key programs
Providing scholarships and financial aid
Endowing faculty positions in perpetuity
Join the 1799 Society to safeguard the Sisters’ legacy of educating women of faith, vision, and purpose for generations to come.
To learn more, please contact: Nathalie Sullivan, Director of Advancement, at 202.787.5676 or visit plannedgiving.visi.org
Golfing with Mary Jo and Kathy in Naples
stationary bike in the gym. I use a walker myself but am considered an independent living resident. My English budgie named Jacks is my best company, and my apartment is truly my home. Being in the Washington area has brought me close to several nieces and nephews, as well as Sister Mary Berchmans, who I see regularly. Last winter I took a watercolor class at the Alexandria Art League, and that was a real treat. I’d love to see any classmates living in the area.”
Pat Aloi Warnken says, “All contact info is the same. I love paradise, AKA Naples, in season. Summer is my least favorite. Wish we were able to travel as planned. We will travel to Ohio next month to the Cleveland Clinic. Why is it that time goes too quickly at this stage! My good wishes to all the classmates. Be well. Be happy!”
JC ’64
Donna Bovino Bambrick, class agent, reports, “Hello to classmates in the JC Class of 1964.
We had a grand time together at our Reunion this spring and missed those who could not be with us. Here are a few notes to help bring you up to date with the news: Pat Donovan Stahr reports she is enjoying life at her condo in an active senior community in Fairfax, VA. Lots of opportunities to socialize, a lovely indoor pool for water aerobic workouts, and easy access to the Metro for trips into the city. On top of that, Pat says she is a five minute car ride from her daughter’s home so she gets lots of time with her two grandsons, Thomas, who is 14, and Patrick, who is 7. She’ll be spending even more time with the boys as the whole family heads to Rehoboth Beach, DE, for two weeks this July.
Ann-Taylor Cahill shared, ‘I continue with my painting classes…now moving from oils to watercolors. Love them both! Also I am docenting at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach. Really fun creative installations. Our latest exhibit is Made in Virginia… all VA artists.’
From Alice Beffel Cruse, ‘It was so wonderful seeing you and the other JC ’64 grads who made it to the reunion. Those who attended are aware of my life changes, but for those who couldn’t attend, here is a brief update. In late 2022, I made the decision to sell my home in Arizona and move east to Pittsburgh to be near my oldest daughter Kirsten and her family who relocated there from Zurich in July 2021.
As I got older, I felt the tug to be closer to family and to enjoy my grandsons while I can. After being on a waitlist for a year at a lovely independent senior living facility, I finally moved into my apartment in April. I’m a 20 minute drive to my daughter’s house and the boys’ schools. Very convenient! It is the first time since my daughters were in college that we all live in the same time zone! Daughter Erin and husband Brian live in Stratford, CT.
My contact information is: Alice Cruse, 300 Cumberland Woods Drive, Apt. 331, Allison Park, PA 15101, cell 520-9065315’
From Mary Ingoldsby Dunlap, ‘We saw the Michael Jackson musical in Boston last night, fabulous show. My husband David grew up in Philly and went to Bandstand so he was dancing in his seat but lost his phone. We both have some health issues, but keep active and love living near the ocean in Hull, Mass. Love to all JC64.’
Etta Sue Leahy Haggerty sent this note, ‘We moved to Cary, NC, in 2016 after Tom and I retired. We have three children (oldest lives in Massachusetts; middle one lives in Inverness, Scotland; youngest lives in Cary) and six grandchildren (oldest graduated from college in May; four are in college; youngest is a HS junior). I am involved in genealogy, quilting, and water aerobics. Sorry I was unable to attend our 60th; I would have enjoyed seeing everyone.’
Mary Sullivan Perry sends, ‘Greetings to all my Visi classmates. I was so disappointed not to be able to attend the Reunion this year. I had a health issue brewing and I think it may be under control at the moment. I have been able to get together with Anne Griffin Selinger and also Joan Sullivan Medeiros from our class. We have met several times in restaurants and recently we were invited to
Joan’s lovely home in Andover. It is always fun to get together with them. In 2020, I met Ann, Melanie O’Sullivan Mopsick and Kathe McNulty Comastro on Amelia Island as a guest of Ann. We had a wonderful visit. Melanie and Ann also stayed with me while Melanie was in town for a graduation at which time we were able to catch up. In addition, I have seen Pat Donovan Stahr since I have been renting a house with her in Florida for the past few years. We are hoping to do it again this year in February. We are planning to be in Sarasota so if anyone is in that area during the month of February next year, please let me know. Actually, last year we drove home from Sarasota to Pat‘s home in Northern Virginia. On our way we stopped and visited with Pat Milton Christensen, who treated us to a lovely luncheon at her club. She had also invited Patty McDonald Reilly to join us. We had such a delightful visit. In the last few years I have lost my mother at 100 years old and my partner of 34 years, Fernando Beltran. I miss them both on a daily basis. My children are well. Doug lives in Tualatin, OR, and Marisa is in MA about 40 minutes from me. I am enjoying my granddaughter, Noelle, who is Marisa‘s daughter, more than I can express. She is one of my greatest pleasures. I missed all of these precious times with my two grandchildren in Oregon because of the distance. Regrettably, I was only able to see them a few times a year. I hope this finds everybody well. If there is another get together in Washington, I will make every effort to be present. I miss you all and cherish my memories at Visitation.’
From Jane Leahy Stockhausen, ‘Paul and I are enjoying every precious moment of our retirement. Traveling this summer to be with family, enjoying the ocean and mountains. Feeling gratitude at this quieter time of life.’
Mary & David out on the town
Mary Sullivan Perry & family
Class Notes
We heard this from Pat Schlicter Williams, ‘Not much is new. Loved our 60th reunion, so much fun with old, good friendships. We are slowing down a bit in our 80s, but are planning a 4–6 week trip to the Canadian Maritimes this fall. We still have our motorhome and will continue to do short, local trips after the big one this October. We still love and appreciate our home in rural WV. So beautiful and quiet here. Come visit when you can, full guest suite above the garage and only two hours from DC or Baltimore.’
It has been an honor to represent our class on the Alumnae Board for many years. Please continue to keep in touch with me so that I can continue to spread our news to others in the last graduating class of the Junior College.
God bless you all! –Donna Bovino Bambrick”
1964
“HS ’64 had a wonderful turnout for their 60th reunion. The Friday night dinner and Saturday luncheon provided lots of time to catch up as well as time to share memories, tales, pictures, and life experiences. Looks like we aged well!! Saturday after lunch we had a beautiful ceremony to honor our departed classmates with fond memories and white roses. Lessons in friendship were everywhere!
Gabi Schutz Kao wrote: ‘I have lived in California since 1967, graduated from USC Pharmacy in 1970 and later moved to Sonora where my husband set up a gastroenterology practice. We have two daughters, Leslie and Kristen. When we retired, we moved to Albany, CA, near San Francisco. My husband died a year ago so I am thinking of moving to southern California to be closer to my older daughter and adopted daughter. In July, I am planning to visit my younger daughter Kristen and her family in Sweden where she is a professor at University of Gothenburg so I will not make our Reunion. I wish everyone well.’
Beth Jenkins Bromberg: ‘At this moment, John and I are on a flight back home from three weeks in Japan—two on a cruise and four days in Hakone. It has been a wonderful, educational and informative trip! We now have nineteen grandchildren and our first great-granddaughter. All of them provide us lots of love and fun. We do love to travel and I enjoy writing a
blog about our travels. It is published under brombergblog.com but it is written for family and friends. You are welcome to look at it if you like.
At the beginning of Covid, we moved from Dallas to our lakehouse outside of Austin on Lake Travis. After a couple of years we sold our Dallas house and live permanently on the lake. Other than our cove being dry for one plus years, we do love being there.
I am so excited to see everyone at the reunion; how did we get so old?’
Kathe Glennon Waterbury has lived in Sonora, CA, for more than 50 years, and writes, ‘I have retired several times, as a freelance artist for 12 years, newspaper reporter and editor for 26 years, and deputy probation officer in the investigations unit full- and part-time for around 10 years. I teach emergency medical services at the local community college (I was also a volunteer firefighter for 10 years). Sons: Jude and his wife, Timea, and daughter, Lilly, live in Sacramento, where he is a physician in an internal medicine practice. Mason and his wife, Masako, and son George live in Tokyo, where he is an engineer. Both boys, their father, and I are all Santa Clara University (Jesuit, Silicon Valley) graduates. I wish everyone a very happy Reunion and continued good health and friendship. Gabi (Schutz) Kao and I remain friends and reconnected when she and her family lived in Sonora. My younger son taught her daughters to swim in a summer program here.’
Mary Anne Dolan: ‘Sending hearty greetings to all my fabulous ’64 classmates I am heartbroken to miss the Reunion to which I so looked forward. My great loss is thanks to an outburst from a very angry Mother Nature here in LA in February which left me with a gigantic tree fall mess on my home property. Do NOT swim in ‘atmospheric rivers,’ believe me. Other than that, I am well and thriving and working harder than I anticipated when I stepped away from 30 years as a director at The Capital Group last December. My great excitement is the literary prize we finally established at our Sun Valley Writers Conference, an initiative of particular focus for me. We will be presenting the SVWC Writer in the World Prize in person on our Pavilion Stage in SV in July to Margret Atwood.
All Dolan and Stoddard families are thriving; looking forward to the first next
gen college graduations: my twin grandchildren, Nick and Anna Roberson, Alexandra’s first born. Lily is next and Cooper, daughter of Brooke, is soon out of high school in Connecticut. But, I will miss all the great creative moments that have been added to this 60-year gathering, none more than the remembrance of past friends.
In particular, I will take the moment to remember Betty Anne Decamara as I often do. Unlike the lofty friendship Cristy [Garcia-Tuñon Richards] mentioned between herself and the wonderful Kathy Wells, Betty Ann and I were more likely talking about basketball and boys when we were together. Or about how we were going to succeed in slithering out of our green Visi clothes and put on our civies to head down to the Tombs after school to meet up with some guy pals before heading home. I think of BA every Halloween on her birthday and often consider indulging in her go-to daily lunch, brought from home, and eaten in tiny bites in the Neale Shop: fried chicken and popcorn. Every day. God bless her and all my friends.’
Kathy Madden Kaminski wrote: ‘It doesn’t seem possible that 60 years have passed since graduation! Every day I’m reminded of my days at Visi through the many memories and suggestions for peaceful living as “Be who you are and be that well.” I have passed this quote on to our seven grandchildren.
Our family has been greatly blessed and now that my husband Mike and I are retired, we enjoy spending time with family and friends and traveling—just recently a cruise to northern Europe. We also love attending our grandchildren’s many activities and sports.’
Lynda Montoya Haran reports, ‘I am still living in Basking Ridge, NJ and spending part of my time annually at my second home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I also try to take at least one trip each year with a good friend. In recent years I have traveled to Ireland, Amsterdam, and Brussels (during the tulip season) and, just last fall, to our National Parks. I decided that I would like to see more of the good old USA and hope to take more trips to some of our other National Parks.
This last trip was very special, as Karen Ellis Barbee and I went together on a small group tour of Sedona and the Grand Canyon in Arizona, and Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park in Utah. Karen and I
had not traveled together since the summers at Visi when she would come out to visit me annually, and several years ago, when she joined me at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico. It was great spending time together and traveling to these incredible locations. We vowed to take more trips to our National Parks in the future.
While home, I keep myself busy going to the gym twice a day, joining friends regularly for card games, and actively involved in The Women’s Association of our local hospital. I have been blessed in recent years with my first grandchild. Finally!! Caroline is now almost two years old and, fortunately, lives in New York City where my son and daughter-in-law work in the financial area. So, I get to see her and spend quality time with her on a regular basis. Needless to say, I am thrilled. I’m sure many of my Visi classmates are seeing their grandchildren off to high school, or even college, at this stage. Thank God I am currently in good health to keep up with her at my age. I am taking advantage of every opportunity!
I regret that I couldn’t come to this year’s reunion. As the years go by, I realize, more than ever, how special the years at Visitation were and how very special the members of our class were. I will miss seeing so many of you. I am so fortunate to be in regular touch with Dee Dee, Mary Kate and Karen. And, this past October, it was such a thrill to join several of our classmates at a mini-reunion in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. It was such a special time!
My thoughts will be with everyone at this reunion. God willing, I hope to see most of you at the next one.’
Jackie Parker Fox: ‘My husband, George, and I are still residing in the Sunshine State. We have five grands and eight great-grands all here in Florida! Tennis is my passion which has kept me on the healthy side! Our faith has kept us on the positive track no matter what life has thrown our way! Peace and God bless.’
Mary Pat Donelan: ‘I retired from the IRS where I was Human Resources Director for the Office of Chief Counsel. While working there, I became certified as an Executive Coach and now have a part-time coaching business: Explore For More LLC. I continue to facilitate groups at nearby state prisons, something I have done for more than 20 years. My two sons, Robert and Kevin, live nearby as do my two granddaughters, Mara and Colleen. I still enjoy bridge and
getting together with Blessed Sacrament and Visitation friends. I still miss my husband Andre who passed away in 2013.’
Mary Jane Lloyd Phelan: ‘I realize how truly blessed I was to have been at Visitation under the tutelage of bright, funny, skilled, loving women to guide me into the rest of my life. I continue to honor every one of them. I am also slightly saddened that I did not get to know more of my classmates better when I might have made more lifetime friends. Reunion felt like a tasting menu at a fine restaurant where there was time enough for only tiny connections with fascinating people, and they were all around me for four years while my head was somewhere else. Well, I get smarter as I get older.’
Mary Claire Tappan Steinbraker, ‘My husband, David, and I are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary this year. We have been blessed with four children and nine grandchildren, all of whom live in the DC area. The grands’ ages run from 24 years old down to 18 months, so we’ve been at this grandparent thing for a long time!
David and I both retired in 2015. He was a builder/general contractor for his third generation family business, G. Morris Steinbraker & Son, started by his grandfather in the 1940’s. I worked in investment brokerage firms in DC, and then as a Trust Investment Officer at Riggs Bank for nine years. Once the children were older, I changed careers and worked as Business Manager and Director of Human Resources at Norwood School for 19 years.
David and I now spend a good deal of our time traveling the world, mostly on cruises. We’re celebrating our 50th this fall with a month-long cruise from Vancouver to Tokyo. Our non-travel time from our home in Rockville involves spending time with our children and their families and going to our grandchildren’s games and activities. We also spend about half of the year at our beloved family beach on the Outer Banks.
I am fortunate to have kept in close touch with my great Visitation friends over all these years with annual lunches. The group includes Theresa Branson McVearry, Mary Pat Donelan, Sue Mahoney Hawthorn, Valerie Morgan Viands, Mary Kate Dammen Dugan, and Karen Ellis Barbee. I treasure these lunches where we tell all of the same Visi stories over and over again and still laugh out loud at them all!
It was so great to have seen so many old friends who came from near and far for the Reunion weekend and catching up with their lives over the past 60 years. I continue to feel so blessed and grateful for all of the warm and wonderful Visitation memories.’
Barbara Murphy Piontkowski: ‘HS ’64 classmates, so great to catch-up with so many of you at our 60th Reunion. Thank you, Suzie Koones Egan, Director of Alumnae Relations, for orchestrating a warm and welcoming weekend. Our Reunion celebration felt like coming home.
Our class remembrance gathering for deceased classmates was touching—each ‘girl’ came to life in shared, smile-worthy memories from over 60 years ago. And a tip of our well-worn mantillas to Joanne McDonald Gerber, our class agent over all these years. Thank you, Joanne. You have kept us organized, informed, and in-touch—the trifecta of class agent success!
On the Piontkowski home front, Charlie and I toggle between McLean and Bethany Beach happy to have the company of a grandchild or several! Life moves quickly among our 10 grands—we do well to keep track; not so great at keeping up.’
Joan Tobin Thiele: ‘I am helping with TURTLE WATCH, and Surfside Library in their resale Book Nook. Still beach walking, some golf, and Audubon Birding. Sam is my rescue, who rescued me. Still in contact with Gabi Kao in Cal. Would love to be in contact with Visi gals in my region, or anywhere.
Onto fall… Be well, all, and, cheers to our forever young attitudes.’
Joanne McDonald Gerber: ‘The Gerber family is doing well, celebrating major milestones, high school and college graduations, and lost teeth in May. Last October we celebrated the passing of my mother at age 101—a gathering of over 50 of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren in the usual McDonald tradition! I am learning carpe diem as a grandparent and as a caregiver. So happy to share our 60th with so many classmates.’”
1965
Mollie Quealy Bork reports, “After spending the last two years bouncing between my daughter, Stephanie, and her husband, Chad Zaputil’s guest room and my son, Christopher’s couch in Granada,
Class Notes
Spain, I finally have a place of my own in Granada. I’m still spending time with my daughter in the USA and her new address in Iowa is my official residence, but I’ll be in Granada this year through Christmas and New Year’s. Since my dear husband, Ron Bork, passed away back in September of 2022, I’ve been relying on the kindness of family to help me adjust to solo living. Now, like my icon Virginia Woolf, I have a ‘room of my own’ and hope to get back to writing. Visit my blog: molliesmusings. com.
Thank you to Linda Nystrom for keeping me in the loop. I hope to pass through Washington, DC, this spring to visit my parents’ grave in Arlington Cemetery, and I’m going to try to touch base with a few of my former classmates. Best wishes and love, Mollie”
1969
“Twenty alumnae from the Class of 1969 attended this well-planned and fun reunion.
Our classmates hugged, laughed, screamed, and had meaningful conversations during the two days. Everyone looked spectacular. Many looked as they did in high school. We are still working, recently retired, and then, the rest of us.
Who is still working and loving what they do: Terez Shea Donohue leads and guides research as a Program Director at the NIH Division of Digestive Diseases & Nutrition. Her children live nearby, so they often have Sunday dinner together. After many years at Georgetown University, Linda Reap Gwinn is now working at Washington University in St. Louis where her family and grandchildren live. Pam Sullivan Hurley teaches religion part-time at Holy Redeemer School in Kensington and has 16 grandchildren! Marcelle Roe Langendal (who was unable to attend) is on the faculty of the amazing and unique Hayground School that she and others founded.
Recently retired: Ellen Katter. She retired earlier this summer. Ellen (who was unable to attend) writes: ‘After almost 45 years with Excela/Independence Health, I felt it was time. I made this decision carefully and I have had not one second thought!’ After a trip to their home in Wisconsin, Ellen will be returning to Pennsylvania to take a leadership role with the League of Women Voters.
“My brief note for myself, Linda Miller Nystrom, class agent: I am taking a water aerobics class three times a week. My health is good, and all are well in the family.”
The rest of us: already retired, downsized, thinking about downsizing, or thinking it’s not time!
Marguerite Candon Nealon led the planning team for the Reunion. She and her husband have downsized. Martha Withers lives in Bethany. After the Reunion, she was off to her family’s home in Michigan with volunteer plans to observe and collect climate and nature-related data along Lake Huron. Maria DiFrancesco Christmann and her husband live in a spectacular waterfront home on the Bay in Annapolis. They are active volunteers including offering the home-away-from-home for a few midshipmen (both men and women are called that) from the Naval Academy. At Maria’s, the middies can do laundry, raid the refrigerator, etc. Maria and her husband also travel to see their sons and families who live in Chicago and Charlotte. Martha, Maria, and I sat together Friday night, the trio who carpooled together
until I became a boarder. When Maria and her husband were in Charlottesville in May, Maria and I visited over a long lunch. My husband and I moved to central Virginia in June 2018. At our 50th reunion we were awaiting the birth of our first grandchild and Linda Reap Gwinn told me I would LOVE it. We now have five grands, ages this year 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. I retired in September 2021. After exploring volunteer opportunities, I now help in the Meals on Wheels office.
Ann Marie Brennan-Zelenka is a node on the network with many connections to grade school classmates and boys we knew in high school, as well as our classmates. Friday night, she introduced memories with questions. For example, ‘Who do you think remembers Nora and Connie?’ The two of us answered correctly at the same time. Ann Marie lives near Baltimore and drove down with Nora Shea Scott. Nora lives in San Antonio and was visiting her son’s family in Baltimore. Nora has three sons, and five grandchildren, having welcomed another granddaughter in July. She describes herself as regaining balance in spirit and life after her husband’s death.
The laughter at our Friday night table ramped up as Ann Marie recalled an incident regarding several classmates, toilet paper, and a boys’ school. Here’s a tip for you pranksters: Do not return repeatedly to the scene of good, clean fun. Linda Reap Gwinn maintains this story includes things she may or may not have said. Others engaging in this hilarity at this table were Mary McManus, in DC, retired some time ago and has never looked back, Susie Dugan who traveled from Ohio and was escorted by two sons on Saturday night, and Judy Carr Guttenplan, who came from Delaware.
At the Saturday luncheon, Maria Carroccio Salvatore gave a thoughtful toast on behalf of our class with the theme of gratitude, echoing the feelings of us all. As I said good-bye after the luncheon, I found I had spoken all too briefly with Mary Foote Rupp, Maria Carroccio Salvatore, Roberta Leyva Saxon, Cele Tansill Kramer, Trish Beatty Abel, Maria Elena Castella, and M.C. Thomas Tapscott Saturday evening Kathy Sheehan O’Donoghue, Joy Guthrie Nealon, and Kathe Devlin Scott also joined the festivities.
Reflecting on the reunion, Susie Dugan’s words speak for us: ‘It was a wonderful event that brought back warm memories of four wonderful years.’ We recognize the hard-working and ever-smiling Suzie Egan
Mollie and Stephanie celebrating Mollie’s birthday
Carole Hock Kerns sent the following photo of four Visi alums after a round of golf:
FROM L TO R Carole Hock Kerns, Courtney Titus Joncas, Barbara Ford Dove, and Cathy Madigan Meehan
and staff that planned, got there early, and stayed late to ensure every event went off without a hitch. Many thanks to you all! Our next reunion in 2029 seems like a long time from now. Since we all would have liked more time to catch up, the planning team, led by Marguerite, has been thinking about some ideas to connect before our 60th reunion: Zoom calls, throwing ourselves a 75th birthday party, and what else? We’d love to hear from you. Please send your comments and ideas to Marguerite Candon Nealon, Terez Shea-Donohue, Ellen Katter, Marcelle Roe Langendal, Mary MacManus, or Connie Kulik Morgan. I highly recommend joining the planning team. It’s another opportunity to reconnect!
After the notes were sent, Maria Castella shared this note, ‘My daughter Raquel, Sr. Anthony Mary Diago, RSM who lives in Toledo, OH came to N VA for her annual home visit.’
1970
Barbara Hathaway Calhoon let us know, “I just wanted to check in with y’all and let you know I am okay. Hurricane/Tropical Storm Debby hit my area fairly lightly rather than a direct hurricane hit. She touched down a few miles NW of Charleston, SC. I hope the rest of her path is as lightly hit as I was. Long stretch of rain and thunderstorms. Very soggy ground and some flooding. Those of you further up the East Coast, I hope you are equally lucky with a miss or light brush.”
Kathy Ryan Kiernan and Mary Smith Siegel enjoyed the Visitation Teddy Bear Tea 2024 with Mary’s daughter Mary Siegel Love ‘06 and grandchildren: Peter, Brian and Eleanor Siegel; Mary, Annie and Kevin Love; and Frances Kiernan.
1973
“Kay Fishburne Foote reports that she had a lovely lunch with me and Lois Foote Maloney not too long ago. This I know to be true.
Eileen Thorpe Iciek is setting the travel record for 2024. ‘We spent a week having fun in Key West with Mary-Jane Thorpe Kohm ‘74. Then in March, there was a long delayed trip to France for a couple of weeks, originally planned for 2020. In June, our youngest daughter had us join her on a trip to Ireland, our first. Then, at the end of the month, we left for four weeks to help our oldest daughter and her family (husband and five children) move to Greenville, SC. To help settle our jangled nerves after that, we’re going for 10 days to Greece in September. A trip to the National Parks out West is scheduled for November.’
Idi Castella Duncan is getting her own travel in, and visited Vieques, Puerto Rico, with her daughter and her family. ‘Life is good!’ Idi says, who also gets bonus points for sending in a photo. Just to be clear, those horses were NOT members of our class.
Jean O’Donoghue Portolano seems to be enjoying ‘the life’ and getting in a lot of travel! She recounts: ‘After my husband and I each retired from the U.S. Department of Labor, we moved to Pawleys Island, SC, where we currently enjoy living on a golf course and 15 minutes from the beach. I get up to the DC area frequently as I still have family up there, especially my daughter and three grandchildren. One of the great benefits of
retirement is being able to travel, which I do as often as I can. In the last year or so my husband and I took a two week cruise with friends from Buenos Aires down to Antarctica and a trip to Las Vegas with more friends. I was also able to take a three-week trip with my college roommate to Greece, Albania, and North Macedonia and a five-day trip with three other friends to the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake in Canada.’ (Wow. So many friends! So many countries!)
Kathy Lynch Harris fills us in with this news: ‘My youngest son Mat got married in West Hampton in June, and my first dance was with none other than Tommy Firth. The Firths and the Lindlaws were able to join in the fun!’
Speaking of the Lindlaws, Suzy Nugent Lindlaw adds that she is enjoying life at the beach recovering from a broken shoulder (from mid March)! ‘No complaints!’ she says. (What a trooper).
Karen Spencer has had a rough summer: ‘I have spent the summer in the hospital and rehab. I had my left hip replaced that then became a hairline fracture of the left femur. First surgery was June 20 and I will find out tomorrow if I can begin real physical therapy to really start walking again. I am currently limited to putting only 10% weight on my left leg. It has been a long summer.’ She does, however, have brighter news regarding Ellen Conley Ulf, who is happily planning a trip to Italy with her sister Janet at the end of November. Anna Sam thinks of her classmates often and hopes everyone is doing well. Much too late given the broken bones already reported, she wants to remind us, ‘as we prepare for our 7th decade of life to take it easy out there. Our bodies are not as young as our hearts and minds! Earlier this year, I twisted my ankle going down a step. Ended up breaking one bone which took over four months to BEGIN to heal. I am still not fully recovered yet! We are not those sweet young things at Visi running down the front stairs from the Odeon without using the handrails! Stay healthy and well!’ ( Warning and good wishes received!)
Mary Keegan Magner and family are thrilled to announce that their daughter Aoife got engaged Saturday, August 10, with the wedding planned for 2026. They are all healthy and happy, living on their horse farm in Poolesville, MD. (No broken bones!) She is still playing tennis at Columbia a few days a week and her Long and Foster office is in Bethesda so she is in town almost every day.
Fran Burnett Edwards poetically shares
Mary Smith Siegel, Mary Siegel Love, and Kathy Ryan Kiernan at the Teddy Bear Tea.
Horses
Class Notes
that she is still enjoying the days of the endless summer and doing her best to stay healthy. (Again, no broken bones!) Her family is anxiously waiting for the arrival of their grandson, who’s due September 1. Those of you who attended our Reunion met her lovely daughter, the mother-tobe. Now, she and her husband will have a playmate for their four-year-old daughter. Anyone traveling through the Atlanta area is invited to look Fran up. (Careful, Fran, you may have a LOT of takers!)
Mona Acost Banuelos reports: ‘My granddaughter just celebrated her first birthday in July. She was so puzzled when she was put in the pool holding lightweight balls.
Camila appeared to ask, “Now what?” The never-ending rebuild of my forever house is giving me construction fatigue. I am still waiting to enjoy my retirement. FYI my retirement started in 2012.’
Sue Polk Dugan slyly inserts some news about herself to let everyone know that her first grandchild, Lucy, showed up last November, delivered by her daughter, Natalie.
(This is a very fun development.) Her youngest son, Cormac, is engaged to be married in May of 2025, and is lighting votive candles in hopes of passing the bar. Son Zack is the head scientist at a private equity firm, and son Nicholas is a film director in LA. Travel this year has included Belgium, Ireland, and, most recently, the Rockies for hiking. Sue has learned how to fly fish but it hasn’t been as cool as anticipated. On to other follies!
Diane Passes Bauer has some fun news and, unlike Mona, seems to have finished home construction: ‘I am happy to report that after almost two years I have moved into my new home in Port Charlotte, FL. After moving 10 times in three years it was worth the wait. Love being able to swim in my pool after playing pickleball in the hot evening.I flew home in June for my nephew Alex’s high school graduation from Madison High School, with the ceremony at DAR Constitution Hall. Very proud of this young man and all of his accomplishments. I was able to have dinner with Gina Mullenholz Clansky, Mary Ruth Kuhn Clarke, Cindy Buckman Ramirez and Nicole Hendon Pearl at Seasons 52, a wonderful evening with such life-long friends. As I am writing this email, we are having heavy rain from Hurricane Debby but the house is very dry and secure, nothing like Hurricane Ian two years ago.’ (Phew!)
Marianne Szegedy-Maszak is continuing to divide her time between her work as the
The St. Jane de Chantal Service Award
The St. Jane de Chantal Service Award was given to Barbara Stohlman Rice, a member of the Class of 1974.
For Barbara, helping others is a way of life. An established filmmaker and documentarian, Barbara has produced television and film content for National Geographic Society, PBS, the Discovery Channel, and ABC. In her “free time,” Barbara has dedicated herself to supporting education and wellness initiatives across the DC region.
Barbara and her husband have been involved for many years with the Washington Jesuit Academy, sponsoring adolescent 4th–8th grade boys from underserved D.C. communities, providing high quality and comprehensive education, and preparing them for academic success in high school. In addition, for decades, Barbara has served as a mentor to a student with whom she connected through Capital Partners for Education, a one-to-one mentoring organization that connects low-income Washington, DC students with a mentor to support their college and career aspirations.
A three-time cancer survivor, Barbara supports EBeauty, which provides free wigs for women going through chemo treatments who cannot afford their own wigs, in collaboration with the Wig Exchange and Hospital Partnership Programs. She also works with the Prevent Cancer Foundation, the only U.S.-based nonprofit organization solely dedicated to cancer prevention and early detection. Barbara believes in “stopping cancer before it starts!” Another cancer
support group Barbara is directly involved with is Hope Connections in Bethesda, MD. They offer free, professionally facilitated programs of emotional support, education, wellness and hope.
In addition, Barbara is a strong advocate for mind-body medicine in support of those who suffer from domestic violence, chronic illness, the hardships of aging, and other ailments. A founding Board Member of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, she has supported the Center for more than 20 years and produced the short film “Healing the Wounds of War” that describes a public health approach to transforming trauma for victims of war.
Fiercely courageous, kind, and generous, Barbara, like St. Jane, knows she “can do all things in God who strengthens me,” and strives to bring that message of hope and love to all whom she meets. With thanks to her supportive classmates who nominated Barbara, we offer our congratulations and gratitude to Barbara for carrying the Sisters’ mission to “Live Jesus” out into the world.
Editorial Operations Director at Mother Jones and the book world. She just finished her most recent ghost-writing project, which will be published in January, and has been a book doctor for several books—one that even made it to the NY Times bestseller list! Her daughter Joanna moved from DC to LA last year and is a graphic designer at Northrup Grumman. Every once in a while she even gets to see her godmother, Estelle Campbell, in Pasadena. Janice Day and her husband treated
themselves to a safari in Tanzania’s western Serengeti and loved it. Now that their youngest graduated from college they feel lucky to have all three adult children living and working in DC.
Astrid Sheil weighs in with: ‘I completed my Fulbright at the end of June and started a new position as dean of the School of Management at Simmons University in Boston. I have a small apartment on Boylston Street and a seven-minute walk to work. Lots to learn and do, but I’m loving all of it, especially being much much closer to our home on Cape Cod. Anne (spouse) is in her sixth year as president and CEO of Heritage Museums and Gardens on Cape Cod and has recently reopened the Adventure Park in Sandwich—a sophisticated ropes course that is both challenging and fun for families. My daughter, Maddie, and her husband Phil, spent the month of July with us on Cape Cod…we had a great time at the shore, seeing shows, making dinner every night together, and just hanging out. Maddie is a working artist and recently had two of her paintings accepted in a competition in Denver. We’ve had a steady stream of visitors to our home in Sandwich this summer and would like to extend the invitation to any classmates visiting the area.’ (An invitation to yet another cool spot. I plan on going!)
Mary Beth Beuchert Klotz just beat the buzzer to add that ‘we will be welcoming our second grandchild in early September.’ (Yay!)
Estelle Campell completely lit up my life by providing the solicited haiku! A pretty cool haiku with which we shall end these notes:
I feel the earth move Our anthem one summer past Seems like yesterday Class Agent Sue Polk Dugan”
1974
“‘Here, There and Everywhere’ by the Beatles was our class song. It’s a ballad about love, fully experiencing life and being around special people that make you a better person. Well, that sums up the fabulous and fearless women who are the Class of 1974, and we got to see many of them at our 50th Reunion in Washington, DC!
About 35 alums attended the events, and even more contributed to the 2024 Visitation fundraising campaign that raised over $169,000. Our class is one of the top three who made both the highest financial
contributions and had the greatest participation.
The party started on Friday evening, April 19, with a buffet dinner in the Heritage Room that was once the Odeon in the school’s main building. Alumnae Relations Director Suzie Koones Egan ’79, aka Kris’s little sister, produced a lovely affair, placing framed photos from our yearbooks around the room. Janet Conley created a touching display with candles, flower petals, and photos of our classmates who are in heaven putting in a good word for the rest of us. We remembered it was Diane Davis’s birthday. She would have been 68. We learned after the reunion that our dear classmate Maureen McGovern passed away unexpectedly on May 9.
We also remembered our classmates who could not be with us in person because they were taking care of parents, siblings, children, business obligations, health issues, and even farm animals.
Congratulations to Laura Johnstone who missed the festivities because she was busy delivering a baby lamb. Katia Goffin, who makes the world a more beautiful place as owner of a garden design company, was in London taking care of her grandchildren while her daughter recuperated from a surgical procedure. Amalia Noguera Reyes, a managing member at International Vessel Documentation in Coral Gables, FL, so much wanted to attend the reunion but had to take care of her recently deceased mother’s estate instead. Peggy Waller Wilckens was taking care of her husband who was recuperating from hip surgery, and she let us know she has 12 grandchildren!
Four boarding students attended the reunion dinner: Patricia McMahon, Claire Meyer Kaufman, Judy Franco Doherty, and Pam Beech-Whaley. We all got to meet Pam’s life-of-the-party husband who made the dinner more enjoyable for all. Mary Duke Ruleman from Memphis also brought her husband, who was taking notes on our successful reunion since he is planning one for his boys’ school alma mater in the months ahead. Patricia was joined by her son, and we heard about their life’s journey from Venezuela to Florida due to changing political events in their homeland.
Claire Meyer reminded us that her family has a long history at GVC. Her great aunt, Sr. Mary Thomas Moran 1899, graduated from Visi, became a nun and teacher at the school and is buried in the convent cemetery. Claire’s grandmother, Tanta Jo,
[Albro Gomez ‘32] her mother Alice Albro Meyer ’45, and Claire’s older sister Margaret Meyer Kelly ’71 all graduated from the high school. Her aunt Katherine Albro [Brennan JC ‘37] went to the junior college and her daughters, Wendy and Anne Brennan, attended the high school for a year. Her cousins Katherine Albro Houpt ’56 and Anne Moran Gomez attended as well. Claire was close to Sr. Mary Paula, as was family friend Catherine Nolan ‘34, who built the new school theater dedicated in her name. “Aunt” Kitty Nolan resided two blocks from Visi and Claire visited her often as a boarding student. After Claire’s brother Joe died, Sr. Mary Berchmans Hannan encouraged Claire to go into Child Life Education and attend Wheelock College. Later Claire established a child life program in a psychiatric hospital (one of four at the time).
It was the first reunion Eva Mirski Rotolo had attended in 50 years, and that girl did not look a day over 28! Noreen Lavan Poulsen won the fashionista of the evening award, wearing a stunning pink silk jacket and pastel dress ensemble with silver thread highlights. Sister Mary Berchmans made a special effort to spend time with our Reunion attendees, lingering in a discussion of the unique relationship she enjoyed with us. Some of us didn’t realize we were her first class as headmistress. Sister shared details about the July 1993 fire that destroyed upper levels of the building and reconstruction decisions around rebuilding and improving the school.
On Saturday morning, some of us contributed to the Reunion Service Project in Lalor House, assembling personal care kits for Bread for the City, and writing notes of inspiration tucked into the boxes. Thank God for Google search! We needed a little help to make those notes inspiring to others. As the event wrapped up, Margalee DuBois Becker and Ryan Dorsey Revel compared notes about teaching careers. After working briefly in education, Margalee continues to work in the health insurance industry and Ryan, a newly retired science and math teacher, shared some tips and tricks on how she taught math to high schoolers who didn’t speak English. Thanks to Ryan, those teens know how to do fractions now. She loves to travel and is going to Italy for a second time with college friends this summer, another reunion! They are returning to Umbria for a friend’s wedding and will be renting a villa. They are also
Class Notes
planning to tour Assisi and visit at least one winery. St. Francis of Assisi is Ryan’s patron saint, so the visit there is a very meaningful bucket list item for her.
The Alumnae Luncheon on Saturday, April 20, was the highlight of Reunion weekend. Barbara Stohlman received the St. Jane de Chantal Service Award for her deep, abiding, and inspiring commitment to helping others. Barbara, a former television producer, has done extensive volunteer work with breast cancer organizations, the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, and Washington Jesuit Academy. For Barbara, giving is a way of life, motivating us all to do more. Pam Beech-Whaley, now a resident of Atlanta, went to the podium to give special thanks to Sister Berchmans for raising us right. Class President Beth Mickum Greene made remarks on behalf of the Class of ’74, remembering who we were as high school students, nodding to the flower power era that influenced us, and celebrating the accomplishments and successes we’ve achieved since.
Our class Secretary-Treasurer Felicia Goins, who is still a practicing pediatric dentist in South Carolina, and Barbara Brendes Flanagan, recently retired from her consulting business, threw an enjoyable class after-party Saturday evening at Chef Geoff’s in DC’s West End. The food was divine and the company superb. Both Felicia and Barbara are well-respected philanthropists in their communities and their gracious hosting was much appreciated by us all. As a bonus, Felicia’s beautiful daughter joined us. Interior designer Carol Rubacky Sheridan brought flowers and custommade sugar cookies in GVC colors to the cocktail party, decorating the event with the perfect finishing touch. As we chatted the evening away, we learned that Joan Aburrow Leader lives near Santa Barbara, CA, and made a mid-life career change from nursing to finance. She and Nancy Stimpfle Smith compared notes on trading stocks. Nancy is an accomplished lawyer, regulator, former U.S. Congress legislative aide, and nonprofit executive with extensive experience in financial, regulatory and compliance issues. She currently serves as executive vice president and corporate secretary for AARP.
Over the reunion weekend, we got to catch up with Mary Dada Gasperetti who works at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum; scientist Lakita Conley-Ware who serves her country in geospatial intelligence; and financier Johanna Kehoe who splits her time between Bethany and
Bethesda. After fulfilling careers at Southwest Airlines and later as admissions director at Annunciation School, Kris Koones Veirs now lives in Oceanview, DE, and works at Lord’s Mercantile, in addition to online stylist consultation for Cabi. With the number of classmates living at the shore nowadays, we should probably open an alumnae office in the Delmarva peninsula and sip a little wine together at the beach. Lawyer Carla Calcagno looked marvelous, despite a dislocated shoulder. She still enjoys practicing as an international trademark lawyer, which has allowed her to travel worldwide with her husband, Gary. Carla recently retired from serving as an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown Law and Catholic Law schools. Attorney Mary Jo Provenzano is now using her talents to serve the federal mission as a government contractor. Debbie Meehan is a global internet entrepreneur and Diane Robertson is an independent businesswoman who specializes in event design and planning. Anne Fleury and Sandy Beyer MacArthur dropped by Reunion festivities, as did freelance writer Maura Daly, whose world travels have given her a special love of Nepal. Mary Crawford has all of our respect for teaching middle school for the past 30 years! Kudos! Kathy McGrath Phelan has a college-age son, and judging by how fabulous Kathy looks, they must look like brother and sister. Terry Slattery Sullivan is staying vibrant living in Florida and traveling often to see her children in the Philadelphia area, where she and her husband resided for many years. Ann O’Donnell Greenberg and her husband Harvey have two daughters that graduated from Visitation in the Class of 2000 and Class of 2002. Ann worked as a cardiology nurse at Suburban Hospital, but is now retired. Ann has the time to take care of herself, becoming the queen of pickleball. Ann was taught pickleball from our classmate Colleen Spencer Henderson Ann recently participated in the Maryland Senior Olympics and won two gold medals and one silver medal. Jude Franco Doherty works as an executive at a government contracting company and divides her time between Marina del Rey CA, where most of her family live, and DC, where she visits customers, colleagues, and her younger son. Janet Conley is living by her late husband’s mantra, ‘Live now because you never know what’s coming around the bend.’ In addition to her busy massage therapy practice, she finds time to play pickleball, garden, hike, and travel to faraway places. Her recent adventures
have been to Iceland and Croatia, and she is looking forward to New Zealand and Africa next.
These class notes are a great opportunity to catch up, and we thank all those who did not attend the Reunion but sent us updates about themselves or connected with the Class of ’74 through Facebook. Lauren Miller is a missionary at Youth with a Mission; Tracy Power has argued cases before the Supreme Court; Susan McGrath Blyde is a senior staff engineer at Draiger Medical; Christine Ruppert owns Integrated Body Therapies; Caren Connelly is philanthropy lead at NeighborShare in Boston; Anne Slaughter is a physician assistant at Access Community Health Centers. Remember Stephanie Del Re Johnson in your prayers as she battles some challenging health issues in Wilmington, NC, but she is enjoying her two beautiful grandkids. Eileen Tansill works at Montgomery Hospice. Karen Huebner Everett sends warm regards from Texas. Dede Nolan often touches base with us on Facebook and was instrumental in helping us track down long lost classmates. Please keep in touch with the Alumnae Office. Make sure they have your email address, send us updates for future class notes, and we look forward to seeing you at the next reunion!”
1977
This happy news was shared by Kat Conley,”On June 8, 2024, my son, Marcus, married his fiancee, Lauren, in an intimate wedding in Vail, CO, one of their favorite places. Music was performed by Brad Corrigan of the band Dispatch and they celebrated after at the Dispatch concert in Red Rocks, CO, with front row seats! They described the day as ‘magical!’ We could not be happier for them and look forward to continuing the celebration at family beach week in another favorite place, North Shores, DE.”
Lauren and Marcus, 6/8/2024, Vail, CO
Catherine Wilson Cox
Catherine Wilson Cox says, “I am a retired U.S. Navy nurse who has been teaching in the School of Nursing at George Washington University since 2016. In recognition of my contributions to advancing the science of military nursing, I was inducted in 2020 as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN). In 2022, I was inducted into the Academy of Nursing Education as a Fellow (ANEF) given my innovative nursing education research focused on the experiences and outcomes of military/veteran nursing students. Also in 2022, I was appointed by the Secretary of Defense to serve on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS). In my free time I am: a docent for Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery, a key volunteer at the Annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic ‘Miracles on the Mountain’ in Snowmass, CO, and a Red Cross volunteer in the post-anesthesia care unit at Fort Belvoir.”
Joanie Stanley Kelley let us know, “Hi everyone! I’m still living in Cape May, working most of the year, traveling in the colder months. Business slows considerably so I’m able to visit my children and hang out in the Outer Banks. Last winter I got to see Christy Kramer a couple of times in Wilmington, NC, while visiting my daughter Maggie. And as spring was approaching I came home and stayed with my son Matt. We had lunch at The Tombs. Some things never change! Ann Beuchert Massey and Claude Chavoor Pardes and I had lunch in Cabin John; it was lovely to catch up! It’s now late July and I’m in the thick of tourist season, hope to see more of you next winter!”
Class Agent Christy Kramer writes: “It’s been great following most of you since 2008 on Facebook and keeping up with your travels, kids, grandkids and all your
news! Hard to believe we are taking our 65th trip around the sun! I am still in Wilmington, NC, and recuperating from a bad fall in May with a split kneecap.Three surgeries and three months later I’m still not up to par but I’m on my way! I was lucky to see some classmates in May for lunch and hope to see some more in September. Had visits to Wilmington from Sue Ryan and Joanie Stanley Kelley and really enjoyed the time together. I recently lost my father in January as did Deirdre Hester when she lost her father this July.
It is with great sadness that we learned that our classmate and friend Michelle Lopez passed away peacefully in her sleep. We pray that her soul is at peace with our Lord, and also pray for her family.
We had lots of great times! Rest in peace, sister.
Our hearts go out to all of you that have lost someone this year.
I hope you are all happy and healthy and contemplating our third acts! Looking forward to our 50th reunion in 2027.
Until then… Christy”
1978
Betsy Heidenberger, class agent says, “I am happy to report that we got some great notes from our class! And here is our news: From Eileen Ugast Hudson: ‘All is good in retirement—lots of time with my grandkids and playing tennis at the beach in Bethany! I was in Red Rocks, CO, to see James Taylor in concert (amazing!) in early June and Kate Daly Paradis drove from Boulder to meet up with me and my husband Chris for lunch and a hike at Lookout Mountain! Kate is doing great and we had a fabulous time catching up and enjoying the views and Colorado!’
Eileen Ugast Hudson & Kate
Margaret Harvey Granitto shared: ‘Hello all, sorry to have missed the reunion. The pics were great! Promise to be at the next big one.
All is well with me—living in Annapolis since 2015 and enjoying being close to the
Ann Beuchert Massey, Claude Chavoor Pardes, Joanie Stanley Kelley
Linda Palmon Calhoun, Christy Kramer, Susan Ryan
Daly Paradis—class of ’78,Lookout Mtn, Golden, CO
Deirdre Hester, Christy Kramer, Jackie Uy Hardy, Claude Chavoor Pardes, Maxine Parran Grey Crowder, June Power.
Class Notes
water. Still working fulltime as a cardiology nurse practitioner with Medstar Cardiology Associates. I finally tired of the AnnapolisDC commute and retired from Georgetown School of Nursing last summer after 15 years. I definitely miss the students, but not the drive! Greg is still practicing law in DC. We are soon to be empty nesters. Julia (25) moved to Boston last summer and Charlie (22) has plans to move to DC/ Boston/NYC now that he has finished school. Hope you and yours are healthy and happy! xoxox’
Carole Clayton Pegram says, ‘Hey all my Visi sisters! Miss home very much! I live in South Chesterfield, Virginia, at the gates of Virginia State University. My youngest daughter, Serenity, and I purchased a duplex. I take care of two of my grandsons (Makari, 2 yrs, and Messiah, 1 year on the 31st). My oldest, Bianca, is married with four children living in California. My middle, Kapri, lives in DC. I’m a 12-year breast cancer survivor, and thank God for 17 years of sobriety. I’m divorced after 20 years of marriage. Life is slow here, but I have my dog, Lady Storm. Miss my parents and oldest brother. My other brother lives in our family home. Just the two of us left now. Miss you all, and home. Much love and blessings to you everyone!! #dchomegrown4eva4life!’
From Leslie Sandoz, ‘Living on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, gratitude abounds for the amazing life experiences that have lead me here; my years at Visitation are a rich part of that memory bank. Peace, love and hope.’
Monica Foy reports she has been elected to the Board of Directors of LifeRing Secular Recovery. LifeRing is a nonprofit organization providing peer support to people in recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol.
Meg Glass shared that she left her beloved home, in Greenwich, CT, after four decades for the Great Smoky Mountains. She is still settling in Knoxville, TN. Working on her house, as a great deal of construction and landscaping is happening, with a goal to have almost all done by Christmas 2025. Sadly, life was a bit disrupted when her older sister Jane Ann passed away last fall. She lost her eldest sister Elsa and her brother, Christian, in 2016. Her oldest brother Dik lives in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, with his wife Barbara. Dik and Meg were back in Georgetown for their sister’s memorial Mass at Holy Trinity and celebration of life luncheon at the 1789 in April. She had a moment at Visitation, which generously allowed all the guests to park inside. The
current joy in their family is the recent addition of Dik’s first grandson from his daughter Joanna, who lives in Milan, Italy. Oliver is going on 10 months now and is quite the adorable Italian gentleman. She would love to show any Visi buddies the Smokies if you are in the area! Just give a shout!!
Sister Mary Bader was honored in May by St. Ann’s Center for Children, Youth, and Families at their annual Hope Blossoms event. She received the Mary McGrory Award for her 18 years of dedication and service to the mission of serving mothers in need and their children. I appreciate those sending in their news… always great to hear your updates!
My news (Betsy Heidenberger) is that I am happy to report that I am still involved in the tennis business which has expanded to pickleball. I had a successful 24th
season at the CCRA Swim and Racket Club as the Director of Racquet Sports. This continues to be a rewarding business and I am fortunate to have such great clients young and old. During the off-season, I organize pickleball and tennis trips to various resorts which have always involved a great group of people and are rewarding for me to organize. Happy to have any classmates join in! Cathy Swift Patterson and I have been spending time together on the golf course and on the pickleball courts which has been great fun. Always nice to spot several classmates in the area throughout the year!”
Betsy inspiring (and entertaining!) the next generation
1979
Our 45th Reunion was a great gathering of amazing, accomplished and fun women from the Class of ’79. Attending our Reunion were: Kathleen Lynch Battista, Kathleen Curtin, Joan Casey, Kate Egan Winslow, Kashia Figueroa, Maria Flores-Isch, Kelly Balak Formant,
A wonderful night at Cades Cove in The Great Smoky Mountain Park
Class of ‘79 at Reunion luncheon
Danielle Hendon, Anne Griffith
Hennessy, Julie Walsh Jeffers, Katie Costabile Katinas, Janet Donnelly Keller, Betsy Sheibel Lombardi, Jeannine Bellanti McSorley, Maura Condon Miller, Paula Miller, Ellen Miskovsky Kentz, Beth Murphy, Kathleen Murray, Therese Peters Rodriguez, Joan Turner, Pie Ellis Williams, and Ellen Gilday Witts
Connie Albertson is an Associate Professor of Art / Art Education and Ceramics at the University of Maine. She shared this exciting news, “I had a large ceramic sculpture accepted at an exhibition at the Utah Museum of
Contemporary Art. The exhibition is called Real and True, and will run from March 7 – May 31, 2025.”
From Suzie Koones Egan, “I just had my 10th anniversary as Director of Alumnae Relations at Visi and my 34th anniversary as an Egan. My daughter Shannon ’11 is a fifth grade teacher in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where she has lived for three years. Kaely ’13 was married in Charlottesville, VA, on June 22, 2024. My son Brendan is teaching high school in DC. My husband Tom recently ‘retired’ but continues to work on projects. I love that my work allows me to keep in touch with so many of you.”
Carmel DeWaal Etzel sent this note, “After a career as a speech language pathologist in Baltimore County Schools, my husband Marty and I quit our jobs and bought a traditional bed and breakfast in historic Annapolis in 2018. It was a lot of work but not stressful and we met so many interesting guests from all over the US and overseas. When we sold the business in 2022 we stayed in Annapolis and are enjoying living on the water, boating, and lots of traveling. Our kids live in Alexandria and Richmond, so it’s nice that they are close by to visit often. I would love to reconnect with those living in the area.”
This was shared by Anne Griffith Hennessey, “Our youngest child graduated from UVA last December. She begins full time employment in Philadelphia next week. This means we are officially empty nesters! Our two sons are living and thriving on both coasts…one in Seattle and one in NYC. We enjoyed two interesting trips this summer. In June we attended a wedding in Krakow, Poland. Fascinating trip. We traveled to the Dolomites for our second summer vacation. Lots of adventurous cycling and hiking in a beautiful part of Northern Italy, where 2/3 of the population speak German as a first
Use LinkedIn to connect with other Visi alums
Add Georgetown Visitation under Education on your profile; doing so will allow your fellow alumnae to come up as suggested network connections Join the Georgetown Visitation Alumnae Network - Official group on LinkedIn!
Jeannine, Therese, and Pie
The new and improved Egan family
Class Notes
language. Finally, I enjoy frequent trips back to DC to visit friends and family. If you find yourself in Atlanta, please give me a shout!”
Julie Walsh Jeffers had this news to share, “My son Ryan is married, bought a home, and is a top sales rep for Costar. Son Sean graduated w/ DBL masters in orchestration & business at NYU. He has done lots of shows in the Big Apple and will be doing one live at Bethesda Knights of Columbus in October. Alum sister actress Barbara Walsh ’73 will also be performing in October for upcoming TV Season 2 of GOOSE BUMPS & has a scene with David Schwimmer who was Ross on ‘Friends’ show. I am still pounding pavement with the same great green line of Proline Industrial Maintenance products.”
Janet Donnelly Keller is starting her 21st year at GV as the Director of Admissions & Financial Aid! Janet and Donnie have two grandchildren—Keller (4) and Rue (2) and another one (a boy) is due in October.
Michele Nash Flynn shared, “I am not sure when I last made an update for class notes, but I will combine a few years here. I am living in Annapolis and after many years in nursing and then sales and training in the pharma/biotech sector, I bought a
dog training business, Always Faithful Dog Training, with my sister and we are very busy teaching leadership skills so that owners can live harmoniously with their pets. I also have three married children and six grandchildren, all of whom give me great joy. Sorry I missed everyone at the reunion!”
Patricia “Pie” Ellis Williams has a three-year-old grandson named Ellis, and her daughter Cassidy is getting married in May. 1980
Claire Zapatka Seemen sent this update, “I now live in Leesburg, VA, with my husband, Tom, and am happy that I can still easily visit my family in DC. I recently changed career paths. After many years of teaching French, I launched my own design business: Claire Madeleine Home Design. My specialties are color consultation, interior design, home staging, and interior photography. Would love to re-connect at our 45th reunion next year!”
July 4th, Robinhood Beach, Sherwood Forest, MD. Michelle Flynn’s son Rob, daughters Abbi and Kaylee, Son in law TJ, baby James, Thomas, daughter Megan and Lily, daughter Katy, Brayden and son in law Adam.
The St. Jane de Chantal Service Award
The St. Jane de Chantal Service Award recognizes members of the Visitation family who live out a deep, abiding, and inspiring commitment to helping others, an example set by our spiritual foundress, St. Jane de Chantal, and the thousands of Visitation Sisters who have followed in her footsteps.
St. Jane urged us to, “Be extremely compassionate, loving, and patient with each person, especially with those who are troubled.” Naomi Cavanaugh, Class of 1994, has embraced and embodied this maxim, dedicating her life’s work to helping society’s most vulnerable youth—children who are underresourced, homeless, abused, or who grapple with mental illness or have committed crimes.
Following Visitation, Naomi graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude from Fairfield University. After a year of working in a residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed children, she returned to school, earning a master’s in social work from Fordham. For more than two decades, she has invested her life’s work in caring for the children of New York City.
With a compassionate heart and a keen mind, she has served as a licensed social worker, not only directly helping kids in need, but also building better systems to reach more youth, to provide more tailored, effective programs to help them grow beyond their childhood trauma.
A recipient of the 2019 Distinguished Service Award from
1981
Carla Fleming says, “2025 will bring lots of changes to my family. Attending two family weddings. My son graduates from college. My oldest son is looking forward to starting law school. Job promotion. Traveling overseas with loved ones.”
the Administration for Children’s Services, she has led New York’s embrace of the Crossover Youth model, which was designed by Georgetown University’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform to improve outcomes for “crossover youth,” children and teens who are involved in both the child welfare and criminal justice systems. Courage, kindness, patience, perseverance—Naomi truly embodies these little virtues, modeling for all of us what it truly means to be a woman of faith, vision, and purpose. We are honored to celebrate Naomi and thank her for all she does to make this world a more just, more equitable home for all of God’s children.
From Rachel Valcour Pedraza, “Life is good for George and I here in San Antonio, TX. We welcomed our first grandchild, Kellen, in February. Kellen also lives in San Antonio, with our son Max and his wife, Mallory. Visitors to TX are always welcome!
1982
Liz Latchford Staszak shared the following, I’d like you to meet two of our newest family members, Visi and Cisco! Yes, Visi is indeed named after Visitation, especially because she is a female. So I call her my Visi girl when I call her to come, ‘Here, Visi girl!’ and keeps Visitation even closer to my heart. In the picture with the two pups, she is the one on the left (Cisco, named after the beach on Nantucket, on the right).”
1984
Jacqueline Coan McClosky wrote, “This is my 36th year as a teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools and I’ve renewed my National Board Certification till 2031! This year, I’m excited to be a part of the Lead Teacher Academy as I help elevate the role
Christopher, Carla, and Andrew on Christmas Day!
Rachel Valcour Pedraza enjoying some pool time with first grandson, Kellen
Visi (L) and Cisco (R)
Class Notes
of paraeducators in my school. All five of my grown children are in the teaching field in science (Jack), English (Corrine), art (Shea), elementary (Alyssa), and history (Aidan). Brian and I are celebrating our 33rd wedding anniversary this September.”
1988
Michelle Mitchell Meadows sent this photo explaining, “I was signing my book, Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles, at the National Book Festival on Saturday (8/24/24). The festival took place at the Washington Convention Center. And I was so excited that Murray Whitehead Gormly came by my table! She let me know she is a pre-K teacher at Holy Redeemer. Love that! “
From Caroline Horrigan Mendoza, “Our daughter Maddie ‘19 graduated last May from Vanderbilt and is busy working in New York for Capital One. Our daughter Emma graduated this past spring from BC and will be working in Boston for BlackRock. And our youngest daughter Lila will be a senior at Visitation and will be Gold Team Pep and Spirit! I have started my own Interior Design Firm, ‘Caroline Mendoza Horrigan Interiors’—find me on social @horrigan123—and am excited to begin all sorts of new projects!”
The Sister Margaret Mary Sheerin Award
The Sister Margaret Mary Sheerin Award has been established to honor the memory of Sister Margaret Mary who so beautifully exemplified steadfast loyalty and selfless dedication in her long years of service to our school and religious community. As headmistress of the high school from 1921 to 1947 and concurrently dean of the junior college from 1921 to 1948, Sister Margaret Mary touched the lives of hundreds of Georgetown Visitation students and alumnae.
This year’s honoree is Kati Hylden Krueger, a member of the bicentennial Class of 1999. After graduating from Visitation and Notre Dame, Kati returned to her alma mater to teach mathematics in 2009. In her 15 years here at Visitation, she has done so much more than lead our math department—which she did with skill and charisma—she has devoted herself to helping our school more fully embrace our mission to educate women of faith, vision, and purpose, and has challenged us to stretch and grow in service to that goal.
St. Francis counsels that “Our possessions are not ours—God has given them to us to cultivate, that we may make them fruitful and profitable in His service, and in so doing we shall please Him.” Kati embodies this beautifully, constantly striving to hone her own natural talents in service to Visitation and to our larger Catholic school community. A model of lifelong learning, Kati completed a master’s degree in Catholic school leadership in 2017. After graduating, she helped design and implement graduate courses on school finance and Catholic school culture for the program, working with school leaders from over 100 schools across the country to strengthen their schools’ finances and cultivate mission-aligned decisions. In 2023, she started work on a second master’s degree, this one in executive non-profit
administration through the Mendoza School of Business at Notre Dame. Here on 35th Street, she has intentionally and consistently identified ways that our lay community can deepen their understanding and embrace of our Salesian Spirit. From 2014–2017, she served as our Salesian coordinator for students, nurturing the Salesian homeroom program, planning Founders Day, producing a modesty fashion show, and hosting Salesian pajama-movie parties. But her most enduring legacy from that time is Loving Life, Living Jesus, a weekly Salesian reflection series shared with thousands that invites community members to share how they witness and live Salesian Spirituality and to learn from the experience and insights of others.
Kati has also served on our Middle States Accreditation Implementation Team, our Board Mission and Ministry Committee, and countless other committees, offering strategic insight about practical ways to grow our culture and move our mission forward, including revamping our evaluation process, coaching teachers on how to improve their teaching, and creating and leading our new faculty & staff formation program. We are simply thrilled that next year, Kati will become the next Director of the St. Jane de Chantal Salesian Center, helping our community embrace the call to Live Jesus!
Michelle and Murray
1989
Mary Cardarelli Bergmann shared, “Sad to miss Reunion 2024.Working at a local internal medicine practice as an acute care nurse practitioner and enjoying time spent with family and friends “
1991
From Sandy Nelson Malone, “I wrote a three-book fiction series about a young Caribbean destination wedding planner who loses it all in a hurricane and moves home to start over on Jekyll Island. The Gem of the Golden Isles Series Escape to Jekyll Island (Book One), In Bloom on Jekyll Island (Book 2), and Treasure on Jekyll (Book 3). The first two books are available for sale now (paperback on April 8) and the third will be published before the end of this month. I’m attaching the covers of the first book. They’re fun beach reads based on all the crazy I experienced planning more than 500 weddings in the Caribbean in 11 years. It’s all fictionalized to protect the guilty.”
1994
From Katie Baker Leasure, “The class of 1994 had an incredible turn out for our 30th reunion. At a celebratory luncheon, Naomi Cavanaugh was presented the St. Jane de Chantal Service Award for her extensive work on behalf of New York City’s most vulnerable individuals, particularly children. We had an awesome time catching up at the cocktail hour on campus, and then we continued the celebration at The Georgetown Club, where Liz Dawson Dangio hosted a fun-filled after party. We are already looking forward to our 35th reunion on 35th Street in 2029!”
1996
Lynsey Drischler shared this, “I am completing my MBA in Digital Innovation at Washington University in St Louis in December 2024.”
Sent by Dot Johnson, “Dot Johnson ’96 was asked by the Democratic Party of Virginia to serve as the Women’s Engagement Coalition Manager for the 2024 Harris Walz Presidential campaign. She is thrilled to serve her country and democracy while lifting up the voices of women in Virginia.” The class offers its sincere condolences to Sarah Nosal on the death of her husband, James.
1998
Erin Barnes wrote, “It’s been a minute! Hadrien and I welcomed Caspian into our home last spring, and soon after, we both started new jobs. I hope all y’all are doing great.”
2000
Connie Cordovilla Edwards sent this, “John and I welcomed our fourth child in August 2023. We are enjoying our active life with all four kids and the adventures they take us on!”
2003
From Caitlin McNamera Chalke, “Georgetown Visitation is represented at The Woods Academy in Bethesda, MD! The Woods (a co-ed, Catholic, private school in Bethesda, MD) has four Visi alums on staff and many of the graduates attend Visitation. Pictured here is a recent Woods grad who will attend Visi in the fall—Maren P., Visi Class of 2028, alongside Grade 1 Teacher Taryn Veith ’03, Director of Advancement Caitlin McNamara Chalke ’03, and Lower School Director Katya Cunnane ’02. Not pictured is Director of Enrollment Management Molly McNamara Hugo ’98. Fun fact— we’re all on the White Team!”
Catherine Miossi Herrera shared that she and husband Jorge welcomed their fourth baby, Francisco (Frankie), on May 20, 2024. He joins older siblings Mary, Tomás, and Ida.
Congratulations to McKay Elliott Sternberg on the birth of her daughter Perry Jane Sternberg.
2004
With heavy hearts, we share that Florencia Segura suddenly and unexpectedly lost her 18-month-old daughter Rosalie Parisa Damavandy to Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) on May 21, 2024. Just a month later, in June, Florencia was honored as the “Primary Care Pediatrician of the Year” by the Inova Pediatric Residency Program.
Hadrien, Erin, and Caspian
Visi girls @ Woods
Florencia Segura ’04 and her late daughter Rosalie Damavandy
Class Notes
2005
Megan Hines welcomed a daughter, Nora Basil, on June 10, 2023
2006
Lucy Warren Bennett and her husband Gavin welcomed their son Wesley Porter Bennett on June 26, 2024. Big brothers Cooper and Billy are very proud!
Anika Sellier Gallo announced, “Effie Gallo was born on March 27, 2024, the second child to Anika and Steve Gallo.”
Kelly Pace Hayes shared this fun fact, “Three GV alums live right in a row. Alison McAndrew Primosch ’99, Kelly Stegman Hayes ’06, Lindsay Scarff Goodman ’06 are next door neighbors in Kensington, smiling with their toddlers at the neighborhood block party in June 2024!”
Visi friends in K-Town
Jacqueline Greeves Levirne, her husband, Jon, and big sister, Lottie, welcomed identical twin girls, Madeline and Virginia, to their family October 15, 2023.
2007
Shared by Camille DaDamio Siskoy: “Camille and Brian Siskoy welcomed Nolan Richard Siskoy on June 4, 2024. He is named after Camille’s late godparents, Noreen (Nolan) and Richard Centracchio. Nolan was baptized at 12 days old at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church in Beverly Hills, MI. Nicole DaDamio ‘09 is Nolan’s Godmother.”
Marisa Gerdano Strickler and Tim Strickler welcomed twins Vincent and Ginevra on March 4, 2024.
2009
Meghan Patenaude Bauer and her husband welcomed their second son William Hughes Bauer on March 10. Gabrielle Biskaduros Dobson married Steve Dobson on September 3, 2023. From Steph Lash Traylor, “We are moving to Oklahoma! We’ve spent the last four years in Baton Rouge avoiding gators, and we’re hoping to spend the next few avoiding rattlesnakes. (We already have the four small tornados at home.) If you find yourself in OKC, please reach out: particularly if you like Goldfish and sticky fingerprints on every surface!” Stephanie and William added Gabriel Patrick Traylor to their family on March 21, 2023.
2010
Emily Metcalfe Doyle and husband Casey Doyle welcomed their first child, John Chandler “Jack” Doyle, on June 5, 2024. They live in Austin, TX, where Emily is the head of communications for EZCORP.
2011
Molly Ledwith Smith married Luke Smith on June 29, 2024.
2012
Hailey Kirchner married Christian Lucas on December 16, 2023, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church with a reception at Columbia Country Club.
After ten years together, Madeline Ryan married her college boyfriend, Jack Hickman, in Santa Monica on April 27th with her Visitation girls by her side.
2013
Kaely Egan married Timothy Petraco at the UVa Chapel in Charlottesville, Virginia, on June 22, 2024.
Tess McAvoy Tjarksen and her husband James welcomed a son, Mac Tjarksen, on April 4,2024.
2015
Kara Schneider Hilton married Andrew Hilton on February 17, 2024.
Keelin McDermott sent this note, “As former Think Pink President (2015) I never thought at such a young age I would be diagnosed with breast cancer. At age 26, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hormone Positive Her2 negative breast cancer… one year later after two surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation, I am considered to be in remission. Thank you to the Visitation community for keeping me in their thoughts and prayers over the last few months.”
On
1st,
June
at INOVA Scharr Cancer Center in VA Keelin ‘15 rang the ‘Ring of Hope’ Bell following four months of chemotherapy and 28 sessions of Proton Therapy.
TOP ROW L TO R Courtney Douglas ’13, Gillian Hughes ’15, Jessie McHenry ’16, Anna Bianculli ’15, Margerie Snider ’15. BOTTOM ROW L TO R Lauren LeHanka ’15, Kara Schneider ’15, Larissa Lushniak ’15, Lauren Teuschl ’20
Big Caps Fan! Keelin’s uncle sponsored a hockey fights cancer jersey for her. During each chemo session, she wore the cold cap in efforts to save her hair during treatment.
Kirsten Swanson McDonald and Austin McDonald were married in Lake Tahoe, CA, on July 13, 2024.
Taylor Sentimore shared that she and Matt Soares “celebrated our wedding day with all of our family and friends in Jekyll Island, Georgia, on October 21, 2023.”
2016
Jeanne Marie Hathway Leo and Anthony Leo (Heights ’16) celebrated the baptism of their fourth baby, Agnes Kristen, at their parish church in Maine. Agnes joins big siblings Margaret (3), Teresa-Elisabeth (2), and Basil (1).
2017
Maeve Carroll is featured in the recently released book Stolen Seasons: How Maine Sports Survived the COVID-19 Pandemic Maeve and her basketball teammates at the University of Maine are highlighted in the chapter entitled “At the Crossroads: A Challenging Year in Orono,” which explores how the Covid-19 pandemic coincided with a crucial period for three UMaine programs including women’s basketball.
Dahlia Hamilton shared this happy news, “On June 28, I married the love of my life. My best friend from Visitation, Sam White ’17, was one of my bridesmaids. My Visi alum sister Allyson Hamilton ’22 was my maid of honor, and my Gonzaga alum brother Joey Hamilton ’14 was also in my bridal party. It was the most perfect day, and my wife and I received so much love and support from our families, friends, and church community. We are so grateful that the Visitation Sisters and administration have allowed us to share our happy news with the alumnae.”
Megan Munter Hawkins married Stephen Raymond Hawkins, Jr. on February 3, 2024
2020
From Patricia McGee: “In December, Patricia graduated cum laude with her bachelors in journalism and sustainability from American University. Since then, she has launched her own business, Mend a Hand: Built with (Re)Purpose, a mending workshop and future bulk hardware store. In the fall, she will attend Georgetown University to pursue an M.S. in Environment and Sustainability Management. Six months later, Patricia McGee and Benjamin Cramer of Marietta, GA, got engaged at sunrise in Shenandoah National Park in June.”
Caroline Pirone shared this, “After graduating from Dickinson College in May, I quickly began my first post-graduate job! I am currently a medical assistant at Washington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, working to obtain patient care hours for physician assistant school!”
Taylor Sentimore’s wedding
Maeve Carroll
Ben Cramer and Patricia McGee at their favorite park in Shenandoah National Park.
Visitation Friends at Kirsten McDonald’s wedding L TO R Maggie Jackson, Erin Rafferty, Catherine Seher, Rachel White, Emma Kilcullen, Kirsten Swanson McDonald, Sophie Knoll, Keelin McDermott, Delaney Green
Class Notes
love
‘09
Gabrielle Biskaduros Dobson and Steve Dobson on September 3, 2023 1
‘11
Molly Ledwith Smith and Luke Smith on June 29, 2024 5
‘12
Hailey Kirchner Lucas and Christian Lucas on December 16, 2023 10
Madeline Ryan and Jack Hickman on April 27, 2024 4
‘13
Kaely Egan and Timothy Petraco on June 22, 2024 3
‘15
Kara Schneider Hilton and Andrew Hilton on February 17, 2024 2
Kirsten Swanson McDonald and Austin McDonald on July 13, 2024 7
Taylor Sentimore Soares and Matt Soares on October 21, 2023 8
‘17
Dahlia Hamilton and Honor Hamilton on June 28, 2024 9
Megan Munter Hawkins and Stephen Raymond Hawkins, Jr. on February 3, 2024 6
Maggie O’Boyle ’11, Elisa Dolan Coveney ’11, Lily Kehoe Vasturia ’11, Molly Ledwith Smith ’11, Grace DiGioia ’11, Katie Kolbe Menard ’11, Molly Kiernan Smith ’11
These are the unions Visitation was made aware of as of August 15, 2024.
[ FIRST ROW ] Gina Falcone Hopkins ’12, Antonia Lluberes ’12, Mary Monica Allen Palmer ’12, Madeline Ryan ’12, Ally Russo Andren ’12, Katherine Grygo‘12 [ SECOND ROW ] Stephanie Jones Vettom ’12, Genevieve Ryan Bellaire ’07, Katie Owens Valeiras‘12, Rachel Ansley ’12
[ TOP ROW ] Catherine Gilday Poulson ’12, Maddy Williams ’12, Kathleen Fanelli ’12, Caitlin Cooney ’12, Kelsey Tillman Blessing ’12, Libby Mosko ’12, Allie Lucas ’14, Corrine McCullough ’10, Claire McCullough ’15, Alexandra Lindsay ’18 [ BOTTOM ROW ] Kelsey Bonner ’09, Shannon Keller May ’12, Sara Koch ’12, Casey DeFranceaux ’12, Hailey Kirchner Lucas ’12, Kate Gillespie ’12, Caroline Railey Mary Mergner ’12, Olivia McCullough ’18, Bryn Bonner ’12 [ NOT PICTURED ] Abby Lindsay ’23
Josephine Matta (Academy of the Holy Cross ’19), CJ Walls Mathis, Samantha White ’17, Joey Hamilton (Gonzaga ’14), Allyson Hamilton ’22, Sophia DeLoatche (Bishop Ireton ’17), Dalia Hamilton ’17, Honor Hamilton (née Ford), Miranda Ford, Leighton Ford, Logan Ford, Rachelle Sims, Ana Sica, Hannah Smith, Erica Plower. Taken at the Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm in Holicong, PA, by Amanda Swiger.
Madison Sentimore ‘14, Taylor Sentimore Soares ‘15, and Keelin McDermott ‘15.
Class Notes
‘00
James Bernard Edwards, son of Connie Cordovilla Edwards and John Edwards, born in August 2023 7
‘03
Francisco Herrera, son of Catherine Miossi Herrera and Jorge Herrera, born on May 20, 2024 12
Perry Jane Sternberg, daughter of McKay Elliott Sternberg and Matt Sternberg, born on November 19, 2023 8
‘05
Nora Basil, daughter of Megan Hines, born on June 10, 2023 10
‘06
Wesley Porter Bennett, son of Lucy Warren Bennett and Gavin Bennett, born on June 26, 2024 5
Effie Gallo, daughter of Anika Sellier Gallo and Steve Gallo, born on March 27, 2024 9
Madeline and Virginia Levirne, daughters of Jacqueline Greeves Levirne and Jon Levirne, born October 15, 2023 13
‘07
Nolan Richard Siskoy, son of Camille DaDamio Siskoy and Brian Siskoy, born on June 4, 2024 11
Vincent and Ginevra Strickler, son and daughter of Marisa Gerdano Stricler and Tim Strickler, born March 4, 2024 2
‘09
William Hughes Bauer, son of Megan Patenaude Bauer, born March 10, 2024 3
Gabriel Patrick Traylor, son of Stephanie Lash Traylor and William Traylor, born on March 21, 2023 4
‘10
John Chandler “Jack” Doyle, son of Emily Metcalfe Doyle and Casey Doyle, born on June 5, 2024 14
‘13
Mac Edward Tjarksen, son of Tess McAvoy Tjarksen and James Tjaksen, born April 4, 2024 6
‘16
Agnes Kristen Leo, daughter of Jeanne Marie Hathway Leo and Anthony Leo, born February 2024 1
These are the births Visitation was made aware of as of August 15, 2024.
Zach, William, Charlie, and Meghan Bauer
Gabriel (1), Josephine (5), Finn (2), and Penelope (4) Traylor
The Bennett family
Nora Basil, was born June 10, 2023
Ginny, Lottie, & Maddie Levirne
Casey Doyle, Emily Metcalfe Doyle, and baby Jack
Brian Siskoy, Camille DaDamio Siskoy ’07 holding newly baptized Nolan Siskoy, and Nicole DaDamio ’09 holding Nolan’s big brother, Adam
Tomás (6), Mary (8), Frankie, and Ida (4) Herrera
Class Notes peace
DECEASED
Virginia Boudren Prange ’40
Mary Claire Maloy Fittipaldi ’42
Peggy Doyle Giebel JC ’45
Lenore Curran Richards ’51
Bernadette Aukward JC ’52
Carol Chisholm Walls JC ’52
Mary Louise Hurney Oswald ’53
Ellen Mahar ’55
Barbara Bulow Dwyer ’57
Nancy Twombly Browning JC ’58
Jackie Gibbons Grunwell ’58
Elizabeth McGarraghy Eirich JC ’62
Marsha Lee Hughes ’62 & ’64
Maria Amparo Casas JC ’64
Ann Metcalf Anderson ’75
Marianne Creedon ’75
Michelle Lopez ’77
Elizabeth Delaney Brooks ’87
Jane Connelly, former faculty member
CONDOLENCES
Terry Gardiner Lyons ’51 & ’53 on the death of her husband, John ’Jack’ H. Lyons, Jr.
Sharon Gibbons Nicholson ’61 on the death of her sister, Jacqueline “Jackie” Gibbons Grunwell ’58 & ’60
Nancy Margaret Nicklas ’65 on the death of her brother, Donald Nicklas
Mary Lou Ryan Falzone ’69 and Joan Ryan Sherwood ’71 on the death of their brother, Thomas Ryan
Mimi Lopez Montalvo ’76 on the death of her sister, Michelle Lopez ’77; Liz Scarff Lopez ’81 on the death of her sister-in-law; and Maggie Lopez ’08 on the death of her aunt
Deirdre Hester ’77, Erin Hester ’78, Bethann Hester ’81, and Megann Hester ’81 on the death of their father, Luke Hester
Cathleen Creedon ’78 on the death of her sister, Marianne Creedon ’75
Alice Green ’79 on the death of her mother, Patricia Green
Jennifer Howland ’82 on the death of her mother, Katharine “Sally” Howland
Mara Aimone Glenshaw ’85 on the death of her father, John Aimone
Cricket Keating ’85 on the death of her father, Joe Keating
Mary Ryan Scott ’85 on the death of her brother, Patrick Scott
Ann Eirich Didden ’88 on the death of her mother, Elizabeth McGarraghy Eirich JC ’62; Patricia McGarraghy Bowman ’63 and Eileen McGarraghy Mann ’70 on the death of their sister; and Kelly Mann ’15 on the death of her aunt
Christine Davenport ’90, Maureen Davenport O’Connor ’93, and Katie Davenport Royce ’03 on the death of their father, David Davenport; and Caroline Addison Klauder ’25 and Caitlin Davenport O’Connor ’25 on the death of their grandfather
Kathleen Dwyer Mayglothling ’90 on the death of her mother, Barbara Bulow Dwyer ’57; Anne Mullally LeSage ’89, Mary Mullally Riley ’83, and Kelly Mullally ’76 on the death of their aunt; and Claire Riley ’16 on the death of her great aunt
Margaret Caldwell ’91 on the death of her mother, Alice Caldwell
Sarah Nosal ’96 on the death of her husband, James Mumford, and Franny Nosal Bittman ’98 on the death of her brother-in-law
Florencia Segura Damavandy ’04 on the death of her daughter Rosalie Parisa Damavandy
Chelsea Gund Gerald ’08 on the death of her father, Ed Gund, and Sharon Gund, former member of the Board of Directors, on the death of her husband
Caitlin Rothwell ’09 on the death of her grandmother Henrietta “Sissy” Rothwell
Kathleen Emerson ’10 on the death of her grandmother Bernadette Aukward JC ’52
Cornelia Lluberes Powers ’10 and Antonia Lluberes ’12 on the death of their aunt Clara Ostrowski
Kathryn McCarthy ’15, Grace McCarthy ’19, and Margaret McCarthy ’22 on the death of their grandmother Katherine Kennedy; and Elizabeth McCarthy, faculty member, on the death of her mother
Addie Zinsner ’15 and Sally Zinsner ’21 on the death of their aunt Anne Marie Hohman
Rowan Campbell Clancy ’23 and Regan Margaret McGinley ’23 on the death of their grandfather James “Jim” Clancy
To have the names of your deceased loved ones and friends included in our November Masses and prayers, please email their names to intentions@visi.org.You may also send intentions in a note to: Intentions, Georgetown Visitation, 1524 Thirty-fifth Street NW, Washington, DC 20007.
In her shoes
Charlotte MORRELL ’26
I have been playing ice hockey for as long as I can remember. When I was just five years old, my parents put me on the ice in pads that felt twice my size, and I instantly fell in love. I grew up playing hockey on a majority-boy travel team, one of just a few girls in the sport; the high level of competition prepared me well for the Ice Cubs. I’ve made so many meaningful friendships and memories through Visitation’s team. When I arrived at the rink for the championship game, we played music, creating a positive environment
to get us pumped up. I felt confident. Everything was going great—then during warmups, my stick broke. I yelled to my brother to grab his from the car; I had very little time to get used to it, and the next thing I knew, we were in overtime. I play defense, typically, but a teammate encouraged me to take a shot if I got the chance. Thirty seconds in, I fired a low shot and scored! Becoming back-to-back MAGHL champions, I was most proud of my team, and the hard work we put in all season to get there.
