Holy Cross Magazine - Fall 2021

FALL T WO THOUSAND T WENT Y- ONE

VOLUME FIFTY-FIVE / NUMBER FOUR

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I G N AT I A N VOLUNTEER CORPS PA G E 4 4

MEET VINCENT D. ROUGEAU 33RD PRESIDENT O F H O LY C R O S S PA G E 3 4

H O W, T H E N , SHALL WE LIVE? PA G E 5 0

NEUROSCIENCE MAJOR DEBUTS PA G E 2 1

FROM THE PRESIDENT

“How, Then, Shall We Live?”

T

his question is posed to every Holy Cross student upon their Mount St. James arrival. Our renowned firstyear program, Montserrat, challenges students with this weighty query right away, asking them early to consider the

H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ FA L L 2021

impact they wish to have on the world.

As I begin my tenure at Holy Cross, it strikes me that the question can apply also to institutions: How shall the College of the Holy Cross live? How shall we grow and change? How do we continue to shape the lives of our students and lead Jesuit education in a world so often marked by discord and division? How do we expand upon our efforts to ensure Holy Cross is a place marked by inclusion for all? These are

all questions I am asking myself and my colleagues here on The Hill.

I believe the answer lies in our mission.

I believe that, through a dynamic expression of today’s Jesuit mission, we can together lead Holy Cross to realize its full potential as one of the finest liberal arts institutions in the world.

Jesuit education has so much to say about our modern world and how we should live in it. The Society of Jesus’

Holy Cross President Vincent D. Rougeau and Tracy Barlok, vice president for advancement, greet parents dropping off their Crusader at Wheeler Hall on Aug. 29.

it far too easy to succumb to cynicism; hope is hard. But as St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, hope is born of the desire for something that is difficult to attain — difficult, but not impossible.

We want our students to approach the world with hope — not blind optimism, but hope in action.

This is one of the hallmarks of a Holy Cross graduate: an ingrained sense that things can be made better. We see that manifest itself throughout this community in so many ways. It’s the students, already busy with coursework, athletics and performances, who give their time in service to the community. Or those who use their voices to advocate for a better world, a cleaner world, a more just world. It’s our faculty members and staff who give their time and knowledge freely and generously to each and every student. It’s the alumni, who give their energy to service and advocacy, who lead nonprofits and run for public office; they are so extraordinarily busy in their own right, but still always make time for their fellow Crusaders. We do these things because we have hope. Because even though we know the work is hard, it is meaningful.

Universal Apostolic Preferences offer us a clear guide to follow. They teach us to walk with the poor, the outcasts and those whose dignity has been violated. They show us the way to God through discernment. They urge us to care for the Earth, our common home.

And they encourage us to accompany young people in creating a hope-filled future.

You are going to be hearing that word “hope” from us a lot. Our society makes

M AT T W R I G H T

Part of that work will include expanding upon our efforts to make Holy Cross diverse, equitable and inclusive. To the extent that anyone feels left out, left behind or less than a full member, our community is diminished. We must redouble our efforts to recruit faculty, staff and students of diverse backgrounds, and to ensure every one of them feels they have a space and a voice in the future of this magnificent institution.

Hope for the future of Holy Cross should extend to every member of our community. These are our shared values and we must put them into action.

My hope for the future of the College is bolstered by our strong community of extraordinary graduates. Our alumni are the backbone of Holy Cross. It’s

your passion, your engagement, your talent that have made Holy Cross what it is for more than 175 years. Holy Cross alumni consistently rank among the most engaged of any institution in the country. You donate your time and your money, you offer your expertise and experience to our students. And I know many of you are not shy about displaying your purple pride no matter where you are in the world.

I know that you do these things because you have hope, not only for the future of Holy Cross, but for the ways this institution can make a positive impact on our world. In the coming months and years, it will be my job to ensure Holy Cross is a place that continues to embody those Jesuit values of hope and meaning. It will also be my job to build on that tradition and help Holy Cross become the vanguard of Jesuit liberal arts education in this country. I believe that with your help, we can achieve this.

I can’t thank you enough for the warm welcome I’ve received since joining this special community. Your enthusiasm and commitment to Holy Cross have motivated and inspired me.

As the days march on, I get to experience so many Holy Cross traditions for the first time. The first leaves turning outside my window in Fenwick, my first football game, first Family Weekend, my first day of classes. I’m so looking forward to Advent and Christmas, and all the traditions to follow. Mount St. James is truly a magical place, but I’m sure you already know that. ■ With hope for the future,

Vince Rougeau

President

F R O“ H MOTWH, ET PH RE ENS, I SDHE AN LTL / WOEP LE INVIEN?G” / 1

FISCAL 2021

The College’s Financial Health

T

FI GURE 1.

FI GURE 2 .

SOURCES OF FUNDS

USES OF FUNDS

($ millions)

he College’s prudent financial

($ millions)

management yielded positive operating results, despite the ongoing impact of the COVID-19

$98.1 Tuition and Fees, Net of Financial Aid ■ ■ $34.6 Endowment Income ■ $16.0 Residence Hall & Dining Fees ■ $11.2 Contributions ■ $13.1 Gifts, Grants, Federal Student Aid ■ $4.1 Auxiliary Enterprises ■ $0.8 Other Income

pandemic that significantly affected the College during fiscal 2021. The pandemic, which first forced the suspension of campus operations in March 2020, continued to impact Holy Cross throughout fiscal 2021, especially during the fall 2020 semester.

$81.8 Salaries and Wages ■ ■ $26.2 Employee Benefits ■ $41.7 Other Operating Expenses ■ $18.4 Depreciation ■ $7.0 Borrowing Costs These are the major spending areas of the College, by program type.

These represent the College’s key sources of revenue.

The College generated an operating margin of

FI GURE 3.

FI GURE 4.

FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT

$2.8 million in fiscal 2021, which represented the 51st consecutive year that operating 2,910

revenue exceeded operating expenses.

Student-driven revenue from tuition and residential and dining fees declined from the previous year as some students elected to defer their enrollment and on-campus

3,142

2,996

52%

52%

53%

55%

49%

48%

48%

47%

45%

2018

2019

■ %MEN

semester. Auxiliary revenues from Athletics

3,102

51%

2017

operations that were limited for the fall

3,020

FIRST-YEAR APPLICATIONS

2020

2021

■ %WOMEN

6,693

6,622

7,054

7,200

7,087

38%

40%

38%

34%

38%

30%

31%

32%

34%

27%

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

■ ENROLLMENT YIELD

■ ACCEPTANCE RATE

events, the bookstore and conferences also FI GURE 5.

declined. In response, measures were taken

FI GURE 6.

FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATE

to cut spending across the College. The safe reopening of campus, however, also

87%

90%

87%

$80

86% MILLIONS

necessitated increased spending in other

90%

SCHOLARSHIP AID TO STUDENTS

areas, such as testing, masks and spaces for students who needed to quarantine or isolate.

$60

$20

$64 40%

40%

40%

$40

If there was any positive news during

$68

$66

$61

$54

40%

39%

38%

36%

34%

$0

this difficult period, it came from strong

2017

investment markets and the continued

2018

2019

2020

2021

2017

■ HOLY CROSS

generosity of alumni and friends that pushed

38%

2018

2019

2020

2021

■ SCHOLARSHIP AID TO STUDENTS ■ FINANCIAL AID AS A % OF TUITION REVENUE

the College’s endowment above the billiondollar milestone. The endowment, which

FI GURE 7.

FI GURE 8.

ANNUAL STUDENT CHARGES

provided nearly 20% of the College’s operating

$62,165

the needs of current Holy Cross students with

$64,320

$67,290

$69,810

$70,150 $70 $60

$72,932

$73,683

$73,945

Notre Dame

Georgetown

$75,667

$72,435

Northeastern

Boston College

$70,150

Villanova

$74,712

$68,683

Holy Cross

$75,226

$67,335

Providence

Fordham

$67,085

Fairfield

Boston University

$63,162

$53,760

Loyola / MD

$49,756

$20

The graphs to the right present the College’s

UConn*

$30

UMass - Amherst*

THOUSANDS

$40

Stonehill

$50

those of future generations of students.

$10

sources and uses of funds during the financial

$0

year that ended June 30, 2021. The additional

2017

graphs at right and the table on the next

2018

2019

2020

2021

■ TUITION ■ ROOM AND BOARD ■ REQUIRED FEES

page present recent trends for enrollment, admissions, academic resources, graduation

FI GURE 9.

rate and the College’s other key financial figures. Note again that financial results and $1,200

coronavirus pandemic in fiscal 2021. ■

$1,000

2 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ FA L L 2021

MILLIONS

the graphs reflect the ongoing impact of the

For a more detailed discussion of the College’s financial results, readers are invited to review the audited financial statements available at www.holycross.edu/finance/controller.

FI GURE 10.

ENDOWMENT

$800

$1,043 $748.9

$783.2

$785.9

$760.3

% OF OPERATING REVENUE PROVIDED BY THE ENDOWMENT 25% 20%

15%

15%

15%

16%

2017

2018

2019

2020

19%

15%

$600 $400

10%

$200

5%

$0

0%

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2021

* COSTS TO OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS

revenue in fiscal 2021, is designed to balance

STUDENT CHARGES FOR ADMISSION OVERLAP SCHOOLS

FIVE-YEAR TRENDS

FY 2017

FY 2018

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY2021

STUDENT ENROLLMENT First-year admissions

Applications

6,693 6,622 7,054 7,200 7,087

Acceptances

2,574 2,622 2,681 2,464 2,689

Enrollment

765 819 868 829 735

Acceptance rate

38% 40% 38% 34% 38%

Enrollment yield

30% 31% 32% 34% 27%

Combined mean SAT

1292

1334

1343

1344

1356

Total enrollment

Full-time

2,910 3,020 3,102 3,142 2,996

Part-time

31 31 26 32 1 ______ ______ ______ ______ ______

Total enrollment 2,941 3,051 3,128 3,174 2,997

% Men

49%

48%

48%

47%

45%

% Women

51%

52%

52%

53%

55%

2,919

3,032

3,112

3,154

2,996

Full-time equivalent students

STUDENT OUTCOMES Degrees awarded

667

739

698 708 730

Six-year graduation rate

92%

92%

90%

93%

93%

First-year retention rate

96%

95%

95%

93%

89%

ACADEMIC RESOURCES Full-time equivalent faculty Faculty with Ph.D. or terminal degree

301

300

315 317 314

93%

95%

96% 95% 97%

Student-to-faculty ratio 10:1 10:1 10:1 10:1

10:1

PER-STUDENT CHARGES Tuition

$48,295

$49,980

$52,100 $54,050 $54,050

Room and board

$13,225

$13,690

$14,520

Mandatory fees

$645 $650 $670 $690 $540 ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

Total student charges

$62,165

$64,320

$67,290

$15,070

$15,560

$69,810

$70,150

FINANCIAL RESOURCES ($000) Total tuition and fees, gross Scholarship aid to students Endowment

$143,094

$154,309

$164,379

$172,407

$162,316

$54,003

$61,415

$66,110

$67,549

$64,227

$748,948 $783,207 $785,852 $760,299 $1,043,288

Net assets:

Without donor restrictions

With donor restrictions

$476,927

$512,053

$506,039

$498,848

$644,641

$478,557 $514,467 $530,954 $523,487 $669,851 _________ _________ _________ _________ _________

Total net assets $955,484 $1,026,520 $1,036,993 $1,022,335 $1,314,492

Long-term debt $157,056 $154,852 $159,825 $211,428 $227,886

T H E C O L L EG E ’ S F I N A N C I A L H E A LT H / F I S C A L 2 0 2 1 / 3

HOLY CROSS MAGAZINE

FALL 2021 / VOLUME 55 / NUMBER 4

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PHOTOS BY AVANELL CHANG ( 12 / 28 / 34 ) + JOHN BUCKINGHAM ( 19 / 32 )

HCM TEA M

MELISSA SHAW Editor

|

STEPHEN ALBANO Art Director / Designer

|

AVANELL CHANG Multimedia Producer

H O LY C R O SS M AGA Z I N E (USPS 0138-860) is published quarterly

by College Marketing and Communications at the College of the Holy Cross. Address all correspondence to the editor at: One College Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01610-2395.

Periodicals postage paid at Worcester and additional mailing points.

TA B LE OF CON TE NTS

1 From The President 2 The College’s Financial Health 4 Table Of Contents 6 Dear HCM, 7 How To Reach Us 8 Editor’s Note + Who We Are 9 Contributors 10 Campus Notebook 10 Snapshot 12 Spotlight 14 On The Hill

34 Features 34 Inside the Family, Faith and Foundations of Your New President Vincent D. Rougeau brings his lifelong mission of balancing human rights with community responsibility to the education of future generations.

44 Service + Spirituality = Purpose Holy Cross alumni 50+ live the values of service and spirituality via the Ignatian Volunteer Corps.

26 Faculty & Staff 26 Faculty & Staff 28 Headliners

CON N ECT WITH H O LY C RO SS O N S O C I AL M E DIA

@collegeoftheholycross

@holy_cross

@collegeoftheholycross

COVER P HOTO

50 How, Then, Shall We Live?

Alumni dedicated to fighting some of society’s most serious problems share the pandemic lessons they’ve learned and how they intend to move forward.

58 Sports 58 Go Cross Go 60 Crusader Life

64 Alumni News 64 Mystery Photo 66 HCAA News 72 Creative Notes 73 Solved Photo 74 Meet The Link Between The Army’s Oldest ActiveDuty Regiment and Holy Cross 78 Class Notes 84 Milestones 86 In Memoriam 96 Ask More

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CONTACT US New Holy Cross President Vincent D. Rougeau gets in the spirit of Move-In Day at the start of the new academic year. While Rougeau has spent the summer getting to know Holy Cross, get to know the College’s new leader by turning to Page 34.

POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO College of the Holy Cross One College Street Worcester, MA 01610-2395

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PHOTO BY MICHAEL QUIET

TA B L E O F CO N T EN TS / 5

DEAR HCM, Holy Cross is no longer that

best location. I was too nervous

small New England “college on

to notice much of anything.

The Hill,” populated primarily by preppie white boys from the

I didn’t understand his joy at

Northeast. Being from the last

that time. To me, college was a

century, I probably wouldn’t

given, a necessity, a must, and

recognize the place. And, that’s a

my parents raised me to think

good thing.

that way. My dad was born in a remote village in Greece

So, once again, I am proud to be

where his parents were farmers.

a graduate of one of the finest

Along with the help of his older

liberal arts colleges in the U.S.

siblings, my dad passed high

Keep up the good work.

school and gained a visa to study in the United States. Upon

Jim Kelly ’70

arriving in the states, he realized

Palos Verdes Estates, California

there lay a lot more work ahead — he had to learn conversational

Long Remembered

English (and quickly) and worked two minimum-wage

Thanks for your remembrance

jobs to support himself

of Jim Long (“Holy Cross

through school. He graduated

Remembers Superintendent of

from the University of Illinois

Grounds,” Spring 2021, Page 90).

at Chicago with a degree in

I had the pleasure of working

aerospace engineering. Amid

in the campus greenhouse for

the challenges, he still valued

several semesters in the early

education above all, and taught

’70s as part of my campus job.

my sister and I to do the same.

One of my jobs was to deliver

There were many nights spent

flowers to staff members on

around the dinner table being

What Will Yolanda Rabun Do Next?

The latest edition of the

their birthdays. Lucky for me

quizzed about world capitals,

magazine has renewed my faith

(and them), it didn’t require

listening to ancient myths and

I was delighted to read the cover

in the character and mission

singing “Happy Birthday.” Jim’s

talking about current events.

article about Yolanda Williams

of my alma mater. Although

idea and a nice one.

Amid the challenges he faced, it

Rabun ’90 (“Yolanda Rabun is

making efforts in the direction

Not Done Yet,” Summer 2021,

of diversity and relevance in

Page 50). I had the pleasure of

today’s America, I felt that these

living down the hall from her on

efforts seemed “forced” - not

Mulledy IV. The most fabulous

natural. The school seemed

concert-quality renditions of

to be trying very hard, yet not

“The Star-Spangled Banner”

quite hitting the right notes.

would be easy to become jaded He will be missed.

or to give up, but still he pushed forward. With those odds

John Kearney ’73

Cherry Hill, New Jersey

against me, I doubt I would have had the same strength to succeed.

Seeing the cover, I did a

The Holy Cross Hat Hanging on the Wall

My first memory upon arriving

when she took a shower. I loved it (but probably didn’t tell her at

double-take. Beautiful! It was

When I started at Holy Cross in

standing in appreciation of

the time).

like a statement: This isn’t

fall 2014, I was away from home

Dinand Library with my dad.

your father’s Holy Cross. The

for the first time in my life

What he must have felt then —

There have been many times

school has reached out to all

and adjusting to a completely

the boy who grew up in rural

in the 30+ years since I’ve

qualified and talented high

new routine and reality. While

Greece now standing in this

graduated where I’ve thought, “I

school seniors, regardless

I was dealing with the fear

awe-inspiring library. I did not

wonder what Yolanda Williams

of race, religion, financial

and anxiety around starting

see it then, but I do now when

is up to?” I had great fun

circumstances, etc. And, from

undergrad, I remember how

I think of all the sacrifices he

reading about her legal, singing

the photos and tone of the

supremely excited my parents

made so I could spend the next

and acting careers. Can’t wait to

magazine, I think Holy Cross is

were, especially my dad. At

four years studying there. That

see what you do next, Yolanda!

succeeding.

Gateways Orientation, he would

was the first of many happy

walk around beaming, pointing

memories formed with my dad

would emanate down the hall

at Holy Cross’ campus was

Mary (Blaney) Dozois ’87

Then, seeing the choice for the

out landscaping he liked and

at Holy Cross — talking to him

Sharon, Massachusetts

new president, I am convinced.

staking out which dorm had the

outside of Stein in late summer

6 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ FA L L 2021

HOW TO REACH US

MAIL

Holy Cross Magazine One College Street Worcester, MA 01610

EMAIL

hcmag@holycross.edu

PHONE

(508) 793-2419

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

should not exceed 250 words and must pertain to items in the two most recent issues. All letters are subject to editorial approval, and some may appear online.

CLASS NOTES

JIM LONG

will only appear in the print version of the magazine, but may be submitted online at holycross.edu/classnotes. and early spring, having him walk

hat came with Dad, and so did we.

me through a physics problem I couldn’t solve (but he always could),

My dad passed in April 2021. As my

and the look on his face when he saw

mom, sister and I were faced with the

my sister and I after being away at

task of going through his belongings,

school.

we found his current Holy Cross hat and felt an overwhelming sense

Upon leaving Gateways, my family

of him with it. It now hangs in my

made a trip to the bookstore in

parents’ bedroom.

Hogan to bring myriad items to family. My dad was always wearing

Every time I see it, I am moved by the

baseball caps, and he made the

sacrifices he and so many parents

sensible selection of the cap you

make for their children. Holy Cross

see above. It was the first of many.

is forever a part of his life and his

My dad proceeded to wear his Holy

success. The hat was a constant

Cross hat everywhere. He wore it so

reminder of how far he had come and

frequently that we bought him a new

how much he loved Holy Cross. And

one at the end of freshman year. We

for that reason, I love it, too.

teased him often — he would wear it even with seams coming undone and

Julia Papanastou ’18

Lincolnwood, Illinois

the fabric wearing down.

My dad was diagnosed with stage IV cancer in fall 2019, when my younger

Erratum

sister was a senior at the College. At

The Purple Patcher photo of the late

a time of such uncertainty for our

Thomas J. Brennan ’60 was incor-

family, it was almost comforting

rectly published (“In Memoriam,”

to watch him put on that hat every

Summer 2021, Page 90). ■

day and go to work, especially considering all he was dealing with.

How quickly a routine act becomes

We Want Your Letters!

so meaningful. Our family quickly

Whether it is a response to

traded outings and vacations for

something you read, Mystery Photo

chemo infusion centers and sterile

identification, Milestones submission

doctors’ offices, but the Holy Cross

or a story idea, drop us a line!

MILESTONES SUBMISSIONS

will only appear in the print version of the magazine, and must meet all of the following requirements: erson submitting the photo must be a 1) P graduate of Holy Cross, and include his or her name, email and phone number for confirmation purposes. (For wedding photos, the person submitting must be part of the wedded couple.)

2) Only group photos of alumni and/or faculty will be accepted.

3) I n wedding photos, please identify the couple with first, last and maiden names, as well as class year. The date and location of the ceremony must accompany the photo.

4) Digital images must be hi-res (at least 1 MB in size, with a resolution of 300 dpi or larger).

Regular prints can be submitted, but will not be returned.

5) P lease include any required photographer credit. Note: Acquiring permission from professional photographers to print images is the sole responsibility of the submitter.

The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for content, accuracy and length, and cannot guarantee that items received will appear in the magazine. Publication of an item does not constitute endorsement by Holy Cross.

DEAR HCM / HOW TO REACH US / 7

EDITOR’S NOTE

College Community Returns to Exciting Arrivals

F

WHO WE ARE

faculty and staff. This fall, testing has been moved to Hogan Campus Center, which means the campus community can fully enjoy the entire facility, top to bottom. Drive or walk by at any hour

MELISSA SHAW Editor

is an award-winning writer and editor who has led newspapers and magazines in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.

and you will see people working out on the second-floor fitness equipment as they overlook campus and Worcester or enjoying a pickup basketball game in the first-floor gym. The center also sports a lovely outdoor patio area facing Hogan that, in a time that welcomes outdoor meeting spaces, is a popular place to

all is traditionally an exciting

hang out and catch up.

time on campus, but this year the atmosphere is even more lively,

If you stand in The Jo patio and look east,

with the full return of students,

it’s impossible to miss the lone upper

faculty, staff and some key new additions.

campus building under construction about 100 or so yards away: the Prior

Some members of the College community

Center for Performing Arts, which sits

haven’t been on campus since spring

just above Easy Street. Next year, this

semester ended, but for others, it’s their

long-anticipated, impressive facility

first trip back since March 2020. This

will become home base for the College’s

made walking anywhere on campus fun,

music, theatre and dance programs, as

as for the first few weeks you were sure

well as the location of the Cantor Art

to witness impromptu reunions when

Gallery and more.

STEPHEN ALBANO

Art Director / Designer has been a part of the HCM team for more than 10 years and 41 issues. He earned his degree in studio art at Clark University. He is excited to go to the UCDA Conference in Denver and collect the four awards that Team HCM won at this year’s Design Competition, including a Silver Award for the cover design of our Fauci Issue. (P.S. - Try I Love Frankie’s pizza in Worcester, pictured here.)

friends, classmates or colleagues spotted each other in passing, an occurrence

While the campus community is eagerly

almost always followed by: “It’s so good

looking forward to the Prior opening

to see you in person!”

next year, there is much to celebrate right now, especially regarding this year’s No.

The normal fall buzz has also been

1 arrival, new College President Vincent

amplified by key new arrivals on campus.

D. Rougeau (above middle). On Page 34,

Those returning to Mount St. James for

you will meet Rougeau and learn about

the first time since March 2020 saw a

his path to Holy Cross and the mission to

dramatically different upper campus with

which he has dedicated his work.

the completion of the Joanne ChouinardLuth Recreation and Wellness Center

This is an exciting time

and construction of the Prior Center for

to be on The Hill! ■

Performing Arts.

The Jo is completed and open, celebrating its first operational fall. The facility opened during the spring 2021 semester,

Melissa Shaw

with its first-floor gymnasium serving

Editor hcmag@holycross.edu

as a COVID-19 testing area for students,

8 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ FA L L 2021

AVANELL CHANG

Multimedia Producer is excited to have students back on campus and to experience the crisp fall air. The next few months will be full of work, weddings and trips. She has been getting more involved in volunteering through the local nonprofit Welcoming Alliance for Refugee Ministry and recently took some teen girls on a trip to Boston.

CONTRIBUTORS

1

2

3

4

5

8

9

10

11

12

WRITERS 1 MAURA SULLIVAN HILL is a freelance writer and editor who has written for the Notre Dame Alumni Association, Loyola Magazine and Impact, the research magazine of Brown University.

2 MARYBETH REILLY-MCGREEN ’89 is an award-winning content strategist and writer for the University of Rhode Island. The author of three books on the history and folklore of Rhode Island, she is working on her fourth. 3 MEREDITH FIDROCKI is a freelance writer who graduated from Bates College with a degree in English and French. 4 MARY CUNNINGHAM ’17, a former intern in the Office of College Marketing and Communications, is a digital content coordinator in the communications department at Barnard College in New York. 5 SANDRA GITTLEN is a freelance journalist in the greater Boston area. She

2021

writes on higher education, technology and health issues. 6 REBECCA (TESSITORE) SMITH ’99 and 7 KIMBERLY (OSBORNE) STALEY ’99 are former Holy Cross roommates who have been writing for HCM and other College publications for more than 15 years. They work together at their freelance writing firm, SmithWriting.

PHOTOGRAPHERS 8 JOHN BUCKINGHAM is a member of the College’s audio-visual services department and has worked as a videographer, video editor, graphic designer and photographer for many projects, groups and campus activities. 9 BRENDAN BROGAN is a photographer and visual artist with a passion for creativity and documenting life; he currently resides in NYC and is enjoying the city that never sleeps. 10 LIZ MILLER is the social media manager for College marketing and

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communications. 11 MICHAEL QUIET is a Bostonbased sports and fitness photographer whose recent clients include Adidas, UFC, Reebok, Muscle and Fitness Magazine, the New England Revolution and more. 12 MATTHEW WRIGHT is a Worcester-based photographer and videographer.

CAMPUS CONTRIBUTORS 13 THE HOLY CROSS ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS TEAM is comprised of Abby Stambach, head of archives and special collections; Sarah Campbell, assistant archivist; and Corinne Gabriele, archival assistant. Archives collects, preserves, arranges and describes records of permanent value from the College’s founding in 1843 to the present. We couldn’t put together an issue without their historical research and context, as well as the access to archival images and objects.

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP

United States Postal Service Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation (required by 39 U.S.C. 3685). 1. Title of Publication: Holy Cross Magazine.

2. Publication No.: 0138-860. 3. Filing Date: 9-20-21. 4. Issue Frequency: Four (4) times per year. 5. No. of Issues Published Annually: Four (4). 6. Annual Subscription Rate: Zero (0). 7. Complete Mailing Address of the Known Office of Publication: College of the Holy Cross, Office of College Marketing & Communications, 1 College St. Worcester MA 01610-2395. 8. Complete Mailing Address of the Headquarters of General Business Office of the Publisher: College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St. Worcester MA 01610-2395. 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher: Marisa Gregg, 1 College St. Worcester MA 01610-2395. Editor: Melissa Shaw, 1 College St. Worcester MA 01610-2395. Managing Editor: Bridget Campolettano. 10. Owner and Owner Mailing Address: College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St. Worcester MA 01610-2395. 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgages, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. 12. Tax Status: The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes has not changed during the preceding 12 months. 13. Publication Title: Holy Cross Magazine. 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: Summer 2021 (July 1, 2021). 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation; Total Number of Copies (net press run): A. Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 44,748. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 45,277. B. Paid Circulation: (1.) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 44,648. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 45,177. (2.) Mailed InCounty Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 0. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. (3.) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS: Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 0. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. (4.) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS (e.g. First-Class Mail): Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 0. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. C. Total Paid Distribution: Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 44,648. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 45,177. D. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution: (1.) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541: Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 100. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 100. (2.) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541: Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 0. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. (3.) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at other Classes Through the USPS: Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 0. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. (4.) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail: Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 0. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. E. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution: Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 100. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 100. F. Total Distribution: Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 44,748. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 45,277. G. Copies not Distributed: Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 250. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 250. H. Total: Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 45,998. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 45,527. I. Percent Paid: Average No. of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 100%. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 100%. 26.

Publication Statement of Ownership: Will be printed in the Fall 2021 issue of the publication (mails out October 5, 2021). 17. I certify that all information furnished in this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties). Melissa Shaw, Editor, 9-20-2021.

EDITOR’S NOTE /

WHO WE ARE / CONTRIBUTORS / 9

CAMPUS NOTEBOOK

Volunteers from NROTC, the Alexander Hamilton Society and the College Republicans placed 2,977 American flags on the Fenwick Quad to represent each person lost in the 9/11 attacks. For more on the College’s remembrance of the 20th anniversary, see Page 16.

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10 Snapshot • 12 Spotlight • 14 On The Hill

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SPOTLIGHT

Students, Traditions Return to Start 2021-2022 Academic Year

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he full student body, faculty, staff and annual traditions such as Move-In Day, Convocation, Mass of the Holy Spirit and Athletics events

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returned to Mount St. James this fall as the College began the 2021-2022 academic year Sept. 1, while also maintaining health and safety protocols to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Faculty and staff began a return to campus in August, while separate Move-In Days were held for the classes of 2025 and 2024, the latter of which missed their inaugural celebration last year due to fall remote learning.

“It’s so exciting to see everyone here in person and participate in this incredible tradition of helping the firstyear students move in,” new President

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Vincent D. Rougeau said on his first Holy Cross Move-In Day. “You can feel the energy and the excitement. It’s a great way to meet a lot of students and their parents, so I’m just thrilled we’re able to do this.”

Faculty, staff and students were required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus and remain enrolled in the on-campus

testing program. The College also instituted a universal indoor mask policy.

“While COVID-19 remains a reality, we look to the year ahead with hope,” Rougeau said. “We are resolved to come together to continue to support each other in personal, academic and spiritual growth. First and foremost, this semester marks a full return to

in-person classes, student activities, Athletics practices and games, and community involvement. The Holy Cross academic experience has always been rigorous and fulfilling, but there’s nothing like gathering together in person to inspire creativity and learning. I am so excited to be here among the students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff that make up the Holy Cross community.” ■

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ON THE HILL

Class of 2025 Arrives on Mount St. James

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t 822 students, Holy Cross’ class of 2025 hails from 33 states and 15 nations. This year’s incoming class is composed of 54% women and 46% men.

Twenty-three percent are students of color and 16% are firstgeneration college students.

These newly minted Crusaders have distinguished themselves through community service, leadership roles and diverse participation in areas such as the arts, music and athletics.

“I am thrilled to welcome Holy Cross’ class of 2025 — a vibrant and diverse group of exceptional students who are also one of the most academically accomplished classes in the College’s history.

I can’t wait to see what you do and how you will grow ethically, spiritually and intellectually on The Hill,” Holy Cross President Vincent D. Rougeau said.

Sarah Petty, associate professor of chemistry, serves as class dean for the newest Crusaders, who read “Walking to Listen: 4,000 Miles Across America, One Story at a Time” by Andrew Forsthoefel as the first-year class book. The nonfiction memoir details recent college graduate Forsthoefel’s adventures as he walked from Pennsylvania to the California coastline. He carried few possessions and wore a sign that read “Walking To Listen” in an attempt to clarify his own sense of self through the journey and the people he met. ■

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LIZ MILLER

Holy Cross Ranks Among Top 5% of U.S. Colleges, According to Niche

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chool ranking and review website Niche has named Holy Cross one of the top colleges in the nation in its “2022 Best Colleges” rankings, receiving an overall grade of A+.

Holy Cross was also recognized as one of the top 5% “Best Colleges” in the nation — from a total of 1,652 higher education institutions — and in the top 3% in the “Best Value” and “Best Small Colleges” categories.

Niche’s “Best Colleges” rankings are based on analysis of academic, admissions, financial investment and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education, along with millions of reviews from students and alumni. The ranking compares more than 1,600 top colleges and universities in the U.S. ■

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Rougeau Inauguration Will Be a Multi-Day Celebration

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he inauguration of Vincent D. Rougeau as Holy Cross’ 33rd president will be celebrated over several days in late October, starting with a faculty symposium and culminating in the inauguration Mass, installation and Family Weekend.

Events will begin on Thursday, Oct. 21, with a faculty symposium, “Global Engagement and Democratic Citizenship,” featuring keynote speaker Martha Minow, 300th Anniversary University Professor, Harvard University. Open to the public, the event will begin at 3 p.m. in Dinand Library’s main reading room, with a faculty roundtable to follow.

That evening, a concert with trumpeter and composer Terrence

Blanchard will be held at Mechanics Hall in honor of the Worcester community. Blanchard is an Oscarnominated artist and six-time Grammy winner.

On Friday, Oct. 22, the inauguration Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Memorial Chapel, followed by the presidential installation ceremony at 3 p.m. at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex. The day will end with an 8 p.m. concert by the College Choir in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel.

The next morning, Oct. 23, Rougeau will hold a President’s Hour, beginning at 11 a.m. at Dinand Library, at which he will address the College community and share his thoughts on the Holy Cross experience.

Following the 5 p.m. Holy CrossColgate football game at Polar Park in Worcester, the week of festivities will conclude with an inauguration celebration with students and families from 8 p.m.–11 p.m. on Kimball Quad. ■

More information on the events can be found at www.holycross.edu/ presidential-inauguration.

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AVANELL CHANG

ON THE HILL

Seven Named to Board of Trustees

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even leaders from the fields of law, business, education, investment, real estate and communications have joined Holy Cross’ board of trustees this year. New to the 43-person oversight body are: Laura Cutone Godwin ’96, incoming Holy Cross Alumni Association president.

James F. Mooney III ’90, P23, president of the Baupost Group LLC, head of the firm’s public investment group and chair of the Baupost Management Committee.

R. Michael Moran ’90, real estate professional in New York City and Long Island, New York, at Douglas Elliman.

Nalani Ramos Ruiz ’21, member of the Contracts Leadership Development Program at Raytheon Corp.

Beatriz Pina Smith ’87, P22, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Natixis Distribution LLC and Natixis Advisors LLC. Brendan Swords ’83, recently retired CEO and managing partner of Wellington Management Company and Jesuit education champion.

Tania Tetlow, 17th president of Loyola University New Orleans, the first lay person and first woman to lead the university. ■

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Remembering 20th Anniversary of Sept. 11

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Province of the Jesuits, and concelebrated by Rev. Timothy W. O’Brien, S.J., ’06, Holy Cross director of mission initiatives.

In New York City, more than 130 alumni, parents and friends attended a special Mass held in observance of the anniversary at the Regis High School Chapel on the Upper East Side. Mass was celebrated by the Very Rev. Joseph M. O’Keefe, S.J., ’76, provincial of the USA East

On campus, students, faculty and staff attended an interfaith remembrance in Memorial Plaza, which bears the names of the seven Holy Cross alumni killed in the attacks: Edward A. Brennan III ’86, Thomas D. Burke ’85, Neilie Heffernan Casey ’90, John G. Farrell ’91, Todd Isaac ’94, Beth Quigley ’97 and John J. Ryan ’78. ■

he Holy Cross community gathered on campus and in New York to remember the victims, first responders and all impacted by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

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Williams’ bequest gift matching all new and increased gifts to the College in support of financial aid.

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2021 Giving Breaks College Record

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he Holy Cross community set new records for giving and alumni and parent engagement during the 2021 fiscal year, gifting a record $65.9 million to the College, including the largest bequest in College history – a $25 million gift from the estate of former trustee Agnes Williams.

“The loyalty and support of the Holy Cross family is both inspiring and humbling,” says Tracy Barlok, vice president for advancement. “In a challenging year, our entire community showed without a doubt that they believe in the work we do on Mount St. James. We could not be more proud or more grateful.”

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The Crusader Athletics Fund (CAF) saw a record-breaking year – 3,674 donors (including 49% of former athletes) gave more than $2.1 million to support student-athletes.

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More than 17,700 donors made gifts to the College this year.

Alumni giving consecutively for five years or more numbered 10,176, with 3,219 giving every year since graduation.

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The College’s “Power of Purple” annual giving day, held in April, raised a record $2.5 million in 24 hours from 4,706 donors.

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Reunion classes raised more than $3 million for the Holy Cross Fund and $2.3 million in estate gifts. The class of 1986, in celebration of its 35th reunion, raised the most annual fund dollars of any class, with a record-breaking $764,129.

The 50th reunion class of 1971 surpassed its goal of $500,000, finishing at $707,271, with 54% participation.

Highlights include:

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Alumni, parents and friends set a new institutional record for annual giving with more than $11.5 million in unrestricted gifts made to the Holy Cross Fund. For the fifth straight year, the Holy Cross community contributed more than $10 million to the fund, exceeding the budgeted goal for the ninth consecutive year.

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The Hope + Access Campaign for Financial Aid, launched in January, with $28.9 million given by 7,827 donors, creating 25 new financial aid endowment funds. The total makes up 72% of the campaign’s goal of $40 million. The campaign will run until June 30, 2022, with Agnes

Including the Williams bequest, 22 bequests to the College were realized last year, totaling $26.6 million. The College welcomed 13 new bequest intentions totaling $6.1 million, including the second-largest bequest intention ever made to the College – $5 million gifted by Elizabeth and Robert McKay ’55. Thirty-five new members joined the College’s 1843 Legacy Society, which recognizes individuals who have included a gift to the College in their estate plans.

Despite limitations created by the COVID-19 virus, community engagement remained high. Thousands of alumni and friends participated in more than 200 virtual programs offered by the College throughout the year, including webinars, career and professional development programs, regional social events, award programs, alumni-student mentoring opportunities, Reunion and Fall and Winter Homecoming. The Alumni Association sponsored “Crusader Correspondence,” a special outreach effort to our Purple Knights, as part of the annual Holy Cross Cares Program.

All graduates of the classes of 1946-55 received a personal note or letter from a fellow Crusader to share words of support and connection.

“This astounding show of engagement and generosity from the Holy Cross community will allow us to achieve crucial goals for years to come,” Barlok says. “To all of our family who have generously given to the College this year, and to all of our volunteers whose unwavering support continues to inspire so many – thank you! Each of you is enabling the College to thrive in our important work of forming the moral and ethical leaders so necessary in our world today.” ■

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ON THE HILL

Cantor Fall Exhibition Features African American Artist Elizabeth Catlett

“ Good Morning America” Comes to Campus

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ust two weeks after assuming the leadership of the College, President Vincent D. Rougeau welcomed ABC national morning show “Good Morning America” to campus.

During a July segment titled “Rise and Shine: Massachusetts,” which focused on the state reopening amid the pandemic, Rougeau expressed his excitement for a fully in-person fall semester at Holy Cross.

“The schools and towns in Massachusetts are thrilled to have students back for in-person learning and living this fall,” Rougeau told GMA reporter Lara Spencer (above).

He also emphasized that, although disruptive, the pandemic was an important reminder of how essential community and supporting one another are. ■

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he Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery at Holy Cross is presenting “The Art of Elizabeth Catlett from the Collection of Samella Lewis” through Dec. 15, 2021.

Elizabeth Catlett (1915-2012), a pioneering sculptor and printmaker, is widely considered one of the most important artists of the 20th century. The exhibition explores the nature of Catlett’s art and its ability to affect individual lives and political movements. Her legacy as an artist, teacher, mentor, activist, wife, mother, grandmother and friend is apparent through these works, which explore themes around injustice, motherhood and the Black-American experience.

“I always wanted my art to service my people — to reflect us, to relate to us, to stimulate us, to make us aware of our potential,” she said. “We have to create an

art for liberation and for life.” The exhibition includes the politically charged works that Catlett created in 1960s and ’70s — for which she was best known — as well as later prints and sculpture.

The 38 works in this exhibition come from the personal collection of artist, educator and author Samella Lewis, a student, mentee and friend of Catlett.

“We are pleased to be able to present the work of Elizabeth Catlett at Cantor,” says Meredith Fluke, Cantor director. “Catlett’s work serves as a stunning reminder of the ability of art to function as an instrument of both protest and aesthetic pleasure and calls attention to some of the most important injustices of our time.”

The exhibition is open to the campus community and public, except for the following dates: Oct. 11, Nov. 11, 25–28. ■

AVANELL CHANG

HIV. While HIV has evolved to counteract the antiviral effects of this protein, exploring ways to liberate APOBEC3G from viral suppression could provide novel therapeutic options. My work will entail experimental inquiry and computational analysis to characterize the structure-function relationship of an unusually potent variant of APOBEC3G. We hope to gain insights into the basis for this form’s improved antiviral capabilities, which could ultimately be applied in the rational design of novel HIV treatments.

Charles Millard ’22 Named 2021-22 Fenwick Scholar The senior will spend the year pursuing research that could unlock novel treatments for HIV-positive patients.

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s a student biologist, it could be easy to get lost in lab work and computer modeling, but this year’s Fenwick Scholar, biology major Charles Millard ’22, is focused on the big picture — he knows that science is only part of the equation. He will be examining opportunities to modify a protein that could lead to novel HIV treatments, while also working with community organizations that support HIVpositive people in order to incorporate their perspectives in his research and better understand potential barriers to treatment that disproportionately affect certain communities, such as those of color, in the United States. Millard believes that combining these two efforts could impact access to existing

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therapeutics, as well as the success of novel treatment implementation — considering everything from drug design and development to drug accessibility, distribution and perception in the community.

The College’s highest academic honor bestowed upon a student, the Fenwick Scholar spends their senior year researching, working closely with advisors and producing a final product that culminates in a presentation to the community.

How would you describe your research in a nutshell? In the “Sheehy Lab,” we research a protein called APOBEC3G and its role as an innate system of cellular defense against

To better understand the broader impact of the HIV pandemic, I will simultaneously volunteer at AIDS Project Worcester (APW), a local nonprofit that provides services to community members living with HIV. Through my work at APW, I hope to learn how I can best serve HIV-positive people and the agencies that support them to ensure they have access to the therapeutics they need. I plan to perform a formal case study, including interviews with APW clients and reviews of relevant literature, which will seek to understand the intersectional basis for the disproportionate impact of the HIV pandemic on communities of color in the United States, with a specific focus on disparities in treatment. I hope that through this work, I can better incorporate the concerns and desires of people living with HIV into my current and future scientific research endeavors.

How did you become interested in biology as a major, and how did you first realize the relationship this could have with computer modeling? I was very fortunate to work alongside Dr. April Burch, the director of my high school’s advanced math/science research program, to design proteins for the treatment of Huntington’s disease. Dr. Burch also helped me secure a summer internship at Yale

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ON THE HILL School of Medicine, where I worked with Dr. Shannon Whirledge to study how the drug ulipristal acetate works.

These experiences reinforced my lifelong infatuation with science and fostered my passion for molecular biology and bioengineering in particular, but I remained intrigued by the broader field of biology. This general interest in biology made the biology major at Holy Cross appealing to me, as the program requires completion of introductory courses in organismal biology and ecology, while still allowing me to take a larger number of courses focused specifically on cell and molecular biology. This breadth of focus has allowed me to explore a variety of subdisciplines in biology and discover passions I had never considered, such as computational biology.

While I was unable to perform research in person last summer, the College’s online research program provided me the time and resources I needed to learn how to model proteins in three dimensions. A protein’s shape is a crucial determinant of its capabilities, making visualization of the protein’s structure a valuable tool when attempting to explain its experimentally observed functions and designing drugs to alter said functions. This experience ultimately led to a collaboration between the Sheehy Lab and Dr. Celia Schiffer’s lab at University of Massachusetts Medical School. As part of this cooperation, I was fortunate enough to study under Shurong Hou, a postdoctoral researcher in that lab. These opportunities have greatly increased my abilities in computer modeling, allowing it to become an integral tool in our research.

You have worked extensively with professor of biology Ann Sheehy while at Holy Cross — can you explain the importance of her mentorship in your project? Dr. Sheehy’s mentorship has been vital to my growth as a scientist, but she has had an even bigger impact on my growth as a person. Through her example, Dr. Sheehy has continuously taught me that being a good person requires one to actively combat injustice

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by challenging someone when they say or do something we believe to be unjust or, most importantly, looking within ourselves and asking if our actions are truly making the world a better place.

Dr. Sheehy’s influence has inspired me to actively try to work on behalf of, and alongside, others to improve their lives as well as the world we share.

More specifically, Dr. Sheehy has shown me the necessity of being a citizenscientist. In essence, this means that, while objectivity and impartiality are important in science, we must speak out and take sides when the knowledge and platform we possess can be used to assist marginalized communities.

In addition to your work in the lab and with computer modeling, you plan to work with AIDS Project Worcester. What will you be doing and how is this integral to the overall success of your project?

I will have a multifaceted role at AIDS Project Worcester (APW) this year, including completing rotations within each of their departments, participating in outreach programs and assisting with community relations efforts. My goal is to serve APW and its clients as best I can while also gaining a deeper understanding of the multifarious roles social workers play in combating the HIV pandemic. I hope that by working alongside people living with HIV, I can develop relationships with them and, in so doing, come to better comprehend their daily realities.

Ultimately, I would like to formally interview some of these clients about their access to, and experiences with, treatment, as well as what they might hope to see in future therapeutics.

This might include asking what side effects might be more likely to disrupt adherence to their treatment regimen or which methods of administration are most convenient. This information could then be used throughout the process of future drug design in the creation of compounds and methods of delivery that address the patients’ concerns and desires, thus making adherence and successful treatment more likely. In many ways, this work is

the most important facet of my project, as including these aspects of service and social scientific research will allow me to strengthen my findings in the lab and better understand the role I can play in helping end the HIV pandemic, both as a research scientist and as a citizen.

How has your Holy Cross experience equipped you to be this year’s Fenwick Scholar? The liberal arts education I’ve received in my time at Holy Cross has fostered my ability to go beyond the classroom and make connections between seemingly distinct disciplines.

These interdisciplinary linkages have helped me develop a cohesive view of the world and better understand my place in it, both as a scientist and a person. While my primary focus this year will be biological research, this work will be situated within the broader, interdisciplinary context of the HIV pandemic through my efforts at APW and my social scientific inquiries into the disproportionate impacts of HIV on communities of color. This format was designed to mirror the Jesuit liberal arts education at Holy Cross, where my studies as a biology major have been contextualized through my education in a variety of disciplines. Also, much like the rest of my time at the College, I’ve been fortunate to receive guidance in shaping my project from an outstanding array of professors who are willing to go above and beyond for their students, both in and out of the classroom.

Dr. Sheehy has been and will be my primary advisor, but I’ve also received support from Dr. Robert Bellin and Dr. Michelle Mondoux, of the biology department in the areas of biochemistry and cell biology, as well as from Dr. Tsitsi Masvawure, of the sociology and anthropology department, and Dr. Stephenie Chaudoir, of the psychology department, in shaping my case study and reviewing literature regarding disparities in HIV treatment among communities of color. Interdisciplinary collaboration and close relationships with professors will be absolutely essential to the success of this project, much as they have been throughout my career at Holy Cross. ■

College Debuts Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Major and Program

BY MEREDITH FIDROCKI

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all 2021 marks the launch of Holy Cross’ new neuroscience major and program. For Alo Basu, program director and associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, the launch was the culmination of a five-year process: “It was about identifying the specific new learning opportunities we wanted to create through the neuroscience major and then building the curriculum using modern pedagogical principles that could do something very forward-

“In general, many interdisciplinary neuroscience programs across universities and colleges are developed by asking, ‘What courses do we already offer that touch on neuroscience?’” says Ryan Mruczek, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience. “We wanted to build it more intentionally.”

thinking with students.”

This fall’s debut was the culmination of a five-year process for Alo Basu, program director and associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, with students Gabrielle Beaulieu ’21 and Caitlyn Riley ’21 (at right). When developing the program with colleagues, Basu even took on the role of a student, auditing courses in introductory biology, chemistry, calculus and physics.

As part of that approach, Basu led faculty from biology, chemistry, computer science, philosophy, physics, psychology and mathematics in a collaborative effort to map out a new, integrative neuroscience core curriculum. “There’s been a lot of joy involved in creating this curriculum and the partnerships with students, faculty and staff that have gone into it,” she says. To gain a deeper understanding of learning goals across disciplines, Basu even took on the role of a Holy Cross student. While on leave in 2018, she audited introductory biology, chemistry, calculus and physics courses on The Hill — attending lectures and completing

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Previously, students interested in neuroscience had to apply for a self-designed plan through the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies. “We saw more and more students applying for neuroscience as a self-designed major,” notes Basu, who says establishing an independent program provides added resources and makes the process of majoring or minoring more transparent — and ultimately more accessible — to all students.

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Basu (left) with students Sandra Orellana ’21 and Breyon Chapman 21, Ryan Mruczek, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience (middle) and Alexis Hill, assistant professor of biology and neuroscience (right) look forward to emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of the field. Says Mruczek: “I hope that this interdisciplinary exposure helps students realize that the questions that drive their interests can be approached from multiple directions — which is, broadly, a goal of a liberal arts education.”

assignments and exams.

“We saw this as an opportunity to develop an academic program for students that could put the development of integrative thinking skills as a priority,” Basu notes. Students are often drawn to neuroscience for the important questions it can help answer — about health, human nature, the role of environmental factors and beyond, she says. The program, by design, shows students the importance of tackling these questions using knowledge from multiple fields and a variety of approaches. “If you look at unsolved challenges that are confronting humanity, it’s very difficult to find anything that will be solved within one discipline.”

This fall, in his new course Neural Circuits and Systems, Mruczek is showing students how mathematical modelling, basic computer programming and neuroscience can help us better understand processes like decision-making. “We wanted to make the fact that we’re drawing on all these other fields central and explicit

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in the program,” he says. “I hope that this interdisciplinary exposure helps students realize that the questions that drive their interests can be approached from multiple directions — which is, broadly, a goal of a liberal arts education.”

The major offers students an array of electives from which to choose, based on their interests. “I love that students will have that flexibility,” says Alexis Hill, assistant professor of biology and neuroscience. “We provide students with a list of courses that shows them connections to neuroscience that they might not otherwise recognize.”

The faculty also place high value on inclusive teaching practices shown to promote a greater sense of belonging for all students. “We approach our courses with an achievement-oriented mindset,” Hill says. “I think of that as, ‘Every student is going to succeed,’ and so I design my course to support learning for students with a broad range of prior experiences.”

For example, in her course

Neurobiology, Hill divides a writing assignment into two parts, providing coaching after the first part so students can apply her feedback to a second, longer piece of writing. “I design those assignments in a way that builds students’ skills as well as their confidence,” Hill says. “The goal is teaching students how to do these things — not to assume a student already knows how to write in a discipline-specific way.” Core courses include labs or project-based activities, as well as different types of assessments, not just exams. And the neuroscience faculty team builds in regular opportunities for student feedback.

“What I’m hoping for our students who come through this major is that they are fearless in approaching unanswered questions and challenges — having conversations with a wide array of different people and starting to formulate innovative approaches,” Basu says. She notes neuroscience majors find this in-demand skill set applicable to a variety of fields — from health, medicine, research and technology, to education, government, law, consulting and even the financial sector. “We hope to keep developing and being a place in the Holy Cross curriculum for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.” ■

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Odyssey Celebrates 25 Years of Building Community, Relationships and Student Success

BY MARY CUNNINGHAM ’17

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ymetra Williams ’03 arrived at Holy Cross to attend the Odyssey Program in summer 1999, never having set foot on campus. One of her most vivid memories from the experience was meeting a fellow Odyssey student, who was of Nigerian descent. When he introduced himself, he asked people to call him by his middle name instead of his first name because he thought the latter was too challenging for others to pronounce.

“Well, what’s your actual name? What does your family call you?” Williams remembers asking. After sharing his name, the group turned it into a song so everyone would remember the

pronunciation. “No one ever called him the name that he used because it was convenient for others,” Williams says.

“We called him what his family called him.”

A couple of years ago, Williams ran into this friend at an on-campus event.

Despite the time elapsed, that memory from Odyssey stayed with him. He told Williams that to this day he has people use his real name, all because of the conversation they had about it at Odyssey. “Odyssey allowed us to dwell within a safe space and to walk in our truths,” Williams says.

ORIGINS Creating a space where students felt

In August, class of 2025 Odyssey students and staff assembled for a group photo at the College’s Thomas P. Joyce ’59 Contemplative Center.

encouraged to share their background and pride in their culture was one of Esther Levine’s original goals when she started Odyssey 25 years ago.

After inheriting a program called Earth 2000 in 1997, one intended to support Black students enrolling at Holy Cross, Levine — a now-retired faculty member and class dean — expanded the program to include all ALANA students, international students and Americans living abroad, giving them an intentional introduction to the College before the academic year started. With the program’s first class set to graduate in 2001, Levine named the program Odyssey, a nod to the sci-fi film “2001: A Space Odyssey,” because “odyssey” signified a journey of adventure, exploration and challenges, much like starting college.

That first year, Levine admits that she had to make many phone calls to convince students to attend. Getting

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ON THE HILL

the program off the ground wasn’t easy, she says, but, eventually, its positive reputation spoke for itself. “After a couple of years, I didn’t have to make phone calls anymore. It was word of mouth,” she says. “People heard about it, people knew about it.”

During the program, students engaged in classes and experiences to expose them to not only Holy Cross, but also the community at large, such as a visit to the Worcester Art Museum or community service. Levine also instituted student dinners at professors’ and administrators’ homes, a tradition that continues today. For participants, this experience allows them to form relationships with Holy Cross professors at the beginning of their college career.

“It was a really special touch that the faculty and the staff took their time to share that moment,” says Chris Morgan ’16, who participated in Odyssey in 2012.

Another early program goal was fostering a sense of community and belonging — not just within the program, but within Holy Cross. “One of my favorite sayings to them was, always: ‘Admissions never makes mistakes.’

They belonged at Holy Cross and their presence here was not an accident,” Levine says.

EVOLUTION After starting under the class deans office, Odyssey is today run by the Office of Multicultural Education (OME)

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(left to right) Odyssey supporters in 2015: Rev. Virginia Coakley, former associate chaplain and director of Protestant and ALANA ministries; Mabel Millner, former associate dean of students for diversity and inclusion and director of multicultural education; Rev. Catherine Reed, former assistant chaplain and Protestant chaplain; Levine, and the late Joe Reilly ’55. (right) The Odyssey 2019 class gathers in front of Dinand.

and consists of three components: summer mentoring from a Holy Cross peer, a weeklong summer program featuring a retreat at the Thomas P. Joyce ’59 Contemplative Center and academic-year peer mentoring.

Unlike earlier years, which were more focused solely on orienting students to Holy Cross, Odyssey now provides more opportunities for student reflection on the transition to college life. “We try to make it really reflective so that students ground themselves before they start college,” says Michelle Rosa Martins, OME director. “Before the chaos of starting college kind of hits them, it’s nice to write down and reflect on who you are, what you value, why you are coming to Holy Cross, why Holy Cross itself and who are the people you left at home that you can lean on?”

Another ongoing area of growth for the program is helping students build social capital by teaching them about the general infrastructure of Holy Cross and academia. To realize this goal, students meet with various offices throughout the week, such as the chaplains’ office, the counseling center and the financial aid office — places they will likely interact with during the academic year.

Introducing students to these resources early gives them an edge so they know

where to go and who to talk to if they have questions.

“It supplied me with a knowledge of what resources I had available to me, and because of Odyssey, I was comfortable reaching out to mentors and faculty members given that we had already met them,” says Nerelly Checo ’18, who participated in the program in 2014, served as a mentor her sophomore year and as a program coordinator her senior year. “Through those experiences, I was able to meet other students who were in similar shoes and continue building that circle of support for them and myself. Odyssey impacted the start of my Holy Cross years because it provided me with a group of friends who supported me as I navigated a new journey that was unfamiliar not only to myself, but my family as well. My group of best friends are people that I met through the program.”

The focus on building relationships and resources is something Rosa Martins would like to see grow in the coming years, especially as the program has expanded to include first-generation students and those eligible for the Pell Grant. “My hope and prayer years down the line is that Odyssey becomes a program where people can really

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(above left) Odyssey members in front of Worcester’s Boulevard Diner while on a Shrewsbury Street scavenger hunt in 2016; (above right) Odyssey and Passport students socialize in August 2021 before the start of the new academic year.

understand that it’s about building social capital,” she says. “So when these students enter college, they have community, but they also know how to access people, like professionals at the institution, so that they can have the best Holy Cross experience.”

IMPACT The relationships that result from Odyssey are the main reason why the experience is so special, program alumni say. The friends, staff and faculty connections participants make become a vital support network during their time at Holy Cross.

The first person Morgan met when he arrived at Holy Cross was his Odyssey mentor, Payton Shubrick ’15, who coled the program that year. “She started out as a mentor and has been a friend ever since,” Morgan says. “We all had different struggles throughout college, but if you did face any type of struggle or adversity, you know that you had someone that you can turn to that would understand where you’re coming from.”

Williams and Funmi AnifowosheManning ’17, a 2013 Odyssey participant and 2016 mentor, echo Morgan’s sentiments. “It provided an opportunity to meet friends that became family,” says Williams, who adds it was especially

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impactful for her because she had only a small number of Black women in her graduating class.

And Odyssey connections aren’t just limited to Holy Cross — they extend beyond campus to the Worcester community, fostered through the program’s community service component, something Levine incorporated from the onset to help familiarize students with the city and its residents.

Morgan’s Odyssey community service experience helped him establish what he refers to as a “lifelong love and a lifetime connection” to Worcester. It’s part of what led him to get more involved in campus initiatives, such as Working for Worcester.

Even after Odyssey participants graduate Holy Cross, alumni say the experience stays with them.

Anifowoshe-Manning says Odyssey bolstered her confidence and helped her learn how to acclimate to new environments. Going through the initial culture shock of arriving at Holy Cross and jumping right into Odyssey taught her to be “comfortable with the uncomfortable,” an especially useful skill to have in her law career, she notes.

“For 25 years, Odyssey has helped students of color establish a firm founda-

tion of belonging and purpose as they begin their Holy Cross journeys, and I see evidence of the program’s success in who its participants become, the student leadership roles they take on and the goals they pursue after they graduate,” says Michele Murray, vice president for student affairs and dean of students.

FUTURE In 25 years, more than 1,300 participants have experienced Odyssey. OME is now thinking about future participants and looking toward the program’s next steps, with plans to offer multiple weekend Odyssey retreats throughout the summer, strengthen the program’s relationship with the Office of the College Chaplains, and extend the one-week August program into a fouryear experience by giving participants opportunities to reconnect with program peers and alumni through events scheduled throughout the year.

“Part of the significance is that this is work that still needs to be done,” says Margaret Freije, provost and dean of the College. For her, this means constantly renewing the program and thinking about whether Odyssey is reaching the students it needs to reach: “Part of the work that we have to do over and over again in higher education is think about, for our populations, how do we ensure that this education is really accessible and inclusive to all groups? And that’s the work that’s never going to stop,” she says. ■

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FACULT Y & STAFF

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26 Faculty & Staff • 28 Headliners

First-year students exit St. Joseph Memorial Chapel following the class of 2025 Convocation, flanked on both sides by faculty and staff, including, at right, Holy Cross President Vincent D. Rougeau; his wife, Robin Kornegay-Rougeau, M.D.; Margaret Freije, provost and dean of the College; and Michele Murray, vice president for student affairs and dean of students.

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HEADLINERS

ROACH

Four Faculty Members Promoted to Professor Educators in classics, physics, religious studies, and sociology and anthropology recognized for their scholarship.

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our Holy Cross faculty members have been promoted to the rank of professor this fall, in recognition of their scholarship,

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BEARD

teaching, mentorship and service to the College. Learn more about the recently promoted faculty members below.

RENÉE LYNN BEARD,

sociology and anthropology Renée Lynn Beard, of the sociology and anthropology department, earned a B.A. in sociology from Boston College and a Ph.D. in medical sociology from the University of California, San Francisco. Her research focuses on medical sociology, social gerontology, illness narratives, Alzheimer's disease and social movements. She has been a member of the Holy Cross faculty since 2008.

EGGEMEIER

last few years and especially during the pandemic, but I am currently examining the subjective experiences of home care workers, including personal care assistants and hospice staff, to understand this vital — and largely marginalized — part of the workforce.

Understanding the motivations of this cadre of mostly young women of color is important to their being appreciated as a societal resource in rapidly growing demand. Mapping how they fared during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as how death and dying, and grief more broadly, have been transformed are also central research interests of mine.

What are you working on now?

At this point in your career, what is your proudest accomplishment?

Editing the Journal of Aging Studies has taken up much of my time over the

I am proud that Margarita Wheeler, who I met during my first nursing home job

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as a teenager, still fuels my commitment to people living with memory loss.

Diagnosed with what was then called “Oldtimers,” I am glad that I did not believe the nursing staff who insisted she was “not there” and discouraged me from interacting with her. That relationship drives me to conduct research and teach in ways that debunk ageism and ableism. Getting students to appreciate our shared humanity and interrogate what it is that we owe one another is incredibly rewarding to me.

My relationship with Margarita also encouraged me to accept Jenny Knauss’ offer to co-author an article. Jenny framed her own early onset Alzheimer’s as a “manageable disability,” and that was the most humbling and meaningful publishing experience I've had. Bringing life stories like these into the classroom invigorates my teaching.

MATTHEW EGGEMEIER, religious studies

Matthew Eggemeier, of the religious studies department, earned a B.A. in religious studies from University of Dayton, a master's degree in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School and a Ph.D. in systematic theology from the University of Notre Dame.

His research focuses on contemporary Catholic theology, political theology and Catholic social teaching. He has been a member of the Holy Cross faculty since 2009.

What are you working on now?

I am entering my third year of serving as dean for the class of 2023. As a result, I devote basically all of my time to supporting our students as they navigate their way through academic and COVID-related challenges. But in 2020, I published three books on the relationship between Catholicism, politics and economics: “The Politics of Mercy: Catholic Life in an Era of Inequality, Racism, and Violence,” with Peter Fritz; “Send Lazarus: Catholicism and the Crises of Neoliberalism,” with Peter Fritz; and “Against Empire: Ekklesial Resistance and the Politics of Radical Democracy.” After completing my class dean duties in 2023, I plan to

write another book in the area of U.S. political theology on the relationship between Catholic social teaching, prisons and war.

At this point in your career, what is your proudest accomplishment?

Without a doubt, my proudest accomplishment is the opportunity to teach and mentor students. My teaching focuses on the relationship between religion and politics — the two things you are not supposed to talk about in polite company. Teaching in this area provides me with the opportunity to engage in conversations with students about fundamental questions of human meaning and social responsibility.

At Holy Cross, we are committed to offering an educational experience that challenges students to reflect on their responsibility for the marginalized and powerless in our world. And I would have to say that I am most proud as an educator when our students use their gifts and talents to challenge structures of oppression in society and choose career paths that contribute to the common good.

TIMOTHY JOSEPH ’98, classics Timothy Joseph ’98, of the classics department, earned an A.B. in classics from Holy Cross and a Ph.D. in classical philology from Harvard University.

His research focuses on Latin historiography and epic poetry, with a focus on the literature of the early Roman empire. He has been a member of the Holy Cross faculty since 2006.

civil wars and the consequences of that victory. It’s an unconventional, disorienting and mournful poem, and in it Lucan ties together the themes of political collapse, natural disaster, cosmic destruction and, I argue, the end of poetic form. It’s been quite a trip spending so much time with this poem about disintegration and catastrophe during these fractured and uncertain times of ours.

At this point in your career, what is your proudest accomplishment?

I’m proudest of those times when students connect readings from ancient Greek and Latin literature to their own experiences and to the world that surrounds us. Each time a class of mine reads, for example, Homer’s “Iliad” or Augustine’s “Confessions,” I get to hear new connections, critiques and reasons for inspiration. Moments like these occur in my classes all the time, so I get to experience these ancient texts anew again and again. I’m very grateful for that.

TIMOTHY ROACH, physics Timothy Roach, of the physics department, earned a B.S. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an M.A. in physics from Brandeis University and a Ph.D. in physics from Yale University. His research focuses on experimental atomic physics (laser manipulation of ultracold atoms) and high-precision atomic spectroscopy. He has been a member of the Holy Cross faculty since 2005.

What are you working on now?

I’m working with two colleagues in the religious studies department, Caroline Johnson Hodge and Benny Liew, on co-editing a collection of essays that brings together scholars in classics and New Testament studies.

The volume aims to explore much of the common ground between the two disciplines — and to consider the urgent ethical implications of our scholarship and teaching. I’ve also just finished a book on the Roman poet Lucan’s epic poem “Pharsalia,” which is about Julius Caesar’s victory in the Roman

What are you working on now?

Recently, we have been studying intriguing geometric patterns that unexpectedly showed up in our research on cold vapors of rubidium atoms. There are applications of this in atomic clocks used for global positioning systems, but also in fundamental investigations of quantum physics. We use a technique called laser-cooling, bombarding a gas of atoms with laser light from all directions. Surprisingly, this can actually slow the atoms down, cooling

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HEADLINERS them to almost absolute zero.

This requires a particular choice for the wavelength and polarization of the laser light. A few years ago, we noticed that the light sometimes causes the atoms to organize nicely into patterns like stripes or oval islands. We showed this relates theoretically to the polarization pattern of the overlapping laser beams, and now we are trying to create specific patterns in order to understand the microscopic forces that push the atoms into these arrangements.

At this point in your career, what is your proudest accomplishment?

I am most proud of — and have most enjoyed — having provided opportunities for many students to engage in actual experimental science.

Since joining Holy Cross, I've supervised over 50 student research projects. My aim for each one is to have students experience the joys of discovery and creation.

A discovery might simply be something interesting or unique we see together one afternoon in the lab.

Or it could be a gradually developing insight that leads to a peer-reviewed publication. As for creation, students make important parts of their apparatus, such as an optical imaging system, software for computer control or electrical amplifier circuits.

They take pride in seeing their creations at work and the skills they learn prepare them for careers in many directions. I am also glad to have brought some of these same types of experiences into our laboratory courses, both for physics majors and for non-science students. ■

REYNOLDS

HESS

Reynolds, Hess and Schmidt Honored for Scholarship and Advising

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n her address at the spring faculty assembly, Margaret Freije, provost and dean of the College, presented the Mary Louise Marfuggi Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholarship to Paige Reynolds, of the Department of English; the Mary Louise Marfuggi Faculty Award for Academic Advising to Kendy Hess, of the Department of Philosophy; and the Donal J. Burns ’49 Career Teaching Medal to Susan Schmidt, of the Department of Visual Arts.

mary louise marfuggi faculty award for outstanding scholarship Paige Reynolds, professor of English, was recognized with the College’s annual award celebrating outstanding achievement in the creation of original scholarly contributions by a tenured faculty member over the past 18 months.

In that time, Reynolds published two edited collections for Cambridge

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University Press, The New Irish Studies and Volume Six of Irish Literature in Transition, 1980-2020 (the latter coedited with Eric Falci). In addition to contributing introductions and chapters to these substantial volumes, she also published essays on Irish drama and fiction in other collections for Cambridge and Oxford University Press, and gave invited keynote addresses in the U.S., Brazil and Ireland.

In their nomination letter, colleagues noted that the body of work in this period “has taken the field of Irish studies in important new directions … using new critical approaches and drawing particular attention to the increasingly diverse and global character of contemporary Irish culture.” The Committee on Faculty Scholarship praised Reynolds’ record during this period for “the quantity of her scholarly

mary louise marfuggi faculty award for academic advising Kendy Hess, Brake-Smith Associate Professor in Social Philosophy and Ethics and associate professor of philosophy, is the recipient of this year’s Mary Louise Marfuggi Award for Academic Advising. This honor is awarded to a faculty member who has provided extraordinary academic student advisement and mentorship. The recipient is selected based on student nominations.

SCHMIDT

production and its groundbreaking nature.”

“One of my favorite things about being a faculty member at Holy Cross might be the expectations: You’re asked to be an inspiring teacher and a rigorous scholar and a generous College citizen,” says Reynolds, who joined the faculty in 2000. “We understand that those activities are entirely complementary.

I appreciate that this particular award celebrates academic expertise and scholarly production: the hard work of keeping up with new ideas and generating fresh intellectual insights to share with others. Thanks to the generous support of the College, the discoveries I make about Irish writing and culture in my research can show up not only in my publication record, but also in other venues — like exciting public events hosted by the Callahan Fund for Irish Studies.”

Reynolds has served as administrator of the College’s Edward Callahan Support Fund for Irish Studies since 2007.

Hess was nominated by students repeatedly over the past few years for her accessibility, openness and ability to encourage students to take intellectual risks. One student credits Hess for taking her from wanting to quit the study of Latin to eventually becoming a Latin teaching assistant. Another starting out on her career described how her adviser “redefined my understanding of the work world I am about to enter and pushed me to ask how to define my career rather than allowing my career to define me.” Hess was described in student nominations as “captivating,” “passionate” and “dedicated,” and is someone who consistently goes above and beyond in making herself available through office hours in Cool Beans or sitting around the Hoval.

“It is a privilege to work with our students,” says Hess, who joined the faculty in 2009. “They’re so brave and powerful, even if they don’t realize it yet, and they just care so much. I love to help them give voice to their own values and then find ways to live into those values, whether through choosing classes and extracurriculars, pursuing internships or study abroad, or thinking about careers.

It means a lot to me — more than I can say — to know that I’ve helped them.”

donal j. burns '49 career teaching medal Susan Schmidt, associate professor of visual arts, received the Donal J. Burns ’49 Career Teaching Medal, which recognizes outstanding faculty members who have devoted their lifetime to teaching at Holy Cross. The honor

exemplifies the College’s commitment to teaching excellence in the education of undergraduates.

Nomination letters from former students detail how Schmidt fosters a learning environment of individualized attention that one former student describes as “a place of magic, joy, meditation and creative exploration.” Another former student writes that Schmidt “always takes a kind but constructive approach to her teaching” that “supports styles and voices of all kinds” and “meets her students where they are and gently guides them forward, encouraging them until they are confident and excited enough to take off on their own.”

Colleagues describe how working with Schmidt has had a transformative effect on their own pedagogy: “I discovered how much she taught each student individually, paying attention to them, getting to know them, challenging them and inviting them to explore ideas that they found personally meaningful.”

Another colleague wrote: “The fact that there are so many excellent teachers at Holy Cross is one of the most humbling and inspiring aspects of being a professor here. Often, the teachers we honor are those who are especially charismatic, spellbinding, colorful and larger than life. I want to nominate Susan for this award, however, because of how effectively she helps students to become more aware of their own richly meaningful lives.”

“The Career Teaching Medal symbolizes the opportunity I have had at Holy Cross to examine my role as an artist within the liberal arts,” says Schmidt, who joined the College in 1987. “My work has been to help students find visual forms for their concerns; for ideas that are shaped by their learning and by their own lived experience. To engage in the process-based approach of artmaking with students, at a particularly intense time in their lives, has truly been rewarding. Three decades of teaching have transformed me into a more discerning and open-minded teacher.” ■

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Jarrín Selected as 2021-2022 Harvard Radcliffe Fellow

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lvaro Jarrín, associate professor of anthropology, has been named a 2021– 2022 fellow at Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, one of 50 applicants selected from a pool of nearly 1,400.

The acceptance rate for the class, which represents nine countries, was 2.4%.

The fellowship, founded in 1999, is a yearlong program designed to foster an “interdisciplinary, international community” of fellows from fields in the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences who aim to solve today’s most challenging problems.

As the 2021-2022 Lisa Goldberg Fellow, Jarrín will work on a new book project that examines how gender nonconforming activists in Brazil craft an active resistance in response to President Jair Bolsonaro’s “politics of disgust,” which portrays LGBT identities as a threat to the nation, and the defiant visibility of trans and travesti activists, who use art, music and political performances to examine the violent exclusion of genderqueer bodies in Brazilian society. “Receiving

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the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship is such an honor because it brings together so many renowned scholars and artists under one roof, and thus will really push me to collaborate across disciplines and make my work legible beyond anthropology,” Jarrín says.

As a medical anthropologist, Jarrín spent years studying Brazilian plastic surgery, which culminated with the publication of the book “The Biopolitics of Beauty: Cosmetic Citizenship and Affective Capital in Brazil,” tracing how beauty has become a national health issue in Brazil, to the point where it’s now considered a human right.

“The 2021–2022 fellowship cohort is characterized by intellectual reach, excellence in scholarship and creativity,” Radcliffe Dean Tomiko Brown-Nagin says. “Our newest class of fellows will reckon with this [unprecedented] moment and its meaning, and they will push the limits of knowledge and practice across the sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities.” ■

Freeman Honored by American Psychological Foundation

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ark Freeman, Distinguished Professor of Ethics and Society in the Department of Psychology, has been named the 2021 recipient of the Joseph B. Gittler Award by the American Psychological Foundation.

The honor was established through a bequest from sociologist and educator Joseph B. Gittler, who wished to recognize “psychologists who are making and will continue to make significant scholarly

Hayes Named Vice President and Chief of Staff contributions to the philosophical foundations of psychological knowledge.”

"I am delighted and honored to receive this award, partly because it lands me in the company of scholars I respect and admire a great deal, and partly because it serves to recognize and affirm the work I've been doing over the course of some 35 years,” Freeman says.

“I'm also pleased to bring some recognition to the College, which has been a terrific source of support and inspiration throughout."

An expert on narrative

psychology and a member of the Holy Cross faculty since 1986, Freeman’s latest book, his sixth, “Do I Look at You with Love?

Reimagining the Story of Dementia,” was published earlier this year.

In 2010, Freeman was the recipient of the Theodore R. Sarbin Award from the Society for Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology. He also serves as editor for the Oxford University Press book series “Explorations in Narrative Psychology” and is a fellow in the American Psychological Association. ■

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oly Cross President Vincent D. Rougeau has named Heather Hayes as vice president and chief of staff.

In this role, Hayes will serve on the president’s executive leadership team and help develop and implement the strategic goals of the College. She will also serve as secretary to the board of trustees. Prior to joining Holy Cross, Hayes was associate dean of strategic and student affairs at Boston College Law School. There, she had a lead role in creating a culture of data-driven decision making and collaboration across the administrative teams, and transparent communication between the administration, faculty, students and the

greater community, while also being a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. She began her work at BC Law as the assistant dean for career services and holds a B.A. in government from Clark University and a J.D. from Boston College.

“I could not be more delighted to announce Heather Hayes as my new chief of staff, as she was crucial in helping realize my vision of a holistic approach to student-facing offices at BC Law,” Rougeau says. “Heather is a talented strategic thinker who never takes her eye off our long-term goals and brings an impressive depth of administrative management know-how to the role of chief of staff.”

“I am truly excited to join President Rougeau’s team and start collaborating with students, faculty, staff and the community to advance Holy Cross’ mission,” Hayes says.

“It’s an honor to serve in a position that allows for the opportunity to help shape the future of the College.” ■

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Rougeau with his wife, Robin Kornegay-Rougeau, M.D., their three sons, Christian, Alex and Vincent Jr. (“V.J.”), and family dog, Violet, at their home in Massachusetts.

INSIDE THE FAMILY, FAITH AND FOUNDATIONS OF YOUR NEW PRESIDENT From his deep Catholic roots to his new role as Holy Cross’ 33rd president, Vincent D. Rougeau brings his lifelong mission of balancing human rights with community responsibility to the education of future generations.

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hroughout his career in law and higher education, Vincent D. “Vince” Rougeau has worked across the United States and abroad, yet regardless of where he is or what his title may be, the theme has been the same: working to promote human rights, human dignity and a community that fosters both.

From a Catholic family with deep roots in Louisiana, including parents who walked the walk during the Civil Rights Movement, to the high poverty boroughs of East London, where he teamed law students with residents to solve problems together, Rougeau has focused on building communities that concentrate on a clear instruction found throughout the Old and New Testaments: Be a people who look out and care for the poor, the marginalized and the defenseless. Balancing basic human rights and dignity with a community’s responsibility to promote such is at the heart of a doctrine known as Catholic social teaching, a tradition Rougeau has spent his career studying, putting into practice and teaching to generations of law students.

This fall, Rougeau finds himself in a new city and a new role as he prepares for his October inauguration as the 33rd president of the College of the Holy Cross. He will be the Jesuit institution’s first lay leader in its 178-year history, yet in examining Rougeau’s career and scholarship and hearing from his family and colleagues, one thing is clear: His lifelong mission dovetails perfectly with the charism of the Society of Jesus.

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A FAMILY OF FAITH Rougeau’s roots in southwest Louisiana stretch back eight generations, including his grandparents, who founded a Catholic parish for the Black community in the city of Lake Charles.

“We come from a long line of Catholic families,” says Weldon Rougeau, Vincent’s father. “Vince was always very good about getting involved in the church.”

His mother, Shirley Small-Rougeau, adds that in addition to being a cantor, her son was a lector at Mass, a capacity in which he still serves today. “The basis of most African American lives, since I’ve been around, has been their faith, and we took faith very seriously,” Small-Rougeau says. “Most Catholic people go through their First Communion and Confirmation and then it’s over, ‘I’m done with CCD,’ but Vince went through the entire period up until he graduated from high school.”

Rougeau recalls that, at the time, he didn’t quite realize that the basis for his lifelong commitment to and study of Catholic social teaching was planted in those early years of parish life.

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“My grandparents need to get a lot of the credit for being the rocks of our understanding of who we were as a family of faith, what our traditions were and where they came from, and how they were to be maintained,” Rougeau says. “They were deeply spiritual, deeply faithful people, very modest and simple in their desires, but wealthy in their love of neighbor and community and their desire to live out their faith in a way that emphasizes the things that are important: family, communities, caring for the poor and those in need. With that kind of foundation, the older I got, I started to realize these things that are important to my family, social justice and civil rights, have a lot to do with our faith.”

Rougeau is the oldest of three siblings, with a younger sister, Dominique (“Niki”), and younger brother, John, and their parents were active in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.

“As they grew, we explained to them and educated them on the injustices that existed in society,” Small-Rougeau says. “So our participation in marches, sit-ins, protests, all those things, was something they understood the purpose of and we always involved

them in whatever we were doing when they became a little older.”

Weldon Rougeau coordinated the train transportation from Miami to Washington, D.C., for the 1963 March on Washington, site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech. His son, Vincent, was just 2 months old.

“Vince and I were at the station to see him off, sitting on a bench, and as babies do, Vince raised his little hand in the air. I’m told it was pictured in the Miami Herald with a headline that said, ‘And I Want Freedom, Too,’” says Small-Rougeau, a dietician who worked in schools, public housing and with people experiencing homelessness. “From that day forward, he has always, always been a part of the social justice movement. He’d never been exposed to anything else and that’s where he got his dedication to social justice.”

Weldon Rougeau became involved with the NAACP in his hometown the year before he left for college at Southern University in Baton Rouge, where he joined CORE, the Congress of Racial Equality.

(left to right) Vincent Rougeau at 51/2 months old; his first home, in the Allapattah section of Miami, where the Rougeaus lived across the street from Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay; the greater Miami delegation arrives in Washington, D.C., for the 1963 March on Washington. Speaking with delegation leader Weldon Rougeau is Miami Beach Sun staff writer Peg Savage, who covered the historic event for the paper; the mug shot of Weldon Rougeau following his arrest for protesting a segregated lunch counter in Baton Rouge, an act that led to three weeks in jail.

“Being from the rural South and having been born into a society segregated by race, I felt that I needed to do something,” Weldon Rougeau says. “I’m old enough to remember when I was a child, there were places where the water fountains were White and Colored, the restrooms were White and Colored, and if you got on any type of public transport, whether it was a city bus or a Greyhound, you had to sit in the back of the bus.

“I really had to think about what mattered to me and succeeding generations,” he continues, “and if I could do anything to help dismantle racial segregation, especially the most obvious forms in public accommodations, public transportation and voting — that would be a very good act to perform and, hopefully, it would result in something very positive happening to American society and particularly the community that I came from.”

In 1961, he was arrested and jailed

for three weeks for protesting a segregated lunch counter and the lack of Black employees at a Baton Rouge department store. His second protest earned him 58 days in solitary confinement — and a quick expulsion from Southern University. As a state school, Southern had to listen to the state board of education, which wanted “troublemakers” like Weldon Rougeau off campus. Vincent was young when Weldon headed to Loyola University Chicago to complete his undergraduate education, after which he enrolled in and graduated from Harvard Law School.

“Throughout the early part of my childhood, my father was also trying to finish his education — the consequences of being expelled,” Rougeau says.

“That was very life-changing for all of us and also laid a foundation that put education very much at the forefront of our family’s life and my parents’ commitments. They were very committed to ensuring that we, their children, had access to the best possible

educational opportunities and also providing opportunities for others.”

When it was time for Vincent Rougeau to pursue college, he studied international relations at Brown University, graduating magna cum laude, and followed in his father’s footsteps, attending and graduating from Harvard Law. “What my parents were trying to do in the Civil Rights Movement was to allow this country to gain the full advantage of all of its people in a meaningful and dignified way,” Rougeau says. “And so, in ways large and small during our childhood, they tried to make sure that we always saw the dignity in others.”

EMPHASIZING THE DIGNITY OF EACH PERSON After law school, Rougeau spent some time working in corporate law, focused on banking deregulation. When he made the transition to academia, he decided to focus on the humans on the

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other side of those corporate decisions.

“It became clear to me that the law often did not consider peoples’ obligations as members of communities and families as an important part of how they made economic decisions. The law tended to follow the market, which rewarded those who focused on their personal autonomy and self-interest,” he says.

“Catholic social teaching is oriented toward very different priorities. It sees

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individuals as incomplete when they are not situated in community with others and views rights as balanced by responsibilities.”

Rougeau taught at Loyola University Chicago School of Law before the University of Notre Dame, where he was the associate dean for academic affairs from 1999-2002. He then served as the dean of Boston College Law School for a decade, during which he became the

inaugural director of the Boston College Forum on Racial Justice in America. His expertise lies at the intersection of law and religion, with a particular emphasis on Catholic social teaching. In 2008, he authored the book “Christians in the American Empire: Faith and Citizenship in the New World Order.”

“For me, what’s engaged and inspired me about the law was what it could do to improve people’s lives and create

(opposite, clockwise from top left) Rougeau takes a walk with his mom, Shirley, and sister, Niki (in stroller), on the Lake Michigan Crosswalk in 1966; at age 31/2, attending the first integrated preschool in Atlanta; with siblings, Niki and John, and grandmother, Laura Rougeau. Rougeau’s grandparents were instrumental in establishing the foundations of family and faith; in 1967 with his grandfather, John Rougeau, neighbor Mr. Morgan, father, Weldon, and Niki. (above) as a member of a cappella group The High Jinks, one of Brown University’s oldest performing groups.

social structures that are more fair, recognizing the ways that society doesn’t always work as it should and trying to correct that,” he says.

Alongside Rev. Angus Ritchie, the director of the Centre for Theology and Community in London, Rougeau put his scholarship into practice by creating the Just Communities Project, a faith-based, service-learning program that brings Notre Dame law students studying in London into contact with the city’s multicultural, working-class neighborhoods through community organizing.

Rougeau and Rev. Ritchie first met at a conference in England and connected again in 2005, when Rougeau spent the academic year teaching at the London campus of Notre Dame’s law school.

The Rougeau family — his wife, Robin Kornegay-Rougeau, M.D., and three sons, Christian, Alex and Vincent Jr. (“V.J.”) — spent the year living in the British capital. The law students who worked with Just Communities were able to experience London as a global city, Rougeau says.

“This city is pulsating with people from every corner of the globe, and London’s

whole identity is being shaped by this global, cosmopolitan mix of people.

[The law students] are integrating into life in the city, and the work we were doing was to try to make people, particularly the poorest among them and the more recent immigrants, have a meaningful sense of belonging in British society,” he says.

The students partnered with churches and religious groups of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths to advocate for issues that resonated with the community in East London, from controlling knife crime to improving

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local schools and advocating for fair wages. Through this work, all the groups focused on their common interests, rather than perceived division.

“The ability to join in community gave them power and they were able to see things change from time to time,” Rougeau says. “Not always, but for the law students to actually see how a grassroots, ground-up process can

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engage the legal and political system was really powerful.”

Rougeau continues to work with Rev. Ritchie and the Center for Theology and Community, most recently organizing a conference to discuss Pope Francis’ latest book, “Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future.”

“Human dignity requires every citizen to have a voice and play a part in the

shaping of our common life,” Rev. Ritchie says. “A real joy of working with Vince is to see how he lives this out in his treatment of people, in his engagement with community organizing and in his interviews and papers.”

Now that Rougeau is at Holy Cross, he has high hopes of engaging in similar efforts in the College’s hometown of Worcester, the second-largest city in

(opposite, clockwise from top left) Rougeau at his Harvard Law graduation with his father, a fellow alumnus; with family celebrating passing the bar; his 2008 book, “Christians in the American Empire: Faith and Citizenship in the New World Order”; at a family gathering in honor of the christening of son V.J. (above) with Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan in 2015 at BC Law, where Rougeau, then dean, moderated a Q&A where she shared keys to success with students.

New England and one whose overall population grew by 14% over the past decade, and whose multicultural population increased by 276%, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.

Rougeau sees the city as far more than just the sprawling urban area below the College on The Hill.

“I want to see Worcester be a place where our students can engage that vibrancy and diversity on the campus

and off the campus, and to feel that they are at a college that is woven into the fabric of a community,” Rougeau says. “You’re not just on The Hill all the time, you’re at Holy Cross in the city of Worcester, and what can that do for your learning? What kinds of experiences will you have in the community, what kinds of relationships will that allow you to build, how will that help you grow personally, intellectually and spiritually?”

A COLLABORATIVE LEADER In a room of more than 200 law school deans, Judith Areen remembers Rougeau standing out. Areen, who was dean at Georgetown Law Center for 15 years and now works as the executive director and CEO of the American Association of Law Schools (AALS), met Rougeau at a law school deans conference.

“They’re not a shy group, and they’re

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all very articulate and used to speaking in public, but even in that crowd, he was just a standout. He was speaking on a program with two other deans and showed not just judgement, but ‘wisdom’ is the word that comes to mind,” Areen says. “And he didn’t have to show off; he didn’t have to argue intensely for his position. He just articulated what he felt was the right thing to do on a particular matter.”

Today, Areen and Rougeau are working together more frequently now that he serves as president of the AALS. Areen says she was pleased he was nominated because of the insight he would bring to the role, and called him — true to their shared Jesuit influence — a contemplative in action. When controversy arose about the use of the term “critical race theory” in summer 2021, Rougeau led the board in releasing a statement about the history of the

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(left to right) Rougeau and his mother, Shirley, Thanksgiving 2020; meeting alumni at a Holy Cross Club of Cape Cod reception in August; talking with student volunteers at Move-In Day 2021.

legal body of scholarship.

“The board felt we had an obligation to say something about it because critical race theory came from legal scholars,” Areen says. “What mattered in the process was when Vince said, ‘We need to support this statement.’ I can’t underscore enough, it’s not just my sense of his ethics and being a man for others, but everybody on the board, whether they are Catholic or not, has such respect for him.”

With Rougeau’s support of the statement, it received unanimous approval from the board. It stated, in part, that critical race theorists “explain and illustrate how structural racism produces racial inequity within our social, economic, political, legal and

educational systems,” and that these concepts should not be removed from the education system in the U.S. Like his parents before, Rougeau continues to fight for the equitable treatment of every member of American society.

Cathleen Kaveny, who first worked alongside Rougeau at Notre Dame Law School, and later at Boston College Law School as a professor of law and theology, shares Areen’s opinion of her colleague and friend as a stalwart leader, calling him a rare combination of an intellectual and a gifted administrator. “He is truly an intellectual, but not in a pretentious way,” she says. “What I saw at both Notre Dame and BC is that he embodies Catholic social teaching in his framework for administration.

He sees people as having dignity [individually] and us as a community, all of whom work together with our own unique capacities and gifts to further the common good. He finds ways to say, ‘What would you like to do and how can I help you do it?’ He is very collaborative.”

Now, after a career at universities, Rougeau brings that collaboration and his mission to a new field of study: the liberal arts. It’s an academic setting not unfamiliar to Rougeau, notes Kaveny, harkening back to their time at Notre Dame: “There was a community that gathered at the old Morris Inn, at Murph’s [Bar].

Some of the philosophers, some English professors, a math professor, and we’d make our way over after a day of teaching and just have this fantastic conversation. It was warm and cozy. Vince was a key part of

the interdisciplinary conversation.

He’s somebody who doesn’t believe in walling off disciplines from one another.”

“Holy Cross is the only Jesuit, liberal arts college. And having taught law students for 30 years, I know that a liberal arts education is a wonderful foundation, certainly for law, but for all kinds of things,” Rougeau says.

“It is really important to me to think about how we maintain, grow and strengthen the work that Holy Cross does by being a Jesuit, Catholic liberal arts college and carving out a special space amongst all the liberal arts colleges around the country. It’s that extra piece that we can do here.

We provide a rigorous, top-notch education, but also, in these times, there is such a hunger for meaning and deeper engagement with our spiritual selves.” ■

WATCH INAUGURATION LIVE Join in the celebration of Vincent D. Rougeau’s presidential inauguration wherever you are. Viewers can watch the inauguration Mass, live from St. Joseph Memorial Chapel, the Ceremony of Presidential Inauguration, and more via a broadcast from Mount St. James.

Visit www.holycross.edu/ presidential-inauguration for a full schedule of events.

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Service + Spirituality Purpose

BY MEREDITH FIDROCKI

W

hen Philip Schweitzer, M.D., ’63, retired in 2016 after a 41-year medical career, he took some time to consider what the next phase of his life would hold. “I don’t play golf,” he notes. “I have tremendous interests in reading, but that was not enough for my life. Those first two years of retirement

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Holy Cross alumni ages 50+ live the values of service and spirituality via the Ignatian Volunteer Corps.

were years of searching and an awareness of some sort of an absence in my life.”

But eventually Dr. Schweitzer found the answer, one that could be traced to his roots on The Hill. “It was actually being a Holy Cross graduate that opened up my first opportunity to learn about the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC),” he says, noting he heard about the national service organization at a brunch for

graduates of Jesuit institutions. “Holy Cross had a tremendous, formative effect on me. I love the motto ‘men and women for others’ — the IVC has given me a chance to try to put that into action.”

Founded in 1995 by two Jesuits aware of a growing population of retirees seeking continued purpose, the IVC matches the talents and interests of its service corps members ages “50 and better” with

nonprofit partner organizations serving the poor, vulnerable and marginalized.

In addition to serving one or two days per week, IVC members also participate in an Ignatian spirituality program – attending retreats, monthly regional gatherings and one-on-one sessions with a spiritual reflector. This combination of service and spirituality helps participants grow and recharge as they look to “find God in all things,” especially their service work.

Dr. Schweitzer is now tutoring (remotely during the pandemic) 14 students as a service corps member at Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center, a nonprofit community arts and cultural center in the northeast Bronx. He teaches students, ranging from third graders to high schoolers, and mostly

Phil Schweitzer ’63, M.D., remotely tutors more than a dozen students in math and English as a service corps member at Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center, a nonprofit community arts and cultural center in the northeast Bronx: “I was very fortunate through the IVC to find this tutoring opening that I’m trying to fulfill and be an agent of growth for other people.”

covers math and occasionally English – a chance to share his love of poets, such as Emily Dickinson. Beyond the educational concepts, he tries to show his students how much they matter.

After one student broke a program rule around technology use, Dr. Schweitzer’s next session with him centered around compassion, not just arithmetic: “I think I showed him all is not lost when [we make a mistake].”

Dr. Schweitzer says the IVC gives his life greater meaning, challenge and sense of community. “I probably tend to be more of a contemplative, and the ‘action’ part

was something that took me a while to get keyed into,” he says. “I was very fortunate through the IVC to find this tutoring opening that I’m trying to fulfill and be an agent of growth for other people. The ‘contemplative’ has now been joined with ‘action.’”

THE POWER OF SERVICE

Holy Cross alumni, like Dr. Schweitzer, are well represented across the IVC. In recent years, the organization started a pilot partnership with the College, among other Jesuit institutions, to reach alumni interested in experiencing

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the transformative power of service through the IVC. From corps members and spiritual reflectors to staff and leadership, Holy Cross graduates are naturally drawn to serve the IVC’s mission, says Mary McGinnity ’77, of Rockville, Maryland, IVC president/ CEO: “[At Holy Cross], you knew you were part of something that had a value system.” And while the plentiful service opportunities available today may have been in an early iteration during her time on The Hill, an emphasis on service, education and faith was firmly entrenched. “It’s in the drinking water of a place like Holy Cross,” she says.

In her senior year, McGinnity was in one of the first groups of students to take part in the College’s Spring Break Immersion Program through the

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Chaplains’ Office, traveling to Kentucky to work on a farm for a week. “For me, that was a transformative experience,” says McGinnity, who later served as a teacher in Newark, New Jersey, through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. A trained therapist, she also established and directed a parish-based counseling center, studied nonprofit management, served as executive director for social justice for the Archdiocese of Washington and created a social ministry leadership institute before being asked in 2009 to lead the IVC into a new era.

“The IVC is an opportunity to live out the values of a Holy Cross education and go further,” she says. “This generation is retiring very differently.

We’re not ready to slow down. We look

IVC Albany member Paddi Amador works at a Catholic Charities Food Drive at the organization’s Albany Service Day.

at vibrancy. We not only want new adventures and experiences, we want to use our experience and have a positive impact for our world. We want an active adult community.”

The IVC’s opportunities are not limited to the more than 20 — and counting — regions across the U.S. “We discovered during the pandemic that we can actually do service virtually,” McGinnity says. For example, a partnership with the nonprofit Jesuit Worldwide Learning organization offers corps members the chance to remotely teach higher education courses, like accounting or leadership development,

(counterclockwise from top right) Mary McGinnity, IVC president and CEO, with Mark Shriver ’86, who was master of ceremonies for the organization’s 25th anniversary celebration; Rev. Paul Sullivan, S.J., ’73, and Rebecca Cormier Ruiz ’96 serve as IVC spritiual reflectors; and Jim Tracy ’70, a member IVC New England and the IVC board.

to those living on the margins. “That’s perfect for a retiree,” McGinnity notes.

She encourages anyone interested in the IVC’s mission, including those who do not live near a regional chapter, to reach out. “Maybe you’ll be part of IVC virtual — or maybe you’ll be the person who initiates and starts an IVC [chapter],” she says. “There are all kinds of ways to serve the IVC because we’re a community, and every level is needed and critical.”

THE REFLECTIVE LIFE

One of those crucial roles in IVC is that of the spiritual reflector.

“Serving through IVC’s corps is hard work that can get you despaired — like when you’re working with a refugee who has to get sent back,” McGinnity notes. “We’ve got to sustain people in this work, and I say that both as someone who has faith, but also as a therapist who has worked in the area of trauma.” Rev. Paul Sullivan, S.J., ’73 is one alumnus

fulfilling that need for the IVC. After graduating from Holy Cross, Fr. Sullivan entered the Society of Jesus, inspired by the Jesuits he’d met on campus and a desire to teach. Now a pastor at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Portland, Maine, he helped establish the IVC Portland regional chapter, sits on their council and serves as a spiritual reflector, offering monthly individual spiritual direction for a corps member.

“The point is to help that person reflect on their IVC experience, although it can go anywhere, of finding God in all things,” Fr. Sullivan says. “And there’s some wonderfully practical tools St. Ignatius has given us.” A favorite is the Daily Examen: “The Examen prayer is very useful because it’s simple. ‘Where have I seen God today?’ And you translate that as, ‘For what have I been grateful today?’ … That’s the experience of God — it’s not necessarily some ethereal or mystical experience.”

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He emphasizes that the IVC is open to anyone. “There’s no religious test to be a service corps member or even a reflector,” he says. “The goal is really to introduce this notion of a reflective life, which maybe [some] had in other ways, maybe not.”

Rebecca Cormier Ruiz ’96, a freelance writer, grant writer and editor based in Oakton, Virginia, is also an IVC spiritual reflector, supporting corps members in Northern Virginia. In addition, she serves on the IVC regional council. Ruiz first learned about the organization while working at the Office of Migration and Refugee Services at the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Virginia: “Some wonderful corps members joined our refugee resettlement team. They were integral members of the team and were completely dedicated to our mission as we ‘welcomed the stranger.’ They brought a special energy to the work that intrigued me.”

For Ruiz, she’s living out values forged early at Holy Cross. “As I entered my dorm, on my first day on The Hill, I was greeted by a question in big bubble letters on the bulletin board: ‘How, then, shall we live?’” she recalls. As a spiritual reflector with the IVC, she accompanies corps members as they respond to this question. “The fellowship of the corps community, the integration of Ignatian spirituality into life and service, the gifts one receives living as men and women for others through service in the corps is simply beyond value. Really, what better way is there to live?”

MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE

After a 40-year career in accounting as a CPA, controller and CFO, Jim Tracy ’70, of Newton, Massachusetts, Bill Waters ’67 and Dave Hinchen ’65, co-founders of IVC New England, in 2012 with Rev. Si Smith, S.J., in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel.

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Tracy (above) notes of his experience at various service sites: “You learn you’re not about to solve hunger or homelessness. You have to learn to ‘meet people where they are’ — an Ignatian saying — and really get to know them and appreciate their situation.”

got used to solving problems. But his work as an IVC service corps member at St. Francis House, a large day shelter in downtown Boston, challenged him in a different way. “You learn you’re not about to solve hunger or homelessness,” says Tracy, who worked in the shelter’s kitchen and supported their mentorship program, helping people get back into the workforce.

“You have to learn to ‘meet people where they are’ — an Ignatian saying — and really get to know them and appreciate their situation.”

On crowded mornings at the shelter, Tracy often had to explain to guests the limit of one bowl of oatmeal per person for each pass through the line. Hearing this one day, a guest stepped up and playfully requested 10 bowls. Over the

weeks, it became an inside joke between the two men, and the affectionate nickname “10 bowls” was born.

Later, Tracy spotted him after a brief absence. “I said, ‘Oh, 10 bowls! Where have you been?’ He looked at me with this serious look and said, ‘I found housing,’” Tracy recalls. “I can’t tell you how difficult it is to find housing, never mind how little housing there is. And he had been able to do it, and he was really proud of himself. I just looked at him and said, ‘That’s great news.

Congratulations.’ He was so happy to hear that. And I was so happy for him.

“These are the moments you live for, in my mind, as an IVC service corps member — making these simple and relatively deep connections with people, [even] for short periods of time,” he says.

Tracy has also served at Hearth, a

Boston nonprofit working to end elder homelessness, where he helped the elderly manage their bills. He is now transitioning out of the service corps but will remain on the IVC’s national board. Tracy says gathering monthly with other corps members was one of the best parts of his experience. “[IVC New England Regional Director Dave Hinchen ’65] has everybody tell stories.

It’s about being with people who think about, ‘What is the purpose of my life right now?’” Tracy says. “You realize that ‘all is gift.’”

“This is a time when service can be a healing factor in the divisions of our country,” McGinnity reflects. “If you’re reading this and there’s some [pull] in your heart, don’t cut it out. Listen, follow. If there’s interest, open the door, take the next step. You will be led to how you are a part of the healing in this world. Maybe you’ll be led to the IVC, or maybe something different. But if that’s happening in your heart — go.” ■

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HOW, HOW, THEN,, THEN SHALL WE LIVE ?

MARK SHRIVER ’86

FREDDY SINCHI ’09

C H R I STO P H E R D O U C OT ’ 8 9 K AT H L E E N O D E L L K O R G E N ’ 8 9

JENNIFER FRASER ’09

MARCELLIS PERKINS ’19

H E L E N H O L D E N S L O T TJ E ’ 8 9

BY

MARYBETH R E I L LY -

MCGREEN ’89

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The pandemic’s pervasiveness has left no one unaffected, but for those already grappling with problems of poverty, hunger or injustice,

I

mplicit in Ignatian spirituality, the question “How, then, shall we live?” invites the educated or enlightened person to reflect on how an education might be used to better the world. But what about its practical application? Design theorists Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber coined the term “wicked problem” to characterize persistent social policy issues. COVID-19 has — and continues to — complicate matters for those who work with wicked problems.

We asked alumni to share what key lessons they’ve drawn from the pandemic and to explain how they intend to apply the knowledge they’ve gained. In short, to answer the question: How, then, shall we live?

COVID-19 complicated and exacerbated already precarious situations.

Seven alumni dedicated to fighting some of society’s most serious problems share the pandemic lessons they’ve learned and how they intend to move forward.

1. Celebrate the everyday heroes.

Mark Shriver ’86 Chief strategy officer, Save the Children, New York Times bestselling author

Visit the homepage of the nonprofit Save the Children and you’ll see the charity is working with Afghani refugees, leading relief efforts in Haiti and mobilizing an emergency response team to address the fallout from Hurricane Ida. The organization’s annual report calls 2020 one of the worst years in decades for children worldwide. The online publication The Conversation reported in May that despite receiving federal aid, many of the nation’s nonprofits remain reeling from COVID-19’s tsunami-sized ripple effect. The need is enormous. Save the Children ended its 101st year having aided 197 million children, including 1.1 million Americans.

For Chief Strategy Officer Mark Shriver ’86, COVID-19 cast in high relief the heroic contributions made by ordinary people. “It sharpened for me what’s important, but it’s an ongoing struggle to stay focused on that,” he says. “My hope is that after COVID, we remember

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what’s really important: the work of the people who aren’t celebrated, who aren’t celebrities, who aren’t rich and famous. I hope we not only don’t forget them but that we actively try to change the system for those people who are substantially underpaid and underappreciated.”

Shriver’s books are meditations on heroism. “A Good Man: Rediscovering My Father, Sargent Shriver” and “Pilgrimage: My Search for the Real Pope Francis” are in-depth examinations of two personal heroes, but his 2021 book is something of a departure, though familiar for its dovetailing of his two vocations: “10 Hidden Heroes” asks young readers to envision themselves as heroes by presenting them with the role models of which he speaks, including medical professionals, teachers, clergy, librarians, artists and more.

“What I’ve tried to write about or think about is: What does it mean to live a good life?” Shriver says. “My father was

called a ‘great man’ for creating the Peace Corps, Head Start, Legal Services for the Poor and spreading the Special Olympics around the world with my mom, but what really impressed me was not the big shots who said he was socalled ‘great,’ but the everyday people who had a relationship with him, telling me how good he was to them day in and day out.

lot of goodness going on out there, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

“And I think that’s what’s ultimately most important: not making a ton of money, not power, not celebrity or glamour, it’s about what Jesus calls us to do — feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless and visit those in prison,” he continues. “The book is lifting up, it’s celebrating not just the doctors and nurses, but also the custodian at the hospital who is making sure the rooms are disinfected and the trash collector who manages the recycling. That’s a takeaway for me. Another is that the pandemic, combined with economic upheaval and racial upheaval, has revealed a huge amount of pain.

We’ve got a lot of work to do. There is a

That teacher, the one a kid just can’t fool, that’s Freddy Sinchi ’09. “I’m known for being hard on students — but from a place of love and compassion,” he says. “I know some of my students are in difficult situations, but I don’t lower the bar. When people want me to meet students halfway, when they ask, ‘Why are you so tough?’ I say they need high expectations, order and stability to succeed. And we have to get them there.”

(above left) A Save the Children tutor helps a second grader with his reading before taking a test via the organization’s Emergent Reader Program in Eastern Tennessee. (above right) Save the Children staff and volunteers distribute food boxes to Eastern Kentucky families during the USDA and Save the Children’s Farm to Families food distribution event in Perry County.

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2. Stay tough, but have compassion.

Freddy Sinchi ’09 Advanced Placement Spanish language and culture teacher

Sinchi’s parents, Ecuadorian immigrants and devout Catholics, held him to such standards, reinforced by an unlikely source: the neighborhood pusher. “I grew up in Harlem, in a community that had drug dealers on every corner, but I had respect for them. A lot of the dealers were my friends. I’d gone to elementary and middle school with them.”

And, somehow, the stories about children that mothers trade after church reached the ears of the corner drug dealers, Sinchi notes with a grin. If his grades slipped south of exceptional, he would hear about it at home and on the street.

“The dealers would say, ‘Little man, I hear you’re not doing well in school.’

Stuff like that. One day, I approached one. I was thinking about it, about going that way. It was easy money. And another drug dealer — he was like a big brother — saw me and said, ‘Yo, little man, I gotta talk to you.’ And he set me straight. It was probably the most important conversation of my life. And I realized I had a lot of responsibility on me — that we were a community.

“Growing up in Harlem, your role models are the drug dealers on the corner or the educators,” he says.

“I wanted to be the person who showed students you didn’t have to be a rapper or sports icon to get out of the hood. You could do it with an education.”

The lesson of the pandemic for Sinchi is that compassion is as much a practice as a feeling. If a student is charged

(above left) Freddy Sinchi, a teacher at the Manhattan/Hunter Science School, says putting compassion into practice is key for educators, especially during the pandemic. (above middle and right) Christopher Doucot reading at church and getting arrested at a demonstration: “I don’t like going to demonstrations ... I’d rather not be there. But it’s something I need to do. I can’t go through life pretending injustice doesn’t exist.”

with the care of his siblings while his mother works, acing his history test may not be top of mind. “We’d been teaching traditionally, with whiteboards and talking, and we had to learn how to deliver online education in a week.

It was a learning process and we saw students feeding their siblings because their parents were working,” Sinchi says. “How do we move forward? I hope as a society we continue to change. It’s important that the way we fund schools is equitable. Access to technology should be almost like a human right.

We’ve gone through a trauma; social and emotional learning must be part of a new wave in education.”

3. Have the hard conversations.

Christopher Doucot ’89 Catholic worker at St Martin DePorres House, author

Christopher Doucot ’89 has been

engaged in activism for more than 40 years, beginning with volunteer work for Greenpeace and Amnesty International when he was still in high school. In 1993, Doucot and his wife moved into the north end of Hartford, Connecticut. “We chose to move away from the center and toward the margins of our society — where we hide the poor,” he explains.

Excited to have purchased his first home and eager to make friends, Doucot approached some of his new neighbors.

As he shook his neighbors’ hands, Doucot noticed their faces registered a bemusement or, maybe, a skepticism.

“They kind of looked at me, like, ‘Who the ... ?’ And it turned out that there was a whole lot of suspicion of us for a long time,” he recalls.

Doucot learned that white people in his Hartford neighborhood tended to be there for one of three reasons: “I would walk to get the morning paper and I wouldn’t go to the first bodega.

This is a discipline the parish priest taught me. Instead, I went to the second

HOW, THEN, SHALL WE LIVE? / 5 3

or third bodega because it wasn’t just about getting the paper; it was about being part of the neighborhood. And young people would say, ‘Five-O’ and that was a reference to ‘Hawaii 5-O.’ They thought I was a cop because why else would a white guy be in the neighborhood?

“And when they learned I wasn’t a cop, some would approach me thinking I was there to buy drugs or to solicit a prostitute. That first winter, I was stopped at a traffic light, a block from my house, and a prostitute leaned on my window asking me if I wanted her services. “I said, ‘No, but you can come home and have dinner with us,’” Doucot recalls.

The pandemic has devastated Doucot’s community. Neighbors have lost jobs; friends have been evicted from their homes. People have died. At the time of the publication of this article, the vaccination rate in Hartford was under 50%. Doing good by another human being, to be in right relationship with another, requires humility, sustained effort and hard conversations, he says.

In his book, “No Innocent Bystanders: Becoming an Ally in the Struggle for Justice,” Doucot offers many suggestions for would-be activists, but the first, he says, is: think.

“One thing that has become apparent to me is the woeful state of critical thinking in our nation right now,” Doucot says. “Surely, if we receive an education, we should be able to get a job, but that should not be the end of it.

Part of getting an education should be about developing the critical thinking skills we need to be responsible participants in the civic process.

Democracy is not possible without a critical-thinking population. We need to engage our imagination and the best thinking happens when we are a part of a diverse group of folks from varied biographies bringing different perspectives and lived experiences to the conversation.”

And, rest assured, with activism comes

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discomfort, Doucot warns: “I don’t like going to demonstrations. Nobody likes having people angry at them or yelling at them. Nobody likes to be threatened.

I don’t get used to it. I’m embarrassed every time I go; I’d rather not be there.

But it’s something I need to do. I can’t go through life pretending injustice doesn’t exist.

“Because of where we live, my wife and I see injustice a little more clearly,” he says. “And it’s uncomfortable. There’s a line attributed to Dorothy Day — I think it’s apocryphal — that our job is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. And I don’t know if seeing injustice not as abstract, not as words on a page or a two-dimensional photograph, but having it be the lived experience of the people I’m in relationship with, well, that afflicts you out of your comfort.”

4. Work on problems, not reputations.

Kathleen Odell Korgen ’89 Professor of sociology at William Paterson University, author

More than 20 years have passed since

Kathleen Odell Korgen’s daughters, Jessica and Julie, standing up for racial justice.

Kathleen Odell Korgen ’89 crisscrossed the country, interviewing individuals engaged in cross-racial or crosscultural friendships. In closing her 2002 book, “Crossing the Racial Divide: Close Friendships Between Black and White Americans,” she observed that while friendships between people of different races can reduce racism on a personto-person level, institutional racism occurs “simply as a result of normal operations of the major institutions in U.S. society. This type of racism and discrimination can take place without any individual making an effort to hurt those of another race.”

COVID-19 punctuated her point.

The pandemic underscored ongoing issues of inequity among Korgen’s undergraduate students, many of whom have extraordinary demands on their time. Many work 40-hour jobs and have families to support. “And a lot of my students come from very low-income areas and very violent areas,” she says.

In examining the pandemic’s ramifications for her students, this teacher looks for opportunities big and

Jennifer Fraser (far right) canvassing with ONE trainees at a U2 concert. ONE, whose goal is to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030, was co-founded by U2 lead singer Bono.

“We examined social justice by being in a community led by Jesuit principles,” Fraser says. “And it was truly formative.

I knew entering Holy Cross that I wanted to make a difference in the world, and right off the bat I was having deep conversations, participating in critical thinking and feeling energized. It set me on the path to be reflective about the work I do now.”

small to make meaningful change, such as creating a class that allows students to get internship experience in-house, eliminating the expense incurred in traveling to and from another location.

“The COVID experience has made me realize even more that you need to know your audience, to know where your students are coming from and to act from a position of compassion.

“I’ve spent the past several years working on textbooks, a sociologyin-action series that embeds active learning in the textbook so that we can get students to use the sociology they’re learning instantaneously,” she says. “And I’ve been thinking about how students can get these books affordably because textbooks are expensive and that’s a social justice issue, too. So that’s why I publish with SAGE. Their textbooks cost less than most.”

And once students awaken to persistent and pervasive issues of inequity, what does Korgen advise? The former member of Holy Cross’ chapter of Pax Christi International, a student organization focused on examining justice, war and peace issues through prayer and discussion, Korgen counsels her students to approach social

justice as a practice.

“I’ve come to the place where I realize that most people aren’t remembered for long after they die,” she says. “So trying to build up something like your reputation is, really, well, it’s pointless and also distracting from what we should be focused on, which is doing what we can to make the world a better place. It sounds trite, but use whatever gifts you have to make people’s lives better. That’s how I try to approach everything I do.”

5. Use anger to advance a cause.

Jennifer Fraser ’09 Director, membership mobilization at ONE

In a certain sense, Jen Fraser ’09 took a practice swing at the societal problems humanity faces in this global pandemic when still a Holy Cross student. She participated in the First-Year Program, the forerunner of Montserrat, living and studying with a group of students engaged in an examination of the question: “When power attracts and fear divides, how, then, shall we live?”

Fraser works for ONE, a global nonprofit organization campaigning to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030: “We mobilize people to organize their communities and advocate to their elected leaders in support of programs and policies that fight extreme poverty.”

Co-founded by musician Bono and other activists, ONE is nonpartisan and neither solicits donations from the public nor receives government funds.

Fraser, director of ONE’s membership mobilization team, has worked for the organization for nine years. At present, the group is lobbying the Biden administration to share surplus doses of the COVID-19 vaccine with the world’s poorest countries. “We have a long way to go as a global community,” she says. “Right now, more than 60% of the world’s population lives in countries that won’t see widespread vaccine coverage until next year or later.

“COVID-19 has exacerbated and jeopardized progress we’ve made in the fight against extreme global poverty and preventable disease,” she continues.

“And that is frustrating. On the other hand, it’s motivating because our work has never been more urgent. Focusing on the progress we’ve made generates hope and excitement to keep going.”

In the absence of hope and excitement, anger can motivate, too, Fraser says: “In my sophomore year, I took a class called Sociology of Men, Women, and

HOW, THEN, SHALL WE LIVE? / 5 5

Marcellis Perkins speaks at Texas Christian University’s Race and Reconciliation Day in front of its Founders’ Statue.

you know, no major injury, and so I say, ‘I’ll be OK.’ And he says, ‘I really want you to consider if you were to come here, would you be a happy student without basketball?’And then a couple of years later — injury sustained.”

Medicine with Professor Ed Thompson.

Around that time, I was starting to learn more about feminism and getting passionate about women’s and gender issues. I remember him saying during office hours, ‘I see you getting angry.’

And that has really stuck with me because a lot of times advocacy and activism comes from anger over the injustice happening. For instance, it’s absurd that I have access to a vaccine simply because of where I was born and others don’t. It’s OK, and even productive, to feel that anger and to channel it constructively: Use it as fuel.”

6. To change the world, start with yourself.

Marcellis Perkins ’19 Graduate assistant, Race and Reconciliation Initiative, Texas Christian University

In his work on TCU’s Race and Reconciliation Initiative, Marcellis Perkins’ charge is to research the university’s relationship with slavery, racism and the Confederacy. TCU is part of a consortium studying slavery that includes more than 70 institutions globally. COVID-19 complicated

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work on the new initiative almost from the get-go by making the hands-on work of archival research impossible.

Meetings with the campus community about what the research unearthed were also challenging.

“We need to have conversations, but when you can only have those deep and sometimes painful conversations through a medium like Zoom, it really challenges you to be creative,” he says.

“These very intimate, detailed conversations about how race impacts our university are a lot different when done through a computer screen — especially with people we haven’t yet met.”

What some might characterize as a daunting challenge is more a workaround for Perkins, though. When a student at Holy Cross, Perkins, a high school basketball star, found himself permanently sidelined with a shoulder injury. He was devastated, but then recalled a question psychology Professor John F. Axelson asked him when he toured the school as a high school senior. “Dr. Axelson said, ‘If you were to come to Holy Cross and you blow out your knee, would you be happy with the decision you made to come here?’ And I’m 17 and thinking,

After a period of mourning, Perkins directed his energies elsewhere. He joined the Black Student Union, became a founding member of the group Men Of Color Athletes (MOCA) and started the WCHC radio show The Back Room.

“And what I found was that in that darkest moment came some of the brightest instances of light,” Perkins says. “Here was this whole other world that I hadn’t really had time to explore.

And I still had all this energy that, if I weren’t going to practice, I could invest in other areas.”

Organizations like MOCA, an association created for student-athletes of color to share their experiences of life on a predominantly white campus, and his Sunday radio show also trained Perkins for the work he’s doing now in facilitating tough conversations about race.

“I always tell people The Back Room became my favorite class at Holy Cross because I was interviewing my peers.

They were the specialists, the experts.

And they taught me so much about the world. There we were talking about gender and sexuality, talking about politics, music and art — biology. I was having so many conversations that I would never have otherwise been exposed to.”

When he makes a presentation, Perkins introduces himself by saying, “I come as one, but I stand as 10,000.

I can because they did.” It’s his way of crediting the family, friends, professors, coaches and other teachers who have contributed to who he has become: “We’re all teachers and we’re all students. Everyone is both.”

Perkins credits the pandemic with creating the opportunity to practice the

mindfulness inherent in his conversation. “Rest is part of the work thing,” he says. “If you are not resting, there’s no way you can produce your best work because you’re not your best self.”

And those moments of rest can clarify a person’s real purpose, Perkins adds.

“If you want to be a part of the change in the world around you, you have to think about the change that needs to go on internally first. You have to look at yourself and ask, What don’t I know?

What do I not get? What am I against?

The answers will dictate your next steps. Begin the work there.”

7. If you can make a difference, you have a responsibility to do so.

Helen Holden Slottje ’89 Attorney, 2014 Goldman Environmental Prize recipient

Helen Holden Slottje ’89 was just 47 when she won the 2014 Goldman Environmental Prize. An award whose closest cousin is The Nobel Prize, the Goldman is given annually to just six people, one representative from each inhabitable continent. Slottje won for her successful efforts to ban fracking in more than 200 upstate New York communities. She and her husband, David, used a little-known local landuse law, called Home Rule, to assist towns in prohibiting the process within their borders. The Slottjes, both corporate lawyers by training, spent thousands of hours educating town governments on employing their home-rule authority to stop the gas companies.

Post-prize, life quickly changed for Slottje. Academy Award-winning director and actor Robert Redford narrated her story for the film “The New Environmentalists: From Ithaca

to The Amazon.” Music legends Bonnie Raitt and Graham Nash headlined a ceremony in her honor emceed by Soledad O’Brien. Slottje was a guest at the White House. The World Wildlife Federation invited her to give a TEDx talk in Belgium.

Ruminating on it all seven years later, after the first 18 months of the pandemic, Slottje is reminded of something she learned when a student at Holy Cross: “I think that what Holy Cross teaches you is that if you’re in a position to make a difference, then you have a responsibility. You have to question and it’s by those questions that you uncover something.

“In a way, asking questions is more important than knowledge,” she continues. “And the biggest question you can ask is, ‘How, then, shall we live?’” Ultimately, no one can answer the question for the whole of humanity or even for another individual, but, for Slottje, COVID-19 and the memory of a song heard in her first year at Holy Cross created the

Helen Holden Slottje speaks at a panel on fracking. Her work helping 200 upstate New York cities and towns fight the process in their communities won her the 2014 Goldman Environmental Prize.

space to consider the question.

“The pandemic was a softening of the fixed nature,” Slottje says. “If you asked law firms or lawyers, ‘Can you go fully remote in two days?’ They’d say it couldn’t be done, but then basically every law firm in the country had to go fully remote on, basically, two days’ notice. So much of what we thought of what was real was gone in two days. We confuse our constructs with reality. Two months into the pandemic, I thought, I don’t have to be working for anybody right now. I saw this opening. I had this opportunity to really think about the question that has been with me since winning the Goldman Prize, which is: What’s the lesson?

“I can talk to people about the tactics and strategies we used in New York, but that’s not what made the difference,” she continues. “The difference was seeing something that other people didn’t see,” she says. “Remember The Waterboys’ song ‘The Whole of the Moon’ and the lyric, ‘I saw the crescent/ you saw the whole of the moon’? The crescent is real. But the whole of the moon is a real thing, too. You can’t get the full picture without the pause and the shift.” ■

HOW, THEN, SHALL WE LIVE? / 5 7

S PPOORRTTS S

YES! Led by defensive specialist Skye Daval-Santos ’22 (purple jersey), members of the women’s volleyball team on and off the court celebrate a key

58 Go Cross Go • 60 Crusader Life

avanell brock

play during a Sept. 8 home game against New Hampshire.

GO CROSS GO / S P O R T S / 5 9

S PU O SRATDSE R L I F E CR documentation (physical or digital) and the documentation must include full name, test result, type of test, entity issuing the result and the specimen collection date.

Children under 12 do not need to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test for entry, but will be required to wear a face covering while attending any outdoor Holy Cross event.

Guests attending outdoor games are not required to mask, although unvaccinated guests are encouraged to remain fully masked while on campus; those experiencing symptoms are asked to stay home.

Athletics Sets New Visitor Policy, Tailgating Guidelines

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oly Cross Athletics has announced new guidelines for attending indoor and outdoor events on campus.

accommodation is requested and granted by the College. Visitors requesting an exemption must email covidvaccine@holycross.edu to request an exemption at least five days in advance to discuss the availability of reasonable accommodations.

OUTDOOR EVENTS Those attending outdoor Athletics events must show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination, a negative PCR test administered within 72 hours of the event, or a negative antigen test administered within 24 hours of the event prior to entering any on-campus outdoor venue.

INDOOR EVENTS Upon arriving at all indoor venues, visitors must show photo ID and proof of full vaccination, which can be done by presenting a CDC COVID-19 vaccination card (digital or physical) or by presenting a verified digital vaccine card from an app such as Airside or VaxYes. (Visitors should enroll in an app at least 24 hours prior to arrival on campus to ensure admission.)

Children under age 12 are permitted to enter indoor venues and must remain masked at all times.

Non-fully vaccinated guests and visitors 12 and older will not be permitted entrance unless a medical

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Attendees 12 and older will be required to present proof of full vaccination confirming the visitor is at least two weeks past the final dose of any WHOapproved vaccine by presenting a CDC COVID-19 vaccination card (digital or physical) or by presenting a verified digital vaccine card via Airside App or VaxYes. Guests who are unvaccinated or who cannot provide proof of full vaccination must provide documentation of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the event or a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken within 24 hours of the event. Test results must be in the form of written medical

NEW TAILGATING GUIDELINES Athletics has also revised its guidelines for tailgating at home football games beginning with the 2021 season, with the extension of pregame tailgating and the addition of a firm no re-entry policy.

For every Holy Cross home game at Fitton Field, all lots will now open four hours prior to kickoff, increasing tailgating time by one hour. Lots will remain open until 15 minutes prior to kickoff, at which point fans will be asked to enter the stadium. Tailgating during the game will not be permitted at any lot.

All guests will be cleared from parking areas by kickoff, and Holy Cross reserves the right to remove patrons who do not comply with updated tailgating policies.

Fans are encouraged to purchase parking passes in advance, as once lots reach maximum capacity, cars without passes will be turned away. Postgame tailgating will be allowed for up to one hour, dependent on daylight, and will begin once the game has concluded.

Any violations of the tailgating policy may result in loss of single-game or season-long tailgating privileges.

Tailgating is only allowed at the Premier Lot (baseball), Freshman Field and West Lot. Tailgating is not allowed inside the Parking Garage. ■

Catch the Crusaders This Fall on ESPN+

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atch the games on Mount St. James wherever you are: Holy Cross Athletics has announced that it will broadcast numerous home games during the 2021 fall season through the Patriot League on ESPN+.

Nine New Video Boards Debut at Hart Center Arena, Rink

The remaining fall television schedule includes: displays and four LED ribbon displays, in addition to a new four-panel courtside LED scorer’s table and four fixeddigit scoreboards.

ine new LED video board displays have been installed inside the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex this fall.

At court level, the new scorer’s table will join an identical one purchased in October 2020, providing supplemental content and information in conjunction with the main displays visible to fans on both sides of the arena. Each will measure approximately 2 feet high by 9 feet wide and feature 6-millimeter pixel spacing.

The displays provide a combination of live video, instant replays, up-to-theminute statistics, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages.

In the Hart Center Rink, a new end wall video display and a fixed-digit scoreboard on the north and south ends provide a complete viewing experience for the entire rink.

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The Hart Center Arena, which hosts more than 30 basketball games and select volleyball matches each year, boasts three new end wall LED video

The addition of LED displays to the Hart Center Arena and Rink follow the spring addition of a 900-square-foot end zone video board at Fitton Field. ■

•

Oct. 9: Women’s Soccer vs. Loyola (Maryland), 12 p.m.

Salle, 12 p.m.

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Oct. 29: Field Hockey vs. Boston University, 3 p.m.

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Oct. 10: Volleyball vs. Lehigh, 2 p.m.

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Oct. 16: Football vs. Georgetown, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 30: Volleyball vs. Colgate, 4 p.m.

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Oct. 19: Men’s Soccer vs. Harvard, 6 p.m.

Oct. 31: Volleyball vs. Army West Point, 2 p.m.

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Oct. 23: Women’s Soccer vs. Navy, 11 a.m.

Nov. 5: Volleyball vs. Loyola (Maryland), 6 p.m.

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Nov. 6: Football vs. Lafayette, 12:30 p.m.

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Nov. 6: Volleyball vs. American, 6 p.m.

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Oct. 23: Football vs. Colgate, 5 p.m.

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Oct. 24: Field Hockey vs. La

Numerous Holy Cross Patriot League road games will also be available on the network. ■

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S PU O SRATDSE R L I F E CR

Athletics Announces Crusader Champions Academy New program offers resources for studentathlete personal and community development.

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n August, Athletics announced the creation of the Crusader Champions Academy, a personal and leadership development program specifically designed to support Crusader student-athletes in their quest to become champions in the classroom, in the community and in competition.

Through specialized programming and the use of campus resources, the program will provide the tools for community involvement, accelerated individual growth and success beyond graduation.

“The Crusader Champions Academy will seek to play a key role in the

growth and development of our studentathletes,” says Aaron Dashiell, assistant director for student-athlete development.

“There will be an emphasis on faith and service to others, allowing students to explore their spiritual journeys over their four years on campus.

We will challenge our students to escalate their commitment to their growth and development over their four years while fully immersing themselves in the complete Holy Cross experience.”

The program will offer a series of integrated opportunities for student-athletes to engage in four pillars of personal development: career development; leadership and character development; spirituality, health and wellness; and social and cultural engagement. Studentathletes will be presented with programming designed to match the progression of their four-year college experience and will be challenged to complete three levels each year.

The academy will strive to strengthen partnerships across campus with the student body, campus administrators and programs. Athletics will also provide additional opportunities in the areas of mental health and wellness, diversity and inclusion, leadership, career preparedness and networking. This series of programs, Savvy ’Saders, will offer unique engagement opportunities within the four main pillars of personal development, while also encouraging student-athletes to actively engage in their life skill development and community engagement. ■

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Blossom Steps Down as Athletics Director

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oly Cross Athletics Director Marcus Blossom stepped down from his role in September to accept a job with Creighton University as its McCormick Endowed Athletic Director.

“It was an absolute pleasure serving our wonderful group of studentathletes, coaches and staff,” Blossom said. “They inspired me on a daily basis. I want to thank them for their passion, commitment and pursuit of both academic and athletic excellence.

I also want to thank Fr. Boroughs, President Rougeau, the board of trustees and the many alumni and donors for their support. My heart is filled with gratitude for my time on Mount St. James and I’m excited for the journey that lies ahead.”

Holy Cross President Vincent D. Rougeau will work with members of the board of trustees to quickly appoint an interim Athletics director while the College performs a national search for Blossom’s successor.

“Marcus has been a tremendous leader for Holy Cross, and I know he will be just as successful at Creighton as he has been here,” Rougeau said. “We are committed to a successful Division I Athletics program at Holy Cross, and we will work hard to find a leader who can continue to grow our programs competitively and academically.”

Blossom, 41, came to Holy Cross in 2019 from Boston College, where he was the senior associate athletics director for business and administration.

Blossom led the development of Athletics’ first strategic plan, a five-year roadmap to elevate the program. He and his staff revitalized the game experience with the installation of new video boards at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex and Fitton Field, the implementation of beer and wine sales at football, basketball and men’s ice hockey games, and the scheduling of the first college football game to be held at Worcester’s Polar Park on Oct. 23.

Blossom also saw the football team win consecutive Patriot League championships and hired new head coaches in the following programs: men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s ice hockey, men’s lacrosse, women’s soccer, baseball and women’s rowing.

At Creighton, Blossom will succeed Bruce Rasmussen, who led athletics at the Omaha, Nebraska, Jesuit institution for 41 years and announced his retirement in August. ■

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ALUMNI NEWS

Mystery Photo Well, you don’t see this every day. Any idea who these intrepid men are and what they are doing? Email us at hcmag@holycross.edu.

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64 Mystery Photo • 66 HCAA News • 72 Creative Notes • 73 Solved Photo • 78 Class Notes • 84 Milestones • 86 In Memoriam

MYSTERY PHOTO / ALUMNI NEWS / 65

HCAA NEWS later. For the past decade, I have served on the HCAA Board of Directors and, prior to that, I was an active member and past president of the HC Boston Club.

My involvement as an alumni volunteer has been wonderfully rewarding and has created countless new friendships. (To learn more about serving on the HCAA board, read more in the story at right.)

A Note From Laura

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s the new president of the Holy Cross Alumni Association (HCAA), I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself and let you know how honored and excited I am to serve in this role. I also want to express my gratitude to Mike Shanahan ’78 for his steady leadership over the past two years.

The first time I visited Holy Cross was during Accepted Students Day in 1992. It was a grey, misty spring day, yet I was struck by the beauty of the campus and how welcoming everyone was. I was reminded of that beauty during a July visit to campus this past summer.

Driving up Linden Lane with the sun beaming through the trees and O’Kane on the horizon, I instantly felt the joy of being “home” after a prolonged absence during the pandemic.

When I graduated from Holy Cross, I never could have envisioned what an important role it would continue to play in my life all these many years

This fall begins an exciting chapter in the College’s history as we welcome our new president, Vincent D. Rougeau.

I had the pleasure of bumping into President Rougeau during my July visit to campus and he was incredibly warm and gracious. I look forward to working with him and learning more about his vision for the College.

Most importantly, I am delighted to lead the HCAA Board of Directors and represent you, the 36,000-plus alumni of Holy Cross. The mission of the HCAA is to “engage alumni for life,” and I recognize that engagement can mean something different for each of us. I am grateful to be working with the amazing Alumni Relations staff and the dedicated HCAA board volunteers as we diversify and innovate our engagement opportunities for the upcoming year. We look forward to gathering together again for inperson, on-campus events while we build on the success of the past year’s virtual programming to serve alumni across the globe.

I look forward to seeing you, in person or online, in the upcoming months! ■ Thank you, Laura Cutone Godwin ’96

HCAA president lauracutone96@gmail.com

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Call for HCAA Board Nominations

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he HCAA Nominations & Elections Committee will convene this winter to draft a slate of nominees for the vacant seats on the HCAA Board of Directors. The deadline for submitting nominations is Nov. 15. Those chosen will assume office on July 1, 2022. Committee members will nominate two vice presidents and a president-elect. They will also nominate directors for three-year terms, with three directors from each of the following: classes of 2013- 2022; classes of 2003-2012; classes of 1993-2002; classes of 1983-1992; classes of 1982 and earlier. Additionally, they will nominate two directors who are current or past regional club presidents and two directors for at-large positions representing HCAA affinity groups. ■

For more information, as well as a nomination form, visit www.holycross.edu/alumni or email hcaa@holycross.edu.

A Month of Remembrance

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uring the month of November, the Church traditionally remembers those whom God has called through death to eternal life. The Holy Cross Jesuit Community invites alumni, parents and friends to submit names of family members to be remembered during Mass throughout the month. ■

Visit www.holycross.edu/jesuitcommunity/ november-monthremembrance to add the names of those you wish to be remembered.

Laura Cutone Godwin ’96

pr e side n t Schone L. Malliet ’74

vice pr e sident Jacqueline M. Rock ’02

vice pr e sident

Welcome to the Family!

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his summer, a number of regional clubs hosted send-off receptions for the incoming class of 2025, such as this

New! Alumni Career Learning Online

T

he pandemic and its upheaval has caused a lot of alumni to reevaluate their career paths. Alumni Career & Professional Development has created a new resource to help you discern your career interests and pursue your next opportunity with confidence.

Alumni Career Learning Online is the destination for on-demand career and professional development training for Holy Cross alumni. It provides

Daniel D’Agata ’04 gathering with the New Jersey Club in Mountainside, New Jersey, on Aug. 5. These casual events, also held in Eastern New York, Greater Hartford, Long Island, Rochester, Minnesota and Worcester, allowed our newest Crusaders and their parents to connect with each other before starting their college journey to Mount St. James. ■

a suite of self-paced, on-demand training modules created to support individuals at all stages of the career search process — from creating career clarity and developing an action plan, to interviewing and negotiating an offer.

Complete the full series or pick and choose the areas that you need to brush up on.

The job search process can be overwhelming. Alumni Career & Professional Development is here to accompany you on your journey and help you accomplish your goals.

Because life’s too short not to pursue meaningful work! ■

Visit holycross.edu/alumni/careers to learn more.

t r e asur e r Kristyn M. Dyer ’94

e xe cut ive se cretary

questions, comments and suggestions: hcaa@holycross.edu ( 508) 793- 241 8

The Holy Cross Alumni Association (HCAA) supports alma mater in its Catholic, Jesuit mission by bringing together the diverse talents, experience and knowledge of Holy Cross alumni. We accomplish this by engaging alumni for life through our reunions, regional clubs, community outreach and intellectual and spiritual formation programs.

By these means, we nurture our love for and dedication to Holy Cross, its students and its alumni as men and women for others. ■

HCA A NEWS / ALUMNI NEWS / 67

HCAA NEWS

Alumni Anti-Racism Alliance Leadership Strategizes

M

embers of the Holy Cross Anti-Racism Alliance (CHARA) leadership committee (#CHARAsquad) met for a strategic planning meeting this past

summer: (left to right) Len deMontagnac ’92, Kerri Riccardo ’92, Maria Amendolia ’92, Amy Fisher Quinn ’92, Fred Givens ’92 and Kona Khasu ’92 (not pictured Phyllis Jones ’95). The group, now more

The New Holy Cross Magazine Podcast

O

n the inaugural episode of the Holy Cross Magazine Podcast, Billy Collins ’63 talks about how he tackled what appeared to be an impossible ask when serving as U.S. Poet Laureate in 2002: writing

6 8 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ FA L L 2021

than 160 members strong, is committed to continuing the dialogue among alumni on racial equity in America, increasing access to opportunities for underserved communities and supporting the experiences of students of color at the College. ■

To learn more about CHARA, email info@CHARA1843.com.

a poem to commemorate the nearly 3,000 killed in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Download this episode of the Holy Cross Magazine podcast at holycrossmagazine.libsyn.com or via your favorite podcast app: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Stitcher, Deezer or Amazon Alexa via Tune-In (“Alexa, play the Holy Cross Magazine Podcast”).

New episodes will be released monthly. ■

Are You Missing Your Purple Patcher Yearbook?

H

oly Cross Magazine recently acquired an extra set (and duplicates of certain years) of the Purple Patcher, Holy Cross’ yearbook.

If you lost your Purple Patcher over the years or would like a copy of one for a Crusader relative, let us know.

Email us at hcmag@holycross.edu with the following information: • • • • •

First/last name Class year Mailing address The Purple Patcher year of interest Your best HCM story idea Request email deadline: Nov. 30, 2021

In the event there are multiple requests for a year of which we have only one copy, names will be collected and drawn at random.

The cover of the very rare first issue of the Purple Patcher. Unfortunately, even we don’t have a copy of this, but thought you may enjoy seeing edition #1, featuring this studious owl.

In the event that we do not have a copy of the yearbook you request, we will notify you. We will also alert recipients that a Patcher is on the way. If you are a non-grad planning a surprise for a Crusader, please note your relation to the alumnus.

Patchers will be mailed just before the holidays. In the spirit of the season, we will mail your Patcher at no cost to you, but encourage you to consider making a gift to the College. ■

HCA A NEWS / ALUMNI NEWS / 69

HCAA NEWS

DIMARE

Celebrating the 2021 HCAA Award Winners

E

ach year, the Holy Cross Alumni Association (HCAA) honors members in recognition of outstanding service to the organization. Read the award citations below to learn about these Crusaders’ exceptional commitment to alma mater.

2021 In Hoc Signo Award honorees: In recognition of “his inspiring loyalty and his devotion to Crusaders of all vintage” Bryan J. DiMare ’06 “A model of what it means to be a Crusader, Bryan DiMare has enthusiastically and steadfastly served Holy Cross since the day he commenced from Mount St. James.

Bryan has given generously of his talents whenever called on by his College. A member of the HCAA Board of Directors since 2008, he served as president from 2016-17 and is a past vice president and member of the Executive Committee. His contributions to setting the future direction of the HCAA include several key committee

70 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ FA L L 2021

DIMASE

roles including: co-chair of Strategic Planning, co-chair of By-Law Review, chair of Young Alumni and member of Nominations and Elections. He is currently chair of the Budget and Finance committee.

In 2012, Bryan received the association’s first Young Alumni Leadership Award, in recognition for his part in launching Holy Cross Cares Day. This national day of service for alumni has since become a flagship event for the HCAA. As a class agent, Bryan has worked tirelessly to support the mission of the College. He has also served as a member of his 10th and 15th reunion gift committees. Making himself available to all students and alumni in need of support, advice and direction, Bryan has been a loyal and active volunteer with the Holy Cross Center for Career Development.”

In recognition of her “tireless, dedicated and meritorious service” Elaine Amodeo Dimase ’84 “Thoughtful leader, selfless volunteer, and wise advisor, Elaine Amodeo Dimase has given of herself for the benefit of Holy Cross time and again.

Serving in multiple roles within the alumni association, Elaine has always been unstintingly generous with her

MALLIET

time and talents. From 2001 to 2008, she served as president of the Holy Cross Club of Eastern New York, planning, promoting and overseeing events for alumni in the greater Albany area. Simultaneously, Elaine was a co-chair of the association’s Regional Clubs Committee and spearheaded the creation of the Regional Clubs Presidents’ Handbook, an important volunteer resource.

Elaine has served three terms on the alumni association’s Board of Directors.

Between 2015 and 2018, she co-chaired the Legacy Luncheon Committee, making the event a memorable experience celebrating current students and their alumni parents. An integral member of the Strategic Planning Committee, Elaine has also served as a member of the Executive, Spirituality and Class Reunion Committees, as a class agent and is currently on the HCAA’s Alumni Senate.

As one of her nominators wrote, ‘Elaine has responded to every call to service with enthusiasm, professionalism and a deep commitment to the College.’”

In recognition of “his vision, his diversity of talents, and his deep and abiding love for alma mater” Schone L. Malliet ’74 “Wise counselor, unflagging laborer

of color and alumni in the greater Washington, D.C., area, as well as virtually. Additionally, she created her workplace’s first-ever development internship for a Holy Cross student and rallied fellow alumni to participate in a video welcome to the class of 2024.”

2021 Young Alumni Leadership Award:

WICKWIRE

on behalf of alma mater, talented strategist, Schone Malliet has never demurred when approached to assist his College.

Since graduation, Schone has devoted countless hours supporting an array of alumni affinity groups, student organizations and College initiatives, including the O’Callahan ROTC Society, the Black Student Union, Holy Cross Athletics and the alumni association.

An active leader in the celebration of the BSU’s 50th anniversary programs in 2018, Schone helped conceive of and launch the BSU Student Opportunity Fund, which provides students with high-impact experiential opportunities.

A model of a Crusader for others, he has counseled and mentored countless students and young alumni.

Schone has served on the HCAA Board of Directors since 2014 and is currently in his second term as vice president.

He has brought his boundless energy to committee leadership roles as cochair of By-law Review and chair of the association’s 150th Anniversary Celebration. He served on the Executive and Budget and Finance Committees, and continues to seek out ways to broaden the impact of the HCAA. His volunteerism also includes work on behalf of the Annual Fund

“In recognition of “his commitment to Holy Cross and the Alumni Association” Alexander A. Bonanno ’17 “In the years since his graduation from Holy Cross, Alex Bonano has distinguished himself as a leader, a valuable resource, a tireless advocate, and a vital member of the Holy Cross Alumni Association.

BONANO

as co-chair of the class of 1974’s 45th Reunion Gift Committee.”

In recognition of “her boundless energy, her tenacity and can-do spirit” Danita Beck Wickwire ’94 “Imaginative leader, committed volunteer, tireless ambassador for alma mater, Danita Beck Wickwire has served Holy Cross as a loyal and engaged alumna since the day she graduated from the College.

A class agent since 1994 and class chair since 2006, she has achieved record engagement and fundraising results for her class. Through strategic and creative outreach, Danita has strengthened class connections and built a network of volunteers to garner support for the College. Consistently ranked one of the top classes for annual giving days, the class of 1994 achieved an impressive 62% giving rate in 2019.

Danita was presented with the Matthew P. Cavanaugh Award in recognition of her commitment and leadership as a class chair.

A member of the College’s board of advisors and past member of the HCAA’s Bishop Healy Committee, she has been an active mentor and passionate advocate for students.

Danita has offered spaces for conversation between students

Alex’s drive to become involved was present from his first days on Mount St. James. His many campus leadership roles included serving as a peer mentor as well as co-chair and senior adviser to LASO, the Latin American Student Organization. In recognition of his contributions to the Holy Cross community, he was the recipient of a Presidential Service Award.

Since graduation, Alex has served alma mater in a variety of capacities.

Starting as a member of the HCAA’s Bishop Healy Committee, he went on to serve as chair and displayed thoughtful leadership throughout his tenure. Alex’s passion and commitment empowered the committee to reach new heights through the creation of new social media and marketing platforms and record fundraising results for its Student Emergency Fund.

He also helped lead the first alumni and students of color retreat at the Joyce Contemplative Center. In addition, Alex has served as a resource and role model for Holy Cross first-generation students as a panelist for the HCFirst Scholars Retreat.

As chair of LASO’s 30th Anniversary Planning Committee, he continues to foster and inspire connections between students and alumni.” ■

IN HOC SIGNO / HCA A NEWS / ALUMNI NEWS / 71

CREATIVE NOTES

From Our Creative Crusaders

BY R E B E C CA S M I T H ' 9 9 A N D K I M B E R LY S TA L E Y ' 9 9

This Country

My Life in Politics and History

By Chris Matthews ’67 Simon & Schuster In “This Country,” Matthews offers a panoramic portrait of post–World War II America through the story of his remarkable life and career, including a chapter on his years at Holy Cross. It is a story of risk and adventure, of self-reliance and service, of loyalty and friendship.

It is a story driven by an abiding faith in our country.

As Matthews charts his political odyssey, he paints an energetic picture of a nation searching for its soul.

He reflects with grace and wisdom, showcasing the grand arc of the American story through one life dedicated to its politics.

According to Andrea Mitchell, host of “Andrea Mitchell Reports”: “‘This Country’ is the story of America, seen through the eyes of a superb political analyst and cable news pioneer. This heartfelt, cinematic memoir is a must read for anyone who loves politics and the American story.”

Matthews is the author of the New York Times bestsellers “Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit”; “Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero”; “Tip and the Gipper: When Politics Worked”; “Kennedy & Nixon”;

7 2 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ FA L L 2021

and “Hardball.” For 20 years he anchored “Hardball with Chris Matthews” on MSNBC.

OMG! A Shout in the Street?

A Dare to Millennials to Believe

By Robert F. Slesinski ’72 Eastern Christian Publications Digressing from his usual catechetical and theological works, Fr. Slesinski targets “OMG! A Shout in the Street?” at millennials and those who might be searching to find true meaning in their lives — and strives to awaken the “inner philosopher” in all people, drawing them out and enabling them to “soar beyond themselves toward worship of the One, True God.” Fr. Slesinski resides in Mashpee, Massachusetts, and has authored numerous books, including “Holy Mother Church” and “The Philosophy of Semyon Frank: Human Meaning in the Godhead.”

The Supreme Court’s Role in Mass Incarceration

By William T. Pizzi ’65 Routledge

This book illuminates the role of the U.S. Supreme Court’s criminal procedure revolution as a contributing factor to the rise in incarceration rates. Noting that the increase in mass incarceration began climbing just after the Warren Court years and continued to climb for the next four decades — despite the substantial decline in the crime rate ―— the author posits that part of the explanation is the Court’s

S O LV E D P H O T O failure to understand that a trial system with robust rights for defendants is not a strong trial system unless it is also reliable and efficient.

“Pizzi, long one of the keenest observers of our criminal justice system, has written a book brimming with insights and surprising connections,” writes Richard D. Friedman, Alene and Allan F. Smith Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School. “Anyone wanting to understand the phenomenon of mass incarceration will find here persuasive explanations in corners where others would not have thought to look.”

Professor of law emeritus at the University of Colorado Law School, Pizzi was previously a federal prosecutor in the District of New Jersey.

Deaf Players in Major League Baseball

A History, 1883 to the Present

By Rebecca Rourke Edwards ’90 McFarland & Company, Inc. From outfielder William Hoy to pitcher Luther Taylor, deaf baseball players in the major leagues developed a distinctive approach, bringing visual acuity and sign language to the sport. In “Deaf Players in Major League Baseball,” Edwards recounts their great moments in the game, including the only meeting of a deaf batter and deaf pitcher in a major league game — and the true story of Hoy, together with umpire “Silk” O’Loughlin, bringing hand signals to baseball.

Says Christopher Krentz, University of Virginia: “With

knowledgeable discussion of the history of deaf people in America, statistics and colorful anecdotes gleaned from a variety of sources, ‘Deaf Players in Major League Baseball’ makes fascinating reading.”

The book has been selected as a 2021 Society for American Baseball Research Award winner. Edwards is a professor of history at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. ■

The Youth Sports Coaching Guide

Advice For Those Who Step Into The Arena

By Doug MacGregor ’96 Page Publishing “The Youth Sports Coaching Guide” contains the advice every coach wishes they had been given when they first started. Written by a father of four with coaching experience spanning three decades, the book reads like a down-to-earth conversation with someone who has been in the youth sports coaching trenches.

With topics ranging from the logistics of team selection and practice itineraries to the interpersonal complexities of working with players, parents, other coaches and officials, the guide challenges coaches to look at their own motivations and relationships, and to have awareness of their actions and words.

MacGregor lives in New Hampshire with his wife, Shelley, and their four boys.

Since 2007, he has coached more than 40 different baseball, soccer, basketball and flag football teams. ■

Pray Tell, What Chapel Is This?

A

t first glance, this photo looks like it could have been taken in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel’s Mary Chapel, so it’s easy to understand why many alumni wrote in with that guess. However, the Mary Chapel’s basic framework – and the stained glass windows – do not match that of the basement space above.

So, where was this photo taken? Rev. Robert Keane, S.J., writes in with a solid lead: “I am fairly sure that the picture was taken in the Novices Chapel at the Jesuit Novitiate Shadowbrook, in Lenox, Massachusetts. The New England Province closed the novitiate in 1971, so it obviously had to have been taken before that.”

We contacted the Jesuit Archives & Research Center in St. Louis, which sent us their lone photo of the Shadowbrook Novices Chapel and, comparing the photos, Fr. Keane is correct!

As for a possible timeframe, Ernest Mittelholzer ’64 wrote in to identify himself and his classmates, located in the second row on the left: Mittelholzer, the late Thomas Monahan and Jack Lambrech.

Interestingly, the College’s Mary Chapel was completed in 1955 and was not an original feature of St. Joseph Memorial Chapel, which opened in 1924. According to “They Honored Name: A History of The College of The Holy Cross” by the late Rev. Anthony J. Kuzniewski, S.J., the chapel basement was originally home to “an auditorium large enough to accommodate the student body.” ■

C R E AT I V E N OT E S / S O LV ED P H OTO / A LU M N I N E W S / 7 3

ALUMNI NEWS

Meet the Link Between the Army’s Oldest Active-Duty Regiment and Holy Cross Col. Patrick Roddy Jr. ’99 leads “The Old Guard” with values he learned on Mount St. James.

BY SANDRA GITTLEN

E

very morning, between the ages of 4 and 5, U.S. Army Col. Patrick Roddy Jr. ’99 would hear the distinct clip-clop of six large horses headed toward his family’s living quarters on Fort Myer Army Base in Arlington, Virginia. That was his cue to scramble to the front door to watch the U.S. Caisson Platoon solemnly pass by on the way to deliver funeral honors

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at Arlington National Cemetery.

What Roddy calls “these first memories in life” would foreshadow his greatest honor thus far in a military career that has spanned more than two decades. In June 2020, Roddy returned to Fort Myer and assumed responsibility for that same caisson platoon — and more than 1,600 additional soldiers — as the 83rd regimental commander of the 3rd U.S. Infantry, nicknamed “The Old Guard.”

The nation’s first military unit, The Old Guard predates the Constitution as it was formed in 1784 by Gen. George Washington to protect the fledgling country. The Old Guard now serves as the official ceremonial unit and escort

to the president, as well as a rapidresponse force for Washington, D.C., in times of national emergency. The regiment is perhaps most recognizable for its unbroken watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and specialty platoons such as the Presidential Salute Battery and the U.S. Army Fife & Drum Corps that travel the world.

“Most people don’t personally know a soldier, and the only interaction they will have with a soldier is interacting with this regiment,” Roddy says. “The weight of this institution — to represent the Army to the nation and the world — rests on this regiment, and I am (above) Col. Roddy leads the August 2021 funeral of Donald Rumsfeld, former U.S. secretary of defense, at Arlington National Cemetery.

(clockwise from top left) Deployed in Afghanistan in 2003; graduating from Ranger School in 1999; commanding in the 82nd Airborne Division in 2016; and leading the Presidential Pass in Review at the January 2021 inauguration of President Biden.

blessed with the opportunity to lead these soldiers. Each day is a unique opportunity to help bridge the civilmilitary divide.”

Patrick Roddy Sr. served in the Army for nearly 30 years, but his son was not predestined to follow in his footsteps.

“My dad loved the Army, but didn’t want to pressure me into it,” he explains. In fact, Roddy planned to follow his father into a business career, attending Holy Cross as an economics major with the hopes of becoming an investment banker. A chance encounter with ROTC recruiters at Hogan Campus Center led him to alter those plans: “They invited me to see what ROTC was all about, and

we went rock climbing and rappelling,” Roddy says, noting this was where he was first introduced to the critical role teamwork and trust play in the military.

assignment, deploy again, and come back and reset. There was never really a time to take a breath and think about what was next long-term,” he says.

Upon graduation, Roddy was commissioned into the Army as an infantry officer. After initial training and Ranger School, he was sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to join the 82nd Airborne Division. His first few years were what he describes as “relatively quiet,” filled with wargames, learning to jump out of planes and other critical training. “It was a well-trained and cohesive unit and a great place to learn to be a soldier,” he says.

Roddy says he never thought of himself as career military, but “all of a sudden, I had been in for over 10 years. It was part of who I was and part of what I did. I was really committed to the organization and the people.”

He rose up the ranks, serving as a company commander around Baghdad during the surge. He then became an operations officer during Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, and then served as a legislative liaison and speechwriter for the U.S. Army Pacific Commanding General at Fort Shafter in Hawaii. In 2015, he returned to the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg to command the 800 paratroopers of 1st Battalion (Airborne), 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the 1st Brigade, where they served as part of the nation’s rapid-

Then 9/11 happened and the next decade became a blur of multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, where he was part of one of the first brigades to land in country. “You just get on this train where you deploy, come back, quickly reset, move to a new

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ALUMNI NEWS

reaction global response force.

In 2017, just as he was entering the National Defense University’s Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy — one of the military’s war colleges — Roddy encountered The Old Guard again, when his father was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery and the funeral was attended to by the U.S. Army Caisson Platoon he knew from his youth. “That same platoon carried my father to his final resting place,” he says. The level of excellence of that ceremony, down to how to hand a family member a perfectly folded flag, informs Roddy’s approach to commanding that unit today. “Our battalion might do 100 funerals a week, but for that person, it’s the only funeral they will ever receive.

And for their family members, it is likely their one memory of the military

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and the lasting memory of their loved one. The standard has to be absolute perfection every time,” he says.

After graduating the war college with a Master of Science degree in national resource strategy, with a concentration in long-term strategy and a focus in biotechnology, Roddy was assigned to the Pentagon, where he served as executive officer to the Joint Staff’s director for global operations. In his Pentagon role, Roddy coordinated with other military branches to translate orders from the president into troop movements and orders for 2.1 million service members worldwide. Some of the more notable missions he worked on were the withdrawal of troops from Syria, responses to Iranian missile attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and deployment of troops to the U.S. southwest border.

During this time, Roddy was promoted to the rank of colonel, which led to his consideration to command The Old Guard. Since assuming command last year, The Old Guard has conducted more than 5,200 funerals and 600 ceremonial events around the country. Some of these events involve synchronizing the efforts of hundreds of service members across multiple states simultaneously. Roddy has personally led funerals for U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg (who was interred at Arlington next to her husband, Martin); the Army response to the Capitol insurrection; the ceremonial proceedings for President Biden’s inauguration (which were in limbo until the last minute due to security and COVID-19 concerns); and the funeral for former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

(clockwise from top left) Roddy’s photo joins those of the 82 previous Old Guard commanders on a wall at Fort Myer; with wife, Katherine, and Goldendoodle, Archer; in a Colonial-era uniform in August 2020; at the Arlington National Cemetery grave of his father, Patrick Sr.; physical training with members of The Old Guard; in 2014 with his father, Patrick, mother, Barbara, brother-in-law, John, and sister, Lisa.

While Roddy says he immediately felt prepared for the protective duties of The Old Guard as it aligned with his military career, the ceremonial responsibilities were a bit more daunting. For the first few months of his tenure, he studied standard operating procedures and trained on proper marching, voice commands, saber handling and more. He was tested regularly and notes he failed more than a few times, but kept practicing and is now prepared for a range of scenarios, including greeting foreign dignitaries, overseeing flyovers and cannon salutes for national celebrations, receiving the flagdraped coffins carrying fallen service

members at Dover Air Force Base in Maryland, and delivering a range of funeral honors, from presidential state funerals with over 4,000 service members to solitary honors with just a single family member at graveside.

With his photo now hung on the wall next to the 82 previous regimental commanders, Roddy is humbled by how he is part of the rich history of The Old Guard. He doesn’t know where he and wife, Katherine, and Goldendoodle, Archer, will be stationed after his command ends in June 2022, but says he is ready to embrace whatever challenge is next. He credits Holy Cross and the Jesuit principle

of living as “men and women for and with others” for his successes in the military.

“Initially, I thought I was joining the Army to do a job, but the longer I served, I understood I was part of a profession of teams driven solely by its people,” Roddy says. “We need to be able to trust one another — people from different economic, ethnic and geographic backgrounds. You have to be in service to one another. The human-based empathy I learned at Holy Cross set me up for the explosion of diverse people and problem sets I experienced and enabled me to harmonize it all together for good.

Everyone raises their right hand and joins the Army to better themselves and others. Holy Cross helped teach me how to build purpose-driven teams to harness that good.” ■

CO L . PAT R I C K R O D DY J R . ’ 9 9 / A LU M N I N E W S / 7 7

IN MEMORIAM Holy Cross Magazine publishes In Memoriam to inform the College community of the deaths of alumni, trustees, students, employees and friends.

In Memoriam content, which is based on obituaries published in public forums or provided directly to HCM by the family, is a limited overview that includes service to alma mater and a survivors listing. Family members are welcome to submit an obituary or additional information, which will be included at the discretion of the editor; due to time and space constraints, the final obituaries will not be sent to family members for approval. Portrait photos from the Purple Patcher appear as space permits and at the discretion of the editor (photos provided by the deceased’s family are not accepted). Obituaries appear in the order in which they are received; due to the volume of submissions and magazine deadlines, it may be several issues before they appear in print. To notify the College of a death, please call the Alumni Office at (508) 793-3039 or email AlumniRecords@holycross.edu, attaching a copy of an obituary, if available.

1946

War II, a retired major in the U.S. Air

Trumbull, Connecticut, died on March

the cadet training vessel USCG Eagle at

Force, a navigator on the 379th Bomb

17, 2021, at 92. Mr. McCormack studied

the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New

George P. McGuire,

Group, ETO Rheinland, Central Europe

economics and philosophy at Holy

London, Connecticut. Upon discharge

M.D., of Chester, New

and Air Combat Campaigns, and he

Cross, and later served in the U.S.

from the service, he did his residency

Jersey, died on Jan.

served as a personnel officer instructor.

Army for two years as a medic during

in OB-GYN at St. Vincent’s Hospital,

17, 2021, at 96. Dr.

He is survived by six children and their

the Korean War. He then worked at

Jacksonville, Florida, and then entered

McGuire served in

families, including 10 grandchildren and

Acme United Corporation, where he

private practice in Winter Haven at the

the U.S. Navy as a naval flight surgeon

17 great-grandchildren; and one sister.

remained for 40 years until retirement.

Gessler Clinic. He also served as chair

during the Korean Conflict. He later

He is predeceased by his wife of 67

He is survived by one daughter and

of the OB-GYN department, chair of

practiced as an OB-GYN physician

years, Rita; and one son.

her husband; four grandchildren; one

the Department of Surgery and vice

brother-in-law; one sister-in-law; and

president of the Polk County Medical

several nieces and nephews. He was

Association at the Winter Haven

predeceased by his wife of 45 years,

Hospital. Dr. O’Leary is survived by

Barbara.

his wife, Jeanne; and three daughters,

George P. McGuire, M.D.

for over 60 years; he retired as the chief of medicine at a local hospital.

He is survived by four sons and their

1950

Richard E. Eagan

families, including five grandchildren

Richard E. “Dick”

and one great-granddaughter; and

Eagan, of Plymouth,

many other family members and

formerly of Wayland,

friends. He was predeceased by his

Massachusetts, died

James H. “Jim”

five great-grandchildren. He was

wife, Olivia.

on May 4, 2021, at 92.

Murphy, of

predeceased by one son.

1947

David X. Smallcomb

James H. Murphy

At Holy Cross, Mr. Eagan participated

Worcester, died on

in cross-country, golf and track; he

June 15, 2021, at 95.

was a member of the Varsity Club and

Mr. Murphy enlisted

one daughter-in-law and their families, including eight grandchildren and

1951

Francis R. Cavaliere

David X.

graduated magna cum laude. He later

in the U.S. Navy and served in the

Francis R. Cavaliere,

Smallcomb, of

supported the College as a class agent

Asiatic-Pacific Theatre during World

of Winthrop,

Massachusetts, died

and regional club career counselor

War II before graduating from Holy

Massachusetts, died

on Oct. 26, 2019,

as well as a member of the career

Cross, where he played basketball; he

on May 22, 2021. Mr.

at 91.

advisor network and Class Reunion

was later recalled to active duty in the

Committee. He also served as secretary

Navy during the Korean War. He had

baseball at Holy Cross. He is survived

of the Holy Cross Club of Boston. Mr.

a long career as a certified financial

by four children; two daughters-in-law;

Eagan’s career spanned over 60 years

planner. Mr. Murphy is survived by

seven grandchildren; and four great-

B. Edward “Bill”

with one employer, MF&T Insurance

three children and their families,

grandchildren. He was predeceased

Shlesinger Jr., of

Agency (later purchased by Eastern

including four grandchildren; and

by his wife, Pauline; one son; and one

Mount Vernon,

Insurance), where he served as its

several nieces and nephews. He was

sister.

Virginia, died on Oct.

president. He is survived by four

predeceased by his wife, Mary; one son;

25, 2020, at 96. Mr.

daughters; four sons, including Michael

two brothers; and one sister.

1948

B. Edward Shlesinger Jr.

Cavaliere played

Laurence D. Dorsey Laurence D. “Larry”

Shlesinger studied chemistry at Holy

K. Eagan ’77 and Thomas W. Eagan ’82;

Cross and was an original member of

nine grandchildren; and two great-

the class of 1946. He later supported the

grandchildren. He was predeceased

Richard G. O’Leary,

and Richmond,

College as a member of the 1843 Society

by his wife, Laura; one son; and two

M.D., of Winter

Virginia, died on

and Holy Cross Lawyers Association.

brothers, William A. Eagan Jr. ’49

Haven, Florida, died

A patent attorney and head of the law

and Robert K. Eagan ’57. His alumni

on May 13, 2021, at

Mr. Dorsey studied economics at Holy

firm of Shlesinger, Arkwright & Garvey

relatives also include his nieces, Mary

92. At Holy Cross, Dr.

Cross and later supported the College

of Alexandria, Virginia, he invented

Ellen Eagan ’75, Constance A. Eagan

O’Leary studied biology and graduated

as an admissions advisor; he was also

119 U.S. patents and numerous foreign

’81 and Gail Eagan ’87; and his nephew,

cum laude. His College activities

a member of the Holy Cross Alumni

patents. He authored two books as well

William A. Eagan III ’77.

included Aquinas Circle, Cross &

Association. He served in the U.S. Navy

Crucible, Outing Club and Sodality.

for three years. He was a former vice

He graduated from Albany Medical

president at Worcester County National

as film strips, audio presentations and numerous publications on inventing.

William N. McCormack

Richard G. O’Leary, M.D.

Dorsey, of Glen Allen

March 21, 2021, at 93.

He also developed several course

William N. “Bill”

College and, following his internship in

Bank, Yegan Associates in Dallas, and

curriculums designed to teach students

McCormack,

Rochester, New York, he enlisted in the

Ryan Steel in Memphis, Tennessee. Mr.

of all ages how to invent; he was

of Westwood,

U.S. Public Health Service and served

Dorsey is survived by five sons, one

recognized many times for his work.

Massachusetts,

two years with the U.S. Coast Guard.

daughter and their families, including

Mr. Shlesinger was a veteran of World

formerly of

He served as a medical officer aboard

10 grandchildren and seven great-

8 6 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ FA L L 2021

David O. Mulgrew

grandchildren; and many nieces and

Cross, Dr. Guerinot studied biology and

in-law; nine grandchildren; and

nephews. He was predeceased by

participated in Knights of Columbus;

multiple nieces and nephews. He was

David O. Mulgrew,

his wife of 53 years, Ernestine; one

he later supported the College as an

predeceased by his wife of 51 years,

of Gilford, New

grandson; and eight sisters.

admissions advisor and member of

Marjorie; his parents; one sister; and

Hampshire, and

the 1843 Society and career advisor

two brothers.

Naples, Florida,

Richard P. Kenney

network. He practiced as an OB-GYN

died on June 14,

J. Edward McDonald

Richard P. Kenney,

physician at Highland Hospital for

of Massachusetts

36 years. Dr. Guerinot is survived

J. Edward “Ed”

from Holy Cross with a degree in

and Georgia, died

by five children and their spouses;

McDonald,

physics and later supported College

on June 2, 2021, at

16 grandchildren and their families,

of Cohasset,

Athletics. A veteran of the U.S. Air

92. At Holy Cross,

including two great-grandsons; one

Massachusetts,

Force, he earned a master’s degree

Mr. Kenney studied economics and

sister-in-law; one brother-in-law

died on March

in physics from the University of

participated in the Tomahawk; he

and his spouse; and many nieces and

30, 2021, at 90. Mr. McDonald had a

Rhode Island and worked as a systems

later supported the College as an

nephews. He was predeceased by his

46-year career in the steel business,

analyst at Raytheon for close to 40

admissions advisor and class agent

wife, Geraldine.

first as a salesman for Bliss & Laughlin

years. Mr. Mulgrew is survived by his

in Chicago, Buffalo and Hartford,

wife of 60 years, Katherine “Kaye”;

and later as president of American

two daughters, one son and their

as well as a member of the Insurance Committee, 1843 Society, career

John J. Kenny

2021, at 89. Mr. Mulgrew graduated

advisor network and President’s

John J. “Jack” Kenny,

Steel & Aluminum and VP of United

families, including six grandchildren;

Council. He also supported the

of Brooklyn, New

Steel and Aluminum in Norwood,

and extended family, including

College’s football program. Mr. Kenney

York, died on June

Massachusetts. He is survived by

brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces and

served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific

14, 2021. Mr. Kenny

his wife of 70 years, Joan; seven

nephews. His father was the late

during World War II. He worked in

supported the

children and their families, including

William E. Mulgrew Jr., class of 1925;

the insurance business for his entire

College as a class agent and member

17 grandchildren and four great-

and his uncle was the late Richard M.

career at such companies as American

of the 1843 Society. He served in the

grandchildren; two sisters; and one

Mulgrew, class of 1925.

Home, Travelers, John L. Gwydir and

U.S. Navy, first as a midshipman and

brother. He was predeceased by two

Sons, and Sutton James; he began

later as a pilot; he retired after 27 years,

brothers; one sister; and one son.

as a general insurance agent but

having attained the rank of captain.

specialized more in aviation insurance

He also worked for American Airlines

as the years went on. Mr. Kenney

for 34 years, retiring as senior captain

Paul G. McDonough,

Bronson, of

is survived by five children; and 12

as well as having served as chief pilot

M.D., of Augusta,

Burlington,

grandchildren. He was predeceased by

at LaGuardia Airport. Mr. Kenny is

Georgia, died on

Vermont, died on

three siblings.

survived by his children and their

May 8, 2021, at 91.

spouses; and six grandchildren. He

Dr. McDonough

1952

Paul J. Connelly Jr.

James A. Bronson

Paul G. McDonough, M.D.

James A. “Jim”

March 17, 2021, at 89. Mr. Bronson studied political

was predeceased by his wife, Margaret

studied biology at Holy Cross and

science and history at Holy Cross,

“Peggy.”

graduated magna cum laude before

and then joined the U.S. Marine

he attended Jefferson Medical

Corps, serving two and a half years

College in Philadelphia. He served

of active duty and 20 years of reserve

Paul J. Connelly Jr., of Port Washington

1953

Leon M. Layden

and Manhasset,

Leon M. Layden, of

in the U.S. Air Force in France

duty. During his 34-year career in

New York, died

Hudson Falls, New

before returning to Philadelphia to

the CIA, he worked for the Foreign

on April 28, 2021,

York, died on July

finish his residency in obstetrics

Broadcast Information Service in

at 90. Mr. Connelly studied political

23, 2020, at 90. After

and gynecology. Upon completion

Cyprus, Panama, Okinawa and the

science and visual arts: studio at Holy

graduating from

of a fellowship in reproductive

Washington, D.C., area. He is survived

Cross and made the dean’s list; he

Holy Cross, Mr. Layden entered the

endocrinology at the Medical College

by his wife, Esther MacPherson;

also participated in ROTC, Fellowship

U.S. Army and worked in the Pentagon

of Georgia, he became director of

and five children, three stepchildren

Christian Athletes, Student Congress

for the Counter Intelligence Corps.

the Reproductive Endocrinology

and their families, including 18

and the Tomahawk. A recipient of

Following his service, he attended

and Genetics Section, a position he

grandchildren and four great-

the Carter G. Woodson Prize, he later

Georgetown University School of Law,

held for 30 years. Dr. McDonough

grandchildren.

supported the College as a class

joined the family law firm of Layden

authored over 300 papers, edited

agent and member of the O’Callahan

& Layden in Whitehall and opened a

several medical journals, served on

Society; he was affiliated with Naval

branch in Hudson Falls, from which

panels for the National Institutes

John H. “Jack”

ROTC. Mr. Connelly is survived by

he eventually retired. Active in local

of Health and the Food and Drug

Byington Jr., of

family, including his wife, Marion; and

politics, he served five terms as the

Administration and was the recipient

Shelter Island,

granddaughters, Morgan E. Connelly

supervisor of the town of Kingsbury

of many accolades for his work as an

formerly of West

’21 and Brielle K. Connelly ’23.

and was the attorney for the village

educator and researcher in the fields of

of Hudson Falls and the Washington

reproductive endocrinology, genetics

City, New York, died on June 9, 2021,

Gerard T. Guerinot, M.D.

John H. Byington Jr.

Islip and New York

County Department of Social Services.

and cytogenetics. Dr. McDonough

at 89. At Holy Cross, Mr. Byington

Gerard T. “Jerry”

He supported Holy Cross as a class

is survived by his wife of 62 years,

studied economics. He served in the

Guerinot, M.D., of

agent and a member of the Holy Cross

Nicole; one daughter, two sons and

U.S. Army with the Counter Intelligence

Rochester, New

Lawyers Association. Mr. Layden

their spouses; nine grandchildren; and

Corps, attaining the rank of private

York, died on Jan. 2,

is survived by five sons, including

one brother, Gerard A. McDonough,

first class, technician fifth grade and

2021, at 89. At Holy

David J. Layden ’87; three daughters-

M.D., ’55, and his spouse.

received the National Defense Service

IN MEMORIAM / ALUMNI NEWS / 87

IN MEMORIAM students soon

Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

learned to look

He earned his Juris Doctorate at St.

past his tough

John’s University School of Law and

guy appearance

worked as an attorney with Pillsbury

and recognize

Winthrop Shaw Pittman in New York

his soft center.

City for 44 years; he was a member of

He was a much-

the Holy Cross Lawyers Association.

loved professor

Mr. Byington is survived by his

and had an

wife, Marcia; five children and their

active research

families, including 15 grandchildren

lab during his

and six great-grandchildren; one

entire career.”

sister; and three cousins.

“As department

Robert E. Dalton

chair in 1986,

Robert E. “Bob”

Paul McMaster

Dalton, of

hired me as a

Washington, D.C.,

fellow organic

died on July 9, 2019, at 87. Mr. Dalton

chemist,”

holy cross remembers professor emeritus of chemistry, 1961-2001

Paul McMaster ’54 (1932-2021)

says Ronald

was the recipient of the Holy Cross

M. Jarret,

Flaherty Gold Medal, and he went on

professor of

to earn his law degree from Columbia

chemistry,

Law School. After serving in the U.S.

“but, before

Air Force as a captain, he began his

inviting me to

58-year career at the U.S. Department

campus, he

of State, where he held many positions

Purple Patcher noted:

attended the seminar I was giving

within the Office of the Legal Adviser,

“Paul McMaster knows

as part of a job interview across

including attorney in the Office of

his lecture material so

town. He essentially became my

United Nations Affairs, assistant legal

well that he never lacks a

mentor in that sneaky encounter

adviser for treaty affairs, counselor

clear and comprehensive

when he gave me his first piece

on international law and senior

explanation. He is familiar

of good advice, ‘Don’t accept any

adviser on treaty practice. He was

enough with individual

offers until you’ve interviewed at

also an adjunct professor of law at

Paul Driscoll

students to predict how each will

Holy Cross.’ When I told Paul that

Georgetown University Law Center.

McMaster ’54,

perform on particular bluebook

the subsequent salary offer from

Mr. Dalton is survived by one brother;

of Worcester,

questions. An outstanding member

his beloved alma mater was the

two sisters-in-law; and nieces and

formerly

of the graduate students’ intramural

lowest I had received, he gruffly

nephews and their families. He was

of Auburn,

football team … Dr. McMaster was

replied, ‘That’s the salary, take

predeceased by one brother.

Massachusetts, died on June 9,

regularly mistaken for a student by

it or leave it.’ In that exchange, I

2021, at age 89.

members of the opposition.”

knew I had to take it. As a mentor, Paul wasn’t the type to sugarcoat

1954

Peter J. Braschoss Jr.

Mr. McMaster grew up in

In addition to teaching, Mr.

anything or bestow false praise. As

Peter J. Braschoss,

Worcester’s Vernon Hill

McMaster chaired the chemistry

a teacher, he wasn’t afraid to tell

Jr., of Pennsylvania,

neighborhood and enrolled at Holy

department and served on and

capable students when they needed

died on March 8,

Cross to study chemistry. He was

chaired numerous committees;

to work harder. Just as I did, his

2021, at 88. Mr.

a member of the College’s ROTC

he also served as the academic

students knew instinctively that

program and following graduation

adviser to the College’s basketball

his comments and actions came

business administration at Holy

served as an officer for several

teams. He was co-creator of the

from a place of encouragement and

Cross. He served in the U.S. Army

years on the U.S.S. Beale, stationed

department’s nationally recognized

support.”

before earning an M.S. in marketing

in Norfolk, Virginia.

Discovery Program, in which

After returning to Worcester, Mr.

Braschoss studied

from Michigan State University and

students learn chemistry from a

Mr. McMaster is survived by two

holding several marketing-related

laboratory-centered approach.

daughters, MaryKate McMaster ’86

posts in New York, New Jersey, North

and Erin M. McMaster McGill, M.D.,

Carolina and the Philadelphia area.

McMaster received a Ph.D. in chemistry from Clark University,

“For over 60 years, as a student,

’92; one son, Paul D. McMaster

He also taught marketing courses

and in 1961 returned to alma

alum, faculty member and emeritus

’88; nine grandchildren, including

at La Salle University as an adjunct

mater to join the faculty. His

member of the faculty, Paul

Daniel C. McMaster ’16; one

professor and worked at his family’s

specialty was organic chemistry,

McMaster was a loyal member of

brother, Timothy J. McMaster ’60;

landscaping business. Mr. Braschoss

and he spent decades teaching

the Holy Cross community,” says

and many nieces and nephews.

is survived by his wife, Alice; five sons;

students and mentoring them in

colleague Richard Herrick, retired

He was predeceased by his wife of

three grandchildren; one niece; and

his laboratory until his retirement

Edward A. O’Rorke Professor in

57 years, Joan Marie, who died in

two nephews. He was predeceased by

in May 2001. An entry in the 1963

the Liberal Arts. “In the classroom,

February 2021. ■

one sister.

8 8 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ FA L L 2021

James A. Graham Jr.

squadrons and NAS Jacksonville. He

as a class agent, as well as a member of

his professional career as an attorney

James A. “Jim”

also served as head of the Rotary Wing

the Alumni Board Senate, Holy Cross

at the Manhattan District Attorney’s

Graham Jr., of

(Design) Branch and was instrumental

Lawyers Association and Holy Cross

office and later joined Martin

Barrington, Rhode

in bringing the SEAHAWK helicopter

Club of Long Island. Mr. Robinson

Clearwater and Bell, where he became

Island, died on

and LAMPS MK III Weapons System to

is survived by his wife of over 52

a partner. He supported the College

June 21, 2021, at

the fleet. After the Navy, he represented

years, Lynn; six children, including

as a member of the Varsity Club and

89. Mr. Graham also graduated from

the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation as

Lesley Stackler ’88 and Michael L.

Holy Cross Lawyers Association. Mr.

Albany Law School. After serving in

director, international business. Mr.

Robinson ’95, and their spouses; 14

Bensel is survived by his wife of over

the U.S. Army, he worked as a lawyer

Purtell is survived by two sons; one

grandchildren; one great-grandson;

57 years, Sally; six children and their

for Veterans Affairs. He supported the

son’s spouse; one son-in-law; one

and one sister and her spouse. He was

families, including eight grandchildren;

College as a member of the Holy Cross

daughter-in-law; nine grandchildren;

predeceased by his parents; and one

two sisters; many nieces and nephews,

Lawyers Association. Mr. Graham is

and two great-grandchildren. He was

sister.

including Rev. Kevin C. Spinale, S.J.,

survived by his wife, Virginia; two

predeceased by his wives, Julie and

stepdaughters and their husbands;

Liz; one daughter; two sons; and two

six grandchildren; two nephews; one

sisters.

niece; and one brother-in-law. He was predeceased by his father; his mother;

Richard J. Hanratty, M.D. Richard J. “Dick” or “Doc” Hanratty,

Kevin P. Feeley

Lawrence H. “Larry” Schell, of

Kevin P. Feeley,

Milan, Ohio, died

of Arlington,

John T. “Jack” Ratier,

on April 11, 2021,

Massachusetts,

of Bonita Springs,

at 88. Mr. Schell

died on June 24,

John T. Ratier

one sister; and his first wife, Betsy.

’00; and friends and colleagues.

Lawrence H. Schell

Florida, formerly

studied history and philosophy at

of Bristol, Rhode

Holy Cross, and participated in the

studied business at Holy Cross and

Island, died on Feb.

2021. Mr. Feeley

Dramatic Society and ROTC. Affiliated

played club hockey. He later supported

M.D., of Greece, New

28, 2021. Mr. Ratier studied business

with Naval ROTC, he was a member

the College’s football program, and

York, died on May

administration at Holy Cross, and

of the O’Callahan Society and Holy

was a member of the Varsity Club,

9, 2021, at 88. Dr.

later supported College Athletics and

Cross Lawyers Association; he also

Holy Cross Lawyers Association and

Hanratty graduated from Holy Cross

was a member of the career advisor

supported the College’s football team.

1955 Support Network Committee. A

cum laude and received his medical

network. He spent most of his career

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps

graduate of the New England School

degree from Jefferson Medical School

in industrial engineering at Hasbro in

before attending John Marshall School

of Law, he had a 50-year career as a

in Philadelphia. He completed his

Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Mr. Ratier is

of Law in Cleveland and establishing

practicing attorney, purchasing agent

internship and residency at Rochester

survived by his wife, Janet; four sons;

a legal practice that provided counsel

for the city of Boston and managing

General Hospital, then practiced family

five grandchildren; and one great-

to the communities of Erie and Lorain

director of the MWRA; he also received

medicine in Greece before he retired

grandchild. He was predeceased by

counties; he was associated with the

a certificate as an urban executive from

from private practice and joined the

one sister.

law firm of Steineman, Zeiher, Beamer

the Sloane School of Management at

& Schell. Mr. Schell is survived by six

MIT. He served the town of Arlington

children and their families, including

as a Town Meeting member, as well as

occupational medicine team at Kodak Elmgrove. Dr. Hanratty is survived by

Edward T. Robinson III

his wife of 63 years, Madelyn; and three

Edward T. “Ed”

three grandchildren; and many

a member of the Parks and Recreation

children and their families, including

Robinson III, of

nieces, nephews and friends. He was

Commission, Select Board and Board

four grandchildren.

Oyster Bay, New

predeceased by his wife of 47 years,

of Assessors. Mr. Feeley is survived by

York, died on

Mary Louise; his parents; one sister;

his wife of 60 years, Eileen; his children

April 18, 2021. Mr.

and one brother, Lt. Cmdr. John J.

and their families; eight grandchildren;

Schell, USN (Ret.) ’57.

his siblings and their families; one

Capt. Joseph M. Purtell, USN (Ret.)

Robinson studied political science at

Capt. Joseph M. “Joe”

Holy Cross and after college, served

Purtell, USN (Ret.),

in the U.S. Army Counterintelligence

of Rockledge/Viera,

Corps (CIC) in Berlin. He then

Frank B.

and Kathleen L. Guden ’86, nephews,

Florida, died on May

graduated from Georgetown University

Sweezey Jr., of

relatives and friends.

3, 2021, at 88. At Holy Cross, Mr. Purtell

Law School and worked for several

Connecticut, died

studied English and creative writing;

years as a staff trial attorney for the

on March 26, 2021,

he was the recipient of the James

Royal Globe Insurance Company

at 88.

Reilly Memorial Purse (Best Poem)

before opening his own law firm in

and graduated cum laude. He also

Oyster Bay, where he practiced for 43

participated in cheerleading and ROTC,

years. He served as elected director,

and he was a member of the O’Callahan

committee chair and president of the

Francis P. “Frank”

Society and affiliated with Naval ROTC.

Bar Association of Nassau County,

Bensel, of Tequesta,

March 31, 2021, at 88. Mr. Judd studied

Mr. Purtell earned an M.S. from the U.S.

where he mentored attorneys and

Florida, died on

English literature at Holy Cross and

Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey,

worked to increase the representation

June 8, 2021, at 87.

participated in ROTC. After graduation,

California. He served as an aviator in

and influence of female and Black

Mr. Bensel studied

he went to pilot training in Laredo,

the U.S. Navy for 30 years in Antarctica

attorneys in the Nassau Bar, as a

political science at Holy Cross and

Texas, and remained there for three

and Vietnam and many years of

delegate to the New York State Bar

earned his law degree from Fordham

years as a flight instructor. He was then

carrier-based anti-submarine missions

Association and as vice president of its

Law School. He served in the U.S.

assigned to Sembach and Rammstein

in the north Atlantic, Mediterranean

10th Judicial District. A recipient of the

Air Force in Okinawa in the Judge

AFB in Germany in support of NATO

and Pacific areas. He commanded two

Book Prize, he supported the College

Advocate General program. He began

operations before serving as an

sister-in-law; and many nieces,

Frank B. Sweezey Jr.

including Kathleen Feeley Aseltyne ’92

Lt. Col. Frederick A. Judd III, USAF (Ret.) Lt. Col. Frederick A.

1955

“Fred” Judd III, USAF

Francis P. Bensel

(Ret.), of Englewood, Colorado, died on

IN MEMORIAM / ALUMNI NEWS / 89

IN MEMORIAM Peter A. Connelly

advanced flight instructor at Williams

graduated from Holy Cross with a

AFB in Arizona. He then went to Luke

degree in business administration,

Peter A. Connelly,

AFB for F-100 tactical flight training,

and he spent the last years of his

of Bluffton, South

1959 Capt. Michael J. Ambrose, USNR (Ret.)

and he later flew 238 combat missions

career working in Boston as an

Carolina, formerly

Capt. Michael J.

in Vietnam. After attending Arizona

assessor for the commonwealth

of Duxbury,

“Mike” Ambrose,

State University under the Air Force

of Massachusetts. He is survived

Massachusetts,

USNR (Ret.), of

Institute of Technology Program (AFIT),

by his wife, Joan; three sons; three

died on April 24, 2021, at 85. At Holy

he was assigned to Malmstrom AFB

daughters; two sons’ wives; one

Cross, Mr. Connelly studied economics,

Maryland, died on April 14, 2021, at

in Great Falls, Montana, where he was

daughter’s partner; six grandchildren;

played baseball, hockey and tennis,

83. Mr. Ambrose earned his bachelor’s

communications director for the U.S.

and one brother, Arthur E. Hayes ’53,

and served as tennis team captain; he

degree in physics at Holy Cross, and as

and Canadian Communications Forces,

and his wife. He was predeceased

later supported the men’s ice hockey

a student, participated in ROTC, Glee

and then he went to Wright Patterson

by his parents; one daughter;

team and was a member of the Varsity

Club, Pakachoagians and intramural

AFB in Dayton, Ohio. After retiring from

one daughter’s husband; and one

Club. He served in the U.S. Navy,

sports. He served as an officer in the

service, he worked as public relations

daughter’s wife.

completing Officer Candidate School

U.S. Navy on the USS Boston and USS

in Pensacola, Florida, and became a

Long Beach, and after completing

naval aviator. After leaving active-duty

his active duty, he had a career as

director at Peoples Bank in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and as vice president at

John A. Vaillancourt, M.D.

Chestertown,

St. Vincent Medical Foundation, along

John A. Vaillancourt,

service, he flew for Eastern Airlines for

an engineer for Westinghouse and

with other public service posts. Mr.

M.D., of San

over 25 years; he later flew for several

Northrop Grumman. Mr. Ambrose

Judd is survived by his wife of 45 years,

Francisco, formerly

airlines in other countries. Mr. Connelly

earned a master’s degree in physics

Carolyn; and eight children and their

of Swanton,

is survived by his wife of 63 years,

from Drexel University and continued

families, including 16 grandchildren

Vermont, died on

Barbara; and two daughters, three

to serve as a Navy Reservist, retiring

and one great-granddaughter. He was

April 28, 2021, at 85. Dr. Vaillancourt

sons and their families, including 14

as a captain after 30 years. Affiliated

predeceased by his first wife, Maura

studied premed at Holy Cross and

grandchildren. He was predeceased by

with Naval ROTC, he supported the

Kathleen Murphy; and three siblings.

received the Edward V. Killeen, Jr.

two brothers.

College as an admissions advisor and

Andrew J. Power

Prize (Chemistry); he graduated magna cum laude. He earned his

member of the career advisor network

Hugh J. Kelly

and O’Callahan Society. Mr. Ambrose

Andrew J. “Andy”

M.D. at the University of Vermont

Hugh J. Kelly,

is survived by his wife, Patricia “Trish”;

Power, of Worcester,

College of Medicine and completed

of Hockessin,

four daughters and their families,

died on June 8,

his residency training in internal

Delaware, died on

including 12 grandchildren and two

2021, at 87. After

medicine. A commissioned officer

March 10, 2021, at

great-grandchildren; one sister; and

serving in the

in the United States Public Health

84. Mr. Kelly studied

one brother and his spouse. He was

National Guard, Mr. Power studied

Service, Dr. Vaillancourt’s first tour of

prelaw at Holy Cross before attending

predeceased by his parents; one sister;

English at Holy Cross and graduated

duty was the Public Health Service

Fordham Law School. He practiced

one brother; and one sister-in-law.

cum laude. Subsequently, he earned

Hospital (Marine Hospital) in San

law for 40 years and was a member of

his master’s degree from Worcester

Francisco, where he had clinical and

the Holy Cross Lawyers Association.

State College. After a brief stint at AT&T,

research assignments, including

Mr. Kelly is survived by his wife of 59

he had a long career as an English

that of chief of the primary care

years, Madge; five children and their

Edward “Paul”

teacher, department head and assistant

department. When that hospital

families, including 10 grandchildren;

Andersen, M.D.,

principal at South High in Worcester.

later closed, he was assigned to

and brothers and sisters-in-law.

of Naples, Florida,

Prior to that, he taught at Lake Street

the office of the Director of the

School in Spencer, Massachusetts, and

Division of Heart and Vascular

North High in Worcester. In addition

Disease at the National Institutes

Thomas M. “Tom”

studied premed at Holy Cross before

to teaching, he worked as a laborer,

of Health in Bethesda, Maryland,

Reardon, of Little

attending Boston University School of

stockbroker, night school teacher,

until his retirement from active duty.

Silver, New Jersey,

Medicine. He enrolled in the U.S. Navy

painter and roofer, among other jobs.

Thereafter, he returned to California,

died on May 29,

“Ensign 1915 Program” and participated

Mr. Power is survived by five children;

where he worked as a disability

2021, at 84. Mr.

in the senior student program before

five grandchildren; four sisters and

evaluation consultant for the

Reardon studied sociology at Holy

entering active duty as a lieutenant

their families; in-laws, nieces and

Department of Social Services until

Cross. Following graduation, he

in the Medical Corps. He deployed to

nephews; cousins, including John

his retirement. He is survived by one

completed the Marine Corps Officer

Okinawa, where he served with the 2nd

M. Power ’59 and Luke D. Mitola ’78;

sister, her sons and their families.

Candidates School in Quantico,

Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. He was

Virginia, and served as a first

awarded the Purple Heart Medal for

lieutenant in the Sixth Marines.

injuries sustained in Vietnam and later

He worked in the wine and spirits

returned to provide medical services

Ronald N. Cobert,

industry his entire career as a

as part of the American Medical

of Vienna, Virginia,

sales and marketing executive at

Association’s Volunteer Physicians for

died on June 6, 2019,

W.A. Taylor & Company and its

Vietnam Program. Following his tenure

William F. “Bill”

at 83. Mr. Cobert

parent, Hiram Walker & Sons. Mr.

in the Navy, Dr. Andersen completed

Hayes, of Reading,

studied political

Reardon is survived by his wife of

his residency in ophthalmology

and numerous close friends. He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Doris.

1957

Ronald N. Cobert

1956

William F. Hayes

Thomas M. Reardon

1960

Edward “Paul” Andersen, M.D.

died on May 5, 2021, at 81. Dr. Andersen

Massachusetts, died

science at the College and, later, was

59 years, Loretta; and four children

at Parkland Memorial Hospital in

on Dec. 8, 2020,

a member of the Holy Cross Lawyers

and their families, including nine

Dallas. He led his own ophthalmology

at 85. Mr. Hayes

Association.

grandchildren.

practice for more than 30 years in

9 0 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ FA L L 2021

Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He also

where he flew the S-2 on over 100

the first non-Jesuit

served as president of the medical

reconnaissance missions during

to join the council

staff for Fogarty Memorial Hospital

two Far East deployments with

of presidents of

as well as the Landmark Medical

anti-submarine warfare Squadron

the Association of

Center. Dr. Andersen is survived

VS-37. He then served as an assistant

Jesuit Colleges and

by his wife of more than 45 years,

professor of naval science at the

Universities (AJCU),”

Pauline; two daughters; two sons-

University of Pennsylvania (Penn),

says Rev. Michael C.

in-law; and three grandsons. He was

during which time he earned an MBA

McFarland, S.J., Holy

predeceased by his parents; and

in finance from its Wharton School

Cross president from

three brothers.

of Business. After his tour at Penn,

2000-2012. “A lesser

he left active duty, but remained

person might have

active in the U.S. Naval Reserve

found this prospect

Richard J.

at NAS Willow Grove, serving as

intimidating, but

McGuinness,

a P-3 patrol plane commander

Maureen was

of Atlanta, died

in squadron VP-64, and as the

unfazed. She

on June 7, 2021,

commanding officer of the training

immediately gained

at 82. At Holy

squadron; he retired from the

the respect and

Cross, Mr. McGuinness studied

reserves as a captain. Mr. McManus

admiration of her

economics, philosophy, and peace

also worked in banking and held

peers and in short

and conflict studies and was active

financial positions, including

order moved into a

in Big Brother/Big Sister. He also

controller and chief financial officer

leadership role in the

participated in swimming and, later,

for Apparel Affiliates. He founded

was a member of the Varsity Club

PRM Corporation, serving as

and Class Reunion Committee.

president for 10 years. He is survived

Commissioned a second lieutenant

by two sons and their spouses; six

in the U.S. Air Force upon graduation

grandchildren; one sister and her

as part of the Air Force ROTC

spouse; one brother and his spouse;

program, he served as a personnel

four nieces; one nephew; and his

officer, Air Force ROTC instructor

companion of 20 years, Lynne Dillett.

and missile launch officer at

He was predeceased by one son.

Richard J. McGuinness

locations in the U.S., Turkey and England; he retired as a lieutenant

group. In so doing,

holy cross remembers 2009 honorary degree recipient

she paved the way for outstanding

Sister Maureen A. Fay, O.P., Hon. ’09

Working with Maureen in the AJCU,

lay leaders of Jesuit institutions.

I benefited tremendously from her wisdom, insight and honesty, and was inspired by her deep faith and commitment to justice. She will be greatly missed.”

(1934-2021)

Vincent L. Promuto

Following her retirement from

colonel from the Air National

Vincent L. “Vince”

Sister Maureen A. Fay, O.P., Hon. ’09,

UDM, Sr. Fay founded and led

Guard. He later moved to Atlanta to

Promuto, of

president emerita of the University

the AJCU Leadership Institute, a

work for the national office of the

Fort Lauderdale,

of Detroit Mercy and the first non-

professional development program

American Cancer Society, retiring

Florida, died

Jesuit to lead any U.S. Jesuit college

for administrators and faculty of

as executive vice president after

on June 1, 2021,

or university, died on May 27, 2021,

Jesuit colleges and universities.

working there for 30 years. Mr.

at 82. At Holy Cross, Mr. Promuto

at age 87. She was in her 68th year

She also served on many boards

McGuinness is survived by his wife

studied marketing and was on the

of religious profession as a member

of directors, including the AJCU,

of 51 years, Donna; three children; six

football, track and cross-country

of the Adrian Dominican order.

Association of Catholic Colleges

grandchildren; and two brothers. His

teams; he was a member of the

alumni relatives include his cousins,

Holy Cross Varsity Club and its

Born in Chicago, she received a

of Independent Colleges and

Paul E. McGuinness ’62 and the late

Athletic Hall of Fame as well as

B.A. in English from Siena Heights

Universities of Michigan, the

John P. McGuinness ’61.

the Crusader Football Legends

College (now University), a master’s

University of St. Thomas, the Saint

Ring of Honor. Upon graduation,

in English from the University

Paul Seminary, the Jesuit School of

he was drafted by the NFL and

of Detroit and a Ph.D. in adult

Theology of Santa Clara University

Arthur T. “Art”

played his entire 11-year career as

and higher education from the

and Rockhurst University in Kansas

McManus,

a right guard for the Washington

University of Chicago; she spent

City.

of Ambler,

Redskins. He earned multiple Pro

a lifetime promoting Catholic

Pennsylvania,

Bowl selections and recognition on

education. She was president of

Sr. Fay received numerous civic and

died on May

the All Time Washington Redskins as

Mercy College in Detroit when

educational awards, including six

1, 2021, at 83. At Holy Cross, Mr.

well as Ring of Honor places at RFK

she and University of Detroit

honorary degrees, the 2013 John

McManus studied English and was

Stadium and FedEx Field. During his

President Rev. Robert Mitchell, S.J.,

Henry Newman Medal and the

involved in the student newspaper;

NFL career, Mr. Promuto attended

collaborated in 1990 to consolidate

Father Hesburgh Award, the highest

he later supported the College as an

American University Law School

the two institutions into University

recognition given by the Association

admissions advisor and class agent.

and graduated with distinction. After

of Detroit Mercy (UDM), which

of Catholic Colleges and Universities

He was commissioned as an ensign

retirement from the NFL, he began

became Michigan’s largest and most

for outstanding contributions to

in the U.S. Navy upon graduation.

his legal profession: He clerked

comprehensive Catholic university.

Catholic higher education.

After his naval flight training in New

for a federal judge in Washington,

Iberia, Louisiana, he was assigned

D.C., was appointed an assistant

“As president of UDM, Sr. Maureen

She is survived by her nieces; and

to the USS Hornet aircraft carrier,

U.S. attorney and became the first

Fay became the first woman and

her Adrian Dominican sisters. ■

Arthur T. McManus

and Universities, the Association

IN MEMORIAM / ALUMNI NEWS / 91

IN MEMORIAM productions together;

director of public affairs for the

career in the furniture industry,

we designed over 60

newly formed Drug Enforcement

retiring from Thomasville Furniture

shows together. Having

Agency. He supported the College

Industries after more than 30 years

both arrived at Holy

as a member of the Holy Cross

of employment. He is survived

Cross early in our

Lawyers Association. Mr. Promuto

by three sons; one son’s wife; six

careers, we grew and

left Washington, D.C., to take over

grandchildren; and three brothers.

learned together. At a

his late father’s private sanitation

He was predeceased by his wife of

department celebration

business in the Bronx, New York.

48 years, Lorraine.

in winter 2020, we had

He is survived by his wife of 60

the opportunity to talk

years, Alexis; three children and

about our time together.

their families, including two

James J.

The phrase that we both

grandsons and their families;

“Jim” Nolan,

used was that ‘our work

one brother and his children and

of Dedham,

fit together like a hand in

grandchildren; one sister; one

Massachusetts,

a glove.’ We each knew

brother-in-law and his family; and

instinctively what would

“adopted son” Maurizio.

artistically enhance the other’s design.

James J. Nolan

died on April 1, 2021, at 81. Mr. Nolan studied physics at Holy Cross and

1961

participated in the following

Collaboration with Bill

Frederick S. Ayers, M.D.

was one of the greatest

Frederick S.

ROTC, Senior Ball Committee and

gifts of my career.”

“Fred” Ayers,

WCHC (radio station). He also

M.D., of Scituate,

graduated from the Boston College

Hultgren remembers

Massachusetts,

Carroll School of Management

that in addition to

died on April

and UMass Amherst College of

activities: intramural sports,

holy cross remembers associate professor of theatre, 1977-2007

Rynders’ design work, his colleague

13, 2021. Dr. Ayers studied biology

Education, and he was a Vietnam

was “the College’s go-to man for just

at Holy Cross and also graduated

War veteran, having served in

about everything from electrical to

from Tufts Medical School. After

the U.S. Navy. From teacher to

William J. Rynders

carpentry to technology. He was the

training at Boston City Hospital,

superintendent, Mr. Nolan served

consummate handyman with the

he served in the U.S. Navy during

as a longtime Massachusetts public

patience of a saint willing to help

the Vietnam era, reaching the rank

school educator in Hull, Wareham

people on and off campus. I have

of lieutenant commander. He then

and Norwood. He supported

(1947-2021)

missed him since his retirement 13

joined the staff of South Shore

the College as a class agent and

years ago and miss him even more

Hospital in South Weymouth,

regional club career counselor.

now.”

Massachusetts, where he worked

Affiliated with Naval ROTC, he was

as an orthopedic surgeon for more

also a member of the career advisor

“Bill was a sweet man without an

than 40 years; he also served

network, Class Reunion Committee

ounce of pretense and a generous

as chair of surgery. Dr. Ayers is

and O’Callahan Society. Mr. Nolan

After receiving a bachelor’s degree

and valued colleague,” says Steve

survived by his wife, Elizabeth;

is survived by his wife of 55 years,

from the University of Wisconsin

Vineberg, Distinguished Professor

two sons, Michael E. Ayers, M.D.,

Diane; three sons, including James

at Milwaukee and a master’s from

of Arts and Humanities, of the

’87 and Timothy F. Ayers, D.O., ’96;

J. Nolan ’91 and Michael W. Nolan

Wayne State University, Mr. Rynders

Department of Theatre and Dance.

two daughters, Sarah E. Hull ’92

’01; two daughters, including

joined the Holy Cross faculty in 1977

“He inspired our tech/design

and Katherine J. Ayers, M.D., ’98;

Susan A. Nolan ’90; two sons-

as an assistant professor of theatre,

students and created a warm and

his children’s spouses, including

in-law; two daughters-in-law; 10

specializing in set and lighting design

supportive environment in the theatre

David H. Hull ’92 and Virginia M.

grandchildren; one sister; and one

and technical production. He was

department shop; the students who

“Ginny” Ayers ’86; 10 grandchildren,

brother. He was predeceased by

promoted to associate professor

spent time with him there adored him.

including John T. “Jack” Ayers ’14

his father, James J. Nolan ’33; his

of theatre with tenure in 1983 and

He was also a brilliant set designer.

and Margaret E. “Maggie” Ayers ’17;

mother; and one brother.

served as acting chair of the theatre

I’ve always contended that if Bill had

one grandson’s spouse; one sister;

department from 1992-1993. He also

chosen to go into professional theatre,

one brother and his spouse; and

provided set design for dozens of

he would have won awards for his

many friends and colleagues.

productions at the College throughout

work, but we were unbelievably

his 30-year career, retiring in May

fortunate because he chose to make

2007.

his home in college theatre and

Roger E.

to produce work of a professional

Bonvouloir,

caliber here at Holy Cross.”

of Tequesta,

Mr. Powers studied accounting

Florida, died

at Holy Cross and participated in

on April 13,

swimming. He later supported the

William J. Rynders, of Auburn, Massachusetts, died on May 24, 2021, at age 74.

“Bill was my design partner for 30 years,” says Kurt Hultgren, resident

Roger E. Bonvouloir

James F. Powers James F. “Jim” Powers, of Naples, Florida, died on May 27, 2021, at 82.

costume designer for the Department

Mr. Rynders is survived by his wife

of Theatre and Dance. “It is rare

of 31 years, Elaine J. (Bleau) Rynders,

2021, at 82. Mr. Bonvouloir studied

College as an admissions advisor

that a set and lighting designer

former Holy Cross registrar; one

economics/accounting and French

and member of the President’s

and a costume designer have the

brother; and many nieces and

at Holy Cross and participated in

Council and Varsity Club. After

opportunity to work on so many

nephews. ■

College Republicans. He made his

graduating, he served in the U.S.

92 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ FA L L 2021

Army before beginning his career in accounting as an auditor at Peat,

1963

Philip G. O’Neill

by three children and their families,

Arizona MultiBank, serving as a small

including four grandchildren; nieces

business and affordable housing loan

Marwick, Mitchell and Co. in New York

Philip B. “Phil”

and nephews, including Michael P.

officer. Mr. Knight is survived by his

City. He received his CPA certificate,

O’Neill, of

Sullivan ’92; and many friends. He was

wife of 35 years, LeEdna “Le”; and four

and he later earned his MBA from

Jamestown, Rhode

predeceased by his wife of 50 years,

children and their families, including

Babson College. He was controller

Island, died on April

Marilyn; and one sister.

five grandchildren.

at Chiquita Brands (formerly United

2, 2021, at 79. Mr.

James G. Phillipp

John R. Smith

Brands) in Boston before joining LTV

O’Neill studied education at Holy Cross

Corporation in Dallas, from which he

and later worked at Pratt & Whitney

James G. “Jim”

John R. Smith, of

retired as senior vice president and

Aircraft in East Hartford, Connecticut,

Phillipp, of Ormond

Cazenovia, New

CFO. Mr. Powers is survived by his

in research and development for over

Beach, Florida, and

York, died on May

wife of nearly 60 years, Joanne; two

30 years. He is survived by his wife

Pasadena, California,

15, 2021, at 78. At

daughters, one son and their families,

of 59 years, Janet; three children;

died on July 23, 2021.

including three grandsons; one

five grandchildren; five great-

At Holy Cross, Mr. Phillipp studied

Smith studied psychology, and he

brother; and several nieces, nephews,

grandchildren; and one brother. He

economics and participated in Purple

later supported the College as a class

grandnieces and grandnephews. He

was predeceased by his parents; one

Patcher, Sodality and WCHC (radio

agent and member of the O’Callahan

was predeceased by one brother; and

brother; and one sister.

station); he graduated cum laude.

Society; he was affiliated with Naval

Upon graduation from the University

ROTC. As a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy,

of Michigan Law School, he clerked for

he was stationed on the Shangri-La

Thomas M. “Tom”

Francis L. Fryer

the U.S. District Court, Eastern District

aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean

O’Shea, of Garden

of Michigan. Following his clerkship,

Sea. He went on to have a long career

Francis L. Fryer, of Medfield, formerly

City, Carle Place and

he joined the law firm Gibson &

in the electronics industry in sales

of Worcester and Millis, Massachusetts,

Jamesport, New

Dunn in Los Angeles, where he was

and general management. He worked

died on June 24, 2020, at 79. Mr.

York, and Hallandale

elected partner, and from which he

for Corning, Inc. in field sales for 15

one sister.

Thomas M. O’Shea

1962

Holy Cross, Mr.

Fryer attended Holy Cross and Clark

Beach, Florida, died on May 16, 2021,

later retired. Mr. Phillipp supported

years, and he was general manager of

University, and worked as an associate

at 79. Mr. O’Shea studied history at

the College as a member of the 1843

Arrow Electronics’ Syracuse branch

VP of business development for several

Holy Cross before earning his MBA at

Society, President’s Council and Holy

for eight years before starting his own

banks in the Boston/MetroWest region.

Columbia University. He spent over

Cross Lawyers Association. He was

manufacturer’s sales representative

He is survived by his wife, Anne; one

30 years at Citigroup in a variety of

predeceased by his parents.

firm, Smith Technical Sales. He was

son; and family and friends.

finance roles. He is survived by his

William J. O’Connor

wife, Bonnie McGuirk-O’Shea; his first wife, Alexandra Sununu, and their four

then employed by RE/MAX until his

1964

retirement. Mr. Smith is survived by

Anthony P. Chianese

his wife of 40 years, Susan; and six

William J. “Bill”

children, including Nicole O’Shea-

Anthony P. “Tony”

children, including Kevin E. Smith

O’Connor, of

Holohan ’89 and John T. O’Shea ’90,

Chianese, of

’92, and their families, including 10

Corral de Tierra,

and their spouses; two stepsons and

Larchmont, New

grandchildren. He was predeceased

California, died on

their wives; 13 grandchildren; one

York, died on April

by his first wife, Kathleen; his mother;

June 12, 2021, at

brother; seven nieces and nephews;

25, 2021, at 78.

and his father, John R. Smith ’30.

80. Mr. O’Connor studied economics

and one cousin and his family. He was

Mr. Chianese studied psychology at

at Holy Cross and also graduated

predeceased by two brothers, Philip

Holy Cross and later supported the

from Harvard Business School. He

“Phil” J. O’Shea ’60 and Donald J.

College as a class agent. He earned

began his career in commercial

“Don” O’Shea ’56. His alumni relatives

his master’s degree at Pace University

Clifford J. Gbur, of

real estate finance in San Francisco

also include his father, the late John J.

and also served as a lieutenant in the

Cleveland, died on

with the Rouse Company. He then

O’Shea, class of 1925; and his uncle, the

U.S. Army. He retired from a more

Feb. 4, 2021, at 78.

continued his real estate career as a

late Daniel T. O’Shea, class of 1925.

than 30-year career with International

Mr. Gbur graduated

partner at Fowler, Goedecke, Ellis and O’Connor in Boston, before joining

David E. Pauley

1965

Clifford J. Gbur

from Holy Cross

Paper Company, where he was a senior executive with human resources.

with a degree in economics. He

Argus Financial in San Francisco.

David E. Pauley,

Mr. Chianese is survived by his wife

then obtained his Master of Science

He served as an officer in the U.S.

of Ipswich,

of 53 years, Merigo; two daughters,

in professional accounting from

Navy. He supported the College as an

Massachusetts, died

one son and their spouses; seven

Northeastern University, and during

admissions advisor and member of

on May 3, 2021, at 78.

grandchildren; and additional family

his career, he worked for the city of

the career advisor network, President’s

Mr. Pauley studied

and friends.

Cleveland. He is survived by one sister;

Council and Class Reunion Gift

English at Holy Cross and went on to

Committee. Mr. O’Connor is survived

earn his Ed.D. at Boston College. He

William C. Knight

by his wife, Gay; two sons; four sisters;

was an English teacher in the Danvers

William C. “Bill” Knight, of Carefree,

three brothers, Peter D. O’Connor ’64,

(Massachusetts) Public Schools for 42

Arizona, died on April 6, 2021, at 80.

Michael G. O’Connor ’74 and Charles S.

years. He also taught graduate courses

Mr. Knight studied history at Holy

Paul T. Hart, of The

O’Connor ’78; and his stepmother. He

at Salem State University, where he

Cross and served three years in the

Villages, Florida,

was predeceased by his parents; and

earned a master’s degree. He served

U.S. Navy as a lieutenant junior grade.

formerly of Heritage

four siblings, including Jeremiah W.

for six years as an elected member of

He then worked at Valley National

Village, Southbury,

O’Connor Jr. ’63, Joseph W. O’Connor

the School Committee for the Ipswich

Bank in Phoenix as a loan officer, and

’67 and Christopher S. O’Connor ’78.

Public Schools. Mr. Pauley is survived

finished his career at the nonprofit

one niece; two nephews; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

Paul T. Hart

Connecticut, and Danbury, Connecticut, died on

IN MEMORIAM / ALUMNI NEWS / 93

IN MEMORIAM June 14, 2021, at 77. Mr. Hart studied

Council and served as an RA-Resident

Cross Lawyers Association, and

political science at Holy Cross and

Assistant. He also graduated from

Alumni Executive, Class Reunion,

was involved in WCHC (radio station).

Boston University Law School and

Regional Clubs Association and Holy

He later supported the College as

was an honorably discharged veteran,

Cross Scholarship committees. Mr.

an admissions advisor and Alumni

retiring with the rank of major from

Walsh is survived by his fiancée,

Robert F. Burda,

Board director, and as a member of

the U.S. Air Force. He worked as an

Barbara Ardman, and her son; one

of Merritt Island,

the Alumni Board Senate and Class

attorney for many years, and then as

brother; two aunts; one nephew; and

Florida, died on

Reunion Committee; he was also

an administrator for the Swampscott

several cousins. He was predeceased

Sept. 27, 2019, at 73.

a Parent of Women’s Basketball,

Housing Authority for over 30

by one brother.

supporting the women’s basketball

years. He also taught law classes

program. His career spanned the

at Northshore Community College

newspaper, education, and paper

and served the town of Swampscott

and plastics industries, including

as a selectman and town meeting

Richard P. Lague, of

positions at Immaculate HS, American

participant. Mr. Martin is survived

Malibu, California,

Michael C. Connor,

Can, James River and First Brands;

by his wife of 53 years, Julie; one

died on Jan. 4, 2021.

of Farmington,

he retired as president of HIDC.

son and his wife; one daughter and

At Holy Cross,

Missouri, formerly

Mr. Hart is survived by his wife of

her husband; six grandchildren; two

Mr. Lague studied

of Kilgore, Texas,

49 years, Paulette; five children,

brothers, Gerard J. “Jerry” Martin ’74

English and fine arts, participated

including Meghan M. Hart ’96,

and William P. “Billy” Martin ’68, and

in track and was a member of the

2021, at 75. At Holy Cross, Mr. Connor

and their families, including seven

their wives; three sisters; and two

Rugby Club; he later supported the

studied economics, participated

grandchildren; and two sisters and

sisters’ husbands. He was predeceased

College as a member of the career

in ROTC and was a member of the

their families.

by his father, J. Frank Martin ’30; his

advisor network and Varsity Club.

lacrosse and track teams. Affiliated

mother; one brother; and one brother-

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann.

with Naval ROTC, he later supported

in-law.

His brother was the late M. Laurence

the College as a member of the

Lague ’64.

career advisor network. He earned

Lloyd E. Hinchey Lloyd E. Hinchey, of Norwich,

Richard P. Walsh Jr.

aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

1967

Robert F. Burda

Mr. Burda studied modern language at Holy Cross and

1966

Richard P. Lague

Francis H. Shea

later supported College Athletics.

Michael C. Connor

died on June 22,

his master’s degree in theology from

Connecticut, died on

Richard P. “Dick”

April 21, 2021, at 77.

Walsh Jr., of

Francis H. “Frank”

and served in the U.S. Marine Corps

At Holy Cross, Mr.

Voorheesville,

Shea, of East

in Vietnam, attaining the rank of

Hinchey studied history and played

New York, died

Greenbush, New

captain. He worked for the Boy Scouts

basketball, and he was a member of

on April 13, 2021,

York, formerly

of America for more than 20 years,

of Mamaroneck,

retiring as a district executive; he then

the Catholic University of America

the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor

at 77. Mr. Walsh studied English at

Society. He then completed his J.D. at

Holy Cross and played lacrosse. He

New York, died on March 12, 2021,

worked as a veterans’ service officer

the University of Connecticut School

also graduated from Georgetown

at 76. Mr. Shea studied history at

for more than 10 years. Mr. Connor

of Law and first practiced law at

Law School and began his career

Holy Cross and also graduated from

is survived by his wife of 40 years,

Legal Aid in Hartford, Connecticut,

at the counsel’s office at the NYS

Fordham Law School, earning his

Janice; one daughter and her husband;

before joining Goldberg, Vasington &

Department of Civil Service. He then

J.D., and Columbia Business School,

four grandchildren; one sister; two

Berkman in Norwich. Later, he formed

went into private practice, working for

earning his MBA. He then worked for

brothers and their wives; and many

his own firm, Hinchey, Kirker, and

several years at a firm that specialized

WR. Grace, where he specialized in

nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Cummings, where he practiced for

in negligence litigation and criminal

real estate law, specifically the retail

He was predeceased by his parents;

almost 50 years. He supported the

defense. He later became an assistant

store market. He later worked for

and one brother-in-law.

College as a class agent and Alumni

D.A. before working for Lombardi and

Herman’s World of Sporting Goods

Board director, and was a member

Reinhard, where he practiced labor

and Marshall’s Stores, rising to the

of the Alumni Board Senate, Alumni

law. He then became partner and

position of vice president of real

Rev. Richard H.

Executive Committee, Holy Cross

head of the litigation and labor law

estate. He then became senior vice

“Dick” Tubbs Jr., of

Lawyers Association and Varsity Club.

department at Lombardi, Reinhard,

president – real estate for Petrie Retail

Pageland, South

Mr. Hinchey is survived by his wife

Walsh & Harrison; he was also counsel

before working as senior leasing

Carolina, died on

of 35 years, Deberey; two sons and

to Colonie PBA for 35 years and

manager for Strategic Resources

their wives, including Heather Brown

Columbia Memorial Hospital for 25

Corp. and vice president – leasing

Holy Cross, Rev. Tubbs studied English

Hinchey ’97; five grandsons; two

years. Mr. Walsh taught numerous

manager for Acadia Realty Trust. After

and received the Clio Award; he later

brothers and their wives; one sister;

CLEs on litigation and labor law,

starting his own consulting firm, he

supported the College as a member

many nieces; and one nephew.

and lectured on labor law at Cornell

worked for Marcato Elevator until

of the career advisor network. He

University, Albany Law School and

retirement. Mr. Shea is survived by

was the minister at First Presbyterian

the NYS Bar Association; he most

two children; two sisters; one brother-

Church of Pageland for 11 years. He

Michael J. Martin,

recently joined the firm of Whiteman,

in-law; four sisters-in-law; and

previously served as youth minister at

of Swampscott,

Osterman and Hanna LLP as of

numerous cousins, nieces, nephews

Derita Presbyterian Church. Rev. Tubbs

Massachusetts,

counsel. He supported the College as

and friends. He was predeceased by

is survived by one son, one daughter

died on April 13,

a class agent, Alumni Board director

his wife of 46 years, Ann; his father

and their spouses; one brother, Robert

2021, at 78. Mr.

and Regional Club president; he was

and mother; one brother; his father-

J. Tubbs ’69; three grandchildren;

Martin studied history at Holy Cross,

also a member of the career advisor

and mother-in-law; five brothers-in-

two nieces; and two nephews. He was

participated in ROTC and Student

network, Alumni Board Senate, Holy

law; two sisters-in-law; and numerous

predeceased by his wife, Kay.

Michael J. Martin

9 4 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ FA L L 2021

Rev. Richard H. Tubbs Jr.

May 2, 2021, at 74. At

1968

Arthur L. Johnson

Peter C. Landis

son, Sean

Peter C. Landis,

’88, niece,

Arthur L.

of Asheville,

Jay Clarke

Johnson, of

North Carolina,

’88, and

Jamaica Plain,

formerly of

grandson,

Massachusetts,

New York, died

Ryan

on May 20, 2021, at 72. At Holy

McWilliams

28, 2021, at 74. Mr. Johnson

Cross, Mr. Landis studied English

’22, all

studied philosophy at Holy

and environmental studies. He

followed

Cross, and he also participated

also participated in the following

him to

in ROTC, was editor of the

activities: Fenwick Theatre, Glee

Mount St.

student newspaper and played

Club, Paks (a cappella group),

James.

on the varsity tennis team. He

Purple Key Society, Today and

As a true

then served in the U.S. Navy for

WCHC (radio station). After

Irishman,

two years before his honorable

graduating, he worked at the

he was a

discharge as a conscientious

Catholic Free Press in Worcester

faithful

objector to the war in Vietnam. He

before earning a master’s degree

friend,

later formed the Legal In-Service

from the Columbia University

a keen

Project and co-founded the New

Graduate School of Journalism,

storyteller

England chapter of Vietnam

where he would later serve as an

and man of

Veterans Against the War (VVAW)

adjunct associate professor of

lived faith.”

before earning his law degree

journalism. A longtime New York

from Northeastern University

City television news producer,

School of Law; he practiced law

Mr. Landis is best known for his

in Jamaica Plain for more than 40

16 years at WCBS-TV, where he

years. Mr. Johnson also served as

was a news writer, copy editor

legal clinic educator for more than

and broadcast news producer,

18 years, teaching community

and for his more than 15 years of

economic development and

leadership at NY1, where he served

real estate law at the Legal

as news director and managing

Brian P. Burns ’57

Services Center of Harvard

editor. He also worked for CBS

(1936-2021)

Law School, Northeastern Law

News and helped launch a 24-hour

School, Boston College Law

news channel in London; he was

School and Suffolk University

the recipient of five Emmy Awards

Brian P. Burns ’57, of Palm Beach,

a senior partner at several leading

Law School. He supported the

for journalism. Mr. Landis is

Florida, formerly of San Francisco,

law firms in San Francisco. He

College as a member of the Holy

survived by his wife of 49 years,

died on Aug. 12, 2021, at 85. Mr.

served as a trustee and adviser to

Cross Lawyers Association and

Bebe; one son; one daughter-in-

Burns studied English and classics

the principal trusts of the Joseph

O’Callahan Society, and was

law; one brother, John R. Landis

at Holy Cross and was awarded

P. Kennedy family and in 1963

affiliated with Naval ROTC. Mr.

’67; and one brother-in-law.

the DeValera Purse (Irish History

became the youngest director of

Essay). He supported the College as

the American Irish Foundation. He

a member of the board of advisors,

served on the Ireland-American

President’s Council and Class

Economic Advisory Council from

died on March

Johnson is survived by one daughter; one son-in-law; two

1972

“Brian was the leader of

holy cross remembers former trustee

the class of 1957 in supporting the College financially and also with his passion and spirit, and was a great friend to all,” remembers Austin O’Toole ’57, class co-chair.

After receiving his J.D. from Harvard Law School, Mr. Burns began his career in law and became

grandchildren; five brothers,

Harold J. Bush

including Dennis G. Johnson ’69,

Harold J. Bush, of Flemington,

Reunion Gift Committee; he was

1995-2011 and was vice chairman of

and their families; and friends and

New Jersey, died on June 2, 2021,

a member of the board of trustees

the Fulbright Commission in Ireland

neighbors. He was predeceased by

at 72. Mr. Bush studied English at

from 1978-1989.

from 1993-1998. Due to his lifelong

his partner of 30 years, Barbara

Holy Cross and went on to earn his

Kaplan. His father was the late

master’s degree in English from

“Brian Burns was deeply

culture and history, Irish America

William A. Johnson ’40.

the University of New Hampshire

appreciative of the role that Jesuit

magazine named him one of the

and his law degree from Case

education played in his life and very

“Greatest Irish Americans of the

Western Reserve University Law

generous with his time, talent and

20th Century.”

School. A retired attorney, he was

treasure toward the College,” says

John E. “Jack”

an assistant attorney general

Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., Holy

Mr. Burns is survived by his wife,

Cashman, of

with the New Jersey Attorney

Cross president from 2012-2021. “He

Eileen Corroon Burns; seven

Las Vegas, died

General’s Office, then an assistant

served on the board of trustees, was

children, including Sean R. Burns

on May 10,

prosecutor with the Hunterdon

a passionate reunion leader for the

’88; 15 grandchildren, including

2021, at 73. Mr.

County Prosecutor’s Office prior

class of 1957 and was a champion

Ryan M. McWilliams ’22; niece, Jay

Cashman studied history at Holy

to opening his own law office in

of class-based support for the Holy

Clarke ’88; one brother, Michael E.

Cross. He is survived by one sister;

Flemington. He was a member

Cross Fund. He was immensely

Burns ’62; and one sister. He was

two nephews and their families,

of the Holy Cross Lawyers

proud that his father, John, was

predeceased by one sister; and three

including one grandnephew; many

Association. Mr. Bush is survived

awarded an honorary degree from

brothers, including Robert Emmett

cousins; and many friends.

by one brother; one sister-in-

the College in 1932 and that his

Burns ’55. ■

1971

John E. Cashman

dedication to and passion for Irish

IN MEMORIAM / ALUMNI NEWS / 95

IN MEMORIAM inception in 1980

law; one sister; four nieces and

studied French at Holy Cross

to 2014.

nephews; and one great-niece.

and was a member of Phi Sigma

“When Jack joined

1975

Iota (foreign language). She the committee, the

Michael G. Bristol

also participated in the student newspaper, Student Programs

endowment was $8

Michael G.

for Urban Development (SPUD)

million,” says Daniel

“Mike” Bristol,

and Cross & Scroll Society; she

P. Ricciardi ’06,

of Phoenixville,

later supported the College as

Holy Cross assistant

Pennsylvania,

a member of the Holy Cross

treasurer, “and when

died on June

Lawyers Association, GLBTQ

he stepped down, it

9, 2021, at 68. Mr. Bristol studied

Alumni Network, Parents for

was $750 million.”

economics at Holy Cross. After

Class of 2004 and Parents for

graduation, he participated in

Class of 2012. A graduate of

“His professional

Marine Boot Camp and Officer

Suffolk University Law School,

investment

Candidate School at the U.S.

she was the first assistant register

experience, coupled

Marine Corps Base in Quantico,

of Essex Probate Court for

with his institutional

Virginia. He was a math teacher

many years. Mrs. DeFrancisco

memory and

for 12 years and, prior to that,

is survived by her husband of

knowledge of

worked as an industrial engineer

41 years, Mark J. DeFrancisco

the committees’

in the apparel industry. Mr.

’79; one daughter, Jessica

functions, gave

Bristol is survived by his wife,

Henclewood ’04; one son, Justin

great comfort to

Barbara “Barb”; 10 children and

R. DeFrancisco ’12; one son-in-

various members

their families, including five

law, Dwayne A. Henclewood

holy cross remembers former investment committee member and trustee

and chairmen,” says John Fisher ’79,

grandchildren; one sister; one

’04; one daughter-in-law; three

former Investment Committee chair

brother; and many nieces and

grandchildren; eight siblings,

and member of the board of trustees.

nephews. He was predeceased by

including Joseph S. Trombly ’64,

“From the tech bubble at the turn of the

his first wife, Lynn; and one sister.

Hon. Charles W. Trombly Jr. ’62

John G. Higgins ’53

century to the Great Recession’s market

(1931-2021)

decline of 2008-2009, his insights and

and Kevin L. Trombly, D.M.D., ’69;

1976

sense of humor kept everyone focused

Michael W. Costa, O.D.

on the long-term goals of the College’s

Michael W.

endowment.”

Costa, O.D., of Wolcott,

and many nieces and nephews, including Patrick C. Trombly ’91.

She was predeceased by one son.

1989

Lt. Cmdr. Mary Jane Osmeña Perry, USN (Ret.)

John G. “Jack” Higgins ’53, of Andover,

Ricciardi calls Mr. Higgins’ commitment

Connecticut,

formerly of Osterville, Massachusetts,

to not only the College but also to its

formerly of

died on Aug. 10, 2021, at 89.

financial stewards “second to none.”

Mr. Higgins graduated cum laude from

“He mentored three generations of

and premed at Holy Cross and

Holy Cross with a degree in economics

investment professionals at the College

participated in the Kempo

and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.

and went out of his way to always give

Karate Club. He received his O.D.

“MJ” Osmeña Perry, USN (Ret.),

He served as a second lieutenant and

us feedback to make us better,” he says.

from the New England College

of Coronado, California, died on

spent several years in Korea, Japan and

“He was famous for summoning all of

of Optometry and served as a

April 6, 2021, at 53. Mrs. Perry

Okinawa as a rifle company platoon

us for breakfast at an ungodly early

local optometrist for more than

studied psychology at Holy

leader. Following his service, Mr.

hour before Investment Committee

30 years. He is survived by his

Cross and participated in ROTC.

Higgins began a 40-year career in the

meetings to pepper us with questions

wife of nearly 37 years, Anita

She later supported the College

investment field, working as salesman

and poke holes in our presentations.

Marie; three sons, two daughters

as a member of the O’Callahan

and regional manager, and, later, as

They are some of the best memories of

and their families, including six

Society and Varsity Club; she

chairman of the Boston Stock Exchange,

my career and a shining example of his

grandchildren; two brothers;

was also affiliated with Naval

and as a member of the board of

Jesuit education in action.”

three sisters-in-law; many nieces

ROTC. She served for 20 years

and nephews; several great-

as a naval officer, first hunting

Waterbury, died on April 27, 2021, at 66. Dr. Costa studied English

governors of the National Association

Lt. Cmdr.

Mary Jane

of Securities Dealers, which oversaw the

Mr. Higgins is survived by nine children,

nieces and great-nephews; and a

Soviet submarines and later

NASDAQ’s market operations.

including James J. Higgins ’84, Anne H.

best friend.

providing human resource support to thousands of service

Wakelin ’86, Caroline M. Higgins ’88 and

1978

He served the College as an admissions

Nancy M. Dankert ’92; 17 grandchildren,

advisor, and was a member of the

including Andrew J. Higgins ’17; one

Mary T. DeFrancisco

board of advisors, President’s Council

great-grandchild; three sons-in-law,

Mary T.

California and Washington, D.C.

and Class Reunion Gift Committee. Mr.

including Peter J. Dankert ’92; two

DeFrancisco,

She is survived by her husband,

Higgins was a member of the board of

daughters-in-law; and one sister. He

of Andover,

Capt. Ryan Perry, USN; three

trustees from 1997 to 2005, and was the

was predeceased by his wife of almost

Massachusetts,

children; her parents; one sister;

longest serving member of the College’s

52 years, Nancy; one brother; one

died on June

and many other family members

Investment Committee, serving from its

cousin; and two brothers-in-law. ■

9 6 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ FA L L 2021

13, 2021, at 65. Mrs. DeFrancisco

members and their families while stationed in Okinawa, Hawaii,

and friends.

ASK MORE 1991

Darin W. Darrington

in-law of Brian B. Baggott, M.D., ’78; William H. Bast 59; Walter

Darin W.

Cain, husband of Deborah Cain

Darrington,

of health services and father of

of Fort

Shannon Cain ’13; John Connor,

Lauderdale,

father of Kelsey Connor ’24 and

Florida,

Rachel Connor ’22; Jane Enright,

died on Aug. 31, 2020, at 51. Mr.

wife of the late James E. Enright

Darrington studied sociology

’53; Ruth Farley, wife of William

at Holy Cross and played

H. Farley ’58, mother of Kathleen

football; he was also a member

G. Shellene ’86, Timothy J.

of the Black Student Union and

Farley ’85 and the late Mark

Varsity Club. He worked as a car

Farley 85, mother-in-law of

salesman.

Colleen Farley ’88, and sister-inlaw of George J. Power Jr. ’53;

1992

Christopher G. Garrity

Elizabeth Flynn, wife of Thomas G. Flynn, M.D., ’51; Lawrence

Christopher

Foley, father of Shelagh O’Brien

G. “Chris”

Foley ’95; Rev. Msgr. Charles W.

Garrity, of San

Gusmer, S.D., S.T.D., 60; Gary

Francisco,

W. Haese 72; George Jongeling,

and Baja

father of Kristi Jongeling of the

California Sur, Mexico, died on

Office of Advancement; Patricia

April 9, 2021, at 50. Mr. Garrity

P. Kelleher, wife of Joseph E.

studied history at Holy Cross

Kelleher Jr., M.D., ’61; Joan

and was a member of Phi

Kindamo, mother of Jennifer

Alpha Theta (history). He also

Kindamo ’92; William Knapp,

participated in WCHC (radio

father of Harold Knapp of ITS;

station), and was a member

Kathleen L. Lovelette, mother

of the crew team and Varsity

of Stephen Lovelette ’78; George

Club. He then earned an MBA,

L. Mason III, father of Peggy

Marketing from the Walter

(Mason) Santhouse ’85; Norma

A. Haas School of Business,

(Swensen) McGregor, wife of

UC Berkeley, and worked as a

the late James E. McGregor

consumer marketer and creative

’63; William A. Miller, father of

strategist for the tech industry;

William J. Miller ’93 and Mary

he also DJ’d both professionally

E. Valentino ’97, father-in-law

and socially. Mr. Garrity is

of Sara Dodman Miller ’93

survived by his wife, Kristine;

and Christopher Valentino ’97,

one stepchild; his mother;

and grandfather of William P.

one brother; two sisters; two

Miller ’23 and Sean Miller ’25;

brothers-in-law; and six nieces

Col. George G. Noory, USAF

and nephews. His father was the

(Ret.) 55; Edward W. Paine Jr.

late Vincent F. Garrity Jr. ’59.

59; Angelo T. Pappas, father

Look Familiar?

I

f this photo brings back a flood of memories, we would like to hear from you.

We’re working on a story on The Pub, or, as it was known then, The 1843 Room.

If you have memories about the space when it featured long wooden tables straight out of Hogwarts’ Great Hall or tables lit by microscope lamps, email hcmag@ holycross.edu. We want to hear from you! ■

The Women of Mount St. James

N

ext year marks the 50th anniversary of co-education at Holy Cross, and we are already brainstorming ways to commemorate the milestone in these pages.

Is there a story you would

like us to pursue? Who are the unsung Holy Cross heroines we should honor?

What stories have gone untold and should be shared today? We welcome all story ideas from you, the women who lived it. Email hcmag@holycross.edu. ■

of the late James T. Pappas of

2000

Michael G. Davis

facilities; Ronald Reuter, father of Matthew Reuter ’02; Maura

Michael G.

Shaffer, sister of Julie Linehan

Davis, of New

Ridge ’87; Nancy S. (Carlson)

York, New

Smith, formerly of dining

York, died on

services; Rev. Richard S. Sturtz

April 30, 2021.

52; Kelsey E. Taylor 16; John

At Holy Cross, Mr. Davis studied

L. Varanelli, D.M.D., 56; John

psychology and served as a

A. Winchenbaugh, father of

Gateways Orientation Leader.

Christopher Winchenbaugh ’88 and grandfather of Alexandra F.

FRIENDS

Winchenbaugh ’25; Susan Wolfe,

Gladys Katherine Ali, mother of

mother of Kelly Wolfe-Bellin

Jihad Ali of Athletics; Virginia M.

of the biology department and

Backstrom, mother of Lee Ann

mother-in-law of Rob Bellin of

Baggott, M.D., ’80 and mother-

the biology department. ■

Seeking Washington Semester Alumni

T

he College’s Washington Semester Program is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

If you were a participant, we would love to talk to you about how it impacted your career path or life in general! Email hcmag@ holycross.edu. ■

IN MEMORIAM / ASK MORE

HOLY CROSS MAGAZINE

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01610-2395

Michael Luciano ’22 and teammates from the Holy Cross Rugby Club pick fruits and vegetables at Community Harvest Project in Grafton, Massachusetts. The food gathered was donated to Worcester area food banks.

AVANELL CHANG