WINTER T WO THOUSAND T WENT Y- ONE
VOLUME FIFTY-FIVE / NUMBER ONE
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t h e fa u c i 1 9 6 2 e d i t ion
COVID
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t h e fa u c i 20 20 e d i t io n
ANTHONY FAUCI, m.d., ’62
CRUSADER
America’s most famous scientist has become a hero, a target and an unlikely pop icon. How does he stay the course? “Fundamental adherence to truthful principles — that you learn with a Jesuit education — really fortifies you.”
B Y M A RY B E T H R E I L LY - M C G R E E N ’ 8 9
pa g e 3 4
HOLY CROSS MAGAZINE
WINTER 2021 / VOLUME 55 / NUMBER 1
BONUS MYSTERY PHOTO Do you recognize these snowball throwers or the seemingly unfazed Wheeler residents?
HC M TEAM
MELISSA SHAW Editor
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STEPHEN ALBANO Art Director / Designer
AVANELL BROCK Multimedia Producer
H O LY CRO SS M AGAZINE (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:
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One College Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01610-2395. Periodicals postage paid at Worcester and additional mailing points.
TABLE O F CO NTENTS
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Email us at hcm@ holycross.edu.
1 2 4 6 7
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34 Features 34 “I Mean, Is This Really Happening? It Is.” After a career fighting outbreaks from AIDS to Ebola, Anthony Fauci ’62, Hon. ’87 became a household name, the medical face of a pandemic and a target.
From the President Table of Contents Dear HCM, Editor’s Note Who We Are / Contributors
8 Campus Notebook 8 Snapshot 10 Spotlight 11 On The Hill
48
@collegeoftheholycross
@holy_cross
COVER P HOTO
76
54
96
A V A N E L L B R O C K ( P A G E 1 0 , 2 8 & 4 8 ) / LY N N C O D Y ( P A G E 2 0 ) / W H I T E H O U S E | T I A D U F O U R ( P A G E 3 4 )
60 Sports 60 Remembering Tom Heinsohn ’56 64 Crusader Life 66 Alumni News 66 Mystery Photo 68 HCAA News 71 Solved Photo 72 Creative Notes 73 Alumni News 78 For and With Others 80 Class Notes 86 In Memoriam 95 Ask More / How To Reach Us 96 Examine
54 The Long Intermission Despite a decades-long career as an actor and director, the most critical role for David Saint ’75 may be that of benefactor, helping
CO NNECT WI TH HO LY CRO SS O N SO C I AL M EDI A
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the country’s live theaters in, literally, their darkest hour.
48 Ode On a P.O. Box Holy Cross’ classic mailboxes may be gone, but their memory remains for generations of Crusaders.
20 Faculty & Staff 20 Creative Spaces 22 Bring Kimball to Your Kitchen 24 Headliners 32 Syllabus
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CO NTACT US Anthony Fauci, M.D., in his senior photo from the 1962 Purple Patcher (left) and today (right). Starting on Page 34, follow his path — and his Jesuit foundations — from Brooklyn to Mount St. James to Washington, D.C., to unexpected celebrity.
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DEAR HCM, hardest workers got to ride in the mail truck.
The Color of Holy Cross
Without trying, they
displaying Holy Cross pride while deployed in Vietnam
exemplified everything the
in 1971. “Whenever we were prepping for another
school stood and stands for
mission, the guys in my platoon were instructed to only
— men and women for others
ask for purple smoke from the supply officer,” says
— and I can’t thank you enough
Petrazzolo, a first lieutenant, Infantry, stationed with
for publishing this article and
the 196th Light Infantry Brigade in Danang. “That’s
reminding me how fortunate
all we carried in the bush. Everyone knew why — the
I am to be a part of the Holy
helicopter pilots, the artillery cadre, even a handful
Cross community, back then
of jet fighter pilots: It was the color of Holy Cross.
and today.
Everyone in Danang knew of the Holy Cross platoon!”
Ed Petrazzolo ’69 (left) shared this photo of himself
He notes smoke was used to identify a platoon’s
Mary Tennyson Mahoney ’98
position for a variety of purposes: guiding helicopters
Cranbury, New Jersey
to land and evacuate wounded, guiding jet fighters to know your position when they are firing rockets,
Must Read
and more. “You are taught not to handle the smoke
Thank you for highlighting
grenade, but simply toss it,” Petrazzolo explains. “In
Edward P. Jones ’72 (“Jones
the picture, I am holding it, which is a no-no, [but] it is
Celebrated in New York Times
obvious there was no firefight going on at the time. I
Series ‘The Americans’” Fall
was guiding a helicopter in to re-supply us with food
2020, Page 73). Sometime after
and ammunition.”
retiring from the Navy, I read “Fraternity” by Diane Brady.
The photo was one of a series shared between 1969
Right after that, I placed all
classmates and veterans last fall. ■
three of Professor Jones’ works
A Credit to Holy Cross
Number?” Fall 2020, Page 87).
Really enjoyed the last issue
I was fortunate enough
thoroughly enjoying all three.
of Holy Cross Magazine and
to secure a job there as a
Now, I recommend all of them
Following our
In Times Like These” (Fall
look forward to receiving it.
student and made some great
to my friends as “must reads.”
“There’s Something
2020, Page 46) contained
The College on The Hill has
friendships and memories
Thinking back to Professor
changed a great deal since my
in my time sorting the mail.
stay there; all for the better.
on hold, obtaining them all at
Painting Wheeler
the same time from my library,
Errata ”You Can Learn So Much
About Wheeler” story
an error. Joanna Geraghty
Emeritus B. Eugene McCarthy’s
(Spring 2020, Page
is a member of the class of
Whether it was breaking into
English class, Black Literature,
36) Tom Sienkewicz
1994. Holy Cross Magazine
Agree that Dr. Fauci should be
the song “Brandy” by Looking
I think what a treat it would
recognized for his work, he is
Glass each time the student
have been to read these works
a treasure and a credit to Holy
who shared that name received
in an academic setting. What to
Cross. Keep up the great work
a letter, or cutting up a colored
read next? Perhaps the books
with the magazine.
piece of paper to trick a friend
written by my favorite Holy
or classmate into thinking they
Cross DJ, Professor “Eddo”
his letter to the editor, Mike
painting their room.
Whether it is a response
received a package, we had
O’Donnell ’86?
Duffy ’71 mentioned his
“I think it was in the
to something you
Dick Harte ’57
Troy, New York
Exemplifying Holy Cross
’72 (top) sent in this roommate, Rev. Edward J. Vodoklys, S.J., ’72 (bottom),
such fun during our time there.
“Wheeler is Holy Cross” pin,
It reminds me how special a
which he still had somewhere.
years ago, the start
Well, I knew exactly where my
of our junior year
place like Holy Cross truly is.
Karen Tsiantas ’87 Capt., USN (Ret)
Norfolk, Virginia We were perhaps not the best
regrets the error. ■
shot of himself and
pin was, on my desk where it
fall of 1970, so 50
in Wheeler 2; but I
has been for almost 50 years. I
don’t recall the room
can’t remember when or how
number,” Fr. Vodoklys
it was made (or who had the
says. “We were in the
We Want Your Letters! read, Mystery Photo identification, Milestones submission or a story idea, drop us a line!
WRITE
While I always love finding
workers, maybe even placed a
Holy Cross Magazine in
note or two in the wrong mail
Wheelerbilia
my mailbox, this past issue
slot, but the staff there brought
I have very much enjoyed the
brainstorm to have it made),
middle of the corridor
One College Street
brought a huge smile to
us into their world, treated
memories of Wheeler House
but it certainly expresses the
on the Wheeler beach
Worcester, MA
my face as I read you were
us like family, shared stories
in your recent issues. I spent
loyalty we all felt for Wheeler.
preparing an article featuring
about their lives and taught us
two great years there (1969-71),
the post office (“Do You
the value of learning the ropes
where I made good friends with
Remember Your P.O. Box
— only the real veterans and
whom I am still in contact. In
4 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ WINTER 2021
side of the building
Holy Cross Magazine
01610-2395
looking out toward Tom Sienkewicz ’72
the old Field
Monmouth, Illinois
House.” ■
EMAIL hcmag@holycross.edu
DEAR HCM / 5
EDITOR’S NOTE
WHO WE ARE
CONTRIBUTORS
date, I believe more than 100 Holy Cross faculty and staff have participated in the program. That’s a rather long intro to the point of this column: Read Rev. Jim Martin, S.J.’s Examine on Page 96. Last fall, Fr. Martin (at left) presented a webinar, “Ignatian Tools During a Time of Crisis,” hosted by the Holy Cross Alumni Association. Over the hourlong event, he discussed how three basic Ignatian tools — Discernment of Spirits, Examination of Conscience and Ignatian Contemplation — can help people cope in a pandemic. Fr. Martin graciously allowed Holy Cross Magazine to include his discussion of Discernment of Spirits in this issue’s Examine and, if you’ve found yourself anxious or unmoored over the past year, I encourage you to read his words and also watch the webinar; a link is provided at the end of the piece.
Take Advantage of the Ignatian Toolkit
T
here are many benefits to working at Holy Cross, but to date, my favorite has been “The Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life.” Through this program, the College invites all interested faculty and staff to experience St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises across an entire academic year. Traditionally, the Exercises are completed over a 30-day retreat, but even Ignatius, nearly 500 years ago, understood that may not be possible for everyone. So he made a note in the Exercises stating that a person could undertake them while still living their daily life, simply setting aside some time each day for related reading and prayer. At Holy Cross, participants are matched with a spiritual director on campus and the pair meet weekly; the participant talks about their past week of reading, prayer and reflection, while the director listens and offers explanation and encouragement when needed. I know many of you have made the Spiritual Exercises, so you understand how powerful an experience it is. Given the demands of adult life, were it not for Holy Cross, I would not have had the chance to undertake the Exercises two years ago, and I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity. To
The three tools he discusses are introduced in the Spiritual Exercises, and I can attest that they, as well as everything I was introduced to over the program, reduced a significant amount of 2020 anxiety. I wasn’t carefree by any means, but experiencing the Exercises — and continuing to unpack them little by little (it’s a lifetime endeavor, I realize) — gave me a greater peace of mind than I believe I would have had otherwise. Do yourself a favor and head to the back of this issue to read Examine. ■
Melissa Shaw
Editor
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is a Brooklyn-based writer and arts
journalist. He has written for Vanity Fair, American Theatre, The Brooklyn Rail and other cultural publications.
MELISSA SHAW Editor
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marks her three-year anniversary on Mount St. James with this, her 12th issue. She is an award-winning writer and editor who has led newspapers and magazines in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.
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6 STEPHEN ALBANO
Art Director / Designer
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has been a part of the HCM team for over nine years; this is his 38th issue. Stephen earned his degree in studio art at Clark University. He is thankful that 2020 is over and that things next year can only get better ... eventually. He looks forward to celebrating all the missed holidays of 2020 and 2021 together in one monster festive hybrid bonanza (post-vaccinations) with his family and friends.
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AVANELL CHANG
Multimedia Producer and her husband, Daniel, wish you a Merry Christmas! This year has been difficult, but they are still finding much to be thankful for during the holidays. They are grateful to God for so many things, including each other, good bosses, the health and safety of their family and friends, the smell of pine needles, Zoom, their church, thrift shops and the birth of Jesus Christ.
WRITERS 1 MARYBETH REILLYMCGREEN ’89 writes: “To have interviewed luminaries like Bob Cousy ’50, Anthony Fauci ’62 and Billy Collins ’63, and to have written about Wheeler Hall and Hogan’s Mount Saint James Station Post Office, made 2020 not only bearable but, oftentimes, joyful. I am so proud and deeply grateful to write for my alma mater.” 2 BILLY MCENTEE
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3 MEREDITH FIDROCKI is a freelance writer who graduated from Bates College with a degree in English and French. 4 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. 5 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. She is passionate about storytelling, faith and social justice issues. 6 LORI FERGUSON is a freelance writer with a soft spot for education and art. 7 SANDRA GITTLEN is a freelance journalist in the greater Boston area. She writes on higher education, technology and health issues. 8 DANIELLA VOLLINGER is the founder of Grier Park LLC, a marketing and communications company. 9 BILL DOYLE is a freelance writer who covered sports for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette for 40 years. 10 REV. JAMES MARTIN, S.J., is a Jesuit priest and editor at large at America Media. His new book, “Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone,” will be published in February. 11 REBECCA (TESSITORE) SMITH ’99 and 12 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. 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. 14 LYNN CODY is the assistant director of marketing and communications for Holy Cross Dining Services. She provided photos and recipes for the feature starting on Page 20.
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CONTRIBUTORS / WHO WE ARE / DE AR HCM / EDITOR’S NOTE / 7
CAMPUS NOTEBOOK
8 Snapshot • 10 Spotlight • 11 On The Hill
The 42nd annual Festival of Lessons & Carols took place in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel this year, but in a new way. Due to the pandemic, the beloved tradition was moved online, premiering on YouTube on Dec. 18. The program featured musical performances from student musicians and vocalists located across the country, as well as readings taped in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel, such as this one by Elizabeth Griffin ’21.
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SNAPSHOT / C AMPUS NOTEBOOK / 9
SPOTLIGHT
ON THE HILL On the dashboard, the College monitors and displays key metrics and trends, and how they relate to each other:
College Announces Plan for Spring Semester Student Return
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n a mid-October email to students, parents and the Holy Cross community, College President Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., announced plans to invite all students who are able to return to Mount St. James for the spring semester, which begins Feb. 1. “Our plan is to bring all students who wish to be on campus back in the spring,” Fr. Boroughs said. “We will maintain strict health and safety guidelines and testing protocols in order to help protect our campus and local community. It is important that we find ways to be together and all of us will play a role in ensuring that we are able to do so.” He noted that “only serious community and state public health concerns will prevent us from being together on campus this spring.” The College is sending weekly emails to students and parents containing information on
housing, course registration, returnto-campus requirements, deadlines and more. While students who wish to return may do so, all nonessential staff will continue to work remotely in an effort to de-densify campus. This fall, the College established a twice weekly testing protocol for residential students, as well as those living off-campus and more than 500 staff. Hourly results can be found on the College’s COVID-19 Dashboard: https:// coviddashboard.holycross.edu. “Working with the Broad Institute and OneMedical, we will be scaling this up for the spring,” Fr. Boroughs said. “We are also drawing on the plans we developed for the fall semester and the knowledge we have gained through our own experience and that of our peer institutions to allow our students to live, learn and build community together as safely as possible on campus in the spring.”
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• •
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• The Effective Reproduction Rate (Rt) in Massachusetts. The Rt is the average number of people who become infected by an infectious person. • Certain information from the state’s public health dashboard. • The seven-day weighted average of the positive molecular test rate in Massachusetts. Number of Massachusetts hospitals using surge capacity. Similar information from the city of Worcester, including test positivity rate and average daily incidence rate per 100,000. Local hospital capacity. State guidance. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has outlined a four-phase reopening plan, which is, as of press time, in Phase III.
In November, the College appointed a director of COVID response operations, who will oversee the logistics of testing, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation spaces, as well as the individuals supporting those operations. The director will also establish policies and guidelines for spring operations and work closely with the College’s medical adviser. “I continue to be impressed by the resiliency and resolve of our entire community,” Fr. Boroughs said. “While we are not physically together, learning and engagement has not waned, and our sense of community remains incredibly strong.” ■
College Launches New Student Emergency Aid Committee
Every student who submits a form to the SEAC receives a response. “We don’t let go of the student request until it gets closed,” Rosa Martins says.
This onestudent-at-atime approach allows the team to pull in other supports as needed, such as BY MEREDITH FIDROCKI the Counseling Center or n September, the academic support resources, College sent an email says Amit Taneja, associate to all students: Anyone provost for diversity, equity experiencing an and inclusion, who led the emergency financial need SEAC’s formation. He notes — from housing insecurity that “often the emergencies to transportation to books linger on and can have — could complete an online a detrimental impact on request form and a member the student’s academic of the Student Emergency progress.” Aid Committee (SEAC), a newly formed staff group, Funding emergency student would be in touch. needs that fall outside traditional financial aid is “We wanted to make it as not new — the College has easy for students as we a long history of meeting could so that they don’t these requests, supported by have to retell their stories,” alumni and various campus says Michelle Rosa Martins, departments, Rosa Martins director of the Office of notes. But centralizing the Multicultural Education and process under a team who SEAC co-chair. can research available options is a game-changer “That night, we got a that puts the student bunch of applications,” experience first, she says. notes Robin Huntley, SEAC co-chair, student “When someone is in case manager in the Office need, it doesn’t help for of Student Affairs and them to have to relive that liaison for the Campus need and re-ask ... it’s a lot Assessment, Response & of emotional labor,” she Education (CARE) Team, explains. “Sometimes that which provides coordinated will stop students from support for students in getting the care that they distress. need.”
The staff-led group uses a student-focused approach to centralize and simplify emergency funding requests
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“We don’t want the students to ping-pong; it’s not fair to them,” Huntley adds. “And it doesn’t have to be an ask between the hours of 8 and 5. You can be on the website at midnight.” The form also gives faculty and staff a simple place to direct students if they raise concerns about financial needs. “Students sometimes have to deal with expected and unexpected financial drains, such as a death in the family, which might require an immediate response,” Taneja says. “To be a truly diverse and inclusive campus, we need to be prepared to meet the unique needs of each of our students.” Six staff members — from the offices of multicultural education, student affairs, financial aid, diversity, equity and inclusion, and College chaplains, as well as the Jesuit community — comprise the committee. Rosa Martins says the studentcentered collaboration across divisions has been a powerful part of the SEAC’s success. “Much of what we’ve seen this semester are requests for funding for academic support,” Rosa Martins says. These needs include anything from Internet access to higher-quality microphones for theatre or art assignments — all crucial for success in the remote learning environment. Rosa Martins says the College’s extensive lending library — with more than 1,500 textbooks students
in need can borrow for a semester — has been invaluable. If the SEAC purchases a book for a student, the title is donated to the lending library once the semester is over — further expanding this resource. Graduate school application and entrance exam fees are also common needs. “Funds to take the GRE or MCAT are not ‘emergencies’ per se but, nonetheless, they can be a barrier for our lowerincome students to live up to their full potential,” says Taneja, who hopes to grow funding for these types of requests. The committee meets monthly to plan and anticipate barriers students might experience, which also helps them communicate needs to donors. “In order to reach a state of equity, you have to identify the gaps that exist so you can create systems to fill those gaps,” Rosa Martins says. “The SEAC is one way we exemplify our larger commitment to cura personalis: care for the whole person,” Taneja emphasizes. “This is where we need to be focusing our work — so students can be present, they can thrive and they can be successful while being their whole self, while feeling like we are partners walking alongside them in the process,” Rosa Martins says. “That is my hope and that’s my expectation for living the mission through this committee.” ■
SPOTLIGHT / ON THE HILL / C AMPUS NOTEBOOK / 11
ON THE HILL
Holy Cross Community Breaks Records on Giving Tuesday 2020
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embers of the Holy Cross community donated $203,361 to the College on Dec. 1, “Giving Tuesday,” an increase of 120% over the 2019 event.
Holy Cross Named Among Top ‘Green’ Colleges in the Country for 11th Consecutive Year
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or the 11th consecutive year, Holy Cross has been recognized as one of the nation’s most environmentally responsible colleges, according to The Princeton Review, receiving a “Green Rating” score of 88 out of 99. In its “Guide to Green Colleges: 2021,” The Princeton Review chose schools based on a 2019-2020 survey of administrators at 695 colleges. The survey asked respondents about their institutions’ commitments to the environment and sustainability, analyzing more than 25 survey data points. “We strongly recommend the College of the Holy Cross to students who want to study and live at a green college,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-inchief. “Each and every one of the
outstanding colleges in this edition of our guide offers both excellent academics and exemplary evidence of environmental commitment.” In its profile of Holy Cross, the company cited the College’s commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2040, as well as active student participation in projects that promote sustainability on campus, such as the student-led group EcoAction. “Holy Cross receiving recognition for its environmental efforts for over a decade demonstrates just how committed this community is to a sustainable future,” said Cathy Liebowitz, Holy Cross’ newly appointed director of sustainability. “So many individuals from across campus come together in support of climate action. It’s inspiring to support this collective effort.” ■
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The more than 1,300 donors marked a 200% increase in participants over the past two years and represented 160% of the College’s donor goal for the day. “Giving Tuesday has traditionally been a day to share our commitment to serving one another; sharing our hope and purpose with others is the hallmark of the Holy Cross community,” says Tracy Barlok, vice president of advancement. “This year, everyone – our alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends – came together in an unprecedented outpouring of support to provide for each other’s needs.” Giving Tuesday proceeds will be dedicated to providing financial aid to Holy Cross students, championing diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the College community, and ensuring emergency relief to students facing challenging times. “In short, this support is dedicated to provide hope by uniquely caring for every member of our community,” Barlok says. “In a year in which we can certainly use a little extra positivity, such support is tremendously validating.” ■
Alpha Sigma Nu Inducts 31 Members
A
lpha Sigma Nu inducted 31 members of the class of 2021 into its elite ranks at a virtual ceremony in November. The inductees exemplify the Jesuit Honor Society’s values of excellence in scholarship, loyalty, leadership and service. The only honor society permitted to bear the name Jesuit, Alpha Sigma Nu recognizes students who, along with classroom excellence, have a commitment to and concern for the well-being of others and have made the most of their experience in a Jesuit academic community.
Candidates for membership are selected from the top 15% of their class, and from this group, membership is awarded to only 4%. Inductees include Gabrielle Beaulieu; Grace Burke; Margaret Burns; Ting Cheng; Carolyn Cody; Paige Cohen; Emma Davison; Emily DeMaso; Lauren Dentinger; Grace Doern; Ajah Eills; Matthew Elacqua; Joseph Ertle; Emma Flanagan; Caroline Fredericks; Luke Giuntoli; Elizabeth Goodman; Elizabeth Griffin; William Grimes; Bailey Holman; Clare Honan; Kyle Irvine; Jordana
Irzyk; Nanrawee Kitiarsa; Andrew Ludwig; Michael McGrath; Meghan O’Keefe; Connor Pijanowski; Valerie Shay; Bridget Whelpley and Caylie Whiteside. The following students will serve as the executive board officers: Emma Davison, president; Paige Cohen, vice president; Meghan O’Keefe, secretary and Joseph Ertle, treasurer. In addition to student inductees, Daniel Klinghard, professor of political science and director of the J.D. Power Center for Liberal Arts in the World, and Jessica Waldoff, professor of music, were inducted as honorary members. ■
ON THE HILL / CAMPUS NOTEBOOK / 13
ON THE HILL you’re going to change that around.”
in persevering through challenging times.
Prompted by a question by Alfonso del Aguila ’21, a psychology major, Fauci spoke on the most difficult decision he has had to make in his career, in a reference to his role as a leading member of the coronavirus task force.
“The critical thinking skills I developed while at Holy Cross fueled my curiosity, allowed me to evaluate different choices from multiple perspectives and helped me stay true to my morals and beliefs,” she said.
“When it became clear that we had community spread in the country … I recommended to the president that we shut the country down. That was a very difficult decision, because I knew it would have serious economic consequences, which it did,” Fauci said.
Fauci ’62 Talks to Holy Cross Students About the Pandemic: ‘Don’t Give Up Hope’
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nthony Fauci, M.D., ’62, Hon. ’87, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, joined Holy Cross students in a live webinar last fall to discuss the trajectory of the coronavirus pandemic and the best ways students can keep themselves and their communities safe. Fauci took questions from a dozen students during the Q&A session, sponsored by the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture, on topics ranging from virus mutations to development of a vaccine to global cooperation during the pandemic. “Pandemics are global,” Fauci noted in response to a question on
international cooperation from Zicong Li ’21, a philosophy major. “There’s no such thing as a provincial pandemic. For those of us who have spent years studying Latin and Greek — I always pull out my Holy Cross card on people when I talk — ‘pan’ means all. It’s a pandemic throughout the world, and countries need to cooperate.” He reflected on the disparate rate at which COVID-19 is affecting people of color. “I think that this outbreak has shed a bright, painful light for me on something that I have known for years, particularly from the early years of HIV, and that is the somewhat shameful disparities in health among our minority population — brown and Black people,” he said. “We’ve got to do something in society to get rid of that enormous disparity. The problem with that is it takes decades. You have to have a societal commitment that
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“But there was no way to stop the explosive spread that we knew would occur if we didn’t do that. And unfortunately, since we actually did not shut down completely — the way China did, the way Korea did, the way Taiwan did — we actually did see spread even though we shut down.” Fauci believes he has continued to find success in his role, including times he has had to speak truth to power, by ensuring all his recommendations are based on science and not being afraid to tell people what they might not like to hear. “You should never, ever, veer away from being transparent, being consistent and being truthful,” Fauci said. “I wake up every morning and I worry about the things that I don’t know … that’s what drives a good scientist and a good policy person.” Fauci also had a word of advice for students, as he touched upon the high numbers of transmission among young people. “You have a moral obligation to wear a mask,” he noted. “You have a societal responsibility to protect yourself, as well as the people around you.” ■
The complete recording of the live webinar can be viewed at www. holycross.edu/hcm/fauciwebinar.
Panels were held throughout the day via a virtual networking platform that enabled attendees to view the agenda, message other registrants and ask questions ahead of sessions. The community board was buzzing with introductions, and attendees were able to attend virtual meetup rooms to connect with fellow Crusaders on a variety of topics.
15th Annual Women in Business Conference Shatters Attendance Record With Virtual Format
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ike most 2020 events, Holy Cross’ 15th Annual Women in Business Conference on Nov. 7 moved to a virtual format due to the ongoing pandemic. What might have been a disappointing change at first ultimately enabled hundreds of women from locations across the country and world to come together to discuss entrepreneurship and finding success as women in business. This year’s event, hosted by the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society, broke its attendance record by doubling the in-person registration numbers from past years, with 423 participants, including 300 alumnae. “We were thrilled with the number of registrants from around the world,” said Cassie Gevry, associate director of the
Ciocca Center. “The strong interest from alumnae is a testament to the strength of the Holy Cross network and something we will continue to foster through the Women in Business network, even when we return to in-person events. It seemed that now, more than ever, women were looking for a way to come together to discuss their careers in business, and we were so glad the remote format gave so many attendees the ability to hear our speakers.” Participants from across the U.S. and Europe came together for a day of speakers that kicked off with a morning keynote address by Stephanie Linnartz ’90 (above), group president of consumer operations, technology and emerging businesses at Marriott International. Linnartz shared how her liberal arts education has been essential
New this year was Black Women Redefining Entrepreneurship, a student panel led by Sienna Ablorh ’21 and Dorean Asuako ’21. These entrepreneurs discussed their project, the BlackOwned Worcester Directory, and how in creating it, they found the true power of networking. The conference concluded with the C-Suite Executive Panel, in which alumnae shared experiences and lessons learned throughout their careers. Moderated by Susan Crawford Sullivan, professor of sociology, the panel was comprised of AnnMaura Connolly ’86, chief strategy officer and executive vice president of City Year; Judi Gonsalves ’94, chief internal auditor at Liberty Mutual Insurance; and Patricia Forts ’81, deputy chief of innovation and strategy at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. The lessons of the alumnae who have succeeded and paved the way for others were inspiring to the students in attendance, such as Christina Casey ’22, a political science major. “The ability to network with alumnae was extremely beneficial as I begin to prepare for life after Holy Cross,” she said. “The many speakers inspired me to look for meaning in my future career and helped prepare me to deal with the challenges that I may encounter in the workplace.” ■
ON THE HILL / CAMPUS NOTEBOOK / 15
ON THE HILL
‘Return to Me’ Offered for Lent 2021
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oly Cross will once again offer a daily digital reflection series for the holy season of Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 17 and concludes on Easter Sunday, April 4. Each day, subscribers will receive a reflection on the reading of the day written by Holy Cross faculty, students, chaplains, staff and alumni. This will be the seventh annual offering of “Return to Me: Lenten Reflections from Holy Cross,” which has welcomed thousands of participants each year. Here’s what some past recipients have said about the experience:
Cantor Art Gallery Exhibits ‘New Gilded Age’ Through Early February
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he Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery is presenting the work of Boston-based artist B. Lynch in the exhibition “New Gilded Age” through Feb. 5. A former studio art faculty member and director of the Trustman Gallery at Simmons University, Lynch studied Japanese and East Asian culture and Japanese theatre and performance at the University of Kansas, and in Japan as an undergraduate and graduate student.
is the catalyst for her multidimensional and immersive world of characters, complete with props, scenes and story lines centered around the “Reds,” whose wealth and privilege allows them to live a life of ease, while the “Greys,” the less fortunate of society, are doomed to lives of toil. Lynch takes photos on her travels to incorporate into her videos. A fan of puppets and alternative theatrical ventures, she modeled her two new stages, created especially for Holy Cross, after an inspiring visit to Toy Theatres in Germany in 2018.
Her interest in theatrical presentation
“New Gilded Age” presents a fantastical
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sci-fi world comprised of paintings, videos, dioramas and three-dimensional handmade puppets in various sizes, who inhabit sets that Lynch builds by hand. As visitors explore the worlds of the Reds and Greys, they will contend with ideas of equity and status, while drawing parallels to, in Lynch’s words, “the corrosive effect of income disparity on our society and democracy.” Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in-gallery visits from off-campus visitors will take place by appointment only. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, noon – 5 p.m., with limited Saturday availability. To book an entry time, email prosenbl@holycross.edu or call 508793-3356. Masks and social distancing practices are required. ■
“Thank you for sharing this Lenten journey with me, an alumna. Often, after a long day at the clinic or teaching my medical students, I found inspiration in the reading and reflection awaiting me in the email. This email Lenten series has been one of the best connections I have had with Holy Cross since my student years; I felt like HC put effort into caring for my spirituality.” – Alumna, class of 1980 “I wish to express my thanks for the daily Lenten meditations this year. I found them well done, some provocative and all of them uplifting. Your work certainly made Lent that much richer for me.” – Alumnus, class of 1958 “Thank you for the thoughtful meditations throughout Lent. Hearing different voices sharing their insights challenged me to consider and act on the invitations of the Lenten readings.”
– Mother and grandmother of alumni To sign up for the daily Lenten reflection email, fill out the form at www.holycross. edu/hcm/returntome. If you have any questions, email returntome@holycross.edu or call 508-793-3026. ■
‘Handheld Worcester’ Encourages Virtual Community Building, Civic Engagement
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oly Cross is finding creative ways to help students interact with and feel like a part of the Worcester community, even if they’ve yet to visit the city in person. The initiative, “Handheld Worcester,” provides a virtual tour of the city that students, faculty and staff can follow on their devices. A way to celebrate the city’s public art, architecture and monuments, the website includes a story map that can be explored online, as well as an option to subscribe to weekly emails that share additional information about featured sites
and links to civic engagement activities students can join to learn more about and feel connected to the Worcester community. “It provides a depth to their engagement with the city,” says Isabelle Jenkins, associate director of the College’s Donelan Office of Community-Based Learning. “During a semester of remote learning, this seems especially important, but will also prove a useful guide to the area when students are on campus in the spring.” Along with Jenkins, Handheld Worcester was developed by Sue Hunt, associate director of government and community relations, with support from Mary Conley, professor of history and director of Scholarship in Action, and Kathryn Hauver ’22. Handheld Worcester is part of the larger Civitas initiative, which began as a five-week educational leadership institute last summer. It has since expanded to connect students with virtual volunteering opportunities in Worcester and provide resources for those who want to engage in a deeper exploration of social justice. ■
ON THE HILL / C A MPUS NOTEB O OK / 17
ON THE HILL
College Names Vice Provost for Enrollment Management
Holy Cross Community: Keep Your Scholarship Alive Online
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tudents, faculty and alumni can give their scholarship produced at Holy Cross new life and an international audience by archiving it in CrossWorks, the College’s institutional repository. As a free publishing service of the Holy Cross Libraries, the platform welcomes submissions of College or departmental honors theses, faculty-sponsored research, and award-winning papers or projects, as well as the work of Fenwick Scholars. An open-access repository, CrossWorks allows researchers worldwide to access these papers and projects at no cost. “It makes scholarship available that might otherwise be stuck behind a paywall,” notes Lisa Villa ’90, digital scholarship librarian. “It also
disseminates work that may not yet be published, allowing it to be discovered and used by other people working in a similar field.” Authors must give permission to have their project housed on CrossWorks, which in turn can provide detailed information on how many times their work was downloaded and from which countries (see map, above). While access to the material is free, Villa notes that the author’s copyrights are protected and the author has control over the level of access assigned to the work. CrossWorks is a preservation tool, as well, serving as a home to physical papers that may otherwise forever sit unused in a departmental filing cabinet or storage box. For later scholarship, “so much work is born digital, sometimes
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there is no standard place for these projects,” Villa notes. “They get lost.”
Additionally, the platform serves as a way to highlight the research performed by Holy Cross students. “They’re doing such amazing things,” Villa says. “It’s an opportunity to showcase the high-quality and creative work our community is producing.” Students can also access CrossWorks to find inspiration for their own projects or existing scholarship to support their original research. For example, the most-downloaded student work in the repository is “Barbie As Cultural Compass: Embodiment, Representation, and Resistance Surrounding the World’s Most Iconized Doll,” a sociology department honors thesis written by Hannah Tulinski ’17, which has been downloaded nearly 12,000 times since 2017. Villa notes College Archives is looking to complete CrossWorks’ collection of
Fenwick Scholar projects. “Hard copies of projects have been scanned, but those are only available through 2015,” she says. “We’re missing several years of fantastic projects or lack permission to publish them.” Retired faculty can also preserve their research in CrossWorks, Villa notes, pointing to Richard Matlak, English professor emeritus, as one example. A scholar of English romantic poet William Wordsworth, Matlak had a life’s worth of research turned into a digital collection, everything from textual documents, old pictures and engravings to photos of a 6-foot-tall model of the Earl of Abergavenny, a ship captained by Wordworth’s brother that wrecked in 1805 (donated by Matlak, the model now resides in Dinand Library). “For retiring faculty, their legacy and scholarship can live on,” Villa says. More information on CrossWorks and details on submission can be found at crossworks.holycross.edu. ■
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ornell B. LeSane II has been appointed to the new position of vice provost for enrollment management at Holy Cross, Margaret Freije, provost and dean of the College, announced in November. In this new role, LeSane will oversee admissions and financial aid, and will report to Freije. “I am delighted that Cornell will be joining us in this important role at Holy Cross,” Freije said. “He brings valuable experience in integrating admissions and financial aid, and leveraging data for recruitment and enrollment. We look forward to his leadership and his engagement with our campus and alumni communities to help us continue to bring in highly talented and increasingly diverse classes to Holy Cross.” Prior to Holy Cross, LeSane was vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions at Allegheny College. “With great anticipation, I look forward to building collaborative partnerships across the Holy Cross community to help expand on the
College’s time-honored success,” he said. LeSane brings to Holy Cross 20 years of experience in college admissions. A member of Allegheny’s Senior Executive Committee, he led all aspects of enrollment and financial aid, balancing the college’s financial aid resources with enrollment goals. LeSane began his career in admissions at Carnegie Mellon University, focusing on multicultural recruitment in the early years and progressing to a number of leadership roles, which included leading teams and supervising and mentoring staff. LeSane is actively engaged with the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, for which he serves as a board director. He is also a member of the International Association for College Admissions Counseling and the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling. He earned his B.A. in political science from Hampton University and a Master of Public Management, with a focus in higher education leadership, from Carnegie Mellon University. ■
ON THE HILL / CAMPUS NOTEBOOK / 19
FACULT Y & STAFF
20 Creative Spaces • 22 Bring Kimball to Your Kitchen • 24 Headliners • 32 Syllabus
AVANELL BROCK
avanell brock P H O T O S B Y LY N N C O D Y
THE HOLY CROSS DINING STAFF, at work last fall, can't wait to see the College community back on campus and at their tables. Until then,
enjoy several dining services favorites, starting on the next page.
C R E AT I V E S PA C E S / FA C U LT Y & S TA F F / 2 1
BRING KIMBALL TO YOUR KITCHEN
Bring Kimball to Your Kitchen
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ince we couldn’t visit our favorite on-campus dining locations last year, we decided to bring them to you, in the form of these loved recipes from the kitchens of Holy Cross Dining Services. If you’re staying at home more than usual this winter due to the season and a desire to stay healthy, treat yourself and your family by making one or more of these Crusader favorites. These recipes have been scaled down from Kimball/ Hogan size and may need some tweaking to perfect in a home kitchen. Let us know what you make: See below for details. ■
Baked Buffalo Chicken INGREDIENTS • • • • • •
1 lb chicken breasts 1 cup buffalo sauce 1 cup bread crumbs 2 tsp dry ranch dressing dip mix 1 tsp parsley Cooking spray
INSTRUCTIONS 1.
Sautéed Cabbage with Basil INGREDIENTS • • •
Marinate chicken in buffalo sauce overnight.
•
2.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
•
3.
Mix bread crumbs, ranch mix and parsley in a small bowl.
2 lbs cabbage 1 tbls canola oil ¾ cup chopped fresh basil ½ tsp grated ginger Salt and pepper to taste
Coat each piece of chicken with the bread crumb mix.
1.
5.
Lightly spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and lay out each piece of chicken.
Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat.
2.
Add cabbage, ginger and spices and sauté until tender.
Bake chicken for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. 3.
C H E F ’ S T I P Leftover buffalo chicken can be great the next day on a salad or mixed with mayonnaise for a twist on chicken salad.
INGREDIENTS • • • • • • •
Remove from heat and gently stir in basil.
1. 2.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter in a mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
3.
Pour crumb mixture into a prepared pan, pressing down firmly.
4.
Pour half the can of sweetened condensed milk over the crust, spreading evenly to cover most of the crust.
5.
LINDA JESSE executive both recipes developed by
1 ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs ¾ cup butter, melted 2 tbls sugar 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips ¾ cup butterscotch chips ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut
INSTRUCTIONS
INSTRUCTIONS
4
6.
Kimball Bakery Magic Bars
chef, residential dining
6.
Combine chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and coconut in a bowl. Sprinkle mixture evenly over crust in a single layer. Drizzle remaining half of the sweetened condensed milk over the chocolate mixture and let sit for 10-15 minutes.
7.
Bake 20-22 minutes until lightly browned.
8.
Cool on a rack and refrigerate until firm before cutting into bars.
The recipe was originally created as a way to use unserved cheese from College catering’s cheese boards, says LYNN CODY, assistant director of dining services marketing and communications. On campus, it may occasionally taste slightly different based upon the combination of cheese available on a particular day. Cody notes “almost any cheese can be used for this, if you don’t have them all or have a few different ones, it will work fine. Cheddar is the only must-have cheese in this recipe.”
Crossroads Mac and Cheese INGREDIENTS •
8 oz elbow macaroni 1 tbsp butter 1 tbls flour 1 pint heavy cream 1 cups water ¼ cup milk 1 oz Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
• • • • • •
FRANCINE BUCK bakery supervisor
SHOW OFF YOUR CREATION AND ENTER TO WIN!
We want to see your Kimball creations! Take a picture of yourself/your family and any of the recipes
•
• • •
4 oz yellow cheddar, shredded ½ cup Pecorino Romano cheese, grated 2 oz American cheese, sliced 1 oz Muenster, sliced 1 oz Provolone, shredded or sliced
• • • • • •
1 oz Swiss cheese, shredded or sliced ½ tbls Gulden’s mustard 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce ½ tbls garlic powder 1 tbls salt 1 tsp black pepper
topping
• •
10-12 Ritz crackers 2 tbsp butter, melted
INSTRUCTIONS 1.
into prepared pan.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
2.
Cook macaroni according to package directions, drain and place in a large bowl.
3.
Melt (first) butter, and add flour and cook 2 minutes, add heavy cream, water and milk. Whisk often until sauce comes to a boil and thickens.
4
Add cheeses, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt and pepper. Mix well and continue mixing until the cheeses melt.
5.
Mix macaroni and cheese sauce together and place
developed by developed by
•
6.
Melt (second) butter, crumble Ritz crackers and stir melted butter into them, mixing well to incorporate.
7.
Spread buttered crumbs over macaroni and cheese.
8.
Bake until hot and bubbly, approximately 45 minutes to an hour if sauce is warm when casserole is placed in oven.
ED ROME senior executive chef
and
ANGELO BERTI sous-chef
A N N UA L FA C U LT Y & S TA F F C H R I S TM A S LU N C H E O N VA R I AT I O N
Gently stir in cooked, crumbled bacon and diced tomatoes to macaroni and cheese mixture before pouring into pan.
you make above, and send it to us at hcmag@holycross.edu. Everyone who sends a photo will be entered into a drawing to win a Holy Cross prize and see themselves in a future issue of Holy Cross Magazine.
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P H O T O S B Y LY N N C O D Y
H E A D L I N E R S / FA C U LT Y & S TA F F / 2 3
HEADLINERS
Holy Cross Welcomes 11 Tenure-Track Faculty Members for the 2020-21 Academic Year The new faculty members represent nine academic disciplines B Y N I C O L E TA J O R D A N
A The new faculty members represent nine academic disciplines: biology, classics, English, mathematics and computer science, philosophy, psychology, sociology and anthropology, Spanish, and world languages, literatures and cultures.
t the start of the 2020-21 academic year, Holy Cross welcomed 11 new tenure-track faculty members, joining the following departments: biology, classics, English, mathematics and computer science, philosophy, psychology, sociology and anthropology, Spanish, and world languages, literatures and cultures. The scholars bring with them a depth and breadth of expertise in a variety of topics, from cybersecurity and cryptanalysis to animal cognition.
A L E X A N D E R S . B R OW M A N psychology
I study how individuals psychologically experience and internalize social and economic inequality in their environments, and the consequences of these experiences for their motivation and outcomes. In line with these interests, I look forward to offering courses that help students understand the kinds of environmental factors that can influence people’s motivation, the implications for important outcomes (such as academic and job performance, improved health and successful personal relationships), and how psychological research can help us design interventions to help address these and other important social challenges.
ST E P H A N I E C R O F TS biology
Alexander S. Browman earned a B.S. in psychology and biology from McGill University and an M.S./Ph.D. in social psychology from Northwestern University. Prior to Holy Cross, he was a postdoctoral research fellow at Boston College’s Department of Applied, Developmental, and Educational Psychology.
Stephanie Crofts earned a B.A in biology from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Washington, Seattle. Prior to Holy Cross, she was a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign’s Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior.
What excites you most about joining the faculty at Holy Cross?
What excites you most about joining the faculty at Holy Cross?
I am most excited by the College’s strong commitment to helping students understand the importance of science, research and knowledge for addressing some of the major social challenges facing our world. I very much look forward to working closely with students in discussing these issues and the role that psychology can play in helping us find novel solutions to these problems.
So many things! The College’s commitment to a strong liberal arts education and dedication to excellence in teaching, learning and research led me to apply in the first place. Since starting, I’ve been really excited about joining my department and, even with the social distancing and working remotely, my colleagues have been amazing about reaching out and making me feel welcome. I’m also super excited about starting up a lab and getting students involved in my research. It’s been
How do your research interests influence
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the courses you teach?
PHOTOS OF IHMOUD AND WINARSKI BY AVANELL BROCK
a slow start, but I’m really hoping I’ll be able to have a student or two working on projects over the summer.
How do your research interests influence the courses you teach? Being a biomechanist who has worked in a fair number of different biological systems, I definitely come up with examples and anecdotes that my students probably don’t expect. My hope is that my background — having worked in a paleontology lab and at a marine field station — allows me to give my courses breadth beyond what students might expect and exposes them to biological systems they might not otherwise consider. My non-majors course students, for example, just learned a whole lot more about hagfish than I think any of them ever expected to!
KY L E C . F R I S I N A English Kyle C. Frisina earned an A.B. in history from Harvard College and a Ph.D. in American culture and English from the University of Michigan. Prior to her time at Michigan, she worked for many years as a theater producer and dramaturg. She comes to Holy Cross directly following the completion of her doctoral degree.
What excites you most about joining the faculty at Holy Cross? I am delighted by the College’s liberal arts emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and by its celebration of the interplay between scholarly and pedagogical creativity. I am also deeply moved by the Holy Cross’ capacious commitment to educating the “whole person,” which I have already seen modeled in the efforts of fellow faculty in the English department and beyond. Last, but not least, I am thrilled to arrive at such an exciting time on campus for the arts!
How do your research interests influence the courses you teach? The issues I grapple with in my writing and teaching are similar to those I faced in theater: How do artists set the stage for audiences? How do audiences engage
H E A D L I N E R S / FA C U LT Y & S TA F F / 2 5
HEADLINERS with a story? How does the performance of one body translate to the felt experience of another? One of my current research projects explores how certain works of contemporary American literature draw on theatrical aesthetics to make ethical arguments about citizenship and community. Another examines the intertwined tropes of invisibility and hypervisibility in African American drama. I look forward to engaging Holy Cross students in the possibilities, the pleasures, even the dangers of dramatic form. Drama is an ancient art — and an evolving one — that I believe holds countless lessons for our present day.
KAT H ERIN E LU HSU classics Katherine Lu Hsu earned an A.B. in classics from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in classical studies from the University of Michigan. Prior to Holy Cross, she was an assistant professor of classics at Brooklyn College (City University of New York) and director of the Latin/Greek Institute at Brooklyn College.
What excites you most about joining the faculty at Holy Cross?
Ting Gu earned a B.S. and an M.E. in computer science from Central China Normal University, as well as a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Kentucky, Lexington. Prior to Holy Cross, she was an assistant professor of computer science at Elizabethtown College.
I’m thrilled to be joining a small liberal arts college community where learning, co-curricular and mentoring relationships all contribute to the student experience. I was drawn to the College for its focus on the education of the whole person and was especially impressed by how the College values being “patient with ambiguity and uncertainty.” I look forward to joining a vibrant classics department that connects language pedagogy to community impact and ancient to modern worlds.
What excites you most about joining the faculty at Holy Cross?
How do your research interests influence the courses you teach?
What excites me most is the frequent interactions with students inside and outside the classroom, and the supportive colleagues here at Holy Cross. Students here are eager to learn and open to challenges. Colleagues are exceptionally generous in sharing ideas and offering guidance.
As a scholar of ancient literature, I study how mythological narratives encode social conventions and express ethical tensions prominent in Greek and Roman culture. These issues are often perennial — questions about the proper role of violence in society or one’s obligations to refugees — and I look forward to diving into them with students in future courses on mythology, ancient migration and refugees, and tragedy. I am also very interested in the pedagogy of learning Greek and Latin, and I am thrilled to join my colleagues in creating new language courses that bring students into direct contact with ancient texts as soon as possible.
TIN G G U mathematics and computer science
How do your research interests influence the courses you teach? My research focuses on cybersecurity in general and cryptanalysis in particular. Our society is more technologically reliant than ever before. Cyber threats and attacks are increasing in both frequency and sophistication. I believe cybersecurity background information is beneficial to our students. With this thought in mind, I often come up with various project ideas related to cybersecurity in my classes. By designing and implementing those projects, the students not only learn the security knowledge embodied in the projects, but also realize the importance of protecting their sensitive information.
S A RA H IHM O UD sociology and anthropology Sarah Ihmoud earned a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. and Ph.D. in social/ activist anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to Holy Cross, she was a postdoctoral
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associate at Boston University’s Department of Anthropology and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies.
What excites you most about joining the faculty at Holy Cross? I’m excited to join a department that values publically engaged scholarship and is invested in the power of the social sciences to shed light on urgent issues of inequality and social marginalization. I feel most privileged to join the faculty at Holy Cross because of the opportunity to build meaningful connections with students.
How do your research interests influence the courses you teach? My research has centered on Indigenous women in colonial contexts and conflict zones from a critical feminist perspective. One of the bigger questions that motivates my work: How do marginalized and/or oppressed peoples navigate structures of power and violence? How do they survive, imagine and create alternative possibilities for their communities? This question grows out of my experience as the daughter of a Palestinian immigrant and a first-generation Mexican American, and bearing witness to immense suffering resulting from war, occupation and displacement from the space of the diaspora. It shapes how I approach the content of my courses and the ethos I attempt to build in the space of the classroom, where I center the scholarship and voices of those who have historically been marginalized from the anthropological canon.
YU-J UN G LIN world languages, literatures and cultures Yu-Jung Lin earned a B.A. in foreign languages and literatures from National Taiwan University and an M.A./ Ph.D. in linguistics from Indiana University Bloomington. Prior to Holy Cross, she taught at Indiana University Bloomington.
What excites you most about joining the faculty at Holy Cross? It is an interesting time to start my first full-time job — everything is virtual, including classrooms, meetings,
supervisors, colleagues and students. Nevertheless, this virtual Holy Cross community made me feel welcomed, cared for and connected by sending informative messages and scheduling individual meetings to answer my questions. I look forward to growing in this supportive environment, and with the help of the whole community, to inspire and empower my students as well.
How do your research interests influence the courses you teach? As a scholar of phonetics, phonology, psycholinguistics and second language acquisition, I am interested in the phonological encoding of writing systems and its influences on first and second language acquisition, the tonal patterns in different tonal languages, how social factors influence people’s accents, and speech perception and production in second language acquisition. At Holy Cross, I teach Chinese language courses, literary Chinese and Chinese linguistics. When teaching Chinese linguistics, I plan to focus on the historical context, the social aspects, the psychology of learning, as well as the data collection and analyses. My hope is that my students can understand how deeply and widely “language” has shaped the order of our society, thus respecting and appreciating the cultural and linguistic diversity of this world.
M U H A M M A D A L I QA D R I psychology Muhammad Ali Qadri earned a B.S. in cognitive and brain science, an M.S. in experimental psychology and a Ph.D. in psychology: cognitive science, all from Tufts University. Prior to Holy Cross, he taught at Tufts University and Wheaton College, and was director of Tufts University’s Avian Cognition Laboratory.
What excites you most about joining the faculty at Holy Cross? I’m excited to mentor students through the process of learning about the human and animal world using the scientific lens. I think these mentoring relationships work in both directions, creating an
atmosphere for innovative science.
How do your research interests influence the courses you teach? My research is focused on animal cognition in a broad sense — how animals see, hear and process the world. Some of my courses are focused exactly on these questions — how animals learn and how they process information. Teaching how fundamentally different minds work directly comes out of my research in trying to decipher them and finding students truly capable of considering the possible strange truths of animal minds is always rewarding.
J A M E L I A H I N GA S H O RT E RBOURHANOU
and racism. I teach courses in political philosophy, race, Africana philosophy and the history of philosophy.
A N A I R E N E U GA RT E Spanish Ana Irene Ugarte earned a B.A. in Spanish philology from Universidad Complutense de Madrid and a B.A. in French from Université Stendhal Grenoble III in France. She also earned an M.A. in Spanish American literature from Universidad Complutense de Madrid and a Ph.D. in romance studies from Duke University. Prior to Holy Cross, she taught at the University of Scranton and Duke University.
philosophy Jameliah Inga ShorterBourhanou earned a B.A. in philosophy and religion from Paine College and an M.A/Ph.D. in philosophy from Penn State University. She was a postdoctoral teaching fellow in philosophy at Holy Cross’ Center for Interdisciplinary Studies from 2018 to 2020. Prior to Holy Cross, she was an assistant professor of philosophy at Georgia College & State University.
What excites you most about joining the faculty at Holy Cross? I am very excited to work with the brilliant students we have at Holy Cross. The best part of my postdoc was engaging with students who love learning and are dedicated to their studies. I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to work with them.
How do your research interests influence the courses you teach? My research focuses on the intersection of race and the history of philosophy. I am currently working on a book that explores the thoughts of a figure in the history of philosophy, Immanuel Kant, and his views about race and universal equality. I argue that learning more about the intersection of such views from the past is helpful to us as we work to create a more equitable world. I enjoy engaging our students in discussions about equality, inclusivity
What excites you most about joining the faculty at Holy Cross? In Spain, where I come from, liberal arts institutions do not exist as such. I thus look forward to teaching in a liberal arts environment that engages its students in critical and interdisciplinary thinking, social justice and ethics. I am also thrilled to get to know Worcester and its Latinx community better, as I am very excited about the unique opportunities that community-based learning offers to Holy Cross’ students and faculty.
How do your research interests influence the courses you teach? My scholarly interests focus on Latin American studies and the emerging field of health humanities. I examine the representation of illness, disability and caring practices in contemporary works of fiction from the Caribbean, including Indigenous literature from the Yucatán peninsula in Mexico. In my literature and culture classes, students explore how medical and literary discourse have historically intersected to create colonial ideologies. I also hope to engage their interest in how contemporary fiction from Latin America and the Caribbean undermines and resists these colonial ideologies through alternative forms of imagining (and experiencing) mental and physical health, corporeal difference and healing processes. Similarly, in the classes I teach (continued on Page 28) on Spanish language, I help students
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HEADLINERS develop critical and analytical learning tools to become interculturally competent. For me, the humanities have an integral role in shaping and transforming health care, health and well-being. I believe that the development of new pedagogical practices informed by intercultural and diversity competence is key to this transformation.
R E B E CC A W I N A RS K I mathematics and computer science Rebecca Winarski earned a B.S. in mathematics and a B.A. in psychology from Case Western Reserve University, as well as a Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Prior to Holy Cross, she taught at the University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Wittenberg University.
What excites you most about joining the faculty at Holy Cross? I’m excited to join a community of teacher-scholars. I’m passionate about using active teaching techniques, and I see the same student-centered values and thoughtfulness of pedagogy in my colleagues at Holy Cross. I look forward to getting to know the students at Holy Cross, supporting their events and engaging them in undergraduate research projects.
How do your research interests influence the courses you teach? My research is in pure math, specifically focused on geometry, topology and algebra. I’m excited to teach courses that reflect the intersection of these three topics, such as geometric group theory and hyperbolic geometry. My research has helped me to see algebra (specifically, a branch of algebra called group theory) as the study of symmetries of objects, which is powerful and beautiful, but not always seen in the standard mathematics curriculum. ■
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Faculty Film Explores the Indigenous and Environmental History of Holy Cross Professors highlight the history of the Nipmuc, the Blackstone River, the College campus and its surrounding neighborhood BY MARY CUNNINGHAM '17
A
few blocks away from the Holy Cross campus stands a sign marking the village of Pakachoag, which in Algonquin means “where the river bends.” While many have traversed Mount St. James over the years, few may be aware that it was once Pakachoag Hill — home to the Nipmuc, inland Massachusett people who lived in a series of settlements before the arrival of the Europeans along the Massachusetts/ Connecticut border, as well as some places in Worcester County. The sign is an example of what Thomas Doughton, senior lecturer at Holy Cross’ Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, refers to as “a presence of an absence.” While the history of the Nipmuc and Pakachoag has been marked to some extent, there remains a dearth of knowledge and remembrance of the land and the people who inhabited it. As the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Mayflower approached, Doughton, Sarah Luria, professor of English and environmental studies, and other Holy Cross colleagues saw an opportunity to engage the Holy Cross community in an extended conversation on the College’s relationship to the land and indigenous people of Worcester. This coincided with a charge from College President Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., in his 2020 fall address to rethink and memorialize parts of the history of Holy Cross. To bring the conversation into focus, Doughton, Luria and their partner in the film, Colin Novick, executive director of the Greater Worcester Land Trust, envisioned a film that would explore the indigenous and
environmental history of Holy Cross, eventually expanding the idea to include a series of events to contextualize the film. Their efforts led to the creation of the 1620/2020 Speaker Series and the film “Pakachoag: Where the River Bends.” Consisting of three panels over the fall semester, the speaker series brought together a constellation of voices — from historians, to professors, to students — to discuss and challenge some of the key notions surrounding how we remember and celebrate history. The first panel focused on the politics of commemoration and remembering, specifically exploring the topical issue of tearing down statues. According to Luria, one of the focal points of the panel was to ask the basic question: “Who is remembering what, where, why and for what reason?” This was followed by two panels focused on Wampanoag perspectives of the Plymouth landing: one on Wampanoag life before the Pilgrims and the other on the commemoration of Massasoit, the Wampanoag leader. Underpinning the conversations was a push to move behind the stereotyped, somewhat narrow definition of history that has been taught in regard to indigenous people, the arrival of the Europeans and traditions such as Thanksgiving. The series culminated in the Nov. 7 screening of “Pakachoag: Where the River Bends,” which captured a walking tour led by Doughton and Novick, documenting historic sites around College Hill. More than 200 viewers registered for the film screening and panel, which took place via an online webinar (the event can be viewed at www. holycross.edu/hcm/pakachoagfilm).
Sarah Luria, professor of English and environmental studies, and Thomas Doughton, senior lecturer at Holy Cross’ Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, at the Linden Lane gates. One pillar features the great seal of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, which depicts a representation of an Indigenous person. “Part of the narrative of Massachusetts has always included the notion that the indigenous people here were happy to encounter the Europeans,” Doughton notes.
Part of what Doughton wanted to accomplish with the film was to make visible a history that has been somewhat obscured over time. “We were really attempting to problematize the whole notion that Nipmuc people had disappeared to such an extent that Holy Cross alumni remember Mount St. James without remembering the Indigenous people of Pakachoag, who were part of the Christian community here in the 17th century; how relationships to the land are remembered and forgotten at the same time,” he notes. Luria saw an opportunity for the film to explore Holy Cross’ relationship to the land and its environmental footprint — past, present and future. One of the main responsibilities of the College community, she emphasizes, is to acknowledge that Holy Cross is on a river and the College
AVANELL BROCK
needs to be a part of the community that cares for it. “Landscape is an ongoing story of human and nature interaction, and we are in that story now,” she says. “We need to know about how people have affected this landscape and used it for hundreds and hundreds of years, and how we are now part of that group and we are leaving our trace with every decision we make.” Doughton and Luria’s efforts are resonating: Other institutions are interested in screening the film and Doughton notes he’s seen interest in the history of the land and communities around Holy Cross brewing among his students. “I think there’s a lot that can flow from an activity like the production of this film or the extended series we’ve done,” he says. “It can change the Holy Cross
experience for students.”
Looking forward, the pair hope that the series and film will spur concrete action and engagement. Luria would like to see the College build stronger relationships with the community and organize events that bring people together in a meaningful way: “I think that would be really great to the extent that we could build more ongoing relationships with the local Indigenous groups; beyond physical markers, actual human-to-human relationships and actions like river clean up.” Doughton hopes the project has provided members of the Holy Cross community with opportunities to learn, grow, reflect and consider their part in the conservation of history. “I’m concerned that history not be lost so clearly,” he says, "anything that we do to combat the erasure of the concrete history of this hill involving Indigenous people and other newcomers is really positive.” ■
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HEADLINERS
presence of the protein. If they find that syndecan-1 promotes tumors to form, that could lead to further testing on how to block the protein and, ideally, slow or prevent the development of certain kinds of breast cancer. And while Bellin is working alongside undergraduates in these efforts, he notes they are doing graduate-level work. “It’s a really interesting research environment, and one that I really enjoy working in, because we don’t have graduate students and post doc students working in our research laboratories,” Bellin says. “In most biomedical sciences laboratories, undergraduates tend to be primarily in an assistant role. But all our labs at Holy Cross are staffed by undergraduates and they are the primary researchers working with faculty members. I structure my lab so they are in roles that would be equivalent to what a graduate student would be doing in graduate school.”
Faculty/Student Research Aims to Discover More About Breast Cancer Tumors
B Y M A U R A S U L L I VA N H I L L
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rofessor Robert Bellin’s breast cancer research lab doesn’t test its theories on mice or other typical lab animals: Researchers use a postage stamp-sized chip, inside of which they create 3-D models that replicate the environment in a mammary gland, where breast cancer tumors can form. “The ‘disease-on-a-chip’ model is a state-of-the-art way to approach disease
situations without working in an animal,” says Bellin, professor of biology. And it allows researchers to create models of tissue that more closely replicate the complexity in the human body. Bellin and four Holy Cross biology majors staff the lab, where they are currently trying to understand which circumstances in the mammary gland cause tumors to grow and why some breast cancers grow more aggressively and are harder to treat.
The device they are using, the EpiChip, was developed by The Chen Lab in the biomedical engineering department at Boston University, where Bellin conducted research while on sabbatical from Holy Cross. His team’s hypothesis is that the presence of a certain protein, syndecan-1, helps promote tumor growth in the mammary gland, so they are using the EpiChip to create replica glands with and without the
(top left) A 3-D rendering of the EpiChip generated using CAD software. (bottom left) A diagram of a top view of the EpiChip labeled to indicate functional portions of the chip. (top right) A microscope image of a 3-D mammary epithelial duct grown in an EpiChip. (bottom right) A photograph of an EpiChip held in a gloved hand.
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That was one of the reasons Jason Cunha ’21 was interested in Bellin’s research team. Cunha wants to work in a biomedical research laboratory after graduation and then apply to graduate school. While he hasn’t settled on what he will study, Cunha is interested in continuing to work with “disease-on-a-chip” models like he is using in Bellin’s lab and feels wellprepared for whatever comes next. “My experience in Professor Bellin’s lab has been phenomenal. I have found that maintaining a close-knit and transparent working relationship with lab members is imperative to long-term success in the lab,” Cunha says. “Professor Bellin is by far one of the best academic and professional mentors I have had at Holy Cross. He always makes time to listen to all lab members’ comments and concerns, and he will use his extensive experience
and reassurance to guide us through any challenging or unfamiliar tasks.” And the lab ran into a challenge familiar to many in 2020: Members had to figure out how to continue making progress while working remotely. “One of the things that’s the hardest, probably in all areas of research, but certainly in biomedicine, is that even taking a short break feels like you’re falling behind. That was my real worry; I didn’t want us to lose all the gains we’d been working on,” Bellin says. “Plus, I don’t want to overstate it, but we’re working on breast cancer. It’s a problem we want solved, so we’re still highly motivated to push forward the best we can, even at a time when it’s hard to do that.” Brenden Lawton ’22 and Hunter Russell ’21 took the lead on remote work for the lab, focusing on learning new software packages while also thoroughly studying the published work of other breast cancer researchers. They learned how to use computer-aided design (CAD) and image analysis software, which are key to the development of new disease-on-a-chip models, and in the generation of data from experiments run using the chips, respectively. “Both of those were areas where the lab had a little bit of a connection, but we’d never had the chance to do a deep dive and have students really focus on that,” Bellin says. “I think you could say [the pandemic] made us be creative about how to use the time and that opened up the realization that there were things that we do not engage with as much that we should. If there’s stuff to do at the bench, that feels more fun than doing stuff at the computer. But the software work they did was very useful. All of us miss being at the bench, but we all feel that it has been a
really productive time.” While working for the lab from home, Lawton and Russell were able to develop new research questions: different environments to create and test within the EpiChip to see if tumors develop. Lawton said he was initially dismayed when the research project needed to go remote, but that the experience turned out to be invaluable for his growth as a scientist. “The online work that I did on this specific subject matter taught me how to create and follow a thread of useful information, narrow down and isolate important keywords that are characteristic of the subject matter, and has given me insight on how to read, evaluate and comprehend long and dense laboratory papers,” Lawton says. With these types of skills at their disposal, Bellin says his researchers who head to graduate school “hit the ground running, because they already know what it means to be in those environments” from their experience in undergraduate research at Holy Cross. And there are also benefits for students like Anh Phan ’21, who has worked in Bellin’s lab for the past two years and plans to go to dental school. “Working on research in Professor Bellin’s lab allowed me to grow immensely. I’ve grown in terms of professionalism, time management, multi-tasking, leadership, teamwork and more,” Phan says. “Professor Bellin has made himself accessible and approachable for any matter throughout my time at Holy Cross. Whether it was about choosing my classes, something I did not understand in our biochemistry class, or something about lab, he never hesitated to help me. I am so thankful to have a mentor like Professor Bellin, who has been so impactful not only during my time at Holy Cross but also beyond my time on The Hill.” ■
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SYLLABUS
Course Catalog PSYC 334 Eating and Its Disorders PROFESSOR Jumi Hayaki DEPARTMENT Psychology
Eating and Its Disorders with Jumi Hayaki, professor of psychology BY LO R I F E R G US O N
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rofessor Jumi Hayaki opens the Zoom meeting of her upper-level seminar on eating disorders like the researcher that she is, identifying the day’s focus — a form of treatment known as motivational interviewing — and inviting students to discuss their perspectives on the efficacy of the approach. Members of the class respond with enthusiasm, diving into a
lively round-table debate on the pros and cons of the treatment as described in the research studies and first-person account they have read and analyzed on the seminar’s discussion board over the past week. One after another, they share their thoughts, responding to each other’s views and interrogating the strengths and weaknesses of the treatment style. Hayaki (above, last row) gently leads the discussion, probing observations to expand the discussion, countering misleading conclusions and shedding light on the nuances of this therapeutic approach. As the first hour of class draws to a close, she teases the topic students will tackle in the next hour’s breakout sessions and asks them to
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ponder how best to engage patients on the issue of current self vs. ideal self. Students share a few final thoughts and then depart for a quick lunch break. “One of my favorite things about this class is that everyone contributes so much,” says Abbie Mokwuah ’21, a double major in psychology and sociology with a concentration in gender, sexuality, and women’s studies (above, second row, far left). “Class conversations really jump around, and everyone engages with the materials.” This is Mokwuah’s second course with Hayaki and one of her favorite classes. “Professor Hayaki helps us to understand eating disorders in a more in-depth way, and the
subject matter intersects with my major in sociology and my concentration in fascinating ways,” she explains. Mokwuah plans to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology and says that although she didn’t originally take the course with the idea of working with eating disorder patients, her views have shifted: “Based on my experiences in this seminar, I can see myself working with this population in the future.” Although Mokwuah plans to pursue a career in
DESCRIPTION This course is an advanced seminar in clinical psychology in which students explore select themes from the eating disorder field. How are eating and related disorders diagnosed, and do these classification systems fully capture their phenomenology? How do childhood influences and family dynamics interact with behavioral genetics to manifest eating pathology in childhood, adolescence and adulthood? Why were eating disorders so long considered “culture-bound” syndromes that only affect certain persons, and what were the consequences of these firmly held assumptions? Why do some efforts to prevent eating disorder onset fail? As students explore these and other questions, they critically examine the methods used and theories applied to acquire knowledge about eating disorders – as well as what we still do not know. MEETING TIMES Wednesday, 11:45 AM – 2:15 PM CLASSROOM Zoom
REQUIRED READING • Research articles from academic journals in the fields of clinical psychology, psychiatry, health psychology and public health • Scholarly editorials and reviews • “Book clubs” (first-person memoir excerpts) ASSIGNMENTS
(tailored to online semester)
• • •
Readings Pre-class discussion board and essay Final research project, including presentation (peer-reviewed) and paper
GRADES • Class engagement, including class discussion and peer-led discussion facilitation • Final research project (with scaffolding interim assignments) PREREQUISITES PSYC 229 — Psychopathology ABOUT THE PROFESSOR Jumi Hayaki, professor of psychology, earned a B.A. in psychology from Yale University and a Ph.D. in psychology from Rutgers University. She is a widely published clinical psychologist whose research focuses on processes of emotion regulation as they relate to eating disorders and substance use disorders. She has been a member of the Holy Cross faculty since 2007.
psychology, Hayaki notes that a long-term interest in the field is not a prerequisite for the seminar. “Most psychology majors don’t necessarily go to graduate school in psychology, and most who do, don’t do so right away,” she observes. “This course is open to any student who has taken the prerequisite course in psychopathology, which offers a background on ways of thinking about mental illness. We touch on eating disorders — anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder — in that course, but in this seminar, we engage in a much deeper discussion of the subject. We look at what the disorders are, where they come from, how we understand them and how we research them.” Over the course of the semester, students read a series of clinical research studies on eating disorders as well as excerpts from several first-person memoirs, Hayaki says. They discuss the implementation and efficacy of various treatment methods and the mistaken beliefs that dominate the field. “Historically, there’s been an assumption made by both the public and the research community that eating disorders only affect female, white, upper- and middle-class individuals and that’s simply not true,” she explains. “But, as a result, if you don’t fall into that group, you’re less likely to self-identify, seek treatment or be diagnosed by clinicians.” Many early studies of eating disorders
excluded men and people of color, so clinicians have an incomplete picture of the populations who experience these illnesses, she continues. “Many of our readings directly combat such historical assumptions.” Sarah Billis ’21, a psychology and religious studies major (opposite page, top row, far right), appreciates the approach. “This course points out how much we don’t know and how much the field of eating disorder studies is changing,” she says. “Examining the research demands both qualitative and quantitative analysis, something that encourages me to be very present in the discussions and readings. I love Professor Hayaki’s teaching style. She encourages critical thinking, present moment awareness and a constant checking for our own biases. She’s taught me to explore connections across disciplines and educated me on ways to ask and answer my own questions.” Billis says the class has also helped her find her niche in psychology and solidify her career path. Currently a senior interviewer at Holy Cross, Billis plans to work in college admissions for a few years, attend graduate school in psychology and then pursue a career in school psychology or school counseling: “I love learning about people and connecting what I know with data and research to help them get better. What I’m learning in this course will help me do that.” ■
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“I
Mean,
is
1958. this
REALLY
Happening?
After a career fighting outbreaks from AIDS to Ebola,
IT
IS.”
ANTHONY F A U C I , M.D., ’ 6 2 , H O N. ’8 7
became a household name, the medical face of a pandemic and a target. BY MARYBETH REILLY-MCGREEN ’89
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A
chemistry lab at Holy Cross. Freshman Anthony Fauci is conducting an experiment that requires what feels like hours of measuring, weighing and heating a solution over a Bunsen burner. The final step: Clamp the test tube and deliver the solution to the instructor. “While Tony was transporting it, it started to slip out of the clip holder,” recalls classmate Dennis Card, M.D., ’62. Fauci grabbed the test tube with his bare fingers, saving the experiment. When he set it down, classmates saw the consequence of this action. “It struck me how devoted Tony was to science,” Card says. “He grabbed that test tube and his fingerprints burned onto the glass. It showed me that the most important thing for him was getting the experiment right. “He wasn’t worried about the pain.”
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H.W. Bush, to Bill Clinton, to George W. Bush, to Barack Obama, and now to Donald Trump, I have maintained this consistency. “And you build a reputation.” In consistently focusing on the hard work of helping people understand health crises, Fauci heeds the imperative implicit in the Jesuit tradition of men and women for others, says Rev. Gregory A. Kalscheur, S.J., dean of Boston College’s Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences and a member of Holy Cross’ board of trustees. “The Jesuit education that Dr. Fauci got, I’m sure, taught him how to think critically, to engage in questions of depth, to communicate effectively, and it also probably oriented him toward questions of purpose: ‘Why do I do this? What should I be doing?’ So it’s combining the intellectual rigor with a desire to serve for the greater good that exemplifies the Jesuit educational ideal.
More than 60 years later, COVID-19 has laid siege to the world, with cases over 72 million and casualties exceeding 1.6 million. And Anthony Fauci, M.D., ’62, Hon. ’87, the nation’s top allergy and infectious diseases expert, has witnessed a country at turns scared and angry. He’s heard crowds chant “Fire Fauci.” He’s received death threats. His wife and children have been harassed.
epidemiology and virology — and then gotten into the situation he was in last winter and spring — would say to ourselves, ‘Well, I’m 80 years old, I really don’t need to keep doing this,’” Card says.
What pain 2020 may have inflicted on Fauci is not enough, however, to throw him off course: “I’m a physician. I’m a scientist. I’m a public health official. And my main goal is to preserve and protect the health and welfare of the American public,” he says, “and by extrapolation the health and safety and welfare of the rest of the world, because we’re a leader in these types of things.”
This will be Fauci’s 37th year as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, serving his seventh United States president. In the long, strange trip that was 2020, Fauci became an inadvertent celebrity for his equanimous plainspokenness — delivered with that trademark Brooklyn accent — at White House press briefings. Holy Cross alumni say they recognize in Fauci echoes of their shared Jesuit education, coupled with an unwavering dedication to science and public service that has inoculated the doctor against criticism.
Card continues to be impressed by his classmate’s dedication to science all these decades later. “I think any of us who, had we the smarts and the determination to accomplish what Tony’s accomplished in public health,
“But Tony, well, I think he’s going to stick it out because if he doesn’t do it, there’s nobody else who can.”
“One of the things I learned the first
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“It’s sharpness of mind in service to a greater end — service to the community — so that the community can flourish.”
(above) Hanselman I and IV posed for a group photo for the 1961 Purple Patcher. Fauci can be seen pulled out, in the front row, second from right.
VIRI MULIERESQUE PRO ALIIS ~
Men and women for others
time I ever briefed a president, President Ronald Reagan, is that you have to make a decision when you’re speaking truth to power that you should not be concerned about wanting to be liked,” Fauci says. “Because once you start entering that into your equation, you might, subconsciously, slip into the situation where you tell somebody what you think they want to hear. And that is not truth. “So fundamental adherence to truthful principles — that you learn with a Jesuit education — really fortifies you. I made the decision 36 years ago when I had to tell Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush bad news about HIV that they didn’t want to hear. I gave them the cold truth, realizing that either they’re going to accept me, respect me and ask me back, or get annoyed that I’m bothering them with these inconvenient truths, as Al Gore used to say. And over the years, from Ronald Reagan to George
1940-1950s. The Catholic ItalianAmerican community of Bensonhurst, New York – home to Jackie Gleason’s “The Honeymooners” – was a place where you’d find front lawn shrines to Jesus and the Blessed Virgin, and residents would close down city streets to march in processions on saints’ feast days. It was that kind of safe, close-knit community where pharmacist Stephen Fauci could employ his son to deliver prescription medication from the time the boy was old enough to ride a bike.
(top) The 1961-62 Holy Cross Biology Society executive board consisted of, from left: Edward Eldridge, M.D., ’62, president; Robert Stanley, D.M.D, ’62, secretary; Fauci, treasurer; and John Lent, M.D., ’62, vice president. (above) A student dissects a cat in the class of the legendary Rev. Joseph F. Busam, S.J., head of the premedical and predental programs. “Fr. Busam basically told you whether you were going to go to medical school or not,” notes Dennis Card, M.D., ’62.
“I would take my Schwinn with this little basket and deliver prescriptions to Bensonhurst and the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn, and you got to see people in the context of their diseases, and you realized that not everything was all well and good with everybody every single day,” Fauci recalls. “And I thought that was a good lesson that also got me
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interested in medicine.” Fauci was an excellent student and gained admission to the prestigious Regis High School in Manhattan, an all-male Jesuit school. Robert Stanley, D.M.D., ’62 met Fauci when they were freshmen in high school. “We were both trying out for the basketball team, which he made, and I didn’t,” Stanley recalls. “He became captain of the team and was a great player.” Fauci’s performance in the academic arena also impressed Stanley: “We took four years of Latin, three years of Greek and two years of French. And one thing about Tony was that he was one of the experts in Greek. When we were seniors, Tony and a group of students who were members of the Greek Academy would go to Yale and have discussions with the faculty on ‘The Iliad’ and ‘The Odyssey’ — in Greek. That sort of explains the brilliance of his mind.” Later, at Holy Cross, the two men would
(left) With family in Bensonhurst, counterclockwise from left: Fauci; family friend Alfred Restaino; Fauci’s grandfather Giovanni Abys; grandmother Emilia Trematerra Abys; sister, Denise; and mother, Eugenia. (right) Stephen Fauci’s pharmacy at 13th Avenue and 83rd Street in Brooklyn.
enroll in the A.B. Greek premed program run by the formidable Rev. Joseph F. Busam, S.J., chairman of the premedical and predental programs. “Fr. Busam basically told you whether you were going to go to medical school or not,” Card recalls. “And there were those of us to whom he said, ‘Well, I don’t know.’ Fr. Busam had, over the decades, established a very positive reputation with the medical school admissions committees. And he was definitely pretty good at picking out who would do well where. “And, so, he would say, ‘OK, well, these are your choices’ and you could be pretty sure you would get in if you applied to one of the places that he thought you should apply to.” Fauci smiles at the mention of his major
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(left) Fauci was a point guard for the Regis High School basketball team and captain his senior year: “He was just a ball of fire,” Regis alumnus John Zeman told The Wall Street Journal in March 2020. “He would literally dribble through a brick wall.” (top middle) At his confirmation at age 12 with his godfather, Andrew Scafidi. (bottom middle) In his first year at Cornell University Medical College, where he graduated first in his class. (right) In his lab at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, where he has worked for the past 48 years.
and Fr. Busam. “I still can’t explain to people today what A.B. comma Greek comma premed meant,” he says with a grin. But the program served all of Fauci’s intellectual interests. “We took just enough science to get into medical school. You know, we had Fr. Busam for biology, chemistry and physics, but we also took a lot of philosophy courses. And the humanities are such an important part of me as a physician-scientist and public health figure. “That was the reason I went into medicine because fundamentally as a person growing up being influenced greatly by the Jesuit tradition, I was more interested in the humanities and human nature than I was in human physiology, but at Regis I found I also really liked science — and I was good at
it,” Fauci says. “So, I said to myself, what could it be to combine the humanities with science and medicine, and [the A.B. Greek premed program] was absolutely a natural marriage of the two because you really got a feel for the nature of evolving civilizations and how they related to each other and what mankind is and is not. “And that triggered my intense interest in global health,” he continues. “And with that comes an understanding of the disparities in the world, which I’m very sensitive to. That you still now, in 2020, have a couple of hundred thousand babies in Africa dying each year from malaria or tuberculosis or HIV, or the fact that there’s racial and ethnic health disparities ...” He pauses. “All of these things are totally big flags on my radar screen that, if I wasn’t deeply entrenched
in the humanities, I might be a little bit cold to and not fully appreciate how important it was to address those things.
get very tense and uptight when they came under the kind of pressure that existed at Holy Cross, but Tony thrived on it. And you’re witnessing that today when you watch him dealing with the government and the public.
“I’m sure that people who did nothing but physics and chemistry do feel the same way I do. I don’t think I have a lock on that,” he continues. “But, for me, that my training in the humanities made me much more receptive to all of these things in society is integrally related to my role as a physician, a scientist and a public health official.”
“He’s become known as America’s doctor because he’s handled himself with such eloquent elegance and equanimity,” Deckers adds. “He has an evenness of soul and spirit. He doesn’t argue from emotion. He argues from science.”
Peter Deckers, M.D., ’62 says much of what the public admires in Fauci was apparent from youth: “He came from a family where the work ethic was over the top and the commitment to excellence was as strong as it could be. He brought those gifts to Holy Cross with him. Some of the students could
Fauci is one of the 40 most-cited living researchers in peer-reviewed journals in the history of medicine, and he also knows how to make his meaning clear to a broad spectrum of people, says classmate Jim Mulvihill, D.M.D., ’62. “He’s one of the best, if not the best, people you’ll ever hear explain science
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were going with clinical trials, Larry noticed that. And that’s when, all of a sudden, I went from being the devil to his hero.” Journalist Andrew Miller was one of the ACT UP activists who, on May 21, 1990, occupied the National Institutes of Health (NIH), staging a “die-in” to protest the U.S. government’s inaction on the AIDS crisis — particularly its lack of funding for and urgency surrounding research into treatments and cures. Like Fauci, Miller regards the event as a critical moment in AIDS activism, a turning of the tide. “If you think about it, he’s this Italian Catholic from Brooklyn who grew up at a time and in an environment hostile to gay people,” Miller says. “I think it’s to his credit that he was persuadable, especially because we were so mean to him — much as we were to most local, state and federal health department officials. But unlike many others, Fauci listened to us and responded constructively.
(clockwise from top left) Autographed photo from President Ronald Reagan; Nancy Sullivan, of the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), discussing Ebola research with President Barack Obama as NIAID Director Fauci and Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell look on; President George H.W. Bush talks with Fauci at the NIH’s 100th anniversary event in 1987; walking President Bill Clinton through HIV treatment strategies; shaking hands with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office after signing an executive order for flu vaccines in September 2019.
— whether to a senator or to the average layman — what’s going on with whatever, with HIV, with COVID, whatever.” Fauci, Card, Stanley and Mulvihill waited tables together at Kimball Dining Hall, for which they were paid $2 a meal; they took pride in defraying the cost of tuition for their parents. Serving their classmates in this way offered a different education: You learned to be organized, efficient and quick. “There was a camaraderie there,” Card recalls. “Each of us had three tables we were responsible for and we would get these platters of meat, vegetables and potatoes on these large 3-foot oval, aluminum trays and put them up waiter-style on the flats of our hands and bring them to the assigned tables.”
delivering prescriptions, waiting tables and working construction summers during college offered insights into what mattered to regular folks: health, welfare and employment. “I really got a good taste of what the hardworking man or woman has to do, like the people who are outside my window right now, you know, doing landscaping or fixing potholes,” he says. “I’ve done that. I understand them. “And now that I’m in a somewhat privileged position, I have an intense empathy for people.”
Mornings were hectic, Mulvihill recalls: “I’d get there by quarter of seven in the morning and have 45 minutes before the thundering herd arrived. I’d set up my tables, grab a couple of those great pastries that came right out of the oven and also do a little bit of studying.”
On occasion, that empathy has prompted Fauci to refuse offers of career advancement from men unused to hearing “no” for an answer. Mulvihill recalls trying to call his friend one evening and getting a busy signal for hours. “When I got through, I asked Tony what was happening and he said, ‘It took me a long time to persuade President Bush that I shouldn’t lead the whole NIH.’
For Fauci, his combined experience of
“I believe Tony had opportunities
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(above) Fauci received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, in June 2008 from President George W. Bush (here in the Oval Office with his wife, Laura Bush). In 2003, President Bush enlisted Fauci in the creation of The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, an international initiative credited with preventing millions of HIV infections.
to head the NIH from at least three presidents,” Mulvihill continues. “But Tony was doggedly after HIV at the time and he said, ‘I want to stay here and try to solve this problem.’”
CURA PERSONALIS ~
Care for the entire person
1981. Young, otherwise healthy gay men are getting sick and dying of an unnamed disease and the government and medical profession are slow to act. AIDS activist Larry Kramer forms the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and trains his frustration on Fauci, publishing in 1988 an open letter in the San Francisco Examiner in which he calls Fauci a killer and “an incompetent idiot.” When Kramer died last May, he counted Fauci among his good friends. “The friendship was a gradual process because Larry was very reluctant to
admit that we were really on the same page. He fought that,” Fauci says with a smile. “It pained him to become my friend. It pained him finally to say that he loved me when, in fact, it was so much easier for him to see me as the devil incarnate.” Fauci, though, understood that Kramer’s anger was at an institution, not a person: “He was calling the government a murderer and an incompetent idiot, and I was the face of the government at the time. “Most every scientist and every regulator was completely intimidated and put aback by the activists’ iconoclastic behavior, so that’s when I said, you know, let me listen to what they’re saying,” he continues. “And once I started to listen, it became clear that they were making perfect sense. And once I let them into the inner circle of discussing where we
“Given his experience and his levelheaded approach to combating the current COVID-19 pandemic, I really hope he stays at the NIH for the foreseeable future.” In 2003, President George W. Bush enlisted Fauci in the creation of The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), an international initiative credited with preventing millions of HIV infections, which has invested more than $85 billion in a global battle with HIV/AIDS. “And because of the drugs that we developed in my institute, HIV has gone from being a complete death sentence to people living essentially normal lives with one pill a day,” Fauci says. His commitment to HIV research and PEPFAR brought his work to the attention of a certain international activist. Like Fauci, he’s a rockstar in his field. “Bono wanted to talk to me at the time I was putting PEPFAR together. He flew
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(above left) Protesters demand faster access to HIV/AIDS treatment at a demonstration in front of the Food and Drug Administration building in Rockville, Maryland, in October 1988. (above right) Drs. Lee Hall and Fauci examine a participant in an early AIDS study. Thanks to drugs developed under Fauci’s leadership at the NIH, HIV has “gone from being a complete death sentence to people living essentially normal lives with one pill a day,” he says. (bottom left) Fauci receives an honorary degree in 1987 from Holy Cross President Rev. John Brooks, S.J., ’49.
“I put together a pasta dinner, and then we went deep into the night talking about HIV.”
in on his private jet and wanted to find a place to meet,” Fauci recalls with an ear-to-ear grin. “I said, ‘Just come to the house and knock on the door.’ And I just was in a mischievous moment. I said to my oldest daughter, who was about 13 and a great fan of Bono, ‘A couple of people from my office are going to come over to the house this evening for dinner. I’m going to be in my office when the doorbell rings, so just let them in.’
“So the doorbell rings and the door opens and I hear this scream and, ‘Daddy, Bono’s at the door!’ It was phenomenal. She just couldn’t believe it. And to Bono’s great credit — he’s such an amazing guy — he spent the first half hour of the visit playing around with my kids, taking pictures and talking to them about things. This is the rock star of the century spending time with my children.
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Decades later, the two remain good friends. When Fauci was named 2020 Federal Employee of the Year last October, Bono capped a parade of Hollywood A-listers and well-wishers — Sharon Stone, Matthew McConaughey, Eugene Levy and Bryan Cranston among them — in a virtual tribute that felt more like the Oscars’ Lifetime Achievement Award presentation than a celebration of civil servants. “Anthony Fauci’s work has saved, literally, millions of lives,” Bono said in his address. “Tony, we love you; we honor you; we thank God for you.”
(top right) Bob Cousy ’50 and Fauci in November 2010 at Holy Cross’ inaugural Joseph E. Murray ’40 Distinguished Lectureship in Medicine. (bottom right) Fauci is embraced by Bono: rockstar, social justice activist and Fauci family dinner guest. (above) Fauci with classmates Peter Deckers, M.D., Department of Surgery chair at UConn Health (left), and James Mulvihill, D.M.D., former vice president for health affairs at UConn Health (right) at commencement exercises for the Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine at the University of Connecticut. Fauci was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree and was commencement speaker in May 1994.
CERTA BONUM CERTAMEN ~ Fight the good fight
2020. Anthony Fauci’s nightmare is reality: The world is in the grip of a pandemic. He predicted it five years earlier in a “60 Minutes” interview. Asked what kept him up at night, Fauci replied, “An influenza-like respiratoryborne virus that’s easily transmittable to which the population of the world has very little if any immunity against and that has a high degree of morbidity and mortality.” At the time of this article’s writing, the United States is reporting 16 million cases of COVID-19 and mourning nearly 300,000 dead Americans. Fauci’s pleas to the American public to wear masks, maintain 6 feet of physical distance, avoid crowds, opt for outdoor activities and wash hands frequently have come to be seen by some as an infringement of civil liberties. Some fear Fauci will tank
the economy with a call for a national lockdown, despite his protests otherwise. Some in the media have taken aim, labeling him “the medical deep state” and calling for his head. Fauci now has a security detail. Alongside the haters, there is an army of supporters that includes former U.S. presidents, celebrities, politicians and everyday people who treat Fauci as a folk hero and a commodity. A Rochester, New York, baker pays tribute selling glazed donuts bearing Fauci’s image wreathed in white icing and dusted with red, white and blue sprinkles. A Long Island clam bar shows its love by advertising Fauci Linguini. There are Fauci T-shirts, socks, bobbleheads, throw pillows, Christmas ornaments, bumper stickers, votive candles, magnets and mugs. The Topps baseball card bearing Fauci’s image, throwing the ceremonial first pitch at the Washington Nationals’
season opener last summer, has become the company’s best-selling card of all time. Comedian Randy Rainbow’s Broadway sendup “Gee, Anthony Fauci” has 2.2 million views on Twitter. Fauci’s favorite actor, Brad Pitt, was nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal of the doctor in the cold open of “Saturday Night Live’s” April 25 episode, and Julia Roberts dubbed him “the coolest man on the planet” in a Zoom interview that had her in the role of starstruck fan. On social media, Fauci fans seeking kindred spirits can join Dr. Fauci Speaks, We Listen (19,000 members), Supporting Dr. Fauci (10,731 fans) or Instagram’s Dr. Anthony Fauci (59,900 followers), among other channels. Good, bad or ugly, these are distractions Fauci says he must resist. “COVID-19 emerged right in the middle of one of the most divisive times in society — political, cultural and ideological divisiveness — to the point where even a public health measure that would and should be universally and uniformly embraced by people as the way to help you get out of a difficult situation is polarizing,” he says.
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“And then the unthinkable happens that somebody like myself who does nothing but preach public health messages gets physically threatened to the point where I have to have federal agents following me around all the time, including the one that’s right outside my door right now. You know, to think that, because you’re saying we’ve got to wear masks, avoid crowds, stay distant, do things outdoors more than indoors, wash your hands frequently there are people threatening my life? I mean, is this really happening? It is.”
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So, how does he deal with it?
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1 Actor Brad Pitt as Fauci in an April 2020 “Saturday Night Live” sketch. 2 “Saturday Night Live” actress Kate McKinnon channels her best Fauci in December 2020. 3 Class of 1989 #TeamFauci alumnae, left to right: Anne-Marie O’Brien Cannon, MaryPat McBride Smith, Kathleen McCann D’Auria and Amy McDermott Ferrone. 4 Three-year-old John, son of Elizabeth Gallagher Ward ’03, in his “Dr. Fauci” Halloween costume. 5 There is no shortage of products available for Fauci fans, such as this pennant (hookandloop.weebly.com). 6 Enamel pin set (StudioArtHead, etsy.com). 7 Preparing to throw out the first pitch at the Washington Nationals season opener in 2020. 8 Bumper sticker (BrooklynMugs, etsy.com). 9 T-shirt (medthusiast.com). 10 Face mask (ShopTwofoldTextiles, etsy.com). 11 Candle (ThePiranhaTank, etsy.com). 12 Sticker (TheLittleSaigonCo, etsy.com). 13 Christmas ornaments (ShannonClarkPhotoArt, etsy.com). 14 TIME magazine cover, October/November 2020.
“Well, I manage it by staying laserfocused on who I am and what my goal and mandate and passion is,” Fauci says.
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“I don’t want to put down the wellmeaning people who have used me as a symbol, because I believe that society is thirsting for clarity, truth and honesty in an arena of confusion, mixed messages and outright untruths,” he continues. “So I’ve become a symbol, but if I start to focus on things like, wow, someone made a bobblehead of me, that’s a moment of distraction away from what my job is.”
12 “I think Tony believes he has an obligation to humankind,” Deckers says. “And it isn’t over yet. The work that he did with AIDS and with the Ebola virus and now with COVID-19, honestly, Tony Fauci should win the Nobel Prize. He has had massive impact worldwide.”
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APOLOGIA PRO VITA SUA ~ A defense of one’s own life
1988. When asked about personal heroes at the October presidential debate with Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, then Vice President George H.W. Bush said: “I think of Dr. Fauci. You’ve probably never heard of him. He’s a very fine researcher — a top doctor at the National Institutes of Health — working hard, doing something about research on this disease of AIDS.” 13
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Basketball legend Bob Cousy ’50 is another fan. He has called the doctor his
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OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTO BY TIA DUFOUR
(above left) Fauci speaks at a July 2020 roundtable on donating plasma at the American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. (above right) Fauci with his wife, Christine Grady, who is chief of the Department of Bioethics at the NIH Clinical Center. The couple has three daughters.
hero more than once in recent interviews with Boston media. The two have socialized on occasion and — with the late James Burke ’47, former chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson — share the distinction of being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Fauci has called Cousy, 92, his “absolute hero” but Cousy insists he said it first. “Mine is legitimate,” Cousy says. “I have been saying that, but I think Tony just felt an obligation.” But Fauci’s doubling down: “I think what people don’t appreciate is what an outstanding human being Bob Cousy is. They see him for what he was, and he is one of the greatest basketball players in the history of basketball, to be sure. But what they don’t understand is how ahead of his time he was, particularly when it came to his extraordinary sensitivity to racism. That’s why he’s my hero. I always idolized his basketball capabilities, but when I found out what an amazing human being he was, then that was a different story. Then it was doubly hero.” Neither man is likely to dodge the hero worship anytime soon. There’s been a significant uptick in the number of young people pursuing careers in medicine. Medical school applications are up 18% over 2019 — a development NPR, The Hill and Forbes are calling “The Fauci Effect.” Fauci’s fan base is even growing with the preschool set. The four Ward boys of
Needham, Massachusetts, all wanted to be Anthony Fauci this past Halloween, but the youngest, 3-year-old John, won. Everyone else was too big for the lab coat. John’s mother, Elizabeth Gallagher Ward ’03, went all out, dyeing his hair grey and assembling the trademark look: rimless eyeglasses, tie, monogrammed lab coat, stethoscope and mask (with Holy Cross logo, of course). John continues to wear the stethoscope to his preschool and regularly refers to himself in the third person as Dr. Fauci. Up past his bedtime on a November evening, John declines to be interviewed over Zoom, but his big brother Leo, 9, de facto family spokesperson, encapsulates what Fauci means to the family: “He is a doctor that used to go to the college or high school at Holy Cross, and he is now a doctor fighting against COVID-19 and he is doing his job very well. And he is working really hard to stop the coronavirus and win the war so that we can go back to a normal life, and if you go to the toy store you don’t have to wear a mask anymore. And he’s testing, testing, testing for literally almost about a year, but mostly for six months, and that’s all the information I have about the scientist named Anthony Fauci.” Elizabeth adds, “He is a source of strength, character and authority that we can look to in a time of chaos. I feel empowered by him. He’s given us the
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tools to help each other. It’s up to us.” Amy McDermott Ferrone ’89, who shared a snapshot of herself and three classmates in T-shirts emblazoned “#TeamFauci,” echoes Ward, saying he is an object lesson in a life well lived: “We are craving a voice of reason, and Dr. Fauci is that voice. He lives to serve others and we should all strive for that.” Ask classmate Bob Ryan ’62 about Fauci and he reaches for the Bible and recites 1 Kings 19, 11-12: “The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” “Anthony Fauci is not about fanfare or self-aggrandizement,” Ryan says. “Tony’s like that whisper.” On Oct. 6, 2020, Fauci took questions via Zoom from Holy Cross students about the pandemic and closed with a caution: “One of the things we have to be careful about is despair. You know, we went through a terrible late winter, early spring. There was hope that when the summer came, it would get better. In fact, it got worse, and now we’re entering into another darker period.
(top and bottom) Fauci inside and outside of the lab, the latter photo displaying success on the Potomac River. (above, right) Fauci has accepted the role as chief medical adviser on COVID-19 in the incoming administration of President-Elect Joe Biden. And as he has done with six prior presidents, Fauci will continue his work in his lab at the NIH.
“You know, I know what it feels like getting up in the morning from Wheeler, going down the stairs, you know, when everything is dark and really cold. So, you superimpose upon that the situation that we’re living in, a really difficult situation. Don’t give up hope. It’s going to end. We’re going to get a vaccine.” Six weeks later, two vaccines, each with nearly a 95% efficacy rate, are in production. On Nov. 19, Fauci proclaimed to the White House Press Corps, “Help is on the way” and added what has become a refrain: “We need to actually double down on the public health measures as we’re waiting for that help to come, which will be soon. We’re not talking about shutting down the country. We’re not talking about locking down,” Fauci said. “We’re talking about intensifying the simple public health measures that we all talk
about. If we do that, we’ll be able to hold things off until the vaccine comes. Now, I’ve used that metaphor that, ‘The cavalry is on the way.’ If you’re fighting a battle and the cavalry is on the way, you don’t stop shooting; you keep going until the cavalry gets here.” Fauci closed his remarks by saying he anticipates a not-so-distant future when he’ll take to the podium and say, “Get vaccinated.”
TEMPORE FUTURO ~ At a future time DECEMBER 2020. President-elect Joe Biden has asked the nation’s top infectious diseases expert to also be his chief medical adviser on COVID-19, and Fauci has accepted. Anthony Fauci turned 80 on Christmas Eve. Ordinarily, asking a man of 80 “What’s next?” is a softball question.
Posing it to a man still working 20-hour days seems oddly rude. But you have to ask. “Well, you know, I’ve spent most of my professional career devoted to HIV/ AIDS. I think the legacy of PEPFAR, which I was an architect of, is something that I will always be proud of,” he says. “The development of drugs that are lifesaving now for millions of people with HIV, most of which emanated out of my institute, is another thing that I’m proud of. But there are a lot of challenges ahead, you know. We want to get an HIV vaccine. “And we’re definitely going to put an end to this COVID pandemic,” he continues. “So that’s something that I’m looking forward to. And I would like to continue to address things like malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases and other surprise outbreaks that come along for as long as I am at the top of my game. “And, right now, I am at the top of my game.” ■
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Holy Cross’ classic mailboxes may be gone, but their memory remains for generations of Crusaders
ODE ON A P.O. BOX
BY MARYBETH R E I L LY- M C G R E E N ’ 8 9
R
eminiscing about their Holy Cross post office boxes, some alums wax nostalgic on the sweet anticipation of a card or care package. Others detail anxiety dreams involving forgotten combinations and mountains of neglected mail. All, though, share a fondness for those little bronze-gilded boxes and all that they could contain: care, love, loss, surprise, reward, heartbreak — even the occasional moment of reckoning.
“Her entry was a little rocky as she navigated ever-forming and shifting groups of friends,” Collins says. “There were some lonely nights and a whole lot of insecurity over her place in the campus community. “So, I started sending cards every week, sometimes more than once a week, funny cards, encouraging cards,” she continues. “Every week I wrote a quick message reminding her I loved her, I was proud of her, and to hang on and things would get better.” Goodman flourished her sophomore year, spurring Collins to taper her correspondence — until her daughter asked when a card would be forthcoming. “If you’re going through a hard time, a handwritten note from your mom can make a big difference,” Goodman says.
Last summer, mail and package lockers replaced the traditional brass boxes at Hogan Campus Center’s Mount St. James Station Post Office. The reason? Today’s students receive less traditional mail and more packages, which are usually too large to fit in something as slender as a post office box. Once essential, Hogan’s P.O. boxes had become anachronistic.
P.O. 1347
Though now gone, they remain beloved, especially since at Holy Cross, unlike many institutions, students held the same post office box for their entire career on The Hill.
“They were like an advent calendar for thousands of days. Letters from home were more than communications; they were reminders of where we came from and who loved us.” — Philip Metres ’92, P.O. 1668
Katie Collins ’88 could count on a daily card from her mother for the whole of her college career. They weren’t necessarily the “Yay, You!” inspirational cards a parent sends today. Collins’ mom bought all-occasion cards in bulk, so she occasionally got ones saying “Congratulations on Your Bar Mitzvah” or “Condolences on the Loss of Your Pet.” Collins’ mother would fill them with homey stories of her day’s activities and end always with “XOXO, Mom.”
“I remember my first time trying to open my mailbox thinking that it was a puzzle that Harry Potter would solve at Hogwarts.”
When Collins’ daughter Liza Goodman ’21 began her Holy Cross career, Collins
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continued the tradition.
MAGIC, TALISMANS, TRICKSTERS and TERROR
on
“There was something magical, vintage and treasured about that post office box corridor with its bronze boxes. I know the cards I found in my little box brought me a big piece of love from home.” — Sue McCann ’84,
— Nicola Lewin ’12
“Senior year, some of us stayed on Caro Street for Easter break. Jay Flanagan ’88 had the idea to leave the TV on the whole time and call every 800 number for every free offer advertised and have it all sent to the P.O. box of a roommate who’d gone home. We signed him up for everything: adult diapers, timeshare brochures, everything. His P.O. box was flooded for weeks after.” — J.W. Cahill ’88
O D E O N A P. O . B O X / 4 9
Enclosed would be a gift card to Culpeppers Bakery & Cafe or Cool Beans. “My hope is that 2658 would get to the mailbox and find my letter at a time when they needed it the most,” she says. “If they didn’t have a loving family or were thinking about quitting, I like to think maybe it would help to know someone was thinking of them.” Muckian, who now works at Assumption University, just a few miles away from Mount St. James, is having her students write letters of advice to her daughter who recently started kindergarten. She’ll do the same for daughter No. 2. “I’ll hold onto them for now,” Muckian says, her tone laced with a smile, “and give these letters to them the day I’m dropping them off at Mulledy.”
When sociologists talk about material culture, they speak of objects having value beyond their utility: A medal is more than metal; a church is no mere building. Similarly, Hogan’s P.O. boxes weren’t just receptacles; they were culture bearers. Trimmed in Greek key design, embossed with a decagram, those boxes with their tiny paned doors delighted their owners with glimpses of letters from home, copies of The Purple, notices of admission to grad school and announcements of Commencement Exercises. Depending on the decade, there might be packets of photos from Clark Color Labs, LPs from Columbia Record Club, Rolling Stone magazines and J.Crew catalogues. With the advent of female students came embellished love letters, scribbled poems torn from notebooks and invitations to dances. Always prized were the neon slips signaling awaiting packages and notes of encouragement from faculty. Rev. Francis J. Hart, S.J., director of intramural sports, would drop notes to student-athlete Julie Dale ’86, P.O. 1279. “I ran cross-country and track, and Fr.
(above) The classic mailboxes originally resided on the first floor of O’Kane Hall; today the space is home to the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery. (opposite) Following the debut of Kimball Hall in 1935, the mailboxes and post office moved to its basement and remained there until the opening of Hogan Campus Center in 1967.
RANDOM ACTS ALTRUISM
Hart used to write me sweet little notes congratulating me on a good race,” Dale says. “I remember being so surprised the first time I received one, particularly when I realized the Hart Center was named for him. I saved those notes for years and might even still have one hidden away in my attic.”
and
Letters from Rev. Earle Markey, S.J., ’53, then dean of students, had a different effect — more like terror, says David Mahaffey ’92, P.O. 1464. “We had launched a bunch of small pumpkins from a second-story window of Beaven into a dumpster parked out back using a giant slingshot someone had brought from home,” he recalls. “It was a day or two after Halloween and we might have ‘borrowed’ the pumpkins from neighborhood homes.
“I had a friend who worked in a card store, and she’d send me letters and cards pretty regularly, so I was constantly checking my mailbox. Fast forward almost 30 years and her daughter — my goddaughter — went off to college. I repaid the favor by trying to send her regular cards and gifts.”
“Fr. Markey was not amused.”
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of
“My grandmother, who only graduated eighth grade, would send me $3 in cash every week with a note that just said, ‘Love, Gram.’ She was so proud her granddaughter was in college.”— Ruth Kaupp Hroncich
’81, P.O. 832
— Michelle McManus Freeman ’89, P.O. 1463.
“Freshman year, I was studying for my midyear exams and my grandmother baked from scratch and mailed to me a small loaf of her favorite Polish babka bread just big enough to fit in the slot. She wanted to
make sure that I had some real good Polish food to get me through my exams!” — Ron
Sefchik ’87, P.O. 2063
“I would occasionally receive a $10 or $20 bill with a note that it was ‘beer money’ from a mysterious alumni predecessor. When I remembered, I tried to send the same to that P.O. box to keep up the tradition.” — Kristi O’Connor ’97, P.O. 2628 “An alum who must’ve had the box before me sent me $20 and a note to have fun and pay it forward. As a broke freshman, it meant so much. The year after I graduated, I made sure to send $20 to whomever inherited my box.” — Juliette Cormier ’08,
P.O. Box 572.
More than a few over the generations have enjoyed a “Great Expectations” experience in finding letters from benefactors in their P.O. boxes. To a
student in a new place, such a gesture was deeply appreciated, says Tita Feraud ’15, P.O. 844. “As a first-generation student, I felt so loved and noticed when I received care packages and birthday cards from this organization called Bottom Line. This organization helps low-income, first-gen students apply to college and supports them until they graduate.” Worcester born and raised, Sara Swillo Muckian ’05, P.O. 2658, didn’t get much mail. Her family would drop off their care packages and conversation made letters unnecessary. After her graduation, though, Muckian made a habit of reaching out to those students who inherited P.O. 2658. “For 15 years, I’ve been sending the students with my P.O. box an anonymous letter with words of advice like, ‘Make sure you get involved’ and ‘Get outside of your comfort zone.’”
For Siobhan Plummer ’18, P.O. 2138, the kindness of an alum confirmed the Jesuit motto of men and women for and with others. “My senior year, I went to check my mailbox for an exam grade and found instead a plain white envelope that had my box number, 2138, on the front and the message “Enjoy — Class of ’82” on the back. I opened the envelope and to my absolute shock I found a $100 bill inside! I was blown away — one of the best surprises ever, so perfectly timed, and a true testament to the amazing alumni network the College has cultivated. I want to thank the member of the class of ’82. Believe me when I say your timing couldn’t have been better. Bleed purple!”
AESTHETIC LETTER
on the of a
“When I was at Holy Cross, my Uncle Bob was working in Ireland and he would send me postcards, days apart. On each postcard, there would be a line of poetry from Yeats. The next card would have the next line in the poem and so on. I would almost run to the mailbox alley anticipating the next installment. Uncle Bob passed away unexpectedly and prematurely my senior year. I hope he knew what those postcards meant to me. I felt so loved. They are still some of my most prized possessions.”
— Beth Quealy Hagerty ’89
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traveled alone to a new country, lived with a host family, backpacked across Europe and mastered a new language. The experience of her year abroad became Horan’s metaphorical yardstick by which she measured subsequent challenges. Horan laughs and says it was something of a surprise to open her P.O. box senior year and read the words of her younger and, in some ways, former self. “And I thought, how cute that I was so nervous,” she recalls.
“My dad wrote me letters just about every day. I saved them all and he ended up binding them into a family journal for my siblings and me. Special memories.”
(above) In summer 2020, the mailboxes were replaced by smart lockers, which better accommodate the increased number of packages sent to students. Mail and packages are placed in an appropriately sized locker and the recipient is sent a verification code for pickup. The code is typed into a nearby monitor and the locker opens for retrieval. (right) Beth Bonhôte Donovan ’92 and Joe Donovan ’91 kept their Holy Cross romance alive thanks to the power of the letter.
— Elaine Lipovsky Collins ’97, P.O. 1788
In the time of texting, alums relay they’ve gained an appreciation of the effort represented by a bona fide letter or card. There is time taken and expense incurred. Lisa DeSpirito Miller ’89 worked in the post office sorting mail. It was run by the Misters Brock, a father and son. Brock the Elder, a portly, balding man, was distinctive not for his appearance so much as his attitude. Brock had a reverence for his work. The only liberty he permitted himself and his staff was the reading of magazines before placing them in the owners’ boxes. Paging through the latest issue of Rolling Stone cover to cover was an “illicit pleasure” for Miller, a selfdescribed inveterate rule-follower. All mail was handled with the care afforded a valuable object, she says. Miller understood how important mail was and listened for the sounds of delight that came from classmates finding they’d received something special. “Technology can’t replace the aesthetic of the handwritten letter or the beautifully illustrated card,” Miller says. “It took effort and thought. Even just a birthday card: There’s a care taken in that; you could imagine the person, the sender, thought that card was meant especially for you.”
Sometimes the beauty lay in the timeliness of the message. Yolanda W. Rabun ’90, P.O. 2452, recalls a time when her mailbox housed love and a little something extra when it was most needed. “I was on work study and I depended on every single dime I made,” she says. “That day, I was down to my last dime. It was late and while I was in Hogan I checked my box — even though earlier I had no mail! To my surprise, I looked in the box window and saw a card; it was from my grandmother! She wrote, ‘I thought you might need this.’ It was a $5 bill and made my life that night! “You have to understand. My grandmother was taking her savings and giving it to me,” Rabun says. “I hugged the card, the money and high-fived my mailbox! It was the only card I ever received from her in college; I treasure it to this day. Sometimes you just need that one person letting you know they support you.” First-year students attending Holy Cross in the early 2000s recall sociology Professor David Hummon’s assignment to pen a note to their future selves, to be read when they were seniors. “In the fall of 1998, I was teaching in the First-Year Program (FYP), a predecessor to the
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Montserrat Program, so I would have had all first-years, the class of 2002,” Hummon recalls. “That idea of having students write a letter to themselves on the first day of class — that I would save and send to them at the end of their senior year — was suggested as a possibility by a FYP colleague. It seemed like a good idea to me for several reasons: I thought it would be fun for the students, and the general theme of FYP classes that year was ‘Permanence and Change,’ and my fall sociology section focused on issues of college and identity. “I also expect I hoped that receiving the letter, four years later, would offer a moment of self-reflection — about college, change, who they were and where they were going.” One P.O. box owner, Lauren Desaulniers Horan ’99, P.O. 613, took it upon herself to address her future self: “I spent my junior year abroad, studying in Mallorca, Spain. Before I left campus my sophomore year, I wrote and mailed a letter to myself, knowing that it would be waiting for me in my mailbox when I returned to campus my senior year.” Horan’s memories of Mallorca commingle with words like “independence, freedom and determination.” At 20, she’d
Another thing Horan learned living abroad: Coming home can also evince anxiety. The familiar is not quite the same. You return to a new dorm, different classes, friends who’ve created a year’s worth of memories in your absence. “But P.O. 613 was still my mailbox when I returned,” Horan says. “It was a tether to the past that remained constant.”
DETRITUS DREAMS and NIGHTMARES and the of
“Still have dreams of opening that box with tons of mail because I have not been in school for 35 years!” — Kevin Stenstrom
’72, P.O. 1972
“Every now and then I have a nightmare that I’m back at school and haven’t checked my mailbox all year!” — Nancy
Campobasso Slaney ’93, P.O. 428
Holy Cross alums report a particular anxiety dream: one of neglecting to check their mailboxes and/or forgetting their combinations. For some, it ranks right up there with the nightmare of taking a final you haven’t studied for or appearing naked in public. Or having an experience like that of Maura Sheils Diehl ’89, P.O. 2321, that sounds a little like Dorothy’s arrival in Oz. “In the dream, when I get to Hogan, I start telling students that you are writing an article about the P.O. boxes. Then a bunch of toddlers appear out of nowhere and are in front of my P.O. box, but my P.O. box isn’t there anymore. I somehow end up in the ballroom with a bunch of babies at my feet and me asking them if they know what happened to P.O. Box 2321.”
L ASTLY, TALE of LOVE ENDURING
a
Beth Bonhôte Donovan ’92, P.O. 148, played the piccolo in the Holy Cross Goodtime Marching Band. Her thenfuture husband, Joe Donovan ’91, was the Crusader mascot. “The first time he took that helmet off, I thought, ‘Oh, wow, who’s that?’” Bonhôte made inquiries. She had competition. She learned Donovan was a favorite dance date with the women of Holy Cross. Not dissuaded, Bonhôte, then a freshman, knocked on his door weeks before the Sadie Hawkins Dance and said, “You know why I’m here.” Thirty-one years later, the couple have two girls and a couple of bins full of an unbroken chain of correspondence that includes 31 handmade Valentine’s Day cards from Donovan. “He’s a romantic,” Bonhôte says. “A lot of it was long-distance letter-writing; he’s from Dedham, Massachusetts, and I spent summers in Cooperstown, New York. And I was a French and international studies major, so I went to France for half a year. And he wrote to me every day.” Many letters passed through P.O. 148, even when the two were both on campus. One letter, though, that Donovan penned in the fall of 1991, months after he’d graduated, holds a special place in his wife’s memory. He wrote he was feeling dejected to have not yet found a job “that would add to our happiness.” He closed: “My mind is going too fast to continue now, so thanks for everything you have given and continue to give to me: love, support, friendship, loyalty, comfort and a million other things that are too numerous to list. I wish you were here. I love you. Love always, Joe. XOXOXO” The smile in her voice apparent, Bonhôte adds a postscript: “Yeah, he’s a keeper.” ■
Have a mailbox story to share? Send it to hcm@holycross.edu. O D E O N A P. O . B O X / 5 3
I
n spring 1975, theater legend Arthur Laurents received a Tony Award nomination for directing the revival of “Gypsy,” the 1959 classic often referred to as the quintessential Broadway musical. In that same time — and some 200 miles away — David Saint was graduating magna cum laude from Holy Cross, wondering what a career in New York might look like. Fortunately for the American theater, their paths would cross soon enough.
the Despite a decades-long career as an actor and director,
long the most critical role for David Saint ’75 may be that of benefactor,
intermission helping the country’s live theaters in, literally, their darkest hour
B Y B I L LY M C E N T E E
“Arthur was an enormous influence; he had such an amazing sense of who he was,” Saint says of Laurents, the late Tonywinning and Oscar-nominated artist who wrote the books (theater parlance for the script) for “West Side Story” and “Gypsy,” the screenplay for “The Way We Were,” and a host of scripts for other Broadway and Hollywood gems. Laurents, who ultimately became a father figure and mentor to Saint, was also a celebrated director, scoring a Tony for helming the ground-breaking 1983 musical “La Cage aux Folles.” Saint, like Laurents, has also worn a number of hats throughout his career. He’s the artistic director of George Street Playhouse in New Jersey, has directed regionally in 36 states, mounted a smash production of “West Side Story” with rotating seating banks in Japan, is literary executor of Laurents’ estate and also president of the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation. In a time of crisis for theater, the impact of that foundation is proving more vital than ever.
PROVIDING CRITICAL AID Named after Laurents and his partner of 52 years, actor-turned-real estate developer Tom Hatcher, the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation awards an annual prize to an early-career American playwright and also distributes more than $1 million every year in theater development grants across the country. The pair established the foundation in 2010 to support the production of new plays or musicals, a
reflection and extension of the career path that launched Laurents to fame. In March 2020, “The day the theaters closed, we had a show running at George Street and we had another big musical about to start and like everyone we had to pull the plug,” Saint remembers. “I was sitting there feeling so helpless, and I thought I’ve got to do something. And I thought, ‘Wait a minute, I run the foundation!’” From there, Saint phoned the trustees and worked to quickly distribute 30 grants of $25,000 a piece to theaters nationwide. “It was great to be able to do something and help, and so gratifying to have done something proactive right away,” Saint says. “You didn’t have to apply for a grant or go through the usual steps; we just gave an emergency gift.” Saint also saw that his own audience community was taken care of, making dozens of calls to donors who gave money to George Street Playhouse despite its stages being dark. “What I learned is how much the theater means to them,” Saint says. “They’d say, ‘I have four best friends and I associate my girlfriends with your theater; you always give us something to talk about.’ Another woman said, ‘I’m doing well physically, but I’m starving culturally.’” Six months later, in October, the Laurents/ Hatcher Foundation issued a second round of emergency grants. Theatre news website Broadway World reported that the foundation was “one of the first to respond to the crisis,” noting “with this second round of $10,000 grants, the foundation has awarded $875,000 in emergency funding.”
ENSURING THE LAURENTS LEGACY As foundation president and literary executor of Laurents’ estate, Saint juggles many responsibilities in maintaining the integrity of his friend’s name and legendary body of work.
Saint stands in front of the new Arthur Laurents Theater at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey, his artistic home of 23 years. “Nonprofit theaters depend on their audiences and support,” he says. “Reach out whenever possible and give a donation or a letter to remind them of how important they are to you.”
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“There’s a lot of responsibility and a lot of privilege; I’m both grateful and daunted by the work,” Saint says of his executor role. “With someone like Arthur, who was so prolific in so many different mediums, I basically serve as the gatekeeper; I’m the guardian of the estate. If someone wants to do a major production, they have to come to me to get the rights.” That’s a legal responsibility, but it’s also an artistic one. “You want to make sure a title like ‘West Side Story’ or ‘Gypsy’ is protected. If you don’t take into account what the artistic approach is, you’re not really protecting the property,” he explains. This often means having approval over a project’s director and lead actors. But before he became a president, executor and director, Saint — gregarious, open and always with his eyes toward the horizon — was back in Worcester, studying English and contemplating his next steps. “One of the biggest draws for Holy Cross was they had a beautiful theater and an active theater department,” Saint notes. “The first month of my four years at Holy Cross, I auditioned and got into one of the plays.” He also hails from a family with deep Crusader roots: late father, Paul F. Saint ’40, and brothers, the late P. Michael Saint ’71, John P. Saint ’80 and Joseph R. Saint ’88. He started performing in high school and he kept busy on campus auditioning, rehearsing and performing. “I had the greatest time, I met some wonderful people,” he says, crediting, among others, beloved theater professor Don Ilko. He cites several favorite roles from his days performing in Fenwick, but playing the titular role in Molière’s “The Miser” his senior year was the pinnacle. “That was an unbelievable experience I’ll always remember — even alumni today who were around Holy Cross during those years will say, ‘I’ll never forget ‘The Miser,’” he says.
(above) Saint reviewing a script with theatre legend and mentor Arthur Laurents. Today, Saint serves as literary executor of Laurents’ estate, as well as president of the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation, named for the artist and his partner of 52 years, Tom Hatcher.
That production was noteworthy in more ways than one. “Ann Dowd ’78 and I acted opposite each other,” he says of the Emmywinning actress. “Ann played Mariane in that production. We’ve stayed in touch and been friends ever since.” This collaboration with high-profile peers sparked a motif in Saint’s career: When he meets one of the greats, time and time again they find a way of re-entering his orbit and working alongside him. Years later, Saint would direct Dowd in a reading of a play. But prior to that, Saint pursued another career that often acts as a gateway to directing. “I went right to New York and auditioned for Uta Hagen,” Saint says of the two-time Tony winner who originated the role of Martha in the theater classic “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” She later became a highly influential acting teacher at the Herbert Berghof Studio. “I just thought, ‘If I get in, I’ll move to New York.’ I got in, so I moved with $500 in my pocket and I studied with Uta for six years.”
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more often than not taking him on the road to some of the country’s most prestigious regional theaters. “Someone said to me, ‘You have a very schizophrenic career: You’re all over the place with your genres,’” as Saint would direct everything from edgy pieces and new plays to comedies and musicals. But that comment, Saint says, “was a compliment to me.”
Saint didn’t only rub elbows with Hagen at the famed HB Studio, he also trained alongside the industry’s most renowned artists. “Matthew Broderick, Liza Minnelli, Rock Hudson — it was such a range of people in the class,” Saint recalls. “The great thing about that was they were working actors, so they treated the classes like a gym.”
In his early days as a director, he’d do eight or nine shows a year — “I went to wherever the work was,” he notes — which included Seattle Repertory Theater, where he’d brush shoulders with Laurents and jumpstart a decadeslong friendship.
Much like with Dowd, Hagen remained a fixture in Saint’s life: During his inaugural season at George Street Playhouse, his artistic home of now 23 years, she starred in one of his shows. “I learned a lot about directing from what I learned in Uta’s class: the emotional core of a scene,” he says. While enjoying gigs as an actor, Saint saw directing as perhaps a more amenable career, more suited to his interests. “As an actor, you’re slightly limited by your age, what you look like, how you come across,” he explains. “But as a director, you can explore any role in any play you feel passionate about, so I found I really loved directing.” From there, Saint said his “years were spent in a trunk,” with directing jobs
(counter clockwise from above) Saint in the lead role of Tony Kirby in the 1974 production of “You Can’t Take It with You” at Fenwick Theatre. At his left is Don Ilko, beloved associate professor of theatre, who played the father of Saint’s character; program for “The Miser,” in which Saint co-starred with Emmy award-winning actress and friend Ann Dowd ’78; Saint, Dowd, author Chris Bohjalian and actor Lou Diamond Phillips in a 2019 reading of Bohjalian’s “Midwives,” a George Street Playhouse production; Teaching at Holy Cross from 1970-1978, Ilko, here looking at F. Paul Driscoll ’76, directed many Fenwick Theatre productions.
Saint first met Laurents in the early 1990s after directing “After-Play” at Manhattan Theatre Club, a seven-time Pulitzer Prize-winning theater. “Arthur said, ‘You’re a good director, you have a real gift for directing high comedy,’” Saint remembers. Months later, he was working at Seattle Rep where Laurents was developing a new work. They ran into each other on the street and went out for drinks; a couple months later, “My agent called and said, ‘We just got a new play by Arthur Laurents and he
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(right) Saint with producers Robin De la Vita and Kumiko Yoshii outside the 2019 opening of “West Side Story” at IHI Stage Around in Tokyo. While directing the production, “couples would come up to me and say, ‘This is our story. We grew up in rival feuding villages and our parents wouldn’t even let us date, let alone marry,’” Saint says.
wants you to direct it.’” From there, the pair would be frequent collaborators until Laurents’ death in 2011 at age 93, with Saint directing 11 of his plays. Laurents’ lean, cherished scripts run the gamut, but what seems to unite his characters is a quality Saint also shares: a sense of seeing goals and persevering to attain them despite any obstacle. “Arthur believed that you have to encapsulate in one sentence what the piece is about,” Saint says. “Anything that doesn’t serve that, you don’t need.” Saint describes the thesis for “Gypsy” — a musical chronicling the ultimate stage mother’s quest to make her child a star — as the need for recognition. (Saint would assist Laurents on his last Broadway revival of “Gypsy,” an awardwinning production he helmed in 2008 at age 90.) For “West Side Story,” the north star was “the struggle to love in a world of bigotry and violence,” Saint says.
(below) Saint’s Tokyo production of “West Side Story” featured a 360-degree stage and audience seat banks that rotate, allowing a completely new adaptation of the stage and screen classic.
BRINGING A CLASSIC TO THE SCREEN ONCE MORE
(above) Talking with “West Side Story” director Steven Spielberg and producers during the film’s rehearsal period at Lincoln Center; Celebrating Saint’s birthday in 2019, with cupcakes courtesy of Spielberg, on location in an old, unused New York City subway station that was transformed into 1956 for the film.
(right) Saint with actresses Rachel Zegler and Ariana De Bose, who play Maria and Anita, respectively, in the upcoming “West Side Story” film.
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The contrast of passion and intolerance has made “West Side Story” one of the most enduring stories of the past half century (it debuted on Broadway in 1957), with multiple productions on Broadway and a 1961 movie adaptation winning the Academy Award for Best Picture. Saint is intimately familiar with the landmark musical, having worked as associate director on the Laurents-led
2009 Broadway revival. He also helmed national tours and in 2019 created his own technically dazzling production in Japan with audience seating that revolved around the set. While directing the Japan production, “couples would come up to me and say, ‘This is our story. We grew up in rival feuding villages and our parents wouldn’t even let us date, let alone marry,’” Saint says. “The musical has a universality. I don’t care if ‘West Side Story’ takes place on the moon, or if one gang is pink and one is blue: It’s about racial bigotry and violence, and then a love story in the middle of it. Unfortunately, that narrative hasn’t changed.” In 2019, Saint found himself working on the musical again, but this time behind the camera, playing a key role in the much-anticipated new movie adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg. Originally slated for a December 2020 release, the movie’s debut was moved to December 2021 due to the pandemic. Saint’s collaboration with Laurents made him an invaluable presence on set, recalling Spielberg telling him, “I want to hear everything you have to say. You are my direct link to Laurents’ work.” “Originally my role was to work with Tony Kushner on [the movie script],” Saint notes. But he also had two requests from Laurents rolling around in his head. “Arthur had told me to not let a theater director direct it. He wrote a lot of movies, and he said he knew enough to know they are two different mediums. It needs to be a cinematic genius,” Saint says. “The second thing is whoever they get to work the screenplay needs to be someone very smart — and please be there with them.”
Check and check: With Spielberg and Kushner, two of the greatest directors and writers of their generation, Laurents’ sacred material was in good hands. Saint’s contribution and work earned him the title of associate producer on the film. “When they started shooting, I thought I’d go a few times,” Saint says. “I got a call from Steven’s associate who said, ‘Listen, Steven loved talking with you on the set today: He would like you there as much as possible,’ so I went almost every day! I’d sit there with him; I have to say, he’s a genius, of course, but the thing that most surprised me was how humble and generous he is.”
THE ROAD AHEAD With “West Side Story” complete, Saint returned to his theater in New Jersey where he — like others in the industry worldwide — eagerly await the day audiences can gather again for a shared live experience. Until that time, tens of thousands of theater professionals are left without an income, and billions of dollars generated by theater are being lost in cities large and small worldwide. The Broadway League notes that in New York City alone, the theater industry supports more than 96,000 local jobs, everyone from shop owners to taxi drivers and restaurant owners; the city is losing billions in tourism revenue, largely propelled by Broadway audiences. The pain of the current moment, with theaters closed for nearly a full year, is a “double whammy” for performers, Saint says: “It’s not just the no paycheck coming in — it’s also the ‘I don’t have a rehearsal room to go to, to do what I love.’ “I would urge people to remember the artists in their lives, even if you just reach out or encourage them,” he advises. “Nonprofit theaters depend on their audiences and support; reach out whenever possible and give a donation or a letter to remind them of how important they are to you.” ■
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S PPOORRTTS S
R E M E M B E R I N G # 2 4 Tom Heinsohn ’56 was a record-breaking champion and beloved legend on Mount St. James. His teammates and colleagues
60 Go Cross Go • 62 Crusader Life
remember him, Page 62.
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S PU O SRATDSE R L I F E CR “He had a great personality,” Perry says, “and a good sense of humor. Whenever his name came up, everyone thought of Tommy the same way; they really liked him as a person. He was a real good guy to be around.” Perry was among the many who were saddened by the death of the Holy Cross and Celtics legend on Nov. 9, 2020, at age 86. With the Celtics, Heinsohn enjoyed a six-decade career, winning eight NBA championships as a player and two more as head coach before he became a popular broadcaster for the franchise’s seven other title teams.
ON THE HILL No one at Holy Cross was surprised by Heinsohn’s NBA success because he excelled for the Crusaders first. Thomas “Tommy” William Heinsohn was born Aug. 26, 1934, in Jersey City, New Jersey, and was a star forward for St. Michael’s High School in nearby Union City. Holy Cross basketball coach Buster Sheary was only a part-time employee of the College at the time, so alumni handled much of the recruiting. Hon. William Verdon, a member of Holy Cross’ class of 1926, recruited Heinsohn, just as he had Palazzi out of Union City two years earlier.
Remembering Tom Heinsohn ’56 BY BILL DOYLE
A
s far as Ron Perry ’54 is concerned, Tommy Heinsohn never changed. He was the same person from the days when they combined with Togo Palazzi ’54 to lead Holy Cross to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) championship all the way through Heinsohn’s legendary career as a Celtics player, coach and broadcaster.
“He was thin, but he was wiry,” says Perry, co-captain and starting point
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guard on the NIT title team. “He loved to take that hook shot. I would clear out for either Tommy or Togo. I used to tease Togo that if I went to Tommy’s side, at least there was a chance I’d get that pass back.” Palazzi calls Heinsohn the best offensive rebounder he ever saw. If playing by the rules didn’t work, Heinsohn didn’t mind stretching them in order to box out an opponent. “You drop your shoulders,” Palazzi says, “and you hit him below his ribs as hard as you can with your whole body and he’ll get out of the way the next time. That was Tommy’s philosophy, and I’ve got to be honest, it was mine, too. Buster didn’t have to tell us to do that; that was a Union City playground, hungry, in-your-stomach feeling that you developed when you were a kid growing up.” In the 1954 NIT championship game, before 18,496 fans at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Palazzi and Heinsohn each scored 20 points to lead Holy Cross to a 71-62 victory over Duquesne. Palazzi was voted the NIT’s Most Valuable Player and Heinsohn joined him on the all-tournament team. Holy Cross finished third in the final Associated Press poll, collecting 11 firstplace votes. “Togo was the main star on the team that won the NIT,” Heinsohn modestly told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette a few years ago, “and Ronnie Perry was the captain, and they were the two guys that held it together. I’m just a Johnny-comelately and was fortunate enough to play with those two guys.” Heinsohn led the Crusaders to a 19-7 record and the NIT quarterfinals as a junior and to a 22-5 record and the first round of the NCAA Tournament as a senior. On March 1, 1956, he scored 51 points and grabbed 42 rebounds against Boston College; both set school records (the latter still standing today). He also owns school records for most rebounds in a career (1,254) and season (569),
illustration courtesY of the purple patcher
with Palazzi ranking second in both categories. A marketing major, Heinsohn graduated as Holy Cross’ all-time leading scorer with 1,789 points, even though he played at a time when freshmen weren’t eligible for the varsity team. Today, he is tied with Chris Potter ’78 for fifth in school history in scoring. He was inducted into the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1962, and the College retired his No. 24 in 2008.
ON TO BOSTON The Celtics selected Heinsohn as a territorial draft pick in 1956. Fortyseven miles east of Mount St. James, he combined with fellow Crusader Bob Cousy ’50 and Bill Russell to lead them to the first of their 17 NBA championships the following spring. In Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the St. Louis Hawks, Heinsohn scored a teamhigh 37 points and grabbed 23 rebounds in a 125-123 double-overtime victory at the Boston Garden. “[Bill] Sharman and I, we fell on our faces in that game,” Cousy says of himself and his backcourt mate, who combined to make only five of their 40 field goal attempts. “So if Tommy hadn’t picked up the slack, we wouldn’t have gotten that first championship. And he was a rookie, so that shows the kind of confidence he had in his skills and ability.” Cousy was voted NBA Most Valuable Player that year, and Heinsohn was voted NBA Rookie of the Year, ahead of Russell, who was also a rookie and who won 11 championships in his 13 seasons with the Celtics. Heinsohn was named an NBA All-Star six times. In his career for the Celtics, he averaged 18.6 points and 8.8 rebounds during the regular season and 19.8 points and 9.2 rebounds in the playoffs; the Celtics retired his No. 15 in 1965. Heinsohn was voted NBA Coach of the Year in 1973 and he coached the Celtics to championships in 1974 and 1976. He was inducted into the Naismith
Basketball Hall of Fame as a player (1986) and as a coach (2015), and also broadcast Celtics games for more than 40 years. “At least in my lifetime, I would consider him Mr. Celtic more than any other person in Celtics history because of his 60-plus years in working in some capacity,” says Danny Ainge, Celtics president of basketball operations. Cousy, 92, who played for Holy Cross’ 1947 NCAA championship team, won six NBA championships with Heinsohn in Boston and broadcast Celtics games with him for years, agrees with Ainge’s assessment. “There isn’t a Celtic past or present who symbolizes what being a Celtic is all about and what that franchise has accomplished over the years better than Tommy,” Cousy says. “Not only in terms of longevity, but in terms of loyalty, he represented the Celtics in my judgment in a more significant way than any of us other so-called high-profile players.” “Tommy was a great friend to me,” says Ainge, won two NBA championships during his seven and a half seasons as a Celtic and has run the front office since 2003. “He was a good friend of my father’s. He was a person who always had some bit of advice and counsel from his experiences, and I just always appreciated him. But as much as anything, as a player and an executive with the Celtics, and even in between when I was working for TNT or came in as a visiting coach or visiting player, he was always the first guy to come up and greet me. I just really appreciated his friendship as much as any former player and it was because of the amount of years. I’d put Hondo [John Havlicek] up in my early years as a great mentor also, but Tommy was a mentor for my playing days and my executive days, and I really appreciated his support and encouragement and his opinions. They mattered.”
OFF THE COURT Cousy and Heinsohn took different
approaches when they broadcast Celtics games with partner Mike Gorman. Cousy would spend three hours at home writing four sheets of notes, but remembers Heinsohn preparing by making only a few notes in the margins of the press notes before the game. “I think that was basically my insecurity, given the fact that I talked funny,” Cousy says. “Tommy was the ultimate pro and he had complete confidence in his skills.” Even though Heinsohn was a Hall of Fame player, Cousy believes his teammate was still underappreciated. “He was also one of the most underrated, if not the most underrated, power forward that ever played the game,” Cousy says. “Obviously, he was a Hall of Famer so he had great skills, but if he had been with another team instead of playing in the shadow of two showoffs, Russell and Cousy, who were getting all the headlines, then Tommy wouldn’t score 38 points and go unnoticed. He had that disadvantage in terms of what the world thought about his playing skills.” Sportscaster Bob Fouracre, who was inducted into the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2007, saw Heinsohn play for Holy Cross and also announced Celtics games during Heinsohn’s first year as coach. “You couldn’t help but love Tommy Heinsohn because of his personality,” Fouracre says. “He just cared about other people.” Even though Heinsohn was a Celtic for more than 60 years, he never forgot the Crusaders. During Perry’s 28 years as Holy Cross’ Athletics director, he would at times ask Heinsohn to call a sick friend, autograph a ball for someone or speak at an event; Heinsohn never said no. “And he always said, ‘Ron, thanks for thinking of me,’” Perry recalls. “He was happy to do it.”
Turn to Page 90 to read Tom Heinsohn’s obituary.
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CRUSADER LIFE
Holy Cross Athletics Teams Return to Action
H
oly Cross Athletics teams returned to competition in November 2020, eight months after the cancellation of U.S. collegiate sports due to the pandemic. On Nov. 19, men’s hockey, a member of the Atlantic Hockey Association, hosted Long Island University at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex,
Women’s hockey (at left) began its season Nov. 20 against fellow Hockey East member the University of Maine. As of press time, men’s and women’s basketball are slated to make their return to the hardwood on Jan. 2. The teams will play an all-Patriot League schedule with back-to-back games against the same opponent each week. The Crusaders will compete mostly within the league’s “Northern Pod,” along with Boston University, Colgate and Army West Point, with a crossover series against Lehigh University. the first Holy Cross sporting event held since March.
To ensure the health and safety of all involved, the coaches, student-athletes and direct support staff of each team create a Tier 1 bubble and are required to test three times each week while maintaining limited contact with those outside their testing tier. Practices are conducted in compliance with Holy Cross’ Universal Mask Policy, and social distancing is maintained whenever possible, including during team travel.
Since the start of the season, all games at the Hart Center have been played without fans in attendance. The situation will continue to be evaluated based on state, league and institutional policies as the season progresses. Fans will be able to stream men’s and women’s basketball games on ESPN+ and at patriotleague.tv, and can watch men’s hockey broadcasts at flohockey. tv. A subscription is required for both services. Women’s hockey games can be seen free of charge on CBS SportsLive at collegesportslive.com. ■
Athletics Develops Diversity, Inclusion and Unity Action Plan
L
ast fall, in response to the social justice issues of today’s world, Holy Cross Athletics developed a series of diversity and inclusion initiatives, re-committing to the unification of student-athletes, coaches and staff through a dedicated understanding of race and cultural differences, as well as how education and understanding can be agents of change. “I’m extremely proud of the commitment our student-athletes, coaches and staff have made to this very important work,” says Marcus Blossom, Holy Cross director of intercollegiate Athletics. “We strive to foster a community environment where open dialogue is welcomed, differences are embraced and efforts to promote diversity, inclusive excellence and justice for all are championed. This action plan is just one small step to
help us realize these outcomes.” The plan was created by studentathlete representatives and Athletics leadership, with a goal of:
• •
•
Unifying all members of the Holy Cross Athletics department. Improving its community through a better understanding of race and cultural differences, discrimination and the impact these have on the lives and experiences of studentathletes and staff. Ensuring the department values diversity and inclusion, and treats every one of its members with respect.
The action plan includes seven commitments, designed to promote the strong development of a diverse, inclusive and respectful value system, and combat the realities of systemic
Holy Cross Ties for No. 1 in Nation in Graduation Success Rate
H
oly Cross Athletics teams tied for first in the nation with an overall graduation rate of 99%, according to the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) Report released by the NCAA. This marks the 14th straight year in which the Crusaders have posted a GSR of at least 97%. “Our student-athletes are in elite company when it comes to their accomplishments in the classroom,” says Marcus Blossom, Holy Cross director of intercollegiate Athletics. “The consistency with which we have achieved academic success can only be realized by hard work and dedication year after year. I am proud of everything
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we have done in the classroom and I am confident that our student-athletes will continue to succeed there in the future.” Holy Cross finished in a nine-way tie for first in the nation, joining Columbia University, Dartmouth College, University of Evansville, Harvard University, Lafayette College, Loyola University Chicago, Samford University and Yale University. The average GSR for all sports at the NCAA’s 353 Division I institutions is 89%. Twenty-three out of a possible 26 Holy Cross teams achieved a 100% graduation rate: baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s
and structural racism faced by those within its community: cultural and social understanding and respect; valuing diversity; recruiting; diversity and inclusion task force; zero tolerance policy; history of Holy Cross; and voter education. It can be read in its entirety at: www.holycross.edu/hcm/ athleticsdei. “As invested members of this Jesuit institution, we are committed to the tenet of living as men and women for and, especially, with others,” says Skye Daval-Santos ’22, a member of women’s volleyball and co-chair of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. “Holy Cross student-athletes and the entire Athletics community stand together as one to not only act as leaders in sport, but also to commit ourselves to standing and acting in solidarity with all people, regardless of our differences. We actively pursue that growth across our entire community as we aspire to build an equitable experience for all Crusaders.” ■
cross-country, women’s cross-country, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s ice hockey, women’s ice hockey, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, women’s rowing, women’s soccer, softball, men’s swimming and diving, women’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s indoor track and field, men’s outdoor track and field, women’s indoor track and field, women’s outdoor track and field, and volleyball. The data reflects the six-year graduation rates for college athletes who entered school in 2013, for which the NCAA has compiled sport-bysport figures. View the complete NCAA Holy Cross GSR report at www. holycross.edu/hcm/2020gsr. The NCAA’s searchable GSR database can be found at www.holycross.edu/ hcm/2020ncaagsr. ■
CRUSADER LIFE / S P O R T S / 6 5
ALUMNI NEWS
66 Mystery Photo •
68 HCAA News • 71 Solved Photos • 73 Alumni News • 72 Creative Notes • 78 For and With Others • 80 Class Notes • 86 In Memoriam
Mystery Photo There’s no place like home, unless it’s your cozy home on Mount St. James, such as that seen here ... but where? Can you identify these Crusaders — or better yet — their residence hall and room number? Help us solve this mystery; email hcmag@holycross.edu.
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MYSTERY PHOTO / ALUMNI NEWS / 67
HCAA NEWS new together, and demonstrate what is special about Holy Cross to their local communities. It all started with the Holy Cross Club of Connecticut almost 125 years ago – in 1896, to be precise. That club has since subdivided into three clubs – Greater Hartford, New Haven and Greater Fairfield. The Worcester Club came quickly upon its heels in 1898, followed by New York (1901), Berkshire County (1903), Northeastern Pennsylvania (1906) and Boston (1907). Our newest club (2018) is the Westchester County Club.
A Note From Mike
I
n this year like no other, we have had to adjust our outreach and interaction with the 36,000 Holy Cross alumni we serve. As we looked around for new ways to engage, we found one of our best resources was one of our oldest – our regional club network. The backbone of the alumni association is now, more than ever, the network of 31 regional clubs spread around the country (and the world). These clubs are the “feet on the street” in the ’Sader army. In many far-flung geographies, these local groups are Holy Cross. Their activities gather friends old and
And while these “official” clubs vary in size from Boston (6,972) to Western Pennsylvania (152), there are also dozens of “informal” clubs in satellite cities in the U.S. and abroad. We have vibrant groups of alumni in Madrid, London, Paris and Oxford, England. Some clubs are fairly compact – like the New York City club, while others cover pretty big areas – like all of Maine, for instance. Programming in these clubs has come a long way from the men-only “smokers” in the early 1900s. It’s hard to imagine those events — which were centered around alcohol and cigars — in today’s world. But they attracted huge crowds and made a little history. Many sources cite the opening toast of Dr. John C. Bossidy, class of 1881, at the 1923 Holy Cross Club of Boston annual dinner as the source of the well-known
Call for HCAA Board Nominations
T
he Holy Cross Alumni Association invites nominations for the 2021 In Hoc Signo and Young Alumni Leadership awards. The In Hoc Signo Award is the alumni
association’s highest honor and recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves by their dedicated, outstanding and lengthy service to the College, alumni organizations, regional clubs or class. The Young Alumni Leadership Award is presented to an alumnus/a who has graduated within the past 10 years (2010-2019) and has demonstrated outstanding service to alma mater through the alumni
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ditty: “Here is to Boston and Cambridge, the home of the Sacred Cod. Where the Lowells speak only to Cabots and the Cabots speak only to God.” Nearly 100 years later, we have a bit less poetry, but much more variety of activities. Now many clubs sponsor memorial Masses, book clubs, scholarship fundraisers, bridge tournaments, freshmen picnics, wine and beer tastings, museum tours, monthly luncheons and golf tournaments. And, although COVID-19 has stalled our plans, community service is at the nexus of many regions’ activities. After 10 years of grassroots growth, our Holy Cross Cares initiative has attracted nearly 400 people in 35 regions to help charities in their local communities. There is always room for growth and innovation, but no more smokers, please. If you are in a region where we haven’t organized a formal club, or you’d like to get something going in a current club, send me an email and I’ll connect you with the staff at the Alumni Relations office. Even “micro-clubs” are encouraged – perhaps a group of a few dozen alums who rally around a community service project? We’d be happy to support any effort to gather alumni in the name of Holy Cross. ■
Introducing the Holy Cross Physicians Association
C
alling all alumni M.D.s and D.O.s STAT! We invite you to become members of the newly established Holy Cross Physicians Association (HCPA). The Holy Cross Physicians Association serves as the primary organization connecting alumni physicians with the greater Holy Cross community. The group upholds the Jesuit tradition through a steadfast pursuit of excellence and dedicated service to those in need. Its goal is to facilitate lifelong learning, professional networking and mentorship opportunities among alumni physicians.
It’s very likely that your Holy Cross education and experience plays an invaluable role in your daily life as a physician. We invite you to turn around and support your alma mater, your profession and Holy Cross’ future doctors by joining the HCPA. We all know that being a doctor in the midst of a pandemic is the definition of busy, but we hope that you will take a few minutes to join the group. If you are at the point in your career when you actually have a moment to pause for a breath, we welcome your ideas and encourage you to contemplate serving in a more active role.
pr esi dent Laura Cutone Godwin ’96
pr esi dent- el ect Consider the incredible accomplishments and wisdom amassed by Holy Cross alumni serving the world as physician leaders. Now get access to this amazing resource and share your experience by joining us. We look forward to seeing you soon! ■
Learn more by visiting www.holycross. edu/alumni/crusaders-connect/affinitygroups/physicians.
Schone L. Malliet ’74
v i c e pr esi dent Jacqueline M. Rock ’02
v i c e pr esi dent Daniel D’Agata ’04
t r easu r er Kristyn M. Dyer ’94
ex ecu t i v e sec r etary
questions, comments and suggestions: hcaa@holycross.edu (5 0 8 ) 7 9 3 - 2 4 1 8
Thank you, Michael H. Shanahan ’78, P10 mshanahan@egancapital.com
association’s committees and activities, regional club or class. The deadline for submitting nominations, noting the qualifications of each nominee, is Jan. 21, 2021. For more details on the standards of eligibility and nomination forms, visit www.holycross.edu/alumni. Questions about the awards can be directed to the Office of Alumni Relations at 508-7932418 or hcaa@holycross.edu. ■
Michael H. Shanahan ’78
Classroom Revisited ’21 is going virtual SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 SAVE THE DATE
Join the HCAA for a day of online learning!
P H OTO BY E D W A R D PA L M
Engage with Holy Cross faculty members on a variety of timely
topics from the comfort of your home.
Registration materials will be sent in February. ■
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 / 69
S O LV E D P H O T O
HCAA NEWS archdiocese in the state of New Jersey. The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual or group for their outstanding contribution to the legal profession by making a positive difference in the lives of others through the provision of legal services. The award seeks to acknowledge Holy Cross graduates who, through the practice of law, embody the Jesuit value of living as people for and with others by sharing their gifts generously, pursuing justice and showing concern for the poor and marginalized. The HCLA is proud to recognize Claude J. Kelly III as the first recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. He is being recognized for his work serving the state of Louisiana.
The HCLA Recognizes Two Outstanding Lawyers
T
he Holy Cross Lawyers Association (HCLA) is proud to announce the winners of this year’s awards. The Edward Bennett Williams ’41 Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to Kenneth F. X. Kunzman ’58, (above left). The newly created Distinguished Service Award will be given to Claude J. Kelly III ’83 (above right). The awards will be conferred at a virtual awards ceremony during Winter Homecoming 2021. The Edward Bennett Williams ’41 Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a Holy Cross alumnus/a or faculty member whose contributions to the legal profession for an extended period of time have been truly exemplary as recognized by peers and/or the general
public. The awardee will have made a positive impact on the administration of justice and demonstrated loyalty to Holy Cross. Kenneth F. X. Kunzman is being recognized for his exemplary contributions to the legal profession, which have been recognized by his peers and the public over the long arc of his legal career, beginning in 1961. Kunzman immediately entered Fordham Law School after Holy Cross, graduating with his J.D. in 1961. He then entered the respected position of law clerk for the Hon. Gerald Foley, a judge of the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Court. He entered the U.S. Air Force as a captain and served with distinction in the Judge Advocate General Corps for three years. Upon honorable discharge in 1965, he joined the firm of Pindar, McElroy, Connell & Foley, the precursor of Connell Foley, as an associate attorney, becoming a managing partner in 1990. Today, Connell Foley has 140 lawyers with offices in five major cities. Kunzman now serves as personal counsel to Archbishop Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, the largest Catholic
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Kelly works as the chief federal public defender for the eastern district of Louisiana. After graduating from Holy Cross, he returned to New Orleans, graduated from Tulane Law School in 1987 and became a highly esteemed member of the legal community. He was a prosecutor and defense attorney, with two short-term breaks from law to assist with family businesses. Kelly served on the Federal Criminal Justice Act panel and was heavily involved with the Capital Defense Project of Louisiana. He maintains close friendships and working relationships with prosecutors, defense attorneys and politicians in both parties, and has often served as an unofficial mediator when divisive issues arise in legal and political circles in New Orleans. In 2016, Kelly was nominated by President Obama to be U.S. district judge for the eastern district of Louisiana. His nomination was supported by both Louisiana Republican senators, and he was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Due to a moratorium placed on all judicial vacancies, his nomination expired with the end of the 114th Congress. He is frequently asked to teach continuing legal education classes and to represent the federal bar in meetings and seminars. ■
Meet You at The Side Door
D
o you remember the Side Door Café? If so, this photo may look familiar as, according to emailers — and some of those photographed — it was the setting of this shot. Starting at left are Melissa Domaloan ’91, Miguel Gonzalez ’91, Bee Upatham ’93, Colin J.P. Homiski ’93, Calvin Ho ’93, Anna Philips ’93 and Mel Ona ’93 in fall 1990. “At the time there wasn’t a formal ALANA or ASIA group, only the Black
Student Union. This, or another meeting like it, was the precursor to the founding of the original ASIA group myself and several others cofounded in the next year,” Homiski says. He was even able to attempt the identification of people whose faces could not be seen. “I seem to remember there was Lydia Goulet ’91, whose hand I think is on the table to the right of Melissa Domaloan,” Homiski notes. “Continuing counterclockwise from her, I think there was Lily Ann Divino ’93, also at that end of the table and that could be whose finger is pointing in the bottom of the photo. Or Lily is
off to the left, and sitting after Lydia and Lily is Gauri Desai ’94.” The Side Door Café opened as a coffeehouse in lower Kimball in February 1985 “as a result of the need for an alternative social gathering place on campus,” according to a brief in The Crusader. However, it’s a mystery as to when it closed: We can’t find any records. Do you know? Email hcm@holycross.edu. Our thanks to the early ’90s Crusader emailers for the IDs and info: Donna (Schweinberger) Himmelberg ’90, Judith Moran ’91, Roy Vella ’90, Earl Bueno, M.D., ’93, Erin Choquette ’94, Marisa (Ziegler) Greenfield ’93 and James Braunstein ’93. ■
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ALUMNI NEWS
CREATIVE NOTES
From Our Creative Crusaders BY R E B E C C A S M I T H ' 9 9 A N D K I M B E R LY S TA L E Y ' 9 9
5 Things With Father Bill Hope, Humor, and
Help for the Soul
Springfield, Massachusetts; he assumed this role in December 2020 (see story, Page 83).
Loyola Press
In the Wake of the Mayflower
By the Most Rev. William “Bill” Byrne ’86 Based on his popular newspaper column and YouTube video series, “5 Things with Father Bill” is a practical and engaging book filled with short life stories and five ways, tips and reflections on how to grow spiritually. Featuring 50 topics to enhance ordinary days and holidays with insights, reflections and encouragement, this guide serves as a reminder that, through ups and downs, joys and sorrows, God is never far away. Writes actress, producer and best-selling author Roma Downey in the book’s forward: “With warmth and humor, this kind pastor helps us see how God is working in every part of our lives.” Most recently serving in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., Fr. Byrne was chosen by Pope Francis to serve as the bishop of the Diocese of
The First Encounter
By Karen Rinaldo and Kevin M. Doyle ’67 Independently published
“In the Wake of the Mayflower” is the story of survival after the Mayflower’s arrival through the 50 years of relative peace that ended with King Philip’s War. Written in an easy-to-read vignette style, the book is organized into three parts — Pilgrims and Natives: The First 50 Years, The ABCs of Pilgrims and Nausets, and Introduction to the 15 Cape Cod Towns — and includes full-color illustrations by author, artist and visual historian Rinaldo. Acclaimed by the National Park Service, Mayflower descendants, Wampanoag leaders and historians, “In the Wake of the Mayflower” has been called “a fun, well researched book” and “an interesting and valuable primer on the colonization of North America.”
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A retired combat veteran, Doyle lectures and writes about people and events that shape history.
Here
A Robert Falconer Mystery By Sean Moynihan ’88 BookBaby Publishing
Did Jack the Ripper cross the Atlantic in 1891? That’s the intriguing question considered in “Here,” the first novel in the Robert Falconer Mystery series. Set in New York City in the late 19th century, this crime thriller — based on a real-life unsolved murder — follows young police detective Robert Falconer as he teams up with an eclectic band of sleuths to track down a killer who just might be “The Ripper.” Highly rated on Amazon, reviewers describe the book as “riveting,” “intelligent and gripping,” and “Hard to put down!” A former professional actor on television and stage, Moynihan currently works as a criminal prosecutor in Colorado. When not in the courtroom, he enjoys spending time with his
wife and two children.
Kevin Courageous
A Journey of Faith, Hope and Love By Mary Ann and Chuck Mansfield ’66 Xlibris
“Kevin Courageous” is the inspirational true story of Kevin Sean Mansfield, a young man afflicted with a tragic illness, written by his grandparents. Comprised of personal family reflections, emails, poems and photographs, this memoir documents Kevin’s illness and journey to recovery, bolstered by his family’s loving support and prayer. Readers enthusiastically praise the book, calling the story “wonderful and inspiring,” “uplifting” and “powerful.” Writes award-winning novelist and essayist Cynthia Ozick: “No one who reads this heart-breaking yet ultimately glorious narrative of rising strength and risen trust will come away unchanged.” Mansfield serves as director/ trustee of the mutual funds of Federated Hermes, Inc. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and author of several books, he and his wife and co-author, Mary Ann, reside in Stuart, Florida, and Westhampton Beach, New York. ■
Prolific Ukulele Songbook Writer Keeps Classic Tunes From Fading Out Forever Over the past nine years, Dick Sheridan ’56 has published close to 30 songbooks for a variety of stringed instruments. BY DANIELLA VOLLINGER
A
s a child, Dick Sheridan ’56 would thumb through the catalogs of the day — Sears and Montgomery Ward
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DICK SHERIDAN ’56
— idolizing pictures of guitars. He’d savor the sound of chords he’d hear that accompanied the folk songs he loved and convince himself (and his parents) that a guitar was exactly what he needed. So, naturally, one Christmas morning the 10-year-old looked suspiciously at the small package underneath the tree, only to have his fears confirmed: His gift was most certainly not a guitar but a diminutive string substitute called a ukulele. After some frustrating episodes with the tiny uke, it was relegated to a closet shelf until the following summer when, out of boredom, he took the instrument down, gave it another go and was hooked. When asked why his parents didn’t buy him a guitar, Sheridan concluded it was probably a matter of finances. It was wartime, budgets were tight and ukes were much less expensive than guitars. “Besides,” he adds, “I don’t think they
knew the difference between a ukulele and a guitar.” Today, at age 85, Sheridan is regarded as one of America’s principal champions of ukulele music and has published close to 30 songbooks since 2011, including those for four- and five-string banjo, mandolin, guitar and music theory. Grouped according to theme, his songbooks cover a range of musical territory, from songs of the Civil War, World War I, Stephen Foster and American Roots, to Irish and Jewish music, the classics, waltzes, hymns and spirituals, nautical songs and Yuletide favorites. “Like many of us, my interests are eclectic,” he says. “A fleeting thought of one of them may trigger an idea. Then it becomes fun to set it to music.” Sheridan felt a strong urge to create
D I CK SHERIDA N / CR E AT I V E N OT E S / A LUMNI NE WS / 7 3
on special tuning for the ukulele, a songbook for Catholic children and a collection of old-time radio musical themes and jingles.
(Clockwise from top right) Members of the St. James Society, the College’s Dixieland band, in 1956, left to right: Bob Powers ’56 (piano), John Gainor ’59 (trumpet), Sheridan (banjo), Joey Rhea ’58 (clarinet) and Phil Ryan ’57 (trombone); on banjo with the Soda Ash Six; teaching ukulele on his front porch in 2020.
something tangible, and as a former copywriter, he was naturally drawn to songbook writing through his love of the written word and music. “I’m constantly drawn to putting songs on paper,” he adds. “It’s fascinating to see something come alive. There’s a joy in arranging a song — picking a key, setting a tempo, adding the right chords, then laying it out in printable form. I’ve always been very much aware of the rhythm of words and how they blend together: the phrasing of them, their grouping. In the back of my mind, I’m probably always setting them to music.” Sheridan also acknowledges that there was a part of him that wanted
to record beloved old songs for posterity, to keep them current. “Many of those songs are rich in my life, and I was anxious to get them on paper. I suppose there was a subliminal thought that if I didn’t do it, they would kind of fade out.” Sharing music on The Hill Growing up in Long Island, New York, Sheridan’s childhood home was filled with music. His mother played the piano for several hours most days — Chopin, Schumann, Brahms — and his father, also an amateur piano player, would tackle the popular songs of the day, while Sheridan remained faithful to his true love: folk music. When he set off for his first year at Holy Cross, he brought the music with
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A Sheridan-arranged ukulele version of “Alma Mater”; the logo for his Sycracusebased jazz band; and a 2015 release, one of his nearly 30 songbook titles.
him, packing his guitar and a baritone ukulele. He was soon recruited for football pep rallies. “As fight songs and ‘Alma Mater’ were sung, I provided the accompaniment, and the campus rang with school spirit and enthusiasm,” Sheridan remembers. (In 2013, he published the songbook “College Fight Songs and Alma Maters for Ukulele.”) Soon, other classmates were found who could play the uke. Late-night and weekend dorm sessions became popular, and no party was complete without at least one uke
player in attendance. Some of his most vivid memories from his days on The Hill are centered around music: singing with the Glee Club, caroling in the dorms just before Christmas break, hymn singing for daily Mass in the choir loft at St. Joseph Memorial Chapel, and playing banjo with the campus Dixieland band, the St. James Society, “Purveyors of Jazz!” His initial attraction to Holy Cross was not academic, but rather its winning basketball and football teams. And there also was the draw of its Jesuit tradition. “My Holy Cross experience prepared me for life and my vocational pursuits
by establishing a disciplined work ethic, sound moral values and a firm foundation of faith,” he says, reflecting on his years as an education major and Marine Corps ROTC member. “But, also, it sparked an intellectual curiosity in me — a love of learning. To this day, I enjoy research and find immense satisfaction in my work.” Today, Sheridan rises before the sun, and after an hour of morning devotions, makes his way to his upstairs studio where he spends most of the day immersed in his work — a state of being where “time just evaporates.” He currently has four books in various stages of preparation or production: original songs for the guitar, a book
In addition to songbook writing, he is also the band leader and banjo player for Soda Ash Six, a Syracuse, New Yorkbased traditional jazz band founded almost 60 years ago. He continues to privately teach instrumental music and instructs several mini-courses at the local community college. The key to a rich life, he says, is knowing yourself, your interests and your God-given talents — and pursuing them. “Try to develop your interests into a career and a life,” he advises. “Don’t be swayed by the lure of power or prestige. Don’t be afraid of being unconventional. To thine own self be true!” ■
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ALUMNI NEWS
Vanecko Shows the World What It Means to “Fight Like A Girl” Inspired by her Fulbright experience in South Africa, Mary Kate Vanecko ’17 launches an international girls boxing and leadership development program BY MEREDITH FIDROCKI
M
ary Kate Vanecko ’17 first discovered boxing as a way to cross-train while playing varsity lacrosse at Holy Cross. She liked it so much, she joined the boxing club at Trinity College in Dublin while studying abroad junior
(left to right) Vanecko in her senior year at Holy Cross; with students from the Johnson Nqonqoza Senior Secondary School, Somerset East, Eastern Cape of South Africa, during her Fulbright year; youth boxers in FLAG’s after-school program at Somerset East in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
year. When Vanecko headed to South Africa after graduation to teach English on a Fulbright grant, it was only natural to pack her boxing gloves. The high school in South Africa where she taught didn’t have any sports or extracurriculars for students. So Vanecko pulled out her gloves and started an after-school boxing program. “The best part of my Fulbright was getting to do this boxing,” she says. She planned to coach only girls, but there was so much interest, she ran sessions for boys as well. “The school loved boxing because it gave kids something to do,” says Vanecko, who was a political science major at Holy Cross. “It’s incredible how sports can unite people.” She met another local boxing coach who was training kids for free as a
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way to help them stay in school and provide more opportunity amidst often challenging circumstances. Visiting his gym one day, she saw two young girls sparring. “Not just swinging, but very technical boxing with really impressive combinations,” Vanecko recalls. “When I saw that, I wanted everyone who’s ever doubted what a girl could do to see girls box. It’s a powerful way to slowly change mindsets around how we think about gender and strength.” Vanecko returned to the U.S. in 2018 and the following year founded a nonprofit, Box United, as a way to support the South African community working to give young people more opportunity through boxing. She held fundraisers, but wanted to provide more than just money. That’s when she came up with the idea for Fight Like a Girl (FLAG) — a two-way cross-cultural exchange and boxing empowerment program for high school girls in the
U.S. and South Africa. Vanecko applied for and won a grant for Fulbright alumni, securing funding for FLAG through the U.S. State Department and its partner, the U.S. Consulate in Cape Town. “Now, we have 100 girls from four different high schools; there are 60 girls in South Africa who are doing an in-person program, and there are 40 girls in Chicago who are doing a virtual program,” Vanecko says. “We teach girls how to box to hip-hop music: a way that’s fun and approachable.” The girls follow a 10-week curriculum that weaves boxing lessons with reflection, discussion, mindfulness and leadership development — culminating in the girls creating their own community impact projects. Vanecko and her team also invite local women leaders to speak. “We do a lot of work on establishing a good relationship with your body and recognizing your own strength and power,” she says. “So often girls are told, ‘You shouldn’t
be aggressive’ and ‘You shouldn’t be ambitious.’ I think for girls it’s so important to be able to see: I can be a fighter. To identify as that is something so life-changing.” Vanecko can relate: “Sometimes people might dismiss me as being too nice, but boxing has helped me see that I have this totally strong and powerful side.” Even though the travel exchange portion of FLAG is on hold for now due to the pandemic, the team creatively navigates an eight-hour time difference to allow the girls in Chicago and South Africa to connect via Zoom and still have a cross-cultural experience. Vanecko sees potential to use online platforms to help grow the program. Juggling her day job in management consulting at Accenture in Chicago, Vanecko runs FLAG with help from her team — which includes two Holy Cross student interns, Renata Palua ’21 and Sofi Torres-Kennedy ’21. Vanecko adds that fellow alumna Callie Cummings
’15 played an integral role in bringing FLAG to Loyola Academy, a high school outside Chicago where she teaches and Vanecko attended. Holy Cross has entirely shaped Vanecko’s journey, she says: “Everything I do in my life, in a way, is deeply tied to Holy Cross, from the liberal arts perspective, to playing on the lacrosse team, to this Fulbright experience that I don’t think I would have gotten if I went to another school.” Her experiences in the Holy Cross Women’s Forum also help her lead FLAG discussions, she says, and she’s constantly drawing on entrepreneurial skills learned as a participant in the College’s Shark Tank Competition. Vanecko has big dreams for FLAG. She’s focused on gathering data and hopes to be able to eventually scale the program and bring it to more schools: “My one driving thing I always come back to: How can more girls around the world have access to the lifechanging power of sport?” ■
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FOR AND WITH OTHERS
throughout his career. Over the years, he has cultivated a philosophy: “If you put kids in crazy environments, they will act crazy. However, if you give them structure, they respond well.”
He Wanted to be Rich, But Then He Heard Fr. Brooks Speak
W 1.
2. 3.
hen Fred Givens III ’92 came to Holy Cross to study economics, he had specific goals:
Parlay his football scholarship into an NFL career. Become a successful businessman. Donate to causes in low-income parts of New York City and his hometown of Newark, New Jersey.
Then, in his early days as a first-year student, Givens heard College President Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J., ’49 speak. “My goal was to be rich,” Givens says. “But Fr. Brooks said he didn’t care what kind of job students got or how much money they made — only that they were
educated, able to critically think and cogently write. I realized giving money from a distance wasn’t going to cut it. I needed to be more hands-on in the communities I cared about.” That impetus led Givens to seek a career in education, as a teacher, coach and principal leading students in the Bronx, Newark and now Harlem, where he is principal of New Heights Academy Charter School, which posts an annual 100% college acceptance rate. “I can’t imagine being in a job other than education,” he says.
A N E W PATH Shortly after that encounter with Fr. Brooks, Givens decided he wanted to major in psychology, began
78 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ WINTER 2021
How Fred Givens ’92 found a mission he never expected BY SANDRA GITTLEN volunteering with high school students at a Worcester-area community center, and later applied for and was accepted into Teach for America. He later earned a master’s degree in education from Columbia University’s Teachers College and a master’s degree in education, leadership and management from Seton Hall University. His first classroom experience through Teach for America was as an 8th-grade teacher in the South Bronx. “One student said he was going to stab me, another would light up matches in the back of the room; it was just one of those schools,” he remembers. But through the experience, Givens learned students “just needed someone to love them and give them attention,” a lesson he has carried
While he’s happiest in front of a classroom, Givens moved into administration 15 years ago because “there weren’t enough Black males in leadership roles.” He wanted students to see him, a Black man, as principal, and also help teachers become effective leaders in the school and the community. It’s a mission he persued as principal at Bronx Prep Charter School and now at New Heights, which has a 95% Latino student body, the majority of whom come from low-income homes. The school puts a strong emphasis on academic success — insisting on college acceptance as a requirement for graduation. “In urban areas, young people often don’t think about getting a college degree until it is too late,” he notes. “I want them to know they had the opportunity to be educated and highly skilled in what they love — whether they take that opportunity or not.” Two counselors are dedicated to helping New Heights students discover their passion, find a matching college and submit an application. It’s a process that starts when students enter New Heights and includes field trips to a variety of
(opposite) At the center of the table, Fred Givens (in glasses) poses with his family, including his wife, Saundra (foreground), and his children Isaiah (standing, white shirt), Travis (second to Isaish’s left) and Dyana (at Givens’ right). (above left) Givens, wearing #42, played running back for the Crusaders. (above middle) New Heights Academy seniors try to prank their principal at a pep rally. (above right) Givens posing with a new graduate after commencement at Bronx Prep, where he served as principal.
universities. While the pandemic has made the college admissions process more challenging, Givens is maintaining the college acceptance requirement as a way to help his students become more resilient: “The challenges our students face won’t go away with COVID-19 – poverty, racism, environmental diseases, etc. – so we have to prepare our kids for college and life.” The school also hosts career days where Givens invites his fellow Holy Cross alumni to come and meet his students. Many of his classmates have successful careers, but Givens says they are more interested in his: “My friends talk to me more about my job than they do their own.” Givens wants his students to understand that striking it rich is not the only way to become successful in life, support their families and give back to their community. “Becoming wealthy is a great option,” he notes, “but not the only one.” Recently, a former student, now studying engineering, called Givens to talk about switching majors to social justice, but he was worried about how his family
would take the news. “There aren’t a lot of Latino engineers, so I understood the pressure, but I just didn’t see it that way,” Givens says, and encouraged the student to do what he felt was right. Givens, who recently turned 50, saw his oldest son graduate Temple University in 2012; his younger son and daughter are currently in college. (He and his wife, Worcester native Saundra WarrenGivens, met while he was at Holy Cross and she was enrolled at Worcester State.) Givens makes it a point to ask his students, not much younger than his own children, where they want to be in five, 15 and 50 years. Taking that long view, he believes, helps them pick a path that is more sustainable. And how would Givens have answered the same question he now asks his students, had it been posed to him when he first arrived on Mount St. James? Thinking about it makes him laugh a bit: “Back then, I thought I somehow would contribute to the underprivileged communities I came from, but with not being that interested in school, I never thought it would be as a teacher. Now, I would never doing anything else.” ■
FOR AND WITH OTHERS / ALUMNI NEWS / 79
CLASS NOTES
WANT TO SHARE YOUR NEWS?
1962
w r i t e Holy Cross Magazine / One College Street / Worcester, MA 01610 e m a i l hcmag@holycross.edu s u b m i t a n o t e o n l i n e holycross.edu/classnotes
will identify and consider
has found a way to avoid
the Association of the
won re-election to
McElroy were married
security risks involving
retirement and live a
Federal Bar of New
the U.S. House of
on Aug. 29, 2020, at The
federally funded research
fuller life. The podcast
Jersey. Doug Keegan
Representatives in
Estate at Farrington
and development, identify
is available on iTunes
was honored on Aug.
November 2020. He
Lake in East Brunswick,
effective approaches for
and other streaming
28, 2020, by Rep.
represents California’s
New Jersey. Katherine
communicating risks
services, as well as www.
Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)
District 11, which
Garrahan, partner at
to the academic and
olddogspodcast.com.
in The Congressional
includes most of Contra
Bowditch & Dewey, has
Record for his work as
Costa County, near San
been named president of
Francisco.
the board of MetroWest
scientific community, and
Robert Cain, M.D., retired
1965
share best practices for
in January 2020 on his
A. Michael Hutchins
mitigating these risks.
1972
program director of
Brian M. Hurley, a
the Santa Cruz County
director at Rackemann,
Immigration Project,
1978
nonprofit providing
promoting the well-
Legal Services — a
79th birthday. He enjoys
received the Mark
travel, bridge, reading
Pope Social Justice and
1968
Sawyer & Brewster, has
John A. “Jack” Collins
pro bono advocacy for
and watching the market,
Advocacy Award from
Jim Conlan and comedy
been named to the Best
being of the immigrant
III received the Lifetime
the poor, elderly and
and describes retirement
the Society for Sexual,
partner Paul Menzel
Lawyers in America 2021
community by helping
Achievement Award
disabled in communities
as “grand.” Anthony
Affectional, Intersex
produced a podcast aimed
list, a peer-reviewed
immigrants acquire
from the Connecticut
within Middlesex,
Fauci, M.D., received
and Gender Expansive
at baby boomers: “New
publication highlighting
legal status, reuniting
Law Tribune in
Worcester and Norfolk
the Federal Employee
Identities, a division of
Tricks for Old Dogs.”
top legal talent in the U.S.
immigrant families and
September 2020.
counties.
of the Year medal at
the American Counseling
Each episode features
1973
making U.S. citizenship
Collins is a director/
1979
the Samuel J. Heyman
Association, at its
stream-of-consciousness
John B. Kearney
more accessible.
shareholder at Suisman
Joseph D’Agostino
Service to America Medals
inaugural conference in
commentary, weird news
received the 2020 New
Shapiro Attorneys-at-
has been hired as
event presented by the
October 2020. The award
from the corners of the
Jersey Professional
1974
Law in New London,
head of strategic
Partnership for Public
acknowledges Hutchins’
world and an interview
Lawyer of the Year
Rep. Mark J.
Connecticut. Jennifer
development at Dynasty
Service in October 2020.
lifelong commitment to
with a fellow senior who
Award, as nominated by
DeSaulnier (D-CA)
Driscoll and George
Financial Partners in St.
The event recognizes
fighting for the inclusion
federal employees who
of members of the
demonstrate innovation,
LGBTQQIA+ community.
strong leadership and passion for public
1966
service in their work. In
John C. Gannon was
November, he received the
appointed as co-chair of a
Vermont Medical Society’s
newly launched National
Founders’ Award for 2020. The Founders’ Award is
Ted Wells ’72 Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
T
heodore “Ted” Wells Jr.
and takes into consideration the
’72, Hon. ’18 will receive
indelible mark they’ve left on the
the 2020 Lifetime
legal profession, the longevity of
Achievement Award from
their careers and their contributions
Some students arrive at Mount St. James on a “wing
The American Lawyer magazine in
to both the profession and broader
January 2021.
society through public service.”
Science, Technology and
A litigation partner of Paul, Weiss,
An economics major at Holy Cross,
Donahue Family Scholarship will provide the support
Security Roundtable
Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison,
Wells was awarded an honorary
they need to complete their education at Holy Cross.
presented to individuals
convened by the National
Wells will be celebrated in a virtual
degree from the College in 2018, in
who have demonstrated
Academies of Sciences,
awards ceremony and featured in an
recognition of his legal career, service
outstanding leadership,
Engineering and Medicine.
upcoming edition of the publication.
to the College and work championing
vision and achievement
Supported by the U.S.
in improving the health
Department of Defense
The award recognizes “esteemed,
of Vermonters and all
and the National Institutes
seasoned lawyers who have spent
Americans.
of Health, the roundtable
decades building a legacy in the law,
and a prayer,” hoping that their family’s finances will be stable all four years. If their situation changes, the
MARY and TERRY DONAHUE ’63
civil rights, racial and social justice, and educational equality. ■
FAMILY CRUSADERS Two of their seven sons
Celebrating Health Care Heroes
G
erry Miller ’77 was recognized by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) last spring for his innovative way of thanking front-line health care workers. When, due to COVID-19 restrictions, he was unable to visit his 98-year-old mother who resides in an assisted living facility, Miller began
(Jack ’85 and Brian ’88) and three grandchildren (Karalyn ’15, Daniel ’18 and Meghan ’21).
“Knowing this news will bring smiles to their faces makes us happy.”
FUNDING STRATEGY Four charitable gift annuities plus additional yearly gifts made by the couple and family members. Their wills include a “topping off” gift, if needed, to fully fund their scholarship commitment.
weekly “Hero Celebrations” to honor the facility’s staff. As employees entered or left the building at shift change, Miller and others played music, held signs and gave small gifts and snacks as a way of thanking staffers for caring for their family members. The NASW noted that Miller’s actions were “consistent with his unconditionally compassionate, creative, thoughtful capacity and character.” Miller is a licensed clinical social worker and
W W W.1843L EG AC Y S O C I E T Y.O R G
FOR OTHERS. FOREVER.
psychotherapist in Massachusetts. ■
8 0 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ WINTER 2021
CL ASS NOTES / ALUMNI NEWS / 81
CLASS NOTES and services, and employs
by Creighton University.
outstanding lawyers
miscellaneous and
45,000 people. Bartlett
In his dissertation, “Lay
from more than 70
structural steel products
1980
Sher will make his feature
Secondary Teachers’
practice areas who have
for the construction
Ben Massa is a senior
film directorial debut
Understanding of the
attained a high degree
industry.
director for the North
helming “Oslo,” which
Ignatian Charism,” he
of peer recognition
Carolina State Ports
won the 2017 Tony Award
interviewed 26 teachers
and professional
Authority, based in
for Best Play. An HBO
from six Jesuit high
achievement. Virginia
Wilmington. Verrill
production, the film is
schools in the Jesuit USA
Doherty McGregor
Norwood has been
expected to premiere
East Province about how
promoted to professor of
later this year. In 2016,
they discern the Ignatian
chemistry at Cleveland
Sher directed the world
State Community College.
Petersburg, Florida.
draft back in 2010.” His
Gratitude has delivered
a remarkable difference
years at Sidley Austin
1986
third novel, “Doubt,” is
six million care package
in the legal profession.
LLP. He is an associate
Peter Hogenkamp,
expected to be released
items and 400,000
She is currently chief
professor of research
M.D., published his
this spring.
handwritten letters of
legal officer and general
and writing and associate
appreciation to 375,000
counsel at First Guarantee
professor of scripture at
Mortgage in Plano, Texas.
St. Joseph’s Seminary.
second book, “The Vatican
1985
Conspiracy,” in October
1987
front-line responders
Karen (Mulvihill)
2020. Hogenkamp notes
Peter G. Flaherty has
battling the pandemic in
1992
The second of his three
Baldwin has a film, “Odd
the idea for the book
joined the board of
35 states and Washington,
Chris Serb won the
children, Christine ’21,
has been appointed
Man Rush,” currently
“started when I was on
trustees for Endicott
D.C., as well as military
Professional Football
attends Holy Cross
chair of the board of
streaming. A producer, she
The Hill, taking Religious
College in Beverly,
serving around the world.
Researchers Association’s
remotely from Worcester.
charism and understand
directors of the Geising
is starting a series, “Black
Themes in 20th Century
Massachusetts.
premiere of the play,
their roles as lay teachers
rer Commonwealth
is the New White,” and
Literature, taught by Fr.
Jim Power has been
which transferred to
and ministers in Jesuit
School of Medicine. She
an action co-production
Michael Boughton. And
1989
named headmaster of St.
Broadway the following
schools. Argento has been
also serves as chair of
series with a Spanish
though it took many years
Anselm’s Abbey School in
year.
a social studies teacher
the Geisinger Family
team, “Barcelona.” Karen
at Boston College High
Committee, in addition
1982
School since graduating
Tim Hall has joined
from Holy Cross.
Washington, D.C.
1981
Nelson Ross Award for
1991
outstanding achievement
1994
Rose Baker has been
in pro football historical
Erin C. Deveney has
Kevin M. Schmiegel,
named vice president
research, for his 2019
been hired as chief of staff
for me to write it, the book
CEO of Operation
of the Irish Cultural
book, “War Football:
by Everett, Massachusetts,
(Havlicek) Richards
really did have its origins
Gratitude, was
Center of Western
World War I and the Birth
Mayor Carlo DeMaria.
to serving on the board’s
reports her daughter Zoe
on Mount St. James.”
interviewed in Authority
New England. Laura
of the NFL.”
patient experience,
kicked off her freshman
Hogenkamp also credits
Magazine’s “Heroes of
LaRaia was honored at
academic affairs and
year at UC San Diego, part
late professor emeritus of
the COVID Crisis” series
Law.com’s 2020 Women,
1993
1996
Doug Baker retired last
Avison Young as principal
fall after 16 years as CEO
on the capital markets
1984
quality committees. In
of the reduced contingent
English Edward Callahan,
for his work leading the
Influence & Power in
Dan McLaughlin is a
president, deputy general
at Ecolab. He will retain
team in Washington, D.C.
Thomas S. Fitzpatrick,
addition to her work at
of students living on
“who helped me rewrite
organization during the
Law Awards, which
senior writer at National
counsel, at Liberty Mutual
a shareholder at Davis
Geisinger, she serves on
campus. Zoe is majoring
the first half of the book
pandemic. Since March
recognized top women
Review, having left the
Insurance, was named to
the board of McGregor
in psychology and playing
when I wrote the first
22, 2020, Operation
lawyers who have made
practice of law after 23
Boston Business Journal’s
pointment in October.
Mass,” he told the clergy,
team, formation board,
religious and lay people
priest council, priest
A native of Washington,
of the diocese at his
personnel board
engineering at the
D.C., Fr. Byrne graduated
installation Mass. “We
and archdiocesan
University of Oxford
from Holy Cross with
must preach the joy that
administrative board,
his role as chairman at the St. Paul, Minnesota-
1983
Malm, has been named
based corporation, which
Nicholas Argento was
to the Massachusetts
Industries, a 101-year-old,
on the UCSD softball
provides water, hygiene
awarded a doctorate in
2020 Super Lawyers
family-owned business
team, which is moving to
and energy technologies
education in August 2020
list, a rating service of
that manufactures
Division 1 this year.
invitation to present the
prestigious award.”
keynote lecture during
Collins Wins Dickson Prize in Medicine
J
the university’s annual
“I’m grateful to work with
with the distinction of
an A.B. in English. He
love conquers hate, that
as well as on the boards
campuswide showcase
outstanding lab members
Rhodes Scholar. He has
studied at the Pontifical
peace defeats violence,
of St. Ann’s Infant and
of scientific research.
and collaborators whose
received a MacArthur
North American College
that life destroys death
Maternity Home, Catholic
dedication and insight
Foundation “Genius”
in Rome, completing
itself, that Jesus Christ is
Youth Organization,
“Dr. Collins is defining
have been critical to
award, NIH Director’s
his licentiate in sacred
risen and in this alone do
Redemptoris Mater
what’s possible in the
what we’ve achieved,”
Pioneer Award and Sanofi-
theology from Pontifical
we find hope.”
Seminary and the Lay
disciplines of synthetic
said Collins, who is the
Institut Pasteur Award.
University of St. Thomas
and systems biology.
Termeer Professor of
Collins is an elected
Aquinas in 1993. He
Since his ordination,
His highly creative work
Medical Engineering and
member of the National
was ordained a priest
Fr. Byrne has served
Fr. Byrne authored the
applying engineering
Science in the Department
Academy of Sciences,
for the Archdiocese of
at the shrines of the
book, “5 Things with
design principles to
of Biological Engineering
National Academy of
Washington, D.C., in June
Little Flower Parish in
Father Bill: Hope, Humor,
molecular biology has
at Massachusetts Institute
Engineering, National
1994.
Bethesda, Maryland,
and Help for the Soul,”
generated numerous
of Technology. He is also
Academy of Medicine, and
and St. Jude Parish in
published last fall by
new diagnostics and
affiliated faculty with
the American Academy
In his new role, he will
Rockville, Maryland; as
Loyola Press. He has also
therapeutics with
the Broad Institute of
of Arts and Sciences. He
lead a diocese comprising
chaplain of the University
filmed a series of videos
wide application to
MIT, Harvard University
is a charter fellow of the
79 parishes and seven
of Maryland Catholic
on YouTube, “Five Things
medicine,” said Anantha
and the Wyss Institute at
National Academy of
missions across Berkshire,
Student Center in College
With Fr. Byrne,” which can
Shekhar, M.D., Pitt’s
Harvard. “I am thrilled
Inventors. ■
Franklin, Hampden and
Park, Maryland; and as
be viewed at holycross.
Hampshire counties, and
pastor of St. Peter Parish
edu/hcm/fivethings. ■
a Catholic population of
in Washington, D.C., and
164,799.
Our Lady of Mercy Parish
ames J. Collins
to an American biomedical
’87 has been
researcher who has made
senior vice chancellor
and honored to receive
awarded the 2020
significant, progressive
for the health sciences
the Dickson Prize in
Dickson Prize in
Medicine.”
contributions to medicine.
and John and Gertrude
Medicine, the University
The award consists of a
Petersen dean of medicine.
of Pittsburgh School of
specially commissioned
“It is our honor to
A physics major at Holy
Medicine’s highest honor.
medal, a $50,000
recognize him with the
Cross, Collins earned
The prize is given annually
honorarium and an
School of Medicine’s most
a Ph.D. in medical
8 2 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ WINTER 2021
Damon Hart, senior vice
Byrne ’86 Installed as 10th Bishop of Springfield, Massachusetts
O
Leadership Institute.
n Dec. 14, the
bishop of Springfield,
Most Rev.
Massachusetts, in a Mass
William D.
at St. Michael’s Cathedral,
“From your newest
He has also served
Byrne ’86
following Pope Francis’
brother, William: God is
on the Archdiocese of
announcement of the ap-
not done here in Western
Washington’s vocations
was installed as the 10th
GILLIAN JONES
in Potomac, Maryland.
CL ASS NOTES / ALUMNI NEWS / 83
CLASS NOTES “Extraordinary Year,
received the Connecticut
which explores the nature
40 who have excelled
education center in North
Enkeboll and her
before heading to Holy
Extraordinary People:
District Export Council
of faith and belief in light
in the courtroom,
Philadelphia. John P.
husband, Andy, welcomed
Cross, where he made 17
Boston Business Journal’s
2020 Ambassador Award,
of the many challenges
in client service and
Davis published his first
their first child, Soren
starts as a senior.
Power 50” list.
presented in recognition
believers regularly
cultivation, in service
book, “How to Get a
Louis, in October 2020.
and appreciation of
experience. He is a Latin
to bar associations, and
Sales Job,” through RTI
1997
outstanding contributions
teacher at Regis High
in performing pro bono
Publishing in fall 2020.
Keith Driscoll has been
and leadership during
School in New York, where
work or community
appointed CEO of Boston
the COVID-19 pandemic
he is a member of the class
service in a volunteer
Insurance Brokerage LLC.
in service to the
of 1999.
capacity. She is a partner
region’s exporters and
2000
at Robinson+Cole LLP.
2006
manufacturers.
Antonio Gutierrez, M.D.,
2011
defenseman, has signed a
2009
has joined Roaring Fork
contract with the Wichita
Emily Rast Tarney
Equine Medical Center
Thunder of the ECHL for
moved to Columbia,
in Glenwood Springs,
the 2020-2021 season. ■
South Carolina, to join
Colorado, as associate
2008
The Rast Group at
veterinarian.
2019
received a Department of
2002
in Hong Kong with his
F. Shannon Sweeney
Morgan Stanley’s wealth
Veterans Affairs Health
Allison Walsh has
wife, Michelle, and their
has been elected as a
management practice. She
Bobby Hurstak was
Services Research &
been named head of
daughters, ages 4 and 1. He
board member for the
and her husband, Matt,
named to The Boston
Development Service
environmental, social
has been working for J.P.
Hope Partnership for
welcomed their first child,
Herald’s MIAA Eastern
Career Development
and governance and
Morgan since graduation,
Education, a 501(c)3
Theodore, in April 2020.
Mass. Boys Soccer All-
Award, which provides
corporate sustainability at
first in Taipei, then Hong
organization that
full salary and study
investment management
Kong.
support for his project
firm Income Research +
examining the role of
Management.
2007 Taylor A. Shea was
telehealth on functional status and outcomes in
2003
recognized at September
patients with peripheral
David Bonagura
2020’s Connecticut Legal
artery disease. Jeffrey J.
published a book,
Awards with the “New
White, manufacturing
“Steadfast in Faith:
Leaders in the Law”
industry team chair at
Catholicism and the
award, which spotlights
Robinson+Cole LLP,
Challenges of Secularism,”
lawyers under the age of
A
goalie for Lincoln-
Kelsey Ruescher-
Sudbury High School
night before
alumni representing
school
classes from the ’70s
started,
through 2015.
all the memories
Michele Murray, vice
we had
president for student
“Sock Guys,” premiered online last
those first
affairs and dean of
fall.
few days
students, emailed first-
on campus
year students the video
Directed by Katie Turinski, the film provides
and the
link in September near
an inside look at John’s Crazy Socks, an online
friendships
Homecoming, a weekend
business owned and operated by John, who has
we
when first-year student
Down Syndrome, and dad, Mark (mom is Carol
developed
traditionally meet alumni
Schlitt ’80). Based in Long Island, New York,
that have
returning to alma mater.
the pair have created and grown an integrated
remained
workplace, where people with intellectual
with us
“It was a nice touch for
disabilities work alongside neurotypical
for 30
the video to have gone out
colleagues to help spread messages of
years,” Beck
at the beginning of ‘Stay
country, was also an official selection of 2020’s
S
2010
middle school and adult
Mark Cronin ’80 and son John,
The film, screened in festivals across the ReelAbilities Film Festival, the largest in the Cross President
U.S. dedicated to promoting awareness and
Rev. Philip L.
appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic
Boroughs, S.J.
expressions of people with disabilities. “Sock Guys” also won the 2019 Gig Award at the Gig
Collins enjoyed an
Decade Team. He played
includes an independent
new short film about sock retailers
inclusivity and empowerment to customers.
Collins ’52: Four Generations Celebrate
Dalton Skelly, a
Katie Larson, D.V.M.,
Esben Shoen is living
Mark Cronin ’80 and Son John Subject of New Short Film
2020
Harbor Film Festival in Washington.
Class of ’94 Leads Effort to Welcome ’24
A
advice.
at Homecoming’ weekend,
Wickwire says.
to introduce alumni and
The project was the brainchild of Danita
Empathy for first-year
our messages of support,
Beck Wickwire
students who have yet
words of advice and just
’94, who learned
to experience their first
plain greetings of hello,” Beck Wickwire says.
walk down
The welcome came in
about VidHug from her
days on campus led her
memory lane
the form of a 17-minute
classmate, Meghan Cecil.
to reach out to classmates
by members
“video hug” via VidHug,
of the class
a platform that hosts
“We were reminiscing
welcome messages. The
of 1994 turned into a big
surprise group videos.
about where we were 30
project quickly spread
welcome for the newest
Thirty-two alumni,
years ago at the end of the
beyond the class of 1994,
last fall to record short
pringfield, Massachusetts,
outdoor family gathering with his three
native Robert B. Collins ’52
other “RBCs”: son Robert B. Collins Jr.,
The film is available for purchase or online
Crusaders, the class of
from graduating classes
summer and beginning of
thanks to the help of
celebrated his 90th birthday
grandson Robert B. Collins III and great-
screening at https://watch.showandtell.film/
2024, by nearly three-
spanning 40 years, offered
the school year: the first
the Holy Cross Alumni
last August with family and
grandson Robert B. Collins IV. ■
watch/johns-crazy-socks. ■
dozen alumni from across
video welcomes, words
people we met on campus
Association, and the
the United States.
of encouragement and
or on Easy Street the
video eventually featured
a congratulatory letter from Holy
8 4 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ WINTER 2021
Watch it at https://app. vidhug.com/rJlqc5brP/ hug. ■
CL ASS NOTES / ALUMNI NEWS / 85
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.
1945 Frank W. Warber
an MBA from NYU and a certificate
nieces, including Janet L. Antonioni,
Division of General Motors in
as a member of the O’Callahan
in executive business from Stanford
M.D., ’87, nephews and relatives. He
Meriden, Connecticut. Mr. Bellemore
Society and was affiliated with Naval
University. He had a 33-year career
was predeceased by one son; two
is survived by two sons; and two
ROTC. He served with the first
at Westinghouse, holding various
brothers; and six sisters.
grandchildren. He was predeceased
Marine Division in Korea as platoon
by his wife, Elizabeth “Betty.”
leader, receiving a commendation
positions, including engineer, marketing manager, president and
John F. O’Connor
with a “V” for valor and the Korean
William J. Casey Jr.
chairman of various departments,
John F. O’Connor, of
including the Water Reactor,
Roanoke, Virginia,
William J. “Bill”
returned home, he was an instructor
Uranium Resources Negotiations &
died on Aug. 12,
Casey Jr., of
at the Marine Officers School until
Settlements and Combustion Turbine
2020, at 92. After
Marlborough,
he retired as a captain. He spent
graduating from
formerly of
his career in the leather business,
Framingham,
first at Hamel Leather, then at his
Medal with four stars. When he
spanned 41 years, first practicing
Mr. Schoeffel participated in ROTC
joined the U.S. Navy, graduated from
divisions. Mr. DuBois is survived
law in Quincy, Massachusetts, then
at Holy Cross; he later supported
Holy Cross with a degree in business;
by two children and their spouses;
Holy Cross, where he participated in
Frank W. Warber, of
joining New England Electric System,
the College as a member of the
he was a member of the Alpha
and two grandchildren. He was
track, Mr. O’Connor earned his L.L.B./
Massachusetts, died on July 1, 2020,
own business, Collins Lea, which
Sarasota, Florida,
now National Grid, where he served
O’Callahan Society and was affiliated
Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society and
predeceased by his wife of 60 years,
J.D. from Georgetown University Law
at 96. Mr. Casey served in the U.S.
later became Collins Johnsen. Mr.
died on July 25,
as general property counsel. Mr.
with Naval ROTC. He served as a
recipient of its Magis Medal. He later
Margaret “Peg.”
School. He joined the U.S. Army after
Navy aboard the submarine USS
Collins is survived by two sons;
2020, at 95. At
Macdonald is survived by his wife
naval officer in World War II and
graduated from Harvard Business
attending the University of Virginia
Loggerhead in the Pacific Theatre
two daughters; one son-in-law; two
Holy Cross, Mr.
of 66 years, Ann; six daughters,
was recalled to active duty at the
School and became president and
for further study, and was assigned
during World War II. He worked for
daughters-in-law; 11 grandchildren;
Warber participated in ROTC. He
including Jane Poirier ’79; five
outset of the Korean War, both
CEO of ADT. After retiring, he began
Edward C. Johnson,
to the Judge Advocate General staff
American Standard before joining
and five great-grandchildren. He was
supported the College as a member
sons-in-law; 10 grandchildren; one
times in the Far East and Pacific
a second career and created the
of Hingham,
at Camp Kilmer in New Jersey; he
Commonwealth Glass Corp, now
predeceased by his wife of 63 years,
of the O’Callahan Society, and he
step-granddaughter and her spouse
Theaters. He later was an officer of
Raymond B. Carey Foundation, which
Massachusetts,
retired from the service as captain.
Commonwealth Glass and Mirror
Patricia; one daughter; and one son.
was affiliated with Naval ROTC and
and two children; and many nieces
the NJ Manufacturers Ins. Co. and
promoted a better understanding of
died on June 25,
His legal career included positions
Corp, which he owned and operated
His brother was the late Bernard M.
NROTC Oct 1945 Class. He joined the
and nephews, including Kevin W.
NJ Re-Insurance Co. Mr. Schoeffel is
democratic capitalism and the power
2020, at 94. At
as assistant general counsel of the
for 30 years. He was a member of the
Collins ’41.
U.S. Navy during World War II and
Macdonald ’77, and their families.
survived by two sons; four daughters;
of profit-sharing and employee
Holy Cross, Mr. Johnson studied
F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Co. as
Holy Cross Alumni Club of Greater
was selected for officer training at
His brothers were the late Jerome
17 grandchildren; and 16 great-
ownership; it later evolved into
engineering and played football
well as assistant general counsel
Boston. Mr. Casey is survived by
Dartmouth College and Holy Cross; he
A. Macdonald Jr. ’42 and Thomas F.
grandchildren. He was predeceased
the Carey Center for Democratic
and hockey. He served in the U.S.
at Insurance Services Office, Inc.
two sons; one daughter; one son-
Gerard J. McDavitt
was sent to Japan after the surrender.
MacDonald ’45.
by his wife, Betty Ann; and two sons.
Capitalism. Mr. Carey also founded
Navy during World War II. Mr.
in Manhattan, among others in the
in-law; one daughter-in-law; seven
Sr., of Narragansett,
the Carey Scholars Program,
Johnson joined L.C. Anderson HVAC
field of insurance. Mr. O’Connor
grandchildren; and seven great-
Rhode Island, and
which provided stipends, books
as an apprentice and later became
later founded a company that
grandchildren. He was predeceased
Middletown, New
and economic education to high
a partner in the business. He is
published marketing support
by his wife of almost 40 years, Joan; and two children.
Upon his return, he was recruited to the State Farm Life Insurance home
Robert J. Marron
1947 William F. Farrell Jr.
Edward C. Johnson
office in Bloomington, Illinois, where
Robert J. “Uncle
he worked for 42 years, retiring as
Bob” Marron, of
William F. “Bill”
school students; wrote “Democratic
survived by his wife, Arlene; eight
pieces that featured proprietary
vice president – electronics research.
Mahwah, New
Farrell Jr., of
Capitalism: The Way to a World
children; 19 grandchildren; and 15
legal reviews of insurance cases.
During this time, he also acquired
Jersey, died on July
Arlington, Virginia,
of Peace and Plenty”; developed a
great-grandchildren.
He then formed the partnership of
a Master of Mathematics degree
7, 2020, at 95. At
died on Aug. 4,
curriculum with faculty at Rutgers;
2020, at 95. After
and connected with economic
1949 Charles J. Cattel Sr.
Gerard J. McDavitt Sr.
Jersey, died on Aug. 13, 2020. Mr. McDavitt participated in cross-country and track at Holy
Victor F. Cassella
Cross, and he later supported the
McDonald O’Connor, a Melville, Long
Victor F. Cassella,
College as an admissions advisor
Island, law firm that specialized in
of North Haven,
and member of the Varsity Club and
insurance litigation. He supported
Connecticut,
President’s Council. He was a retired
at the University of Wisconsin. Mr.
Holy Cross, Mr. Marron participated in
Warber is survived by two families,
ROTC. He later supported the College
Holy Cross, Mr. Farrell obtained a
scholars around the world. He
including two daughters by his first
as a member of President’s Council,
master’s in international affairs from
supported the College as a member
Charles J. Cattel Sr.,
the College as a member of the Holy
died on Sept. 19,
special agent for the FBI and retired
marriage to Emily Eileen Stock and
1843 Society and the O’Callahan
George Washington University while
of President’s Council. Mr. Carey is
of West Hartford,
Cross Lawyers Association. Mr.
2020, at 93. Mr.
regional vice president of Merrill
their husbands; four grandchildren;
Society; he was affiliated with Naval
attending the Naval War College
survived by one son; two daughters;
Connecticut, died
O’Connor is survived by his wife
Cassella served in the U.S. Army
Lynch. Mr. McDavitt is survived
and one great-grandson; his wife of 25
ROTC. He was commissioned as
in Newport, Rhode Island. He had
one son-in-law; one daughter-in-law;
on Sept. 9, 2020,
of 67 years, Pamela; one daughter
during World War II, receiving the
by six children; 13 grandchildren;
years, Joanne; her three daughters and
an officer in the U.S. Navy and
a 41-year career in government
five grandchildren; and many family
at 95. Mr. Cattel
and her spouse; four sons; two sons’
Army Occupational, Good Conduct
eight great-grandchildren; three
their husbands; four grandchildren;
assigned to the USS Shaula AK 118;
service, as a U.S. Marine Corps officer
members. He was predeceased by his
enrolled at Holy Cross as a member
spouses; eight grandchildren; one
and World War II Victory Medals,
nieces; and one nephew. He was
one grandson-in-law; and one great-
he saw service at Leyte Gulf, Samar,
and an intelligence officer with the
wife of 67 years, Dennice; one sister;
of the class of 1946 and left to enlist
sister; one brother; and many nieces
before graduating from Holy
predeceased by his wife of 63 years,
granddaughter.
Philippines; Iwo Jima, Okinawa,
Defense Intelligence Agency. He
and one grandson. His father was the
as a World War II Navy Seabee,
and nephews. He was predeceased by
Cross. He worked as the director of
Dorothy; and one son.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan; and
later joined the Central Intelligence
late Raymond B. Carey, class of 1920.
receiving the World War II Victory
his parents; one brother; three sisters;
maintenance for the New Britain
Shanghai, China. Upon his discharge,
Agency, where he was promoted to
Medal, American Theatre Medal
one daughter; and two daughters-
Housing Authority for many years.
he joined Coastal Oil Company and
the Senior Intelligence Service and
and Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Medal
in-law.
Mr. Cassella is survived by six
William J. “Bill”
William M. “Bill”
rose through leadership roles to
served in leadership positions on the
Earle W. DuBois,
(1 Bronze Star); he returned to the
children and their spouses; and eight
Stetter, of Ocean
Macdonald,
become vice president of operations;
Intelligence Community Staff. Mr.
of Palm Beach
College and graduated in 1949. He
grandchildren and their families,
Pines, Maryland,
of Braintree,
he was later elected executive vice
Farrell is survived by four daughters;
Gardens, Florida,
then began his career at Chandler
including four great-grandchildren.
died on June
Massachusetts, died
president and president of both Home
three sons-in-law; and five
died on June 23,
Evans in the accounting department
Clement R.
He was predeceased by his wife,
on July 8, 2020. Mr.
Fuel Oil and Onco Oil. Mr. Marron
grandchildren. He was predeceased
2020, at= 92. At
and later became its director of
Bellemore, of
Barbara; and one sister.
Macdonald participated in ROTC at
is survived by one sister; dozens
by his wife, Jean; one grandson; his
Holy Cross, Mr. DuBois studied
Pricing and Compliance, retiring
Toledo, Ohio,
Holy Cross and later supported the
of nieces and nephews; and many
parents; and two brothers.
physics and participated in College
after 39 years of work. He was
died on Sept. 23,
College as a member of the Holy Cross
friends.
Choir, Glee Club and intramural
appointed a member of the Order
2020, at 93. After
sports; he was the recipient of the
of the Purple Knights in recognition
Nugent Gold Medal (Physics). He
1946 William M. Macdonald
Lawyers Association; he was also affiliated with Naval ROTC. He served
Charles P. Schoeffel
1948 Raymond B. Carey
Earle W. DuBois
1950 Clement R. Bellemore
William J. Stetter
27, 2020, at 92. At Holy Cross, Mr. Stetter played baseball and football; he was a
Philip H. Collins Sr.
member of the Varsity Club. He
Philip H. “Phil”
played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in
serving two years in the U.S. Army
Collins Sr., of
the American Football League and
of his 50 years of membership in
Air Force, Mr. Bellemore graduated
Manchester, New
then entered the service during the
in the U.S. Navy in World War II as a
Charles P. Schoeffel,
Raymond B. “Ray”
later supported the College as an
the Holy Cross Alumni Association.
cum laude from Holy Cross; he also
Hampshire, died
Korean War and rose to the rank
communications officer in the Pacific
of Brant Beach,
Carey, of Locust,
admissions advisor and member of
Mr. Cattel is survived by his wife of
graduated from the University of
on March 29, 2020,
of captain. Afterward, he joined
Ocean, then with the Naval Reserve.
formerly of Trenton,
New Jersey, died
the 1843 Society and career advisor
67 years, Barbara; four children and
New Hampshire with a degree in
at 91. Mr. Collins studied economics
the management team at F. & M.
He attended Boston University Law
New Jersey, died
on Sept. 22, 2020, at
network. Mr. DuBois earned an M.S.
their spouses; five grandchildren;
engineering. He worked for many
at Holy Cross and participated in
Schaefer Brewing Co., and later was
School, and his career as an attorney
on July 6, 2020.
93. Mr. Carey, who
in electrical engineering from MIT,
five great-grandchildren; and many
years at the New Departure Hyatt
ROTC; he later supported the College
a sales manager for Chemed, Inc., a
8 6 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ WINTER 2021
IN MEMORIAM / ALUMNI NEWS / 87
IN MEMORIAM William K. Joyce Jr.
1955 Robert E. DeBlois Sr.
division of W.R. Grace. Retiring
was predeceased by his wife,
sister; one brother; one niece; and
Intelligence and National Security
after 27 years, he had a second
Ora “Orry”; and two sisters. His
William K. “Bill”
one nephew. His alumni relatives
Agency, where he worked for 30
career teaching business and
alumni relatives include his
Joyce Jr., of
include his cousin, the late Frank E.
years. Mr. Lonergan is survived by
Robert E. DeBlois
coaching football at Cardinal
cousins, John M. Costello ’64 and
Conway, Michigan,
Bowen ’49.
one sister; six children and their
Sr., of Weston,
Hayes and Holy Cross high
the late John J. Costello ’30.
died on July
spouses; 17 grandchildren and their
Massachusetts,
families; and 14 great-grandchildren
formerly of
schools, and later taught at St. Peter’s College. Mr. Stetter is
Hon. William A. Danaher Jr.
21, 2020, at 91.
Michael A. Heffernan Sr.
At Holy Cross, Mr. Joyce studied
Michael A. “Mike”
and their families. He was predeceased by his wife, Maureen.
Warwick, Rhode
survived by one daughter and
Hon. William
naval science and philosophy
Heffernan Sr.,
her husband; four grandchildren
A. “Bill”
and participated in ROTC. He
of Needham,
and their families, including
Danaher Jr., of
later supported the College as an
Massachusetts,
one great-granddaughter; two
Horseheads,
admissions advisor and member
died on Sept. 9,
nieces and their husbands; one
New York, died
of the career advisor network and
2020, at 89. Mr. Heffernan studied
Frank V. Bagley,
member of the O’Callahan Society
Island, died on July 20, 2020, at 86. Mr. DeBlois studied marketing at
1954 Frank V. Bagley
Holy Cross and participated in ROTC; he later supported the College as a
nephew and his wife; and eight
on Aug. 31, 2020, at 91. After
O’Callahan Society; he was affiliated
Greek at Holy Cross, played football
of The Villages,
and was affiliated with Naval ROTC.
grandnieces and grandnephews.
graduating from Holy Cross with
with Naval ROTC. He served in the
and participated in cross-country
Florida, formerly
He served in the U.S. Navy. He worked
He was predeceased by his wife,
a degree in English, Mr. Danaher
U.S. Marine Corps in Korea, where
and track; he was also involved
of Medway,
in the family business, DeBlois Oil
Massachusetts,
Company of Pawtucket, Rhode Island,
holy cross remembers professor emeritus of english, 1967-1999
“John was a pioneer in the area of T.
Hilde; one brother; and one
enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and
he was awarded the Silver Star, the
in the following activities: Purple
S. Eliot’s early notebooks, which were
sister-in-law.
served during the Korean War.
Bronze Star with ‘V’ and the Purple
Key Society, ROTC and Student
died on Sept. 7, 2020, at 87. After
serving as owner and president. Mr.
He then received his Doctorate
Heart Second Award. Mr. Joyce
Government Association, serving as
graduating from Holy Cross, Mr.
DeBlois is survived by two daughters
John T. Mayer
Oser, professor of English and fellow
of Juris Prudence from Fordham
earned a master’s degree at the
sophomore class officer. After a year
Bagley served as a first lieutenant
and their husbands; one son and his
University School of Law; he
University of Detroit. He is survived
at the Maryknoll Brothers Seminary,
in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was a
wife; 11 grandchildren; two great-
(1933–2020)
John T. Mayer Jr. died on Oct. 8, 2020,
not published until 1998,” notes Lee Eliot scholar. “His 1990 book with
1951 Hon. John W. Costello
Oxford University Press, ‘T. S. Eliot’s
Hon. John
practiced law in Elmira, New
by one brother and his spouse;
he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.
teacher as well as football, basketball
grandchildren; and many nieces and
Silent Voices,’ remains a major work in
W. Costello,
York, and maintained his private
six children and their spouses; 12
Mr. Heffernan was founder and
and baseball coach in the Medway
nephews. He was predeceased by
the field. He will be missed.”
of Weston,
practice in Horseheads. Active
grandchildren; and two godchildren
president of Knoll Contracting
and Natick (Massachusetts) high
his wife, Constance “Connie”; one
Massachusetts,
in the local community, he also
and nieces. He was predeceased
Corporation, a commercial plumbing
school systems for 40 years; he
daughter; one son; and three siblings.
died on Sept. 11,
served as Horseheads Village
by his wife of 40 years, Virginia;
construction business. He supported
also worked at Rossetti’s and
at 87. Promoted to professor in 1990,
Harold D. Gould Jr.
A 1955 graduate of Fordham College,
Mayer served on a variety of College
2020, at 93. Mr. Costello studied
justice and Chemung County
one son, Harold Ian Joyce ’79; one
the College as an admissions
Keystone Liquors for many years.
Professor Mayer received his Ph.D.
committees and was named chair of
political science and English at
Judge and Surrogate for many
grandson; and two sisters.
advisor, and as a member of the
Mr. Bagley is survived by four
Harold D. Gould
in English literature from Fordham
the English department from 1977-
Holy Cross and participated in
years. He supported the College
career advisor network, President’s
children; two children’s spouses; five
Jr., of Whitinsville,
University in 1964. His early
1980. “It was to John that the faculty
the Purple Key Society, Student
as a member of the Holy Cross
Council, O’Callahan Society, Reunion
grandchildren; and three great-
formerly of
teaching career included positions
originally came to have a voice on
Government Association and
Lawyers Association and 1843
Gift Committee and Varsity Club;
grandchildren. He was predeceased
Blackstone,
at Pennsylvania State University,
faculty salary and benefits,” Géracht
Student Council; he also played
Society. Mr. Danaher is survived
Ambrose A. “Amby”
he was also affiliated with Naval
by his wife of 50 years, June; and one
the University of Colorado and the
says.
football and was involved in
by six children and their spouses;
Carr Jr., of Quogue,
ROTC. Mr. Heffernan is survived
brother.
University of Virginia before joining
1952 Ambrose A. Carr Jr.
Massachusetts, died on July 15, 2020, at 86. At Holy Cross,
swimming. During his senior
21 grandchildren; several in-
New York, died on
by his wife of 67 years, Elizabeth
the Holy Cross faculty as an assistant
An avid skier, Mayer “formed a
year at the College, he was
laws; and many nieces, nephews
Aug. 29, 2020, at 89.
“Betty”; eight children, including
professor.
student ski club on the hill, even
elected to the Massachusetts
and cousins. He was predeceased
After graduating
Kathleen E. Heffernan ’76; three
Thomas E. “Tom”
a class agent and member of the
setting up some sort of ski lift
House of Representatives,
by his wife, Theresa “Tess”; one
from Holy Cross with a degree in
daughters-in-law; one son-in-
Mitchell, of Holmes
Holy Cross Lawyers Association. He
“When John Mayer retired,” English
contraption out of scrap railroad
where he served for five terms
daughter; and his twin brother,
mathematics, Mr. Carr attended New
law; 18 grandchildren; 12 great-
Beach, Florida, died
earned his law degree at Harvard
Professor Emerita Helen Whall
wheels,” he continues. “He was also a
while also attending Suffolk
M. Joseph “Joe” Danaher ’51.
York University Graduate School
grandchildren; one sister; and two
on Sept. 10, 2020,
Law School. While at Holy Cross
recalls, “the department immediately
talented photographer and mentored
University Law School at
of Business. He worked at IBM for
brothers and their spouses. He was
at 88. Mr. Mitchell
and Harvard, he served as an
knew how to celebrate. We hired a
students in that art before visual arts
night. He later served two
33 years, predominantly in sales
predeceased by five siblings. His
studied chemistry at Holy Cross
enlisted man in the Infantry. Upon
Duck Boat. Everyone climbed aboard
had such offerings. His impact on the
terms on the Massachusetts
Thomas C.
and marketing, and retired as the
alumni relatives also include his
and participated in ROTC; he later
graduation from law school, he was
and then we toured Boston with John
College for students and faculty was
Governor’s Council and lost
“Tom” Drees,
director of Industry Relations in
nephew, Lt. Cmdr. Timothy E. Fahey,
supported the College as a member
commissioned a second lieutenant in
as our captain. John Mayer loved
important and has been lasting.”
a close race for lieutenant
of San Marcos,
Corporate. He is survived by one son,
USN, ’96; and his cousin, the late
of the O’Callahan Society and was
the U.S. Army. Between his enlisted
governor of Massachusetts in
California, died
two daughters and their spouses;
John S. Fallon ’51.
affiliated with Naval ROTC. He
years, active duty and service in
on Sept. 14,
and four grandchildren. He was
served in the U.S. Navy as an aviator
the Active Reserves, he spent over
and later earned his master’s degree
29 years in the Army, retiring as a
John J. “Jack” or
in business from Xavier University
lieutenant colonel and receiving the
“Jackie” Lonergan,
in Cincinnati. He had a long career
Meritorious Service Medal. Mr. Gould
of Bowie, Maryland,
in business, serving as an executive
pursued his legal career in Worcester,
Boston as much as he did Holy Cross.
Thomas C. Drees
Mr. Gould studied political science
Thomas E. Mitchell
and later supported the College as
From his earliest days as a teacher,
Mayer was a recipient of the Raymond
1964. He remained active in the
when John’s prematurely white hair
J. Swords, S.J., Faculty Medal, which
Massachusetts Democratic Party,
2020. Mr. Drees studied English
earned him the nickname ‘Silver Fox,’
honors members of the faculty who
serving as a national convention
at Holy Cross and participated
to the day after that Duck Boat tour,
have served at the College for 25
delegate and political advisor
in intramural sports, ROTC
John made the taxing commute from
years, was a charter member of the
to the late Sen. Henry “Scoop”
and Student Government
Boston to Worcester, staying late
Holy Cross chapter of Phi Beta Kappa
Jackson, D-Wash., during
Association. He later supported
Robert J. “Bob”
died on Sept. 18,
with some major corporations
first with Vaughan, Esty, Crotty and
for office hours — in fact, sometimes
and served as an adviser to Fenwick
his presidential campaigns.
the College as an admissions
Dolan, D.D.S., of
2020, at 89. Mr.
and culminating in his position as
Mason, then as a partner in Maher,
sleeping in his office. He cared deeply
Scholars.
He supported the College as
advisor and class chair, and was
Pittsford, New
Lonergan played baseball at Holy
director of purchasing at Best Foods
McCann and Talcott, later Talcott,
a member of the Holy Cross
a member of the Alumni Board
York, died on July
Cross and was a member of the
Inc. in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
Gould and Cosgrove. He ended his
With members of the class of 1999
Lawyers Association and Varsity
Senate, O’Callahan Society and
30, 2020, at 88. Dr.
1952 NCAA National Championship
Mr. Mitchell is survived by two sons,
practice as a sole practitioner in
First-Year Program, he wrote “A
Club. Mr. Costello is survived
career advisor network; he was
Dolan is survived by his wife of 62
baseball team, which won the
one daughter and their spouses;
Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Active in
“John was well-known and
Guide to the Stained Glass Windows
by four sons; one daughter; one
also affiliated with Naval ROTC.
years, Mary Helen; one sister; four
College World Series; he was also
four grandchildren; and two great-
civic affairs, he served on numerous
appreciated — indeed, beloved — as a
of St. Joseph Memorial Chapel at the
son-in-law; two daughters-
Mr. Drees is survived by his wife,
children, including Robert J. Dolan
a member of the Varsity Club.
grandchildren. He was predeceased
local boards and committees and
teacher and scholar of the modernist
College of the Holy Cross.”
in-law; two former daughters-
Elaine; and one son. His alumni
Jr. ’85; two children’s spouses; 11
After graduation, he served in the
by his wife of 62 years, Janet.
served as town moderator as well
in-law; seven grandchildren;
relatives include his brothers, R.
grandchildren; and many nieces,
U.S. Marine Corps. He had a long
as state representative; he was
about his colleagues and his students and gave generously of his time.”
period, and especially of T.S. Eliot,”
predeceased by his wife, Nancy.
1953 Robert J. Dolan, D.D.S.
John J. Lonergan
says Maurice Géracht, Stephen J. Prior
He is survived by his husband,
three great-grandchildren; and
Christopher Drees ’58 and the
nephews and friends. He was
career with the federal government,
the recipient of many service and
Professor of Humanities Emeritus.
Richard J. Black; and one sister. ■
several nieces and nephews. He
late Daniel S. Drees ’55.
predeceased by his parents; one
including the Office of Naval
leadership awards. Mr. Gould is
8 8 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ WINTER 2021
IN MEMORIAM / ALUMNI NEWS / 89
IN MEMORIAM survived by his wife of over 55
George C. Flynn, D.D.S.
Carl F. Lanza Jr.
club career counselor and a member
working in real estate and was in
Vogt studied economics at Holy
he subsequently joined the governor’s
University of Virginia School of Law
years, Jeanne; one brother, Francis
George C. Flynn,
of the career advisor network. After
upper management at Berkshire
Cross and participated in ROTC;
Carl F. “Cookie”
own press office. When Rockefeller
and enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving
“Frank” L. Gould ’58, and his spouse;
D.D.S., of South
graduation, Mr. Heinsohn joined the
Bank, Bank of New England and
he later supported the College as a
Lanza Jr., of
resigned, McLaughlin became deputy
in the cold weather infantry at Fort
one sister; two brothers-in-law and
Lyme, formerly of
Boston Celtics, playing alongside
ADP; he served as a councilman for
member of the O’Callahan Society
Sarasota, Florida,
press secretary for newly installed
Carson, Colorado. Mr. Wollen joined
their spouses; one sister-in-law and
Essex, Connecticut,
fellow Crusader Bob Cousy ’50 and
the city of Pittsfield for four years.
and was affiliated with Naval ROTC.
formerly of
Gov. Malcolm Wilson. He worked as
the New York City law firm Shearman
her spouse; 11 nephews; 13 nieces;
died on July 6,
helping lead the team to its first NBA
Mr. Richmany is survived by his
He served two years with the U.S.
Leominster,
an adviser to state Sen. John Marchi
& Sterling, where he became partner
15 grandnephews; 15 grandnieces;
2020, at 85. At Holy Cross, Dr. Flynn
championship in 1957; he was named
wife, Beverly; one daughter and her
Navy during the Korean War. Upon
Massachusetts, died on July 13, 2020,
before retiring. Mr. McLaughlin
and worked for more than three
two great-grandnephews; and
studied premed; he later supported
the league’s Rookie of the Year. Mr.
husband; one granddaughter; three
graduation, he was commissioned
at 83. Mr. Lanza studied political
is survived by his wife, Martha
decades; he served as head of the
seven great-grandnieces. He was
College Athletics and served as a
Heinsohn played for the Celtics for
sisters; and several nieces, nephews
in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served
science at Holy Cross before he
“Marty”; one son, one daughter and
firm’s litigation department and
predeceased by his parents; four
class agent. He graduated from
nine seasons, during which the team
and cousins.
multiple tours in the Vietnam War,
earned a Juris Doctor degree from
their spouses; two grandsons; one
managing partner of its Washington,
brothers-in-law; two sisters-in-law;
Georgetown School of Dentistry and
won eight championships. He was
retiring with 30 years of service. His
Boston University School of Law.
stepson; one stepdaughter; three
D.C., office. He later joined the San
one nephew; and two nieces.
practiced dentistry in West Hartford,
named an NBA All-Star six times.
personal decorations include two
Upon graduation, he served in the
step-grandchildren; and numerous
Francisco construction firm Bechtel,
Connecticut, for 38 years. Dr. Flynn
He later coached the Celtics to two
Bronze Stars with Combat “V”, three
military and remained in the Naval
relatives. He was predeceased by his
where he was general counsel and
is survived by his wife of 57 years,
championships in nine seasons,
David M. “Monty”
Meritorious Service Medals, six Air
Reserves for 30 years, retiring as
first wife, Sandy.
senior vice president, responsible
Joyce; three children and their
during which he was named Coach of
Crawford, of
Medals, Purple Heart Medal, Joint
a captain in the JAG Corps. He
Capt. Thomas J.
spouses; eight grandchildren; one
the Year (1973). He was inducted into
Carroll, Ohio, died
Service Commendation Medal, Navy
practiced law in Leominster for 38
“Tom” McEnaney
brother, Michael H. Flynn ’59, and his
the Naismith Memorial Basketball
on Aug. 2, 2020,
Commendation Medal, the Combat
years. He also served as city solicitor
George L. White
board of directors. He supported
Jr., USN (Ret.), of
wife; one niece; and two nephews.
Hall of Fame as both a player and a
at 84. At Holy
Action Ribbon and the Vietnam Cross
and councilor at large for a time. He
Jr., of Bethesda,
the College as a member of the
Capt. Thomas J. McEnaney Jr., USN (Ret.)
Manchester, New
1957 David M. Crawford
for the Legal and Risk Management
George L. White Jr.
departments; he also served on its
coach, and he was the recipient of the
Cross, Mr. Crawford studied political
of Gallantry. Mr. Vogt is survived by
supported the College as a member of
Maryland, died on
Holy Cross Lawyers Association,
Jersey, died on Sept. 1, 2020, at 87.
Rev. Berard J. Hanlon, OFM
Jack McMahon Award and the Chuck
science; later, he supported the
one son; two daughters; one son-in-
the Holy Cross Lawyers Association.
Aug. 28, 2020. Mr.
President’s Council and Varsity Club.
Mr. McEnaney studied economics at
Rev. Berard J. Hanlon, OFM, of
Daly Lifetime Achievement Award
College as an admissions advisor. He
law; one sister; six grandchildren;
Mr. Lanza is survived by his wife of 54
White graduated
Mr. Wollen is survived by his wife of
Holy Cross and made the dean’s list;
Anápolis, Goiás, Brazil, died on Dec.
by the NBA Coaches Association; his
joined his parents’ sales company
and six great-grandchildren. He was
years, Carol; one son and his wife; two
from Holy Cross with a degree in
55 years, Sheila; four children and
he later supported the College as a
30, 2019, at 85. After graduating from
jersey has been retired by both Holy
after graduation, and then he
predeceased by his wife of 62 years,
granddaughters; and one sister.
physics; he later earned his MBA in
their spouses; three grandchildren;
member of the 1843 Society. After
Holy Cross, he joined the Franciscan
Cross and the Boston Celtics. Since
taught elementary school until he
Constance.
finance from The Wharton School and
and one brother.
graduation, he took a commission in
Order in 1957 and was ordained to
retiring in 1978, he did basketball
established his own sales business,
the U.S. Navy and had a long naval
the priesthood in 1963. A professed
commentary for television; he
EMCEE Industries. Mr. Crawford
career, during which he was awarded
friar for 61 years and a priest for
was the recipient of nine Boston/
is survived by one sister and her
a Bronze Star and a Gold Star. He
56 years, he ministered in several
New England Emmy Awards. Mr.
spouse; four daughters, one son
also earned his M.A. in international
parishes in Goiás; he also taught
Heinsohn was also a successful life
and their spouses; 16 grandchildren;
affairs from George Washington
friars in formation at the Seminário
insurance agent. In addition, he
University and served as assistant
Regina Minorum in Anápolis and the
to the chairman of a Fortune 500
1958 William P. Kennedy
Joseph A. LeClair Jr.
his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
1959 John F. Creamer Jr.
Joseph A. “Joe”
He spent 28 years with accounting
LeClair Jr., of
firm Arthur Young (later Ernst &
William P. “Bill”
Brooksville, Florida,
Young). After time in its Boston and
John F. “Jack”
Kennedy, of
formerly of Rutland,
San Francisco offices, he joined its
Creamer Jr., of
22 great-grandchildren; and many
Sarasota, Florida,
Massachusetts,
Washington Tax Group and became
Worcester, formerly
had a lifelong passion for fine arts,
nieces and nephews. He was
died on Aug. 18,
died on Sept. 22, 2020, at 84. Mr.
partner; he specialized in corporate
of Watertown,
house of formation in Goiânia. He
painting and drawing; his artwork
predeceased by his wife of 58 years,
2020, at 84. Mr.
LeClair studied social sciences at
taxation and had a lead role in the
company; he later managed a
served as a councilor for the Holy
has been exhibited in shows across
Judy; and his parents.
Kennedy studied economics at
Holy Cross and served in the U.S.
group’s Mergers and Acquisitions
on Sept. 23, 2020, at 83. Mr. Creamer
retreat house outside of Boston. Mr.
Name Custody in Brazil and chose
the nation. Mr. Heinsohn is survived
Holy Cross and graduated magna
Army. He later earned his master’s
practice. In retirement, Mr. White
studied English at Holy Cross and
McEnaney is survived by two sons;
to remain in Brazil when the custody
by one sister; his partner, Karen
cum laude; he was a member
degree in education at Worcester
spent 12 years as a manager in the
participated in the History Society.
two daughters and their husbands;
became the independent Província do
Veinotte; his first wife and mother
Alan J. “Al” Edly,
of the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit
State Teachers College and taught
tax division of the American Institute
He went on to earn a master’s degree
eight grandchildren; five great-
Santíssimo Nome de Jesus; he would
of his children, Diana Heinsohn;
of Stamford,
Honor Society and recipient of
for 33 years, mostly in Worcester.
of Certified Public Accountants,
in Spanish from Assumption College
grandchildren; one brother, Robert J.
later serve on its Provincial Council.
one daughter, Donna Kumf ’79, and
Connecticut, died
the James Reilly Memorial Purse
Mr. LeClair is survived by his wife
followed by more than five years as
and a master’s degree in education
McEnaney ’51; and one sister. He was
He is survived by two sisters. His
her husband, Scott A. Kumf ‘79; two
on June 14, 2020,
(best poem). He participated in
of 53 years, Mary; one son; three
a contributing editor at Tax Analysts.
from Worcester State College. Mr.
predeceased by his wife, Joan; one
alumni relatives include his in-law,
sons; two daughters-in-law; seven
at 84. At Holy
ROTC and was involved in The
daughters; two sons-in-law; one
He also served for many years as an
Creamer taught Spanish and Latin
sister; and one daughter-in-law.
the late Capt. William T. Mitchell ’51.
grandchildren and their families; one
Cross, Mr. Edly studied economics/
Purple and Purple Patcher; he later
daughter-in-law; six grandchildren;
adjunct professor of corporate tax
at Hudson (Massachusetts) High
nephew; and two nieces and their
accounting, played hockey and
supported the College as a member
and one great-grandchild.
at George Washington University
School for 38 years; in retirement, he
families. He was predeceased by his
participated in Aquinas Circle; he
of the O’Callahan Society and was
School of Business, as well as 30
briefly taught part time at St. Mary’s
Thomas W. “Tom” or
parents; his second wife, Helen Jane;
graduated magna cum laude. He
affiliated with Naval ROTC. Mr.
years as a consultant for both BNA
School in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts,
Patrick L. Deacetis,
“Tommy” Heinsohn,
and one brother-in-law.
received an MBA from New York
Kennedy earned a master’s degree in
Gerald F.
Tax Management and Bloomberg
and worked as a Spanish tutor at
of Bluffton, South
of Needham,
University and began his career as a
economics from New York University
McLaughlin, of
Tax. He supported the College as a
Quinsigamond Community College.
Carolina, died on
Massachusetts,
staff accountant at Arthur Andersen
and served in the U.S. Navy for two
Albany, New York,
member of the Holy Cross Lawyers
He served in the U.S. Army. He
Aug. 16, 2020, at
died on Nov. 10,
James M. “Jimmy”
& Co. He subsequently joined
years as a commissioned officer,
died on July 31,
Association. Mr. White is survived
supported the College as a member
2020, at 86. At Holy Cross, Mr.
Richmany,
American Maize-Products Company
achieving the rank of lieutenant.
2020, at 84. Mr.
by his wife of 46 years, Carolyn; two
of the Regional Clubs Association
graduated from Holy Cross with a
Heinsohn studied marketing and
of Pittsfield,
and became the vice president of
He went on to build a successful
McLaughlin studied English at
sons; two daughters-in-law; three
Committee. Mr. Creamer is survived
degree in business administration,
played basketball. A team captain and
Massachusetts, died
finance and a member of the board of
career in advertising, and authored
Holy Cross before graduating from
grandchildren; and two sisters.
by three sons; two sons’ wives; two
and he was the owner and president
first-team All-American, he helped
on Sept. 20, 2020,
directors. Mr. Edly is survived by two
over 20 novels, under his own name
Columbia University’s School of
of Cross Ready-Mix in Westbury,
lead the Crusaders to the National
at 86. Mr. Richmany graduated from
cousins; and many friends.
as well as the pseudonym Diana
Journalism. He began his career
New York, for over 30 years. He
Invitation Tournament title in 1954
Holy Cross with a degree in business
as a reporter at the Providence
W. Foster Wollen, of
her husband; three sisters-in-law;
served in the U.S. Army. He later
as well as two NCAA postseason bids.
administration; he also attended
Soldiers,” became a major motion
(Rhode Island) Journal and its sister
San Francisco, died
two brothers-in-law and their wives;
supported Holy Cross Athletics and
The recipient of the Crusader of the
classes at Boston University Law
Lt. Col. John S. Vogt, USMC (Ret.)
Diamond; one of his books, “Toy picture. Mr. Kennedy is survived by
publication, the Bulletin. He went
on Aug. 28, 2020,
12 grandchildren; and many nieces,
was a member of the 1843 Society
Year Award and John Lawlor Medal
School and Williams College, and
Lt. Col. John S.
one brother; five children and their
on to work for The Associated Press’
at 83. Mr. Wollen
including Mary Frances Jaromin ’88,
and President’s Council. Mr. Deacetis
(Student Athlete), Mr. Heinsohn
served in the U.S. Army and National
“Jack” Vogt, USMC
spouses; 15 grandchildren; and many
Albany bureau before being hired by
studied English at
and nephews. He was predeceased by
is survived by his wife of 59 years,
is a member of the Holy Cross
Guard. He owned the Richman
(Ret.), of Hampton,
nieces, nephews and friends. He was
Gov. Nelson Rockefeller to run the
Holy Cross and graduated cum laude;
his wife of 52 years, Margaret “Peg”;
Rosalie; one son; one sister; one
Varsity Club Hall of Fame; he also
Café, which he converted into
New Hampshire,
predeceased by his wife of over 60
public information office at the newly
he was also on the dean’s list and
one son; and two brothers, Richard M.
niece; and many friends.
supported the College as regional
Jimmy’s Restaurant. He also enjoyed
years, Dorothy “Duff.”
created state Pure Waters Authority;
played tennis. He then attended the
Creamer ’56 and Robert C. Creamer
1956 Patrick L. Deacetis
86. Mr. Deacetis
Thomas W. Heinsohn
9 0 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ WINTER 2021
James M. Richmany
Alan J. Edly
died on July 16, 2020, at 87. Mr.
Gerald F. McLaughlin
Massachusetts, died
daughters; one daughter’s husband;
W. Foster Wollen
one daughter’s partner; one sister and
IN MEMORIAM / ALUMNI NEWS / 91
IN MEMORIAM ’55. His father was the late John F.
granddaughter. He was predeceased
After graduating from Holy Cross
Creamer, class of 1926.
by his wife of over 50 years, Marie.
with a degree in sociology, Mr.
Alfonso J. Perna, D.D.S.
Bernard P. Flanigan
1963 Philip R. Martorelli
1967 James A. Brett
four grandchildren; two sisters and
the College as a class agent and
He opened Midlands Cardiology
their spouses; and many nieces and
member of the Alumni Board Senate,
Associates in Columbia, South
Comcowich earned his master’s
Philip R.
James A. “Jim”
nephews. He was predeceased by his
and he was a member of the Holy
Carolina, later joined Columbia
degree from the State University of
Martorelli, of
Brett, of Needham,
former wife, Candace Collins Adams;
Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame. Mr.
Cardiology Consultants, and then
and one sister and her spouse.
Vrionis is survived by his wife of
opened Cardiovascular Diagnostic
almost 52 years, Lori; three children
Services. He also specialized in
and their spouses; 10 grandchildren;
carotid intima-media thickness for
and one brother.
cardiovascular risk assessment and
Alfonso J.
Bernard P. “Biff”
New York at Albany and his Ph.D.
Huntington
Massachusetts,
Perna, D.D.S.,
Flanigan, of San
from the University of Denver. He
Station, New
died on July 21,
of Binghamton,
Diego, died on
joined the faculty at the University
York, died on
2020, at 75. At Holy
New York, died
Sept. 3, 2020. Mr.
of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) as an
July 12, 2020, at 78. At Holy Cross,
Cross, Mr. Brett studied history; he
on July 30, 2020.
Flanigan studied
assistant professor in the College
Mr. Martorelli studied economics
later supported the College as a
Jerome J. “Jerry”
1968 Jerome J. Burdulis
was a medical expert reviewer for
1969 Robert P. McGovern, M.D.
Dr. Perna studied sociology at Holy
English at Holy Cross and also
of Education, where he served as
and played baseball and football.
class agent and member of the Class
Burdulis, of Naples,
Cross before graduating from the
graduated from NYU Law School.
academic adviser and development
He later supported the College
Reunion Committee and Holy Cross
Florida, died on
University of Buffalo School of Dental
He worked as a special agent of the
counselor. In addition to starting
as a class chair and member of
Lawyers Association. He attended
Sept. 15, 2020, at
Robert P. “Bob”
Medical Examiners and for many
Medicine. He practiced dentistry in
FBI for many years. He is survived
the university’s sailing program,
the Varsity Club and Reunion Gift
Boston University School of Law and
81. Mr. Burdulis
McGovern, M.D.,
attorneys; in addition, he was a
Binghamton with his father and later
by his wife of 55 years, Patricia; three
he was a founding member of the
Committee; he was affiliated with
was a prominent Boston attorney
entered St. Francis Seminary in
of Westfield,
volunteer physician at several free
with his son. Dr. Perna is survived
daughters; and seven grandchildren.
University of Hawaii Professional
Air Force ROTC. Mr. Martorelli
focusing on real estate and litigation
Andover, Massachusetts, before
Massachusetts,
medical clinics in Columbia and
Assembly and served as its first
is survived by his wife, Lorraine;
for 50 years. He was a founding
leaving to study biology at Holy
died on Sept. 2,
Sumter, South Carolina. Dr. Schwarz
executive director. During his tenure
one son; two daughters and their
member of Wilson, Dawson & Brett
Cross. He served in the U.S. Air
2020, at 72. Dr. McGovern studied
is survived by one daughter and
spouses; and five grandchildren.
after practicing many years at
Force and later received his Master
economics at Holy Cross and also
son-in-law; one grandson; and one
Reed, O’Reilly and Brett. Mr. Brett
of Arts degree in science from
graduated from the Medical College
granddaughter.
is survived by his wife of 45 years,
the University of Massachusetts.
of Wisconsin. He was certified by
by his wife of more than 55 years, Theresa; five children and their
Robert C. George
the Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the South Carolina Board of
spouses; 13 grandchildren; one sister;
Robert C. “Bob”
with the university, Mr. Comcowich
and one sister-in-law and her family.
George, of
took leaves of absence to enhance
Worcester, died
his professional growth and serve
on July 12, 2020,
his community: He worked as a
Kathleen “Kathy”; one son and his
He taught biology at Winchester
the American Board of Internal
at 80. At Holy
special assistant to U.S. Senator
Ernest D. Brita,
wife; one daughter and her husband;
(Massachusetts) High School for
Medicine and the American Board of
1971 Joseph F. Auclair Jr.
1960 William Luft
1965 Ernest D. Brita
William Luft, of
Cross, Mr. George studied history
Spark Matsunaga, in Washington,
of Glen Cove,
five grandchildren; one sister; and
28 years. Mr. Burdulis is survived
Allergy and Clinical Immunology. A
Joseph F. “Joe” Auclair Jr., of Mt.
Clinton Township,
and participated in ROTC and
D.C., and his primary areas of
New York, died
many nephews and nieces, including
by his wife, Miriam; one son, two
member of the American Academy
Lebanon, Pennsylvania, died on
Michigan, died
Sodality; he graduated cum laude.
legislative responsibility included
on Aug. 12, 2020,
Kathleen Dawson Ayers, M.D., ’94.
daughters and their spouses; and
of Allergy, he served as chief of
Sept. 5, 2020, at 71. Mr. Auclair
on Aug. 9, 2020,
He later supported the College as an
higher education, transportation
at 76. Mr. Brita
His alumni relative also include his
four grandchildren.
Allergy and Immunology at Baystate
graduated from Holy Cross with
at 82. Mr. Luft
admissions advisor and as a member
and labor; he also served as special
studied economics/accounting at
Medical Center in Springfield,
a degree in philosophy and was
studied prelaw at Holy Cross and
of the career advisor network, Class
assistant to U.S. Senator Daniel
Holy Cross and later supported the
Massachusetts, for many years.
the recipient of the Father Flatley
participated in the International
Reunion Committee, President’s
Akaka, working on labor, education
College as a class agent and member
Francis A.
Dr. McGovern is survived by three
Medal (philosophy). He served in
Relations Club. He later earned his
Council and O’Callahan Society; he
and foreign affairs legislation. He
of President’s Council. He received
Robert S. “Bob”
“Laddie” Lawless,
children; one daughter-in-law; three
the U.S. Army and was a veteran
master’s degree from the University
was affiliated with Naval ROTC. He
was later appointed to a post in the
his MBA at Columbia University
Czachor, of Palm
of Norwalk and
grandchildren; two brothers, one
of the Vietnam War. He later
of Denver, and spent over 40 years as
was commissioned as an officer in
U.S. Department of Education by
and worked for KPMG as a partner
Springs, California,
Old Saybrook,
sister and their spouses; and many
studied at Duquesne and Pitt
a librarian for the Macomb County
the U.S. Navy and served on the USS
former President Bill Clinton, where
in the accounting and auditing
formerly of
Connecticut,
family members and friends. He was
universities, graduating with an
Public Library. Mr. Luft is survived
Searcher. He received a master’s
he served as special assistant to
practice out of their Washington,
Providence, Rhode
predeceased by his wife, Kathleen.
M.A. in philosophy, and retired
by his wife of 47 years, Helen; three
degree in international relations
Dr. David Longanecker, assistant
D.C., office. He is survived by his
Island, died on July 29, 2020, at
graduated from Holy Cross with
children; one child’s spouse; three
from Clark University. A teacher
secretary for postsecondary
wife, Susan; three sons; and six
74. Mr. Czachor studied history at
a degree in psychology and
grandchildren; one brother; one
in the Worcester Public Schools
education, and worked on issues
grandchildren. His alumni relatives
Holy Cross and received his Master
served in the U.S. Army, with a
Eugene F. “Gene”
years in the IT field. Mr. Auclair is
sister-in-law; one niece; one nephew;
for more than 34 years, he began
related to student financial aid and
include his in-law, Joseph F. Finn
of Arts degree in history from the
tour in Vietnam. He had a career
Schwarz, M.D., of
survived by one stepdaughter; one
and other extended family. He was
his career at Providence St. Junior
income-contingent student loans.
Jr. ’63.
University of Virginia. He served in
in marketing and underwriting at
Peachtree City,
son-in-law; two granddaughters;
predeceased by his parents; and one
High School, and went on to teach
He retired from his tenured faculty
the U.S. Army and was a Vietnam-era
General Reinsurance Company.
Georgia, died on
one brother; one sister-in-law; one
brother.
at Doherty, North and South high
position at the International Center
veteran. Later, he served as manager
Mr. Lawless is survived by his wife,
Aug. 22, 2020, at 72.
nephew; and one brother-in-law. He
schools, as well as many courses
for Climate and Society at UHM’s
with the state of Rhode Island
Fredda; one niece and her husband;
After graduating from Holy Cross
was predeceased by his wife of 22
in the PEAK program. Mr. George
School of Ocean and Earth Sciences
John J. Bennett,
Workforce Development Division
one nephew and his wife; and five
with a degree in biology, Dr. Schwarz
years, Judith; his parents; one sister;
is survived by his wife of 53 years,
and Technology, and continued to
of Milford,
for 32 years. Mr. Czachor is survived
grandnieces and grandnephews.
took graduate courses at Brooklyn
and one nephew.
Robert J. “Bob”
Elizabeth; three sons, including
consult on matters related to public
Connecticut, died
by his best friend and partner in life
He was predeceased by his brother,
College of City University of New
Berta, of Easton,
Robert C. George Jr. ’90 and Timothy
policy and federal legislation in
on Aug. 6, 2020,
of 32 years, Patricia; three cousins;
David G. Lawless ’66.
York in experimental parasitology
Connecticut, died
A. George ’90, and their wives; six
Hawaii and Washington, D.C. He
at 76. Mr. Bennett
and other family members.
on July 8, 2020,
grandchildren; many cousins; one
supported the College as a member
studied English at Holy Cross. An
at 80. Mr. Berta
brother-in-law; two sisters-in-law;
of the Alumni Board Senate. Mr.
attorney, he practiced law in his
studied economics at Holy Cross;
one sister-in-law’s husband; and
Comcowich is survived by his
native Ansonia, Connecticut, for
he later supported the College as an
many nieces and nephews. He was
wife of 54 years, Marianne; two
admissions advisor and member of
predeceased by one brother-in-law;
the Holy Cross Lawyers Association.
and one sister-in-law.
1961 Robert J. Berta
He attended the University of Virginia Law School and had a career as an estate attorney at the following
1962 Jerome M. Comcowich
1966 John J. Bennett
in-law, James A. Dawson ’58.
Robert S. Czachor
Francis A. Lawless
died on Sept. 21, 2020. Mr. Lawless
from the University of Pittsburgh
Eugene F. Schwarz, M.D.
Medical Center after more than 20
P. Michael Saint
and endocrinology; during that
P. Michael “Mike”
time, he also instructed several
Saint, of Franklin,
John J. Vrionis
science courses at his alma mater,
Tennessee, died
Philip J. “Chip”
Sr., of Roswell,
Brooklyn Prep. He then graduated
on Sept. 4, 2020,
the entirety of his career at his
O’Shea Jr., of
Georgia, died on
from The University of Bologna,
sons, Kevin J. Comcowich ’90 and
law office, Bennett & Walsh. He
Buffalo, New
Sept. 19, 2020, at
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery in
studied political science at Holy
Gregory J. Comcowich ’92, and their
was a member of the Holy Cross
York, died on
74. Mr. Vrionis
spouses; one daughter; and seven
Lawyers Association. Mr. Bennett is
Sept. 14, 2020.
grandchildren, including Anne C.
survived by his wife, Eileen; three
Comcowich ’22 and John B. Romano
Philip J. O’Shea Jr.
John J. Vrionis Sr.
at 71. Mr. Saint
Italy and continued his medical
Cross and participated in Today.
studied economics at Holy Cross
education at Jewish Hospital and
He then earned his master’s
Mr. O’Shea studied English at
and played football and lacrosse; he
Medical Center of Brooklyn. Board
degree in business administration
sons; one daughter; one son-in-law;
Holy Cross and later supported
also participated in the Big Brother/
certified in internal medicine
from the Owen Graduate School
firms: Marsh, Day & Calhoun; Owens,
Jerome M. “Jerry”
III ’23. He was predeceased by one
one daughter-in-law; one son’s
the College as a member of the
Big Sister program. After graduation,
and cardiology, he completed a
of Management at Vanderbilt
Schine & Nicola; McElroy, Deutsch,
Comcowich, of
sister; and three brothers. His alumni
fiancée; one granddaughter; and five
career advisor network and Holy
he became a helicopter pilot in the
fellowship in invasive cardiology at
University; he did additional study at
Mulvaney & Carpenter; and Pepe
Kailua, Hawaii,
relatives also include his cousins,
siblings and their spouses. He was
Cross Lawyers Association. He is
U.S. Navy and later received his
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
the University of Chicago Business
& Hazard. Mr. Berta is survived by
died on Sept.
Sally A. Haskovec ’87 and William J.
predeceased by one son; his parents;
survived by his wife, Deborah; three
MBA from Providence College; he
Dr. Schwarz’s lifelong professional
School and Harvard Business
two daughters; two sisters; and one
3, 2020, at 80.
Comcowich Jr. ’64.
and one sister.
children; two children’s spouses;
had a career in sales. He supported
career was invasive cardiology:
School. After a career in journalism,
92 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ WINTER 2021
IN MEMORIAM / ALUMNI NEWS / 93
IN MEMORIAM politics and public relations, he founded The Saint Consulting
ASK MORE 1976 Elizabeth A. Parker
Mark J. Lieblang
Shift” and, most recently, “Great
Mark J. Lieblang, of
Performances.” Mr. Schilling is
Group, which specialized in the new
Elizabeth A. “Liz”
San Diego, formerly
survived by one sister; one brother,
management consulting discipline of
Parker, of Portland,
of Garden City, New
Andrew W. Schilling ’88; one brother-
land use politics. Mr. Saint was also
Oregon, died on
York, died on July
in-law; one sister-in-law; five nieces
founder and CEO of Anquiro, Inc., a
June 22, 2020, at
20, 2020, at 61. At
and nephews; and many friends.
tech company that provides critical
65. At Holy Cross,
litical science; his activities included
accounting and psychology; she
admissions tour guide, CCD teacher
local competition or early warning
graduated magna cum laude. A
and student newspaper. He later sup-
Timothy M.
of new business opportunities. He
Fenwick Scholar, she was a member
ported the College as a member of the
Mahoney, M.D.,
supported the College as a regional
of Phi Beta Kappa (liberal arts)
1843 Society. He worked as a legisla-
of Pittsfield,
club career counselor and member
and later supported the College
tive assistant to New York State Sena-
Massachusetts, died
of the career advisor network, Class
as a member of the career advisor
tor John Dunne, followed by a public
on July 22, 2020, at
Reunion Committee and Reunion
network. Mrs. Parker was an
relations spot with the New York
48. Dr. Mahoney studied chemistry
Gift Committee. Mr. Saint is survived
accountant in Chicago before she
Telephone Company. Mr. Lieblang is
at Holy Cross and was a faculty
by his wife of 38 years, Anne; two
moved to Portland and joined the
survived by family and friends.
research assistant. He attended the
daughters; one daughter’s spouse;
local office of Coopers & Lybrand,
and five nieces and nephews.
where she became its first-ever
His alumni relatives include his
woman partner. She later pursued
brothers, Joseph R. Saint ’88, John P.
a master’s degree in counseling
John J. Vignati,
radiology and fellowship training in
Saint ’80 and David J. Saint ’75; and
psychology and became a preschool
M.D., of Alton,
both interventional radiology and
his father, the late Paul F. Saint ’40.
teacher at SWPCC. Mrs. Parker is
New Hampshire,
MRI at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical
survived by her husband, Gregson;
died on Sept. 15,
Center. A partner in Advanced
two children; one child’s partner;
2020, at 57. Dr.
Berkshire Medical Imaging, he
Jersey, died on Aug. 19, 2020, at
Medical College of Pennsylvania /
1985 John J. Vignati, M.D.
Hahnemann University School of Medicine, followed by residency in
three siblings; and dozens of
Vignati studied chemistry at Holy
practiced as an interventional and
cousins.
Cross and graduated cum laude; he
diagnostic radiologist at Berkshire
was a member of Phi Beta Kappa
Health Systems. Dr. Mahoney is
(liberal arts). He also graduated from
survived by his wife, Patricia; two
UConn Medical School and was a
sons; one daughter; his father; one
of Matawan, New
1979 Diane E. Lillis
Holy Cross Magazine One College Street Worcester, MA 01610
1994 Timothy M. Mahoney, M.D.
Mrs. Parker studied economics,
seeking information about new
Dennis A. O’Rourke,
Holy Cross, Mr. Lieblang studied po-
market intelligence to companies
1972 Dennis A. O’Rourke
HOW TO REACH US
70. Mr. O’Rourke
Diane E. Lillis, of
vascular surgeon at Lakes Region
brother and his wife; four nieces; and
graduated from Holy Cross with a
Carolina Shores,
General Hospital in Laconia, New
numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
degree in political science and, most
North Carolina,
Hampshire, for the past 22 years
He was predeceased by his mother.
recently, worked as a salesperson for
died on May 20,
and chief of surgery for the last 10
Universal Shoots. He is survived by
2020, at 62. Mrs.
years. He supported the College as a
1998 Adam J. Lunardini
hcmag@holycross.edu
PHONE
Did You Name Your Child Fenwick?
H
ave you continued your love for Holy Cross by naming your child after a location on campus that held special significance to you? What about a dog named Iggy or a boat christened AMDG? Have you passed down the name
of a family member who was also a Crusader? We’re looking to compile stories for a future feature that shows your expression of love for the College in uniquely personal ways. Have a story to share? Email us at hcmag@holycross.edu. ■
an admissions advisor. For much of his
Moira Fitzgerald ’00; Capt. Donald J.
professional life, he ran his own financial
Fitzpatrick (USN, Ret.), former member
advisory firm (associated with American
of the O’Callahan Society executive
Express and Ameriprise Financial) in
board; Norma Gould, mother of John
his wife of 46 years, Nancy; one son
Lillis studied English at Holy Cross.
member of the Parents for Class of
and his girlfriend; one daughter and
She is survived by her husband,
2014. Dr. Vignati is survived by his
Adam J. Lunardini,
Rhode Island, and then worked as a
Gould of facilities; Joseph M. Hallisey,
her husband; and one aunt. He was
Edward; and her brother, Bradley S.
wife, Colleen; two sons; one daughter,
of Holyoke,
consultant for Verizon Communications
father of Michael Hallisey ’82, Matthew
predeceased by his father; and his
Kirchner, O.D., ’72.
Jaclyn P. Vignati ’14, and her fiancé;
Massachusetts, died
and several other private businesses. He
Hallisey ’86 and John Hallisey ’87; Carol
three stepchildren; one sister; three
on Aug. 14, 2020, at
is survived by his mother; one aunt; one
Hector, wife of Bruce Hector ’71; Graham
44. Mr. Lunardini
uncle; several cousins and their children;
N. Heikes 59; Ronald A. “Ron” Hemond
his best friend; and two daughters. He
65; Mary Ellen Lasch, mother of Margaret
was predeceased by his father.
Lasch Carroll ’77, Mary Teresa Edwards
mother.
William F. Trombley
1980 Daniel M. Dallenbach
brothers, including Paul V. Vignati, M.D., ’82, and their wives; one brother-
graduated from Holy Cross with a
William F. “Bill”
Daniel M.
in-law and his wife; three sisters-in-
degree in psychology. He was vice
Trombley, of
Dallenbach, of La
law and their husbands; and several
president, relationship manager,
Hobe Sound,
Verne, California,
nieces, nephews, including Thomas J.
Delaware Life Marketing at Delaware
Florida, formerly
died on July 21,
Vignati ’17, and cousins.
Life Insurance Company for many
of Manchester,
2020, at 61. Mr.
FRIENDS
late Frank Lasch ’54 and the late Robert
Eileen Amodeo, mother of Matthew
Luddy ’54; Robert G. “Bob” Leyden 61;
his parents; one brother and his wife;
Amodeo ’87, Elaine Amodeo Dimase ’84
Everett J. Maxwell Jr. and Muriel L.
two nephews; and several aunts,
and Paul Amodeo ’82; Denise Beckerle,
Maxwell, parents of Marianne Maxwell
years. Mr. Lunardini is survived by
1986 Richard R. Schilling III
’89 and Michael Lasch ’90, and wife of the
Connecticut, died on June 18,
Dallenbach studied political science
2020, at 69. At Holy Cross, Mr.
and economics at Holy Cross; he
Trombley studied psychology
was the recipient of the Young
Richard R. Schilling
uncles and cousins, including Jude G.
wife of Pete Beckerle ’52 and mother of
Kersey ’83; Gerald P. “Jerry” McMahon
and participated in Big Brother/
Alumni Leadership Award and
III, of New York,
Donabedian ’22.
Lawrence T. Beckerle III ’77; Dennis L.
57; Helen M. Reilly, mother of Ann Marie
Big Sister. He worked at Traveler’s
a member of the career advisor
died on Aug. 18,
Budd, Hon. ’02; Eugenio Campaiola,
Connolly ’74 and Edward A. Reilly ’76,
Insurance, which became United
network. Active in the roofing
2020. Mr. Schilling
father of Jean M. Campaiola ’84; Edward
mother-in-law of Richard F. Connolly Jr.
Health Care, for over 40 years. He is
supply business, he was most
studied English at
survived by two daughters and one
recently the territory sales manager
Holy Cross and participated in the
Christopher D.
Chviruk, father-in-law of Laura Chviruk
’61, and grandmother of Kevin Connolly
son with Jean Lindsay Trombley;
for Roofmaster. Mr. Dallenbach
College Choir. A six-time Academy
Nowak, of Naples,
of facilities; Louis Cozzolino, father of Lu-
’10, Meaghan Reilly ’13, Erin Reilly ’15
two sons-in-law; two grandchildren;
is survived by his wife, Margaret
Award nominee — and producer,
Florida, died on
Ann Hennessy of Athletics; James C. “Jim”
and Caitlin M. Reilly ’15; Jeanne L. Ryan,
one brother; one sister-in-law;
“Peggy”; two sons; his father, Martin
editor, actor, singer, dancer and tennis
July 10, 2020, at
Dacey Jr. 59; Rosemary Donahue, mother
wife of the late Charles F. Ryan, M.D., ’40
one niece; one nephew; and many
G. Dallenbach ’57; his mother; three
player — he was former producer
43. Mr. Nowak
of Mary Donahue Quinlan ’76; Dolores
and mother of John W. Ryan 80; John J.
cousins, extended family members
sisters; and many nieces, nephews
of “One Life to Live,” “Loving,”
studied economics at Holy Cross
Engustian, mother of Christine Engustian
“Jack” Szeigis 62; Ronald E. Zier, father of
and friends.
and cousins.
“Passions,” “General Hospital: Night
and later supported the College as
’81; James “Mike” Fitzgerald, father of
Ronald F. Zier ’82 and Julie Ann Zier ’84. ■
9 4 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ WINTER 2021
1999 Christopher D. Nowak
(508) 793-2419
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ASK MORE / IN MEMORIAM / ALUMNI NEWS / 95
EXAMINE castle in Loyola, Spain, where he convalesces. This is where Ignatian spirituality begins in earnest. While he’s on his sickbed, the only thing people have to bring him for reading, instead of the tales of chivalry, adventure and derring-do he would have preferred, is “The Life of Christ” and a book about the lives of the saints.
How Ignatian Tools Can Help You Cope With the Pandemic Last fall, Rev. James Martin, S.J., presented a webinar, “Ignatian Tools During a Time of Crisis,” hosted by the Holy Cross Alumni Association. Over the hourlong event, he discussed how three basic Ignatian tools — Discernment of Spirits, Examination of Conscience and Ignatian Contemplation — can be employed in relation to the pandemic. Here is Fr. Martin’s explanation and advice on Discernment of Spirits, slightly edited from his presentation. His new book, “Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone,” will be published in February by HarperOne. To view the entire talk and learn about the remaining tools, visit www.holycross.edu/hcm/ignatiantools. B Y R E V. J A M E S J. M A R T I N , S . J. Author and editor at large of America Magazine
9 6 \ H O LY CROS S M AG A ZINE \ WINTER 2021
T
o understand Discernment of Spirits, we need to know a little bit about the life of St. Ignatius Loyola. He was born in 1491 in the Basque country of Spain. As a young man, he wants to be a knight and apprentices to the local nobility. He becomes a soldier and is very much taken up with Arthur “Art” Martin ’70,as first impressing people; wepresident see from his of the Black Studenthe’s Union, following vain. “Autobiography,” somewhat the 1969 walkout of the majority of Black students at Holy Cross.
In 1521, in a battle in Pamplona, Spain, his leg is shattered by a cannonball. So Ignatius is brought back to his family
As Ignatius is reading these books, he’s still thinking about impressing people and continuing his soldiering career, but he finds that when he is thinking about impressing people or doing things based on his vanity, it’s exciting for a while, but afterward he is left cold; he doesn’t feel satisfied. However, when he thinks about doing the things the saints have done, he is not only excited, he’s satisfied and consoled afterward. As Ignatius says, “little by little” he starts to realize that this is God working in him and helping him make a decision.
wants us to make good decisions, but God will help us make good decisions. By looking at what’s going on inside of us, by considering our interior lives, we can understand which way to go. We can look at the impulses that come from God and the impulses that drive us away from God. The impulse that pulls us toward God, he calls the “good spirit.” The impulse that draws us away from God is the “evil spirit.” Now, all of us feel these different tensions, maybe toward being selfish or selfless, toward being stingy or generous, toward being mean or kind. We feel these pulls within us, and Ignatius is telling us, based on his experience and through his experience of counseling people, that we can, as he says, “discern the spirits.” We can tell what is coming from God and what is not coming from God. How do we do that? Ignatius says the good spirit works gently and consoles you, it builds you up, it gives you hope, it lifts you up. It encourages you. It makes things seem easier. Essentially, it’s the voice of hope and positivity. If you’re moving along that path, God is going to want you to continue and to encourage you. The evil spirit, by contrast, is going to cause “gnawing anxiety,” set up “false obstacles,” tempt you to despair. Anytime you feel everything is just useless or hopeless — that’s the voice of despair — and that is not coming from the good spirit. That’s not coming from God.
In the pandemic, how can we see that happening? Any voice inside of you — any inclination, any feeling, even anything outside of you that gives you courage, that stirs up peace, that calms you down — that’s coming from God. It is any voice inside of you that says, “You have the mental, emotional and physical resources to get through this pandemic. You will survive. It This is one of the first insights in will be difficult, but you will survive. Ignatian spirituality: God not only Be calm, use your brain, use your intelligence; you’ll be able Pope Francis meets with Fr. Martin in a private audience at the Apostolic Palace in September 2019, where the two discussed ministry to LGBT Catholics. to handle this.
You’ll be OK.” You see how calm that sounds? That’s God’s voice. St. Ignatius compares this to a drop of water on a sponge; it’s very gentle and quiet. By contrast, the evil spirit is like the drop of water on a stone; it’s a more “violent” movement. You get panicky and think, “Oh my gosh, I just saw these terrible numbers on TV!” That’s the drop of water on the stone. I’m sure we’ve all felt it, that panicky feeling that sets up obstacles. Even if it seems rational and everybody else is panicking, that is not coming from God. Ignatius’ insight is: Don’t listen to that voice. Listen instead to the voice that is encouraging, that is calming; that’s where God wants you to go. That’s the voice that is going to enable you to make a good decision. Ignatius also says the evil spirit acts in three distinct ways. First, the evil spirit acts as the spoiled child, a child who is throwing a tantrum, that babyish voice inside of us. The second way the evil spirit acts is as the “false lover” who doesn’t want his secret letters to be revealed; the evil spirit doesn’t want to be revealed. It’s an invitation to talk to people about some of the struggles you’re going through. The old Alcoholic Anonymous saying, “You’re only as sick as your secrets,” illustrates that point. The third way the evil spirit acts is as the army commander who knows your weakest point. For example, if your weak point is worrying about sickness and health, the evil spirit will get you there. It’s worth thinking about how the evil spirit and the good spirit work. Here’s the shorthand way of looking at it: The good spirit in the time of pandemic is giving you hope, the evil spirit is giving you despair. Ignatius’ insight is to listen to the good spirit and follow it. In the pandemic, trust the voice of hope. Don’t trust the voice of despair. ■
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“Prettiest shot I ever saw any basketball player make while at Holy Cross: Heinsohn drove around 6’3” Tom Donahoe and 6’7” Jim Francis for a backhand flip through the hoop with about 4 minutes left in a tight game,” says Wallace Mahoney ’55, who took this photo when Holy Cross defeated Dartmouth, 56-52, on March 1, 1955, at Worcester Memorial Auditorium. Tom Heinsohn ’56 remembered, see Page 60.
WALLACE MAHONEY ’55