Saint Michael's College Spring/Summer 2023 Magazine

Saint Michael’s

SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2023

Inspiring the Ethical Leaders of Tomorrow

SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE MAGAZINE

Spring/Summer 2023

Volume 23, No. 1

smcvt.edu/magazine

EDITOR

Susan Salter Reynolds

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Rev. Michael Carter, SSE ’12

George Goldsworthy ’93

Josh Kessler ’04

Elizabeth Murray ’13

Izzy Quam ’25

Annie Rosello ’94

Kaylee Sayers ’23

PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHERS

Patrick Bohan

Jerry Swope

DESIGN Harp and Company

Graphic Design

Jennifer Fisher

Douglas G. Harp

MAGAZINE ADVISORY BOARD

Alaba Apesin

Angela Armour ’99, M’09

Alessandro Bertoni

Rev. Michael Carter, SSE ’12

Summer Drexel

Michelle Jordan P’20

Josh Kessler ’04

Annie Rosello ’94

Jerry Swope

Mark Tarnacki

Saint Michael’s College Magazine (ISSN 0279-3016) is published by the Office of Marketing and Communications twice a year. The views expressed in the Saint Michael’s College Magazine do not necessarily represent the official policies and views of Saint Michael’s College.

POSTMASTER

Please send address changes to:

Saint Michael’s College

One Winooski Park, Box 6 Colchester, VT 05439

SMCMagazine@smcvt.edu

EDITORIAL OFFICE

Saint Michael’s College

One Winooski Park, Box 6 Colchester, VT 05439 802.654.2556

SMCMagazine@smcvt.edu

©2023 by Saint Michael’s College. All rights reserved.

KLEIN HALL

2 A Letter from President

STORIES

3 Leadership: Listening to the Inner Voice: Alaba Apesin by Susan Salter Reynolds

4 What’s New?

8 Leaders Come in Many Shapes and Sizes by Susan Salter Reynolds

12 Leadership and the Liberal Arts: Gretchen Galbraith by Susan Salter Reynolds

14 Cybersecurity and the Liberal Arts by Elizabeth Murray ’13

16 Ethical Leadership by Susan Salter Reynolds

22 Skiing Toward Equality: Leadership Is Persistence by Izzy Quam ’25

25 Students Talk about Leadership by Susan Salter Reynolds

30 A Q&A with Maj. Gen. Greg Gagnon ’94, USSF by Annie Rosello ’94

Cover photo: Silhouette is photo by Jerry Swope of Emma P. Downey ‘23

Inside front cover: Patrick Bohan

Letter from the President

This summer I begin my role as interim president of Saint Michael’s. I cannot express in words how honored I am to lead the College in this transition period. It seems particularly fitting that I introduce myself in an issue of the magazine devoted to the many forms that leadership can take, and on the importance of developing ethical leaders.

Communities can shape and develop leaders. This is already the case for me. I have been welcomed into the Saint Michael’s community in the warmest and most generous way. Simply from the welcome I have had, I know the

community at the school. I learned from listening to her speak.

has charged me with a special focus on strengthening enrollment and advancement efforts, while continuing the momentum of the Strategic Plan, “Forward with Purpose.”

is an exciting time, a pivotal time, when every college and university must respond to changes that affect higher education. The leadership at Saint Michael’s has worked hard to address these challenges with a belief that a liberal arts education in the light of the Catholic faith best serves today’s students by developing the whole person.

I look forward to contributing my best efforts to serve the College.

Sincerely,

spirit and the strength of this community. Two weeks ago, I listened to the Commencement address of Katie Escobedo ’23. If you have not heard her remarks, I strongly recommend them to you—clear, inspiring, authentic, heartfelt, and definitive about the special gift of

As an interim leader, I need to learn quickly and listen carefully. Understanding the character of the College and the spirit of community is as important as knowing the mission. In addition to the responsibility of care, the board of trustees

Experience as president of Lebanon Valley College and decades in leadership roles at Franklin & Marshall, Mount Holyoke, and Columbia University, among others, prepared me well to recognize and lean into the challenges facing Saint Michael’s. This

Lewis Thayne Interim President

For information the Presidential Search go to smcvt.edu/president

Leadership: Listening to the Inner Voice

Alaba Apesin, Associate Professor of Business Administration

BY SUSAN SALTER REYNOLDS

What are some of the key ingredients of good leadership? Alaba Apesin has the recipe: humility, perseverance, good listening skills, willingness to act when necessary, influence, and the ability to inspire others to be the very best versions of themselves.

In her classes, Apesin encourages students to lead from behind, to be part of a team. She incorporates team projects in every course she teaches, and randomly assigns the members to their respective teams— “in the workplace, you can’t always choose who you work with!” she explains. They must meet required deadlines and develop a strong, consistent work ethic throughout the semester.

“I used to think that leadership meant being more vocal, but now I see it differently. The best leaders are more quiet,

more purposeful, and more action-oriented,” she says. Apesin references the famous video of a young boy in India trying to push away a large tree that was causing a traffic jam on the road. His willingness to act inspires others to get out of their cars to help. She uses the video in her classes to encourage students to look for leadership in many different places. “Are you a leader?” she might ask her students. “Look around you. Look at your relationships. Do your friends look up to you? Do they come to you for advice? If so, well, that’s leadership.”

Asked about key leaders in her own life, Apesin recalls her grandmother.

“‘Look at every action you take,’ she told me, ‘and ask yourself, who will be affected? The only person you can control is yourself, so try not to have a negative impact on the world.’” A mentor in high school impressed on Apesin

the importance of ethical behavior in this life. She believed in life after death, and that everything in this life happens for a reason. “If things do not turn out as you expected or wanted, let it play out. Have patience. Persevere. It may take time, but things always work out for the best.”

Apesin grew up in Nigeria. She got her undergraduate degree in food technology, an MBA, and a PhD in organizational leadership. Her background is primarily in operations management. Working in a multinational as an assistant quality assurance manager, Apesin was charged in

her first month on the job with overseeing a large laboratory. After a few years, she was transferred to the training department as a manager, where she trained employees on the company’s operations. This is where she discovered her true calling: teaching.

Professors are leaders, she admits, but Apesin thinks of herself as a facilitator of student learning. “I am not the custodian of knowledge,” she says. “I provide a safe space and create openings [students] can move through.”

Photo by Jerry Swope

WHAT’S NEW?

international internship placements in either Seoul, South Korea, or Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, this summer thanks to Freeman Foundation scholarships and additional support from the Center for Global Engagement.

LEAHY ’61 BEHIND HISTORIC GRANT TO EXPAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENT

Saint Michael’s College students planning careers focused on the environment—or those hoping to better understand humans’ impact on the natural world—will directly benefit from federal funding included in the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, thanks to the hard work of alumnus and now-retired Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy ’61. The approximately $6.5 million funding—the largest direct grant ever received by the College—will ensure the continued growth and development of the College’s Center for the Environment. (See story, page 53)

FREEMAN COHORT INTERNING IN KOREA OR VIETNAM THIS SUMMER

Sixteen Saint Michael’s College students are participating in eight-week

Jeffrey Ayres, director of the College’s Center for Global Engagement and chair/professor of political science and international relations, announced this year’s Freeman scholars in January. Ayres is traveling to Seoul and Ho Chi Minh City during the internship period this summer to meet with students and visit internship placement sites. The goal of the Freeman Foundation–supported international internship program is to increase the number of U.S. citizens with professional experience in and an understanding of Asia, its people, and its cultures.

STUDENT RESEARCHERS

COAUTHOR PAPER PUBLISHED IN SCIENCE JOURNAL

Coauthoring a paper published in a respected science journal with their faculty mentors was a rare and valuable opportunity for 26 Saint Michael’s College student researchers to gain a résumé credential more typical for graduate students.

In early January, Professors Ruth Fabian-Fine (lead author) and Adam Weaver of the College’s biology/ neuroscience faculty published in the Journal of Comparative Neurology on the topic of neurodegeneration. The publication lists the professors’ undergraduate researchers as coauthors at the start of the paper. For undergraduates aspiring to science careers,

Senator Patrick Leahy ’61

Professor Jeffrey Ayres

Students present in McCarthy during Solutions for Social Impact lecture

such a prominent role and acknowledgment on a paper is uncommon, said the mentor professors—neither of whom saw their first publishing credits on such a paper until they were graduate students. Fabian-Fine said this latest shared achievement reflects a trend in the Saint Michael’s Cellular/ Molecular Research Lab to involve a steadily growing number of students more deeply in professionally significant work.

The professors and their students additionally made a major presentation in the McCarthy Recital Hall about the content of the paper as part of the fall’s Solutions for Social Impact seminar series. One longer-term goal and hope of the ongoing spider neurodegeneration research at Saint Michael’s is that it might speed breakthroughs in treating dementia and other conditions.

The grand opening for the studio was February 2, featuring several distinguished alumni back on campus for a panel discussion and open house: longtime NESN Red Sox broadcaster Tom Caron ’86, the New York Times Deputy Director of Opinion Video Jonah Kessel ’06, and former event producer for MTV Networks Clare Wool ’88. The panelists described the importance of having this type of resource on campus, saying how it will equip students from all majors with skills that will be in high demand.

The studio and equipment are made possible in part through a $150,000 grant from The George I. Alden Trust.

The research/presentation title was “Real-time Assessment of the Impact of a Virtual Reality Stress-Relieving Countermeasure on Neuroendocrine, Autonomic, and Immune Indicators of Stress,” funded by NASA’s Human Research Program Human Health Countermeasures (HHC) Element, the Vermont Space Grant Consortium, and the Vermont Biomedical Research Network. The professors have been pursuing this work for several years funded by the grants. Four students— Mackenzie Costello ’23, Madeline Van Winkle ’23, Jordyn Morey ’23, and Colby Fane-Cushing ’25—were also authors, as was recent graduate Elizabeth Marini ’22.

WOMEN’S VOICES RING OUT IN SPRING DRAMA PRODUCTION

Two one-act plays and a suffrage poem, set to new music by local musician and composer Tom Cleary, placed the voices of women front and center in the main spring dramatic production at Saint Michael’s that ran March 22-25 in the McCarthy Arts Center Theater.

Woman This & Woman That: An Evening of Suffrage Plays revisited a time when their advocacy and determination were catalysts to necessary

PROFESSORS PRESENT RESEARCH AT NASA WORKSHOP IN TEXAS

STUDIO GRAND OPENING DRAWS PANEL OF ALUMNI MEDIA NOTABLES

The College’s new Media Creation Studio is up and running, providing the campus community—and potentially, organizations beyond—with new opportunities for learning and communicating using professional-level, cutting-edge equipment, including remote-controlled cameras and a 4K digital laser projector.

Two Saint Michael’s professors on spring semester sabbaticals pursued their ongoing research into reducing stress using virtual reality, which has practical applications for NASA astronauts on space missions. Melissa VanderKaay Tomasulo of the psychology and neuroscience faculty and Dagan Loisel of the biology faculty presented their research at NASA’s Human Research Program Investigator Workshop in Galveston, Texas, in February.

The spring drama production was Woman This & Woman That: An Evening of Suffrage Plays

Professors Dagan Loisel and Melissa VanderKaay Tomasulo

Alumni Panelists: Clare Wool ’88, Jonah Kessel ’06, and Tom Caron ’86

social change: the right to vote. That same push for change exists today, including with the #MeToo movement and outcry over recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, said director Peter Harrigan of the College’s fine arts/ theater faculty. These current events inspired Harrigan—much as timeless social issues have inspired him in some of his previous history-based productions at the College—to amplify the voices of women as a way to engage people in conversation about divisive issues and lead toward action to fight social injustice. The veteran director Harrigan is a 1983 Saint Michael’s theater graduate.

NEW FINANCE MINOR PAIRS WELL WITH MANY MAJORS

Students can build upon foundational business knowledge or find a unique combination with another major and a minor in finance—a new offering in the Saint Michael’s Business Administration and Accounting Department.

Students interested in finance have pursued a combination of major and minor programs in business administration, accounting, and economics. The new finance minor encompasses and builds upon what those students have successfully learned and applied in careers for years, but now there is an official minor designation, said Steve Doyon of the business and accounting faculty.

Xinting Zhen, a business faculty finance professor, said the new minor focuses on practical applications using real financial and market data. Minor requirements include classes in financial accounting, finance, international finance, investments, and money and banking. New courses—in equity valuation, for instance—are part of plans for the future as this program grows.

MAY STUDY TRIPS HEAD TO QUEBEC, IRELAND, DENMARK, WALES

Each year Saint Michael’s College offers a handful of faculty-led academic study trips to unique locations around the globe. With the knowledge that students may not be able to study abroad for an entire semester, the College offers academic study trips as an intensive alternative that still provides invaluable experiences. These trips are a great way for students to integrate their theoretical knowledge from the classroom with the perspective of a new culture or region abroad.

This summer students traveled to Quebec City, Ireland, Denmark, and Wales to explore topics including language immersion (Quebec), biological field studies (Ireland), business and public policy (Denmark), and environmental sustainability (Wales).

BIODIVERSITY CRISIS: MCCABE WEIGHS SOLUTIONS TO SPECIES LOSS

What happens when certain species disappear from the Earth, and what can we do to prevent that from happening?

Those questions were at the center of a presentation by biology professor Declan McCabe titled “The Biodiversity Crisis and What We Can Do about It,” on April 18 in the McCarthy Recital Hall during Earth Week 2023. Throughout the presentation McCabe aimed to equip attendees with ideas for managing the worldwide biodiversity crisis in which we find ourselves— exploring both individual choices and international policies that could make a difference. There is no “us and them,” McCabe said, as he explained the wide impact that species losses can have on the world. “Humans and nature are one, and we sink or swim together. … We have caused the problem, and we must take ownership of the solutions.”

Professors Steve Doyon and Xinting Zhen

Biological field studies in Ireland

Professor Declan McCabe presenting biodiversity research

McCabe also discussed the number of solutions applied on Saint Michael’s campus to illustrate the straightforward actions that all humans can take to reduce biodiversity loss and rehabilitate habitats. The program was part of the ongoing seminar series “Solutions for Social Impact”—all viewable via livestream.

FEDERAL FUNDS BOOST FACULTY RESEARCH TRIO OVER FIVE YEARS

Three Saint Michael’s College professors learned in May that their research into Vermont stories about restorative justice and response to the COVID-19 pandemic will receive funding for five years as part of the $20 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that they applied for with colleagues from the University of Vermont and several other institutions.

USA TODAY

Physics Professor Alain Brizard, one of the foremost experts on nuclear fusion in the world, spoke to USA Today in December about a huge advance in the field of nuclear fusion: the first time a nuclear fusion reaction has ever resulted in net positive energy. The entire process produces “an order of magnitude” less radioactive material than a nuclear power plant that splits atoms through fission, he said.

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Prior to the British coronation, History Professor Jennifer Purcell was interviewed by the New York Times about Queen Camilla and what this moment in British history meant for the wife of the new king.

BBC RADIO

History Professor Jennifer Purcell, a British historian who has expertise in the royal family, traveled to the U.K. for the coronation to observe the

Professor Krista Billingsley (criminology/anthropology) is principal investigator (PI) for the Saint Michael’s group within the overarching project called RII Track-1: Harnessing the Data Revolution for Vermont: The Science of Online Corpora, Knowledge, and Stories (SOCKS).

In that lead role among the Saint Michael’s trio, Billingsley will oversee

festivities with the group Mass Observation and collect information for an upcoming book. She spoke about her impressions with BBC Radio.

VERMONT PUBLIC

Professor Ari Kirshenbaum, who has been studying the effects of cannabis on people’s motor skills, recently published new findings through the American Psychological Association about the approximate amount of time a person could be impaired after ingesting the substance. He spoke to Vermont Public’s Mitch Wertlieb about these findings.

LOCAL 22/44 NEWS

Two local television stations, including Local 22/44 News (which broadcasts in Vermont and New York), covered an art class that touched on an important social issue through a poster project: mental health. The project was based on a national mural project called, “You Are Not

the project and focus on stories of community related to restorative justice, while Professors Candas Pinar (sociology) and Patricia Siplon (political science/public health) will focus on stories of community related to COVID-19 mitigation measures.

These Saint Michael’s faculty will each receive five years of funding that will include three student research assistants for each year from 2023 through 2028. Their Saint Michael’s–based research, “Stories of Community in Vermont,” investigates the relationship of Vermonters’ sense of community to their participation as volunteers in state-led processes of restorative justice and their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

was used to create the “You Are Not

Alone.” Finished posters, which each interpret that message through art, have been hung around campus.

For more about these stories, visit smcvt.edu/magazine.

Professors Candas Pinar and Krista Billingsley

Becca Gurney showing WCAX reporter Laura Ullman the process of screen printing, which

Alone” project posters.

Leaders Come in Many Shapes and Sizes

BY SUSAN SALTER REYNOLDS

Traditional notions of leadership are changing. Colleges and universities often serve as the crucibles in which society’s time-honored precepts are challenged. New theories are born, old ones jettisoned. New models, better suited to current contexts and cultures, are forged. Today, in the wider world beyond campus, the cry for better, more ethical leaders echoes—perhaps louder than ever before.

Professor Apesin uses this video, “Lead India, the Tree,” in her courses involving leadership. For a link to this video, visit smcvt.edu/magazine

In classrooms, clubs, cafeterias, dorms, and athletic fields, students, faculty, and staff are asking the questions, What are the ingredients of this new leadership? What does it look like? How is it different?

In previous generations, leadership was synonymous with control, vision, success. Leaders gave orders, provided direction, took the rap if things went wrong. Leaders were in charge. Leaders were successful.

If you were armed with a college education, you were expected to lead. When you walked into any room, it was obvious who the leaders were.

Not anymore. (Spoiler alert: they may be sitting in the back of the room.)

Catherine Welch ’10, associate dean of student success, keeps a poem by Marge Piercy, “To Be of Use,” on the wall in her office (the poem can be found on the inside back cover of this issue). One line, “The work of the world is common as mud,” frames many of Welch’s ideas about leader-

advisor and former men’s ice hockey coach Lou DiMasi, whose modesty, humility, and willingness to help others are campus legend. She thinks of her dad, James Michael Welch ’66, a high school technical education teacher who worked with Habitat for Humanity in the summers. “His work was ‘common as mud,’ never glamorous or publicly recognized, but he showed up, day in and day out, leading volunteers who were constructing homes none of them would ever live in.”

Todd Johnstone Wright ’95, director of the Undergraduate Professional Endorsement Program, sees leadership as a transformational process. In his class Professionalism—Theory and Practice in the Global Marketplace, students learn the core competencies of higher-level management. The most effective leaders, he believes, are people who can lead others through change. This requires a great deal of self-awareness, and it comes with all kinds of burdens and consequences.

ship. “This is the kind of leader I hope to be,” she says. “Being of service, doing the work of the world, common as mud.” For Welch, leaders are everywhere, taking small steps to be of use. She thinks of student success

Although her title includes the word “success,” often associated with traditional leadership, Welch sees her role at Saint Michael’s as service to the students, meeting them “where they’re at,” helping them make decisions, offering options, and helping to relieve stress whenever possible. Leadership in this context is not about taking charge or finding solutions. There is no single, common idea of success that students should achieve. In her Title IX work, Welch listens, often to emotions that can’t be “fixed.”

And, he says, everyone has the potential for leadership. There’s no such thing as born leaders. Wright was in the military from age 18 to 22, and recalls being responsible for people in complex and high-risk environments. It’s in the moments when we make decisions that our leadership is tested. We come to those moments prepared, or not. How can we help students prepare for those moments? What are the skills needed? Reflection, trust, clarity, the ability to manage conflict, the ability to process information quickly, and the ability to listen to one’s intuition. Too much for an 18-year-old?

“Leadership is more than a skill set. It’s a way of life.”

“We underestimate young people,” Wright explains. “We like to control them. But we should treat them always with dignity and respect.” Wright has learned a lot about teaching leadership by working with students outdoors. He’s seen leadership all across campus, in Fire and Rescue, in MOVE, and on the backpacking trips he has run for years. “A few years ago, I was coleader on a backcountry ski mountaineering trip in Quebec with a group of students. We faced a go/ no-go decision before an ascent. One student was struggling physically and had blisters. The group decided not to put this student through another day of suffering. In my mind, I thought, they aren’t injured, there’s fresh snow, but this was a transformational moment. The change was from a collection of individuals to a real group. Now that’s leadership, magical stuff, initiated by a student leader who said, ‘we should go down.’”

When Brian Collier, professor of fine arts, was in college studying studio art, a student’s main job was making a work. At Saint Michael’s, he says, students have to be able to present their idea and describe the resources and collaborations they will need to complete it. This is a form of leadership—the obligation to visualize something new and open

a world of possibilities for the viewer, to lead the viewer through an experience. Collier believes wholeheartedly that the artist has a responsibility to the viewer. “The arts can hit you in unexpected ways. It’s important to acknowledge the influence you have,” he says.

“Art is the ability to match concept with material and make the hard decisions about which material to use. You have to let go of worrying about failure, consider the effect, and summon inner resilience. Every decision matters. When you make art, you are presenting yourself and developing yourself.” Collier feels that college is the perfect age to do this. Students are “natural creative thinkers.” And teaching is a form of leadership. You are, he says, modeling behavior.

Dawn Ellinwood, vice president of Student Affairs and dean of students, does not have a traditional definition of leadership. “Anyone involved in an activity with a group making decisions that make a difference is in a leadership role,” she says. “My hope is that we can have broader definitions—each one of us is making change in different ways, small and large.” In her role on campus, Ellinwood is often helping

others find a path forward. “Sometimes it doesn’t work!” she laughs.

“I see students in leadership roles on campus all the time, and it can be stressful and overwhelming. Leadership is work!”

Ellinwood agrees it’s all about preparation and humility. “Leadership is not about ME,” she says. It’s often about knowing what others need. “The other night I heard fire trucks heading to the residence halls. I went over, and Nick Welch ’23, one of the student leaders in Fire and Rescue, came right up to me and said ‘Dawn, it’s not a fire.’ Now that was leadership. He knew exactly what information I needed.”

Dawn sees similar scenarios all over campus: on athletic fields, in the work of student volunteers in MOVE helping people to rebuild postpandemic, and in the resident assistant on each floor of the residence halls.

“Many courses at St. Mike’s also include community engagement pieces in which students can apply what they have learned about ethical leadership. All of these students learn to see what’s needed and then do it. They lift people up and facilitate real change.

“Leadership is more than a skill set,” she says, smiling. “It’s a way of life.”

L-R: Dawn Ellinwood, Todd Wright ’95, Brian Collier, and Lou DiMasi M’84 work closely with their students

Leadership and the Liberal Arts

Gretchen Galbraith, Dean of Faculty

BY SUSAN SALTER REYNOLDS

Gretchen Galbraith came to Saint Michael’s in July 2022. No stranger to leadership roles in higher education, Galbraith knows the qualities leaders need in this context to get things done.

Top of the list: listening and vision. “We need people to be creative and think beyond the current notions of leadership. People are suffering from burnout; how can we tap into the enthusiasm that got them here in the first place?”

Arriving post-pandemic, at a stressful time for faculty and administration, has given Galbraith real insight into the resilience of the Saint Michael’s College community.

In the last year, Galbraith has been impressed by leaders on campus like Heidi St. Peter, director of purposeful learning, who are creating programs (such as the peer mentoring program) and classes centered on developing ethical leaders, and challenging traditional notions of leadership.

She has participated in meetings and witnessed leaders like Professor of Political Science and Director of Public Health

Trish Siplon working to move the needle on diversity, equity, and inclusion. And she has been working with faculty to create curricular and programmatic pathways that connect classes to the strategic plan, with its focus on purposeful learning.

“We always have to ask ourselves, are we doing enough to support our faculty and staff in their crucial work with students?” asks Galbraith. A historian by training, she has the heart of an activist; she sees the fine line between idealism and pragmatism, and she has watched with admiration as faculty and staff navigate challenging conversations to develop consensus.

Leading long-term change, she explains, often means “patiently keeping the flame alive, making sure that people stay invested in work that brings meaning to their lives.”

Gretchen Galbraith, dean of faculty, poses with one of her grandparents’ Bennington Potters mugs. The mugs represent the generosity and hospitality her grandparents modeled whenever they hosted guests. Galbraith noted that she tries to bring a similar mindset of curiosity, generosity, and welcome to her work with faculty, staff, and students.

Photo by Jerry Swope

“We need people to be creative and think beyond the current notions of leadership.”

and the Liberal Arts

BY ELIZABETH MURRAY ’13

Anew major at Saint Michael’s College, first offered in fall 2023, will help prepare students to enter one of the fastest-growing fields today: cybersecurity.

The major is Saint Michael’s first hybrid-learning undergraduate program, part of a new partnership between the College and a consortium of over 135 colleges and universities through Rize Education. Rize assists member colleges in providing online curricula to one another that prepare students for successful careers.

Although many upper-level cybersecurity-specific courses will be online through the consortium, on-campus faculty will still provide an educational foundation for students both in computer science and in the liberal arts. Cybersecurity majors will also be required to have a minor or a second major to complete the program.

“What this means is that cyber students will combine their specialty knowledge with greater depth in, say, psychology, or sociology, or Spanish—an additional perspective

that will help them be more prepared to confront the complexities of future cyberthreats,” said Jeffrey Trumbower, Saint Michael’s vice president for academic affairs.

“Cybersecurity is not just a ‘technical’ major,” he added. “It deals with the complexities of human behavior and motivation.”

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

The new major gives students the opportunity to enjoy the individualized attention possible in the small, close-knit community at Saint

Illustration by Douglas Harp and Jennifer Fisher

Michael’s while, at the same time, building a national network of people in the cybersecurity field before they’ve graduated.

According to Trumbower, cybersecurity students can expect to take less than 25 percent of their overall courses while at Saint Michael’s online through the consortium. The rest of their courses in the major, courses in their other major or minor, and their liberal arts core classes are taught in person by Saint Michael’s professors. The advisor for the program will also be on campus— computer science professor Greta Pangborn.

The online classes offered through Rize have been designed by some of the best educators and experts in the cybersecurity field—including professors from Penn State University and the University of Michigan and the founder and former CEO of AgileCode, for example. Students who choose to attend the classes as they’re being taught live will have students from other consortium schools as their classmates.

“It enables us to tap into expertise around the country in a field that’s so hot, it’s very difficult to hire and retain quality faculty,” Trumbower said. “This enables us to start small without a great deal of financial risk.”

THINKING LIKE A HACKER

Saint Michael’s has traditionally offered a Computer Science major, from which the majority of students have gone on to careers

in software development. It has been less common for students to enter careers related to cybersecurity, Pangborn said.

Pangborn said that although she is the program’s coordinator, and the program is computing-based, it’s also important to understand that the Cybersecurity major is interdisciplinary. She uses the Association for Computing Machinery’s definition of cybersecurity in describing how she sees the curriculum for the new program:

“A computing-based discipline involving technology, people, information, and processes to enable assured operations in the context of adversaries. It involves the creation, operation, analysis, and testing of secure computer systems. It is an interdisciplinary course of study, including aspects of law, policy, human factors, ethics, and risk management.”

The program has two areas of focus that give students the skills to think like a hacker—finding weaknesses in existing computer networks and bolstering systems against any potential threats or attacks:

• Cyberthreat mitigation, or how to identify, neutralize, and stop threats from happening at the personal and corporate levels.

• Information technology fundamentals; effective cybersecurity depends on a solid foundation in information technology, especially as responsibilities in these areas often overlap or are combined in one job.

The new Cybersecurity major will also prepare students to gain important industry certifications, including the certified computer forensics examiner, certified ethical hacker, and certified information systems security professional certifications.

LOOKING FORWARD

Trumbower and Pangborn agree that the new major fits right in with Saint Michael’s motto of “doing well and doing good”—especially since Saint Michael’s students will have the ethical foundation to approach cybersecurity problems.

“The liberal arts core provides students with transferable skills in communication and critical thinking that are of great value in any career,” Pangborn said. “A quick look at the newspaper makes it clear that graduates in technology-related fields need to be prepared to address complicated ethical and policy issues.”

Trumbower knows at least one current student who is considering declaring a Cybersecurity major. Students in the incoming class of 2027 are already signing up for the program; as of mid-May, at least three students had enrolled in it, according to Saint Michael’s Office of Admission. Trumbower said these numbers are right on target for the program’s first year.

Administrators believe the program will continue to grow in popularity as time goes on.

Ethical Leadership

BY SUSAN SALTER REYNOLDS

eidi St. Peter ’96, director of purposeful learning, acknowledges that leadership can be a word fraught with baggage. And college students get that, she says. They are willing participants in conversations that challenge and embrace the potential that ethical leaders have to change the world.

Leadership is perceived as a group activity, St. Peter explains, but as part of the new program in purposeful

learning, students also explore the idea of leading the self. Qualities like self-awareness, integrity, critical thinking, reflection, and professionalism are just as important as teamwork, equity and inclusion, conflict resolution, and communication. These are all, she says, essential qualities for being human in the 21st century. Self-knowledge is a form of authentic leadership.

In the purposeful learning program, new students spend the first eight weeks of each semester exploring these and other concepts once a week for one and a half hours. In that first year, students learn to check in and ask themselves: “Do I like who I am becoming? What needs

Photos by Jerry Swope

Crystal L’Hote, associate professor of Philosophy and Ethics and department chair, holds a statue of Socrates. L’Hote said the Greek philosopher’s pursuit of truth and wisdom inspires her own teaching and scholarship.

to shift?” In their junior year, during Junior Seminar, students engage with their career coaches and begin to consider career-readiness skills. The ethical leadership framework naturally leads into the skills the Boucher Career Education Center knows employers are looking for. The ethical leadership piece is a mandatory part of this program.

For St. Peter, Edmundites model the form of responsive, ethical leadership she hopes students will embrace in their own lives. Humility, compassion, and empathy are essential skills in leading others and leading the self. The traditional picture of a leader as someone with an enormous ego is not a part of this model.

Trish Siplon, professor of political science and director of public health, is in her 25th year at Saint Michael’s. She works on several committees at the College and is widely known on campus as an effective, empathetic collaborator. “I used to think that leadership meant being in the front of the room,” she says, “but now I see that the best leaders are in the back of the room.” Siplon says that she has been shaped by the people she has worked with at Saint Michael’s, particularly former colleague Bill Wilson, now an emeritus professor. “What would Bill do?” she sometimes asks herself. “He was so quiet, so good at showing up with physical presence and energy and supporting others.”

Siplon’s work as a leader in the global AIDS arena takes her often to Washington, D.C. She has learned to stand firm in the face of negativity, even when it means not giving people what they want. For her, in these situations, integrity is a key ingredient in leadership. “Academia is the only group left in our culture whose main job is to discern truth. Remember why you are doing the thing that you are doing!” Is she an activist? Yes. As an activist leader, her job is to inspire. As a teacher, and leader in academia, her job is to inspire students.

“Everyone comes into the classroom with a secret life. We’re all icebergs. The key to democratizing a classroom is vulnerability. I try to help people figure out the best version of themselves and go after it. I love it when people discover skills (like leadership) they didn’t think they had.”

Crystal L’Hote, professor and chair of philosophy, sees leaders as guides, who are themselves guided by a vision of the good. Leadership must, she believes, be grounded in—connected to—a vision. “To develop ethical leaders,” she says, “it is essential that students are exposed to different visions of the good.” In other words, leadership is learned. It requires an accumulation of wisdom that prepares future leaders to make ethical decisions.

“Do you like who you are becoming? What needs to shift?”

Heidi St. Peter ’96, director of Purposeful Learning, poses with a memorial card of Rev. Michael Cronogue, SSE St. Peter said Fr. Mike was an inspirational leader for her in the many roles she has had on campus, from student, to director of MOVE, to associate dean, to her current role.

L’Hote adds an interesting ingredient to ethical leadership: calm. The history of philosophy, she reminds us, is full of leaders able to remain calm in crises and make difficult decisions. Moments of decision reveal the importance of deeper work, of cultivated wisdom. College students are at a good age to begin developing this wisdom. They are beginning to take themselves seriously, developing a sense of personal integrity and a willingness to stand up for things they believe in. They have the courage and honesty to reflect on their thoughts and actions. “I see this all the time in the classroom, and it is so impressive,” she says. “Students are willing to voice unpopular views. They have intellectual integrity. They know what they don’t know. Engaging your peers, raising your hand to speak is a form of leadership.”

L’Hote’s syllabus includes a culturally diverse cast of characters, including Lao Tzu, Plato, Kant, Ursula K. LeGuin, Sartre, and Ralph Ellison and other writers on racial justice. “Here, we see how moral anger can be a form of leadership, a source of energy and transformation. Students begin to see leadership as the power to change hearts and minds. They see how that kind of leadership begins in the self.”

Jay Curley ’02 has been at Ben & Jerry’s since 2008, and has served as the global head of integrated marketing since 2018. The company, widely known to nurture an

ethical corporate culture inside and out, prides itself on leadership that is locally and globally responsive, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable. Curley has been lucky to be a part of this kind of corporate culture since graduating from Saint Michael’s. As an account manager at a design and marketing agency, one of his first clients was Patagonia. “Working with and later for Patagonia, I saw a way of doing business that was beyond ethical—it was a corporation actively enacting progressive change in the world. I thought, now there’s a mission worth devoting my life to.”

Curley explains that a company’s vision can be inspiring and ethical, but if the culture itself is not, it doesn’t work. Ethical behavior has to be organic, woven into the fabric of a corporate culture. The key ingredients? Courage, compassion, and collaboration. Courage to act on beliefs; compassion to put people, including the customer, first; and collaboration to make you check your ego at the door. Business is a team sport.

Curley is proud of Ben and Jerry’s commitment to racial and social justice. It’s a deep-rooted belief running through the company. And it hasn’t hurt business. “A bold stance never hurts the business. It may create turmoil, especially among people deeply invested in the status quo. And that’s OK.”

Patricia Siplon, professor of political science and co-director of public health, holds a photograph of Bill Wilson, professor emeritus of political science and former vice president of academic affairs of the College. Siplon said Wilson was an important mentor for her early in her career.

As a leader in the company, Curley stresses the importance of transparency and vulnerability. “The bigger my team, the less I rely on my own vision. Moving from doer to leader, I am less connected to the day-today and more focused on aligning vision and collaboration. I have to listen more and more to my inner voice. A real sense of self allows you to make hard decisions.”

At 43, after 15 years with Ben and Jerry’s, Curley is confident in his own leadership. Some of that confidence grew out of

his experiences at Saint Michael’s College, playing lacrosse with coach John Hayden, and taking classes in psychology with Ron Miller. “John Hayden, like all great athletic coaches, developed us as human beings. Ron Miller wasn’t a charismatic leader, but he taught his students about the important roles great leaders play in social movements. And Marta Umanzour, professor of modern languages and literature, well, if I have any passion for social justice, it grew from the seed she planted.”

Ethical behavior has to be organic, woven into the fabric of a corporate culture.

Jay Curley ’02, global head of integrated marketing at Ben and Jerry’s, began his life as a leader playing lacrosse at St. Mike’s with coach John Hayden. Now he coaches his own kids.

Skiing Toward Equality: Leadership Is Persistence

BY IZZY QUAM ’25

Photos by Patrick Bohan

In January 2022, 81 collegiate skiers lined up on a cloudy day at the Quarry Road Trails in Waterville, Maine. They were getting ready to ski eight laps of a two-and-a-half-kilometer loop, to make up the first women’s 20-kilometer race in collegiate skiing history. I was one of those athletes, and I was nervous. Although I had skied 20 kilometers before, I had never raced it.

Eleven months later, on November 27, Frida Karlsson of Sweden glided across the finish line, a smile on her face and arms extended wide, winning the first women’s 20-kilometer pursuit in the World Cup.

These historic moments are all thanks to Molly Peters, 47, Nordic skiing head coach and men’s and women’s cross country head coach at Saint Michael’s College.

For 11 years, Peters painstakingly, persistently worked to instigate equal distances in skiing, which allows everyone to have equal opportunity in racing, changing the competition around the globe.

Until this year, races in the International Ski and Snowboard Federation

(FIS) Cross Country Skiing World Cup did not have equal distances for men and women. When women were finally allowed to participate in FIS cross country competition in 1954, it was believed that they were not able to ski as far

as men and their reproductive systems would be damaged by endurance sports, so their race distances were kept shorter. While men would ski 50 kilometers, women would ski 30. In the Skiathlon, men would ski 30 kilometers and women would ski 15. Even in sprints, men would often ski .1 or .2 kilometers further than the women. Similarly, in collegiate skiing, women typically ski five kilometers less than men. In many cases, this would mean women are skiing half the distance the men ski. It was not until 1952 that women’s Nordic skiing made its debut in the Olympics, 28 years after the men’s inclusion.

For many athletes, the different distances are insulting. “It just felt like a slap in the face a little bit. It felt to me like I was not as valued as my male teammates because I was being told that I was less capable than them,” said Grace Erholtz ’23, captain of the Saint Michael’s Nordic ski team, which

with equal opportunity racing,” Peters explains. “If you are consistently creating an environment where women are treated like second-class citizens and only allowed to race shorter distances, it demonstrates to all genders that women are not capable,” Peters said. “I am a coach, and I am a mother. I do not want my athletes or my children to ever think that women are less capable.”

Peters started skiing when she was 5. Her parents bought skis for Molly and her brother and mounted lights on the outside of their house so they could ski around while their parents were inside. Peters did not always want to ski race. It wasn’t until she was 10 and she went with her brother to the New England Bill Koch Youth Ski League Festival that her perspective on racing changed. When another skier forgot her skis, Peters stepped in and raced in her place—and fell in love with it. “I was hooked. I loved it.

is made up of both women and men. In a major change, this year, the distances for men and women, at least on the FIS level, are the same.

“It’s important for the sport to be free of gender bias and to provide all genders

I loved racing and I didn’t even know that I loved racing because I had never raced before,” said Peters.

Peters went on to a successful competitive skiing career, winning Junior Nationals in high school, and becoming an All-American in

“Molly changed the landscape.”

college at Middlebury. But the different distances between men’s and women’s races always bothered her.

According to Pennie McEdward Rand, Saint Michael’s Nordic skiing assistant coach, it was Peters’s leadership that was instrumental in turning the tide with respect to equal distance at the national level. Others agreed. “Molly changed the landscape,” said Justin Beckwith, competitive program director at the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA), in a Zoom interview.

When Peters became a skiing coach at Saint Michael’s 11 years ago, she submitted a proposal to the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association within her first year. It immediately got shot down. Peters was told they would not change the college format until the international races changed their format. After that, Peters would bring it up about every other year, and each time, she gained a little more support. Peters believed the more often she brought it up, the more the idea became normalized.

achieve equal time is equal distance. As part of her proposal, Peters began to use data and graphs to demonstrate the relationship between time on course, and equal distance.

Like many others, Peters was stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, so she decided to put all of her energy into the equal distance effort. “I was bored and decided that if there was ever a time that I could put everything that I had into trying to get the distances changed, it was then,” Peters said. She started reaching out to other coaches and athletes, including Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins, to try to gain traction. Peters was trying to get support for

In 2021, Peters presented at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association (USSA) Congress and got a positive response. But it was not quite enough. “It was the first moment that I felt like it possibly stood a chance to change, and it did not,” Peters said. While the proposal for equal distance did not pass, the USSA did agree to host more equal distance events.

Peters spoke again at the 2022 USSA Congress. This time, she gained more traction, and the U.S. ski team ultimately put in a proposal to FIS asking for equal distance for the 2022–2023 World Cup season. The proposal passed with 57 percent support. It was not an overwhelming victory, but it was enough.

The concept of equality in Nordic skiing is expanding beyond the distance of the races. This year, FIS is granting teams extra coaching bibs, specifically for women coaches. This will allow teams that take advantage of the program to have more coaches on the course. Nordic coaching has historically been male dominated.

Peters’s work is not done. Equalizing distance in crosscountry running is her next step. Although FIS has adopted equal distance, the NCAA has not completely done so. The NCAA Oversight Committee set unequal distance last fall.

Peters has written a letter to the NCAA Championship Oversight Committee asking them to overturn the NCAA’s proposal. Its proposed distances are a 20k for everyone, and then a 10k for men and a 5k for women. The NCAA’s explanation for its refusal to adopt equal distance is that it is “inappropriate” for women to race 10 kilometers and it is “inappropriate” for men to race five kilometers, with no further information given.

One idea that has come up in response to equal distance is equal time. “A lot of people talk about equalizing time on course, which we’ve found is really not true,” Peters said, arguing that the best way to

a proposal to the USSA, in hopes of changing women’s distances. The proposal got signatures from well-known names in the skiing community including Diggins, Bill Koch, Brian Gregg, and Caitlin Gregg.

The skiing world has taken notice, and momentum is growing. Midwest Junior National Qualifier races and Eastern Cup races will be equal distance. The only difference in distances will be between age groups, not gender.

The jaws dropped on all of her athletes when Peters told them the NCAA’s decision, during a rainy Saturday morning practice. But Peters is not one to give up. “I’m going to fight it to the very end,” Peters said.

Read the full story on the web: smcvt.edu/magazine

Coach Molly Peters (right) and Izzy Quam. “I am a coach, and I am a mother,” says Peters. “I do not want my athletes or my children to ever think that women are less capable.”

Students Talk about Leadership

BY

These are just a few of the raw ingredients of ethical leadership that students at Saint Michael’s see on campus, in classrooms, on athletic fields, in organizations, in emergencies, and in daily life. They know it when they see it. In the various roles they have taken on—heading organizations (Sayers and Galgay), as captain and key player on the volleyball team (Báez Rentas and Syverson), as resident assistants (RAs—Galgay, Folsom, and Cook) and working on Fire and Rescue (Preis) or MOVE—they have all served as leaders.

SUSAN SALTER REYNOLDS

“Knowing when to step up and when to step back,”

AINSLEY COOK ’24

“Modeling the right behavior,”

KAITLYN FOLSOM ’24

“Leaders are people who feel comfortable with themselves. They command respect,”

BETH SYVERSON ’23

“Fighting for what you believe in,”

TAYLOR GALGAY ’24

“Setting other people up for success,”

KAYLEE SAYERS ’23

“Making sure everyone is OK. And being vulnerable,”

ALEXANDRA BÁEZ RENTAS ’25

“Trust, honesty, and loyalty,”

ZANDER PREIS ’25

And it’s not all fun and games.

“Today’s leaders destigmatize feelings by being vulnerable and sharing their feelings,” says Zander. This can be just as important while working on a crew to pull people from a burning building as it is leading a team to play their best or sharing the burden of activism—creating change. Taylor admits to sometimes feeling overwhelmed by the ways others push her to “fight” their battles for them, making her often face the repercussions of speaking (their) truth. Ainslee feels the burden, as an RA, of telling people to stop drinking, or quiet down after hours. Everyone agrees being an RA is a tough, but critical and deeply appreciated, role on campus.

“On and off the court,” says Zander, a lieutenant in Fire and Rescue, leaders have to make split-second decisions. They have to trust that inner voice, cultivate it, make sure it is on the mark when it is needed. When people trust their leaders, it is judgment and intuition they are trusting.

“My Spanish academic advisor (and professor for most of my Spanish classes), Carolyn Lukens-Olson, can be intimidating,” says Beth, “but she is also incredibly caring. She brings out the best in us. I don’t want to disappoint her.”

Alexandra gets this. “I like to be in control,” she admits, so her challenge as captain is showing empathy for individuals while encouraging everyone to pull their weight. “Off the court, you’re my friend. On the court, we have a game to play.” Zander gets this on-the-court, off-the-court role that leaders often find themselves in.

Some of these stellar, articulate, deeply thoughtful students are reluctant leaders. “After many changes in the organization, I was the last person there,” says Kaylee of her role as leader of “Her Campus,” a national organization with an online magazine “dedicated to, written by, and focused on empowering, college women.” She could see that the organization served an important purpose, so she stepped up.

Taylor, who identifies as disabled, works hard to represent the needs and interests of students with disabilities and ensure an accessible, inclusive environment. It sometimes can be confrontational work, as it frequently dismantles systems long set in place perpetuating ableism. It often can be difficult due to her frequently having to stand up to people in positions of power.

“There’s a real fishbowl effect to leadership,” Kaitlyn says. “You feel that everyone is looking at you and you have to do everything right.”

Top to bottom: Zander Preis ’25, Alexandra Báez

Rentas ’25, Ainsley Cook ’24, Beth Syverson ’23

Top to bottom, opposite page: Kaylee Sayers ’23, Taylor Galgay ’24, Kaitlyn Folsom ’24, Katie Escobedo ’23

In her production work in the theater department, working in production, Ainsley is often in the position of organizing schedules and making sure that things get done. This can mean, for example, that she is left to spend 50 hours alone to finish the set for Dracula. This is leadership. People rely on you.

In Zander’s case, he tells the group that last year alone Fire and Rescue received 4,000 calls. “I never thought I’d be driving a fire truck in college,” he says, laughing. Would he trade any of it? Nope.

All agree that self-care is critical. Knowing when to say “no.” Recognizing when you are overwhelmed. Drawing necessary boundaries. Understanding that failure is a part of learning. The core ingredient of leadership at Saint Michael’s College? Service.

Katie Escobedo ’23

BY KAYLEE SAYERS ’23

Katie Escobedo ’23, from New Rochelle, New York, is a Psychology and Sociology double major with a minor in Business Administration. Escobedo is involved at Saint Michael’s in multiple areas. She wrapped up her career as goalie and captain for the varsity women’s soccer team in the fall of 2022; she is a part of SAAC the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee; she is a tour guide in the Admission Office; and she’s an advanced EMT with Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue.

Fire and Rescue has been a pivotal part of Escobedo’s experience at Saint Michael’s. “Being on the rescue squad has been the most difficult yet also most rewarding aspect of my life,” she said. “I have not only gained literal certifications and real-world experience, but also a

new outlook on life and gratitude. The rescue squad and school as a whole have helped me to know what I want to do in life, which is really just to help people.”

Escobedo not only has widened her world view through her rescue squad volunteer work, but also has grown through her time as a varsity student athlete on the women’s soccer team. “Being a varsity athlete and captain has given me leadership techniques and skills, communication skills, and some overall life values.” Few things, she says, distinguish the College from other institutions more than the way the students look after one another, and the expectation of acceptance, respect, and care students have for each other.

Visiting Assistant Philosophy Professor Keir Willett teaches a class this spring at the new site of the Founders Hall cupola, which doubles as an outdoor classroom and general gathering spot for members of the campus community.

Photo by Jerry Swope

“The team you lead is the team you’re on.”

A Q&A with Maj. Gen. Greg Gagnon ’94, USSF

BY ANNIE ROSELLO ’94

Major General Gregory J. Gagnon is the deputy chief of space operations for intelligence, U.S. Space Force at the Pentagon. In this capacity, he serves as the senior intelligence officer to the chief of space operations and is responsible to the secretary of the Air Force and chief of space operations for intelligence policy, oversight, and guidance of Space Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. He was commissioned through ROTC from Saint Michael’s after his graduation with a degree in economics in 1994.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE A CAREER IN THE MILITARY?

I joined the military to pay for college. I could not have attended St. Mike’s if I didn’t have a ROTC scholarship. My family couldn’t afford it. Then, I chose my profession as an intelligence officer because it was only a four-year commitment, because I planned to go to Wall Street and be a banker. But when I got in the military, I really liked the people I worked with. My wife had grown up in a military family. Each four-year stint and every move just started

to [fit] together. I was enjoying what I was doing and it was valuable, so getting up every day, I was excited about going to work. They change my job all the time, it’s always new and different, and I’m constantly learning new things.

WHAT CLASS AT ST. MIKE’S HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU?

Ethics and philosophy have most impacted my decision-making as a military officer. I bring together teams from different branches and try to make them cross-

functional. They may have approached a problem five or six times on their own, but that doesn’t have to be the way the group approaches the problem. When you create an environment where everyone can share and be heard, they generally come out with better decisions. I use Plato’s Allegory of the Cave a lot, which describes how you’re a prisoner of your own experience. I never would have thought that first-year requirement was the lesson that would have stuck with me, but it did.

WHAT ELSE SHAPED YOUR EXPERIENCE AT ST. MIKE’S?

I was on the swim team for the first two years. ROTC took up a lot of my time, and I worked as a tutor for the Economics Department. Professionally, it was helpful because that

was the first time I had to teach. I was a teacher in the military earlier in my career, and I learned that adults learn differently— some prefer verbal instructions, some need written, some are visual. It’s been very helpful in my career, understanding how people consume information and then playing to their strengths. You never know when you’re going to pick up a skill that you’re going to use forever.

HAS THE LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION YOU RECEIVED AT ST. MIKE’S HELPED YOU ON YOUR CAREER PATH?

Absolutely. Those who know why will always lead those who know how. Understanding the why is generally about bigger ideas and bigger visions and motivating people. If you can connect someone’s everyday activities to the much grander purpose, that’s one of the things that makes you a good leader.

much smaller than

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT LEADERSHIP IN YOUR CAREER?

Being the leader of a small group, being the leader of a large company, or being part of a leadership team of an institution—those are three different skill sets. Getting promoted to general came with a significant sense of responsibility for this institution. The best advice my cohorts and I received was when our senior general told us, “Remember, the team you lead is much smaller than the team you’re on.” That’s panned out to be fantastic advice for the last three years.

“Those who know why will always lead those who know how.”

Rev. Michael Carter, SSE ’12, poses with a picture of his mentor, Rev. Michael Cronogue, SSE. Carter said Cronogue modeled for him a different style of priesthood than he had encountered before, and showed him the power in trying to make direct connections with people.

Walking and Talking: A DIFFERENT TYPE OF LEADERSHIP

BY REV. MICHAEL CARTER, SSE ’12

Photos by Jerry Swope

Maybe it is an inevitability of life in higher education that one image of leadership is administrative skill and proficiency. Emails and calls need to be attended to, office work organized and disseminated. Meetings need to be scheduled and sat in on, and all of the many departments, staffs, centers, and teams need to engage in the constant buzz of business that seems to be the lifeblood of a functioning institution. When I returned to Saint Michael’s College after my graduate school experience in 2016 and was given some vacant office space, I felt that an unspoken assumption was that now was the time to buckle down, get as comfortable as I could at a desk, and manage the flow of information that would be streaming my way.

A glimpse at a different type of leadership and management style was shown to me by the individual I shared that office space with: Fr. Michael Cronogue. For Fr. Mike, the office was

a place to meet, but not a place to stay. His morning routine did not consist only of taking calls and correspondence. Fr. Mike would roam the hallways of Alliot, greeting everybody he saw, knocking on all the doors, conversing with all the people. He seemed to have connected with everyone, and I could sense that the interactions were genuine, not superficial. Perhaps sensing that this style was not what I was used to seeing, I remember him saying to me once that going around the campus like that was the most important part of his day. For Fr. Mike, this effort and these gestures were rooted in what he believed; he characterized this behavior as being modeled on the

people and to collaborate, and that the biggest and most profound impact that he could have was nothing he did on his own, but instead was the result of encouraging, affirming, and constructing a true team with others.

Perhaps it could be said that those collaborative values that Fr. Mike tried to exemplify are a good showcase of what Saint Michael’s College can be at its best. At Saint Michael’s we know that we have an environment that is safe and small, academically sharp, but most importantly, a place where people can really look out for each other, inside and outside the classroom. From my own under-

Saint Michael’s is at its strongest when all constituencies, be they the administration, faculty, or staff, can be encouraged to communicate and work together to build the best educational experience we can. The accessibility of these groups to the students allows for the formation of a real collaborative ethos on campus, and the close connections that are built from such an environment are mentioned time and again by those who have had the Saint Michael’s experience as being highlights of their education. This atmosphere is not something that is just beamed down from the sky: it takes work, effort, and willpower to construct, and the true

leadership style of Christ. Those who knew Fr. Mike might guess that he himself did not phrase it quite that way. “I don’t know, Michael,” he said, leaning back in his chair and putting his long arms behind his neck.

“I’m walking around talking to people. Isn’t that really what Jesus did? Walk around and talk to people…”

That walking and talking allowed him to connect with constituencies across campus, building bridges and building trust with all he came into contact with. He knew instinctively that his role as a leader was not simply to make decisions, but to build cooperation and consensus, to welcome

graduate experience, I must admit that what was lectured on, the content of a given test or quiz, or other such types of academic work, have long since slipped from my mind, but I still remember spending time in a professor’s office, appreciating the ability to converse and connect, getting to know one another on a human level. I remember too, working with the MOVE program on service trips where our faculty and staff members cooperate with student leaders to organize a successful experience. The strongest of these endeavors were the ones where all voices were heard and all points of view respected in light of the common goal.

skills of leadership that can tell us that we are always stronger when we seek to work together. This is an area in which the dedicated people of the Saint Michael’s community have excelled, and imparting this knowledge to our students helps to create leaders for the future, and therefore helps create a stronger world.

“At Saint Michael’s we know that we have an environment that is safe and small, academically sharp, but most importantly, a place where people can really look out for each other, inside and outside the classroom.”

Media and Leadership

BY SUSAN SALTER REYNOLDS

What does leadership look like in the digital world? The most clicks? Likes? Followers? Influence?

Or is it the courage to use digital tools to hold power accountable, using investigative journalism that locates the truth, reveals injustice and fraud, and creates opportunities for activism? The audience, in this new world of media consumption, is no longer a passive recipient of news.

“A journalist’s job is to adjudicate the truth,” says Jerry Swope, department chair and associate professor of Digital Media and Communications. “But it’s also to tell stories. We help students develop the skills they need to tell their stories.”

Saint Michael’s newly branded Digital Media and Communications Department is one of the few media studies, journalism, and digital arts programs housed within a national liberal arts college in the U.S. The curriculum is built on several core strands: media studies, digital media

Photos by Jerry Swope

Jonah Kessel ’06, deputy director of opinion video at the New York Times, believes that leadership is a team sport

ANOTHER EXAMPLE: LEADING THROUGH ART

At the end of art & design professor Becca Gurney’s Introduction to Graphic Design class, the conversation turns from learning how to visually translate and produce art by using digital tools to how art and artists can play an active role in creating change. These posters, displayed in the Dion Student Center, are a few of the results from the latter discussion.

arts: digital photography, digital film, graphic design, animation, interactive web design, journalism: writing, reporting, informed citizenry, and global media. Courses like Media Revolutions: Impact, Transformation, Research & Understanding; Global Communication & Culture: Diversity, Identity & International Media; and Media Health and Happiness explore ethical questions facing producers and consumers of digital media.

In their final year, students must complete a capstone seminar in which they work as independent media producers responsible for all aspects in the creation of a book, interactive website, or film documentary. At every stage, digital skills are blended with liberal arts and ethical issues.

The Media Creation Studio has become a hub for students and faculty working on digital projects and exploring various forms of media production. Graduates of the program have won Pulitzer Prizes, Emmys, Fulbright fellowships, and other prestigious awards. They work nationally and internationally at the New York Times, CBS, Disney, the New Yorker, Discovery, TripAdvisor, Facebook, PBS, NPR, ABC, Vermont Public, and many other places.

Swope believes the biggest ethical issue facing digital media is the emphasis on profit, and the bias that profit creates. Audience fragmentation is a close second, with echo chambers that prevent consumers from seeing a variety of perspectives. Students in the department learn to develop media and news literacy

skills by asking key questions, such as Who owns the platform? Who runs it? Who benefits? Another problem facing consumers, especially younger audiences, is information overload. When the goal is to reach eyeballs, all too often news is blended with entertainment, and facts suffer.

Today, Swope says, notions of journalistic objectivity are changing. “We talk in class about the limits of objectivity, and the dangers of false objectivity.” Identifying bias is critical on both sides of the media equation: creator and audience.

Ethical leadership in digital media includes an obligation to present the facts, reveal bias, and identify accountability.

“We are educating the whole person and developing caring citizens. As teachers, we are leading by example.” Swope sees leadership in many places, in athletics, in the school newspaper, The Defender, which often holds people in power at the College accountable. He is proud of the way the writers and editors ask hard questions and work to quell campus rumors.

Jonah Kessel ’06, deputy director of opinion video at the New York Times, has worked in Africa, China, and all over Asia. When we spoke, he had just returned from Ukraine, where he interviewed children whose parents had been killed in Russian attacks. His team’s short videos are thought-provoking, unforgettable, and beautifully crafted. They include “In This Story George W. Bush Is the Hero,” “A.I. Is Making It Easier to Kill (You),” “How Russia Perfected the Art of War,” and “How to Stop the Next Pandemic,” to name a few.

“Leadership is transformative,” Kessel says. “But when I was coming out of college, I didn’t think about that. I wanted to make visual journalism. I was doing that at the Defender and at the [Burlington] Free Press. I began to think more and more

about impact. In the last five years, I’ve gained more levers to pull to create good journalism with impact.”

Thinking about leadership, Kessel recalls professors and coaches at Saint Michael’s. “I manage a team at the New York Times now,” he explains, “but my leadership is not vertical. We have different jobs and creating one of our videos is a collaborative team sport. There’s huge value in fostering, among team members, creative vision and the confidence to have ideas.” Kessel’s team meets biweekly to pitch ideas. It’s clear that this is one of his favorite parts of the job. It’s a passionate team—“we look for opportunities to make viewers uncomfortable, to identify and reframe the truth,” Kessel says. “We start with a story and begin every conversation with the facts in that story. Then we transform that story into a video concept.”

This is service journalism, Kessel explains. “And accountability is a key piece of service journalism.

“I’m after the truth.”

Jonah Kessel ’06 with New York Times colleague Adam Ellick after winning multiple Emmy Awards for opinion videos at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ News and Documentary Emmy Awards in September 2022

“We are educating the whole person and developing caring citizens. As teachers, we are leading by example.”

Leadership and Silence

Jerry Swope, Department Chair and Professor, Digital Media and Communications

BY SUSAN SALTER REYNOLDS

eadership used to mean action to me. Now it means listening.” After 20 years teaching at Saint Michael’s College, Jerry Swope finds he learns more and more listening to his students, from the conversations they have in the classroom, and by giving them the tools they need to tell their stories. It’s important for them to have this time to explore the things they really care about.

In grad school at the Missouri School of Journalism, University of Missouri, Swope saw the potential of photography to tell stories that needed to be told. In these early years, he saw leaders who served as guides and leaders who served as stewards. He saw leaders on the lacrosse fields, in classrooms, and in the newsrooms in Missouri, Idaho, Utah, and Maine that he worked in after college.

From 1995 to 1998 and 2000 to 2002, Swope lived on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Working on a photo essay about contemporary Lakota life called “Living in Two Worlds,” Swope saw several different kinds of leadership. “The Lakota are very careful with their choice of words; there’s not a lot of unnecessary chatter. In traditionally oral cultures, words tend to have more value.” He saw the true importance of silence, and this has become a part of his own journalism. Precision with language and clarity in communication are, for Swope, important aspects of leadership.

Swope’s photographs have been published in the New York Times, USA Today, the Boston Globe— Globe Magazine, Vermont Life, Sydney Morning Herald—The Age Magazine, Middlebury College

Magazine, Burlington Free Press, and Rapid City Journal and on the Vermont Public website. His work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., the Helen Day Arts Center in Stowe, at the University of Vermont Center for Cultural Pluralism, and in the juried show of the South End [Burlington] Art Hop.

At this point in his life, the importance of leadership in parenting is a rich source of inspiration. “You have to be a good listener; you have to be present; you should set a good example; you should understand where others in the family are in their lives, and what they need; and you should recognize that these people are a priority.”

As a parent, he explains, “I’m also a teacher, but I communicate differently.

I’m sharing what I know based on my lived experience.”

Swope believes that the new direction toward purposeful learning at Saint Michael’s is a form of leadership in the world of higher education. While many other schools have turned from the liberal arts in favor of career-based skills, Saint Michael’s leadership is determined to help students see that true leadership must be based on an ethical foundation.

Parent, teacher, photojournalist, lacrosse player, and chair of an increasingly popular department, Swope thinks carefully before answering questions about leadership. He laughs when told that he often says, “it depends.”

As a photographer, he has learned to see from many angles.

Photo by Jerry Swope and Patrick Bohan

Jerry Swope holds a family photograph in front of an image he took near Porcupine, South Dakota. Swope said he learned a lot about leadership from being a father and stepfather and also from his Lakota mentors and students when he taught on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

MOVE

BY GEORGE GOLDSWORTHY ’93, MANAGER, PRINT AND MAILING SERVICES

Idecided early in 2022 that I was going to apply to be the staff advisor for the MOVE service trip to Immokalee, Florida, again in 2023. One of the students from the previous trip told me that there was no chance I could possibly have as rewarding a trip as we had experienced in January 2022. Despite traveling in the midst of the pandemic and having lots of uncertainty surrounding us, during that trip we made the best of every situation we

encountered, and a truly strong bond developed among all in our group. We learned much about ourselves and the community we were serving.

As this year’s trip drew closer, I began to have apprehensions. We had previously stayed in the bunkrooms of a church, but that space was unavailable. The MOVE staff was unable to find us any similar accommodations and instead of staying in the community, we were going to have to rent a house in North Naples, 24 miles away. I was concerned that this was turning into more of a vacation than a service trip for our students and thus I was lacking

in enthusiasm as we were ready to depart. Living on a “food stamps” budget and being immersed in the community are key elements in the experience that is provided to our students through these trips. The director of MOVE, Lara Scott, and the assistant director, Vicky Castillo, made a point to remind us the night before we departed that the missionaries from Selma, Alabama, speaking to all service trip participants this year had, emphasized that it was our duty to be humble and open to the culture of the people we were serving. I wasn’t sure our five-bedroom house was a good launching point.

Photos by George Goldsworthy ’93 and Nate Abbayehu ’26

MOVE is Saint Michael’s Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts program which has been in engaging students in service since 1988.

Action: Immokalee, FL

What I hadn’t accounted for was the quality of St. Mike’s student who volunteers for this type of service work each year. The six students who accompanied me were ready to get straight to task, learn new skills, meet new people, ask good questions, and get their hands dirty. I had told them about our previous experience working inside homes in a Habitat for Humanity neighborhood where we installed insulation, trim, and cabinets as well as caulked and painted. I drove the students from the airport

straight to the neighborhood we had worked on and explained all the change I was witnessing, with children playing in yards and families living in all the homes. It was quite rewarding to see.

When we arrived on Day One to the coordinates we had been provided to locate the job site, I was taken aback, as we had to hike in a quarter mile to a single foundation with three two-story cinderblock walls in the center of a 100 acre clear-cut

just south of the town. The foreman informed us that this was the first unit of a 10-year project to house 284 families and would be the second largest Habitat project in history. We were given hard hats and goggles and pointed toward our tasks. I knew four of the crew members from last year and was happy to greet Ernesto, Jaime, Adrian, and Miguel. They gave us 30 seconds of instruction and pointed at several tools and left us to get to work, a test to see what we might be capable of and if we

Left: Back row L-R, Emily Dufour-Woznicki ’25, RCMA Principal Zulaika Quintero, Natnael Abbayehu ’26, Jenna Farber ’25, Director Manuel Preciado; Front row L-R, George Goldsworthy ’93, Bernadette Lesieur ’25, Charli Cancroft ’24, Cassie Wardwell ’25; Middle: L-R, Jenna Farber ’25, Bernadette Lesieur ’25, Emily Dufour-Woznicki ’25, Cassie Wardwell ’25; Right: L-R, George Goldsworthy ’93, Charli Cancroft ’25

needed our hands held for the week. I reiterated our tasks to the students and then we broke down and reset scaffolding, used impact drills and ratchets to bolt lumber to the walls and foundations, nailed strapping, hauled lumber, sawed boards, painted sawhorses, and screwed piles of framing together over the course of the week for the first unit and for the three additional foundations that were poured while we were there. Our students were smiling the whole time as they sweat in the hot sun and saw the progression of their work each day.

At one point during the week, Miguel pulled me aside and paid me the highest compliment he could have about our students. He said, “Each year, you bring a really good group from your school. They show up, work hard, get so much done, and they do not try to impose their politics onto our job site. That doesn’t happen with other groups.” My mind went straight to our departure dinner with Lara and Vicky, realizing that our students had taken the message from the Selma missionaries to heart and were living it in practice. I would have been proud of their work regardless, but now I was positively glowing.

Our worksite in the afternoons was the RCMA School for the children of migrant workers in Immokalee. It is a private charter school serving the community through bilingual instruction. The amazing part of the curriculum is that the children are mostly English-speaking Americans and they are learning their parents’

native language in half of their instruction. Two of the St. Mike’s students bravely volunteered to be in immersive Spanish classes, very much outside their comfort zones. We were embedded into classrooms K-8 for the remainder of each school day, and then would stay for the after-school program. Most of the kids are at the school from 6 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., which is the typical workday for their parents, who primarily pick the tomatoes for our supermarkets and restaurants September through May. It is an extremely long day for the kids, and our presence brings some freshness to their long days. Several of the kids in the first grade remembered me from the year before and I was

greeted like a celebrity when I walked into the classroom for the first day and heard, “It’s George!” Of course, this meant that I had multiple little kids in uniforms hanging from every limb I had for the remainder of the week, and I loved every minute of it. The St. Mike’s students followed my lead on the playground and wasted no time making friends. We were not lacking for exercise by the time we exited the school each day.

The free time that our group had was spent three ways: driving in our van, bonding at the house preparing meals or playing card games, or hiking rail trails in county parks to see alligators and birds. Each of

Nate Abbayehu ’26, Emily Dufour-Woznicki ’25

these activities allowed us to develop strong bonds over the course of the week and although I started the week believing I was the “cool uncle” figure to these 19- and 20-year-olds, by the third or fourth day reality brought me to the realization that I was the dad in the group. I got to do all the driving, give sound advice on the job sites to help them succeed, teach

everyone how to chop and prepare food each day, and take out the trash while making sure everyone was cleaning up. All of these things were a joy to me because the students were well behaved, engaged in all their tasks, and working together selflessly. Each of them made me fond of them in their own unique way, coming from diverse backgrounds and

allowing themselves to be fully present the entire week. There were no egos, problems, or struggles to get anyone to put down their mobile devices! Any apprehensions I harbored dissipated within the first few days we were there. There was a bit of competitive jostling and shouting as we competed to count yellow cars we passed each day while driving many miles in our van.

On each of the service trips that MOVE sponsors, reflection on the work and your place in it are a large part of the experience. The students were all very open, honest, and thoughtful in sharing with each other. As the parent of a current first-year student at St. Mike’s, I had my faith restored in the kinds of students we are attracting and helping to grow further. These young people had very thoughtful responses to their service work, and it was rewarding to me to be able to help them give themselves to this work.

I returned to campus feeling very much richer for the experience and truly believing I had six new friends on campus. I knew from listening to them that they all had appreciated the week together, but I came away feeling that I had gained so much from them during the week and found myself invigorated as we began a new semester.

As the parent of a current first-year student at St. Mike’s, I had my faith restored in the kinds of students we are attracting and helping to grow further.

L-R: Jenna Farber ’25, Nate Abbayehu ’26, Cassie Wardwell ’25, Emily Dufour-Woznicki ’25, Bernadette Lesieur ’25

Literacy Moves Outdoors: Learning Approaches for Any Environment

By Valerie Bang-Jensen (Heinemann)

Professor Bang-Jensen’s latest book was published this spring. The book, written for K-6 teachers, features five approaches to teaching literacy outdoors, including StoryWalks and Word Gardens. Visit smcvt.edu/magazine for a link to hear a podcast conversation about the book with Professor Bang-Jensen.

Raven

By Mark Roddy ’70

(Austin

Macauley Publishers)

Raven is a story set in mid-1943 of a German agent who, at the behest of Japanese allies, was sent by his country to sabotage the U.S. Navy’s torpedo factory in Newport, Rhode Island.

Angela’s Letter

By Mark Roddy ’70

(Austin

Macauley Publishers)

Angela’s Letter is about two people, both widowed, and the challenges and joys they face trying to see if they can rekindle the love they shared many years earlier.

FACULTY AND ALUMNI

Daring Duck

By Tom Burke

(Independently published)

Daring Duck and her brave animal friends take a journey of discovery to explore the forest and conquer new challenges together, in this heartwarming children’s book. Daring’s inspiring story teaches the importance of perseverance, determination, and a positive attitude—helping nurture confidence and resilience in young children as they explore the world around them.

Comedy & Grace

By Paul Edward Baribault ’70 (Independently published)

A testimonial about the book reads, “Readers will be touched by this soaring work of love, laughter, and intellect. From its tender and humorous short stories, through its breathtaking “intermission” and challenge to Shakespeare’s best-known soliloquy on being—and bridge into the more serious writing, there is no letdown— it just climbs, past a poetry of clarity, and keeps on climbing…to a soul-resting finish in the whispers of eternal mind.”

The Lady of Elche

By Amanda Berenguer

Translated by Kristin Dykstra

(Veliz

Books)

The Lady of Elche is Professor Kristin Dykstra’s translation of one of Amanda Berenguer’s most acclaimed collections of poetry. The many faces surfacing through The Lady of Elche’s portraits hint at Berenguer’s multifaceted poetics writ large. The book includes a complete English translation alongside the Spanish poems, as well as a companion essay by Dykstra.

Saint Michael’s ignited the “fire in the belly” that powered the Class of 2023 through a pandemic toward purposeful lives after College, said Commencement speaker Jay Bellissimo ’87, a business and technology innovator dedicated to helping others. The onetime IBM global executive addressed 360 graduates in the Ross Sports Center for the 116th Commencement on May 14—the last for retiring President Lorraine Sterritt. “This is a hard place to leave,” she said. Bellissimo stressed hard work, faith, risk-taking and aiming high. Former Trustee Michael McGrath also received an honorary degree.

See more Commencement photos at smcvt.edu/magazine

“I want everyone to take a second and look around—at the people sitting next to you, friends who have become family, strangers who have become friends, and even people who still might be strangers but you’ve at least seen around. I think we can recognize that we are our own little world here. But I beg you, bring our world out there. Say thank you to bus drivers, donate one dollar for a bracelet, hold the door even though someone is far away. Create new communities, continue to stand up for what you believe in. Remember to be grateful, for the big and the small. I implore you to remember this St. Mike’s experience and keep living, keep learning, keep exploring, and always do well and do good in the world.”

— KATIE ESCOBEDO ’23

Excerpt above taken from Escobedo’s remarks at Commencement as undergraduate class speaker.

STUDENT-ATHLETE SUCCESS CONTINUES

BY JOSH KESSLER ’04, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Katie Escobedo’s final two visits to the graduation stage during Saint Michael’s College’s 116th Commencement on May 14 were on her agenda that day. After all, the soccer star had been chosen by her peers to deliver the undergraduate address, and her diploma later awaited in President D. E. Lorraine Sterritt’s hands.

As winner of the prestigious Katherine Fairbanks Memorial Award, however, Escobedo’s first opportunity to greet Sterritt was an unscheduled trek to the stage, and continued a trend of student athletes garnering major attention for themselves and the athletics community at recent Commencement ceremonies.

Escobedo wasn’t alone. Women’s volleyball standout Beth Syverson was among a quartet of seniors with a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average, and men’s ice hockey alumnus Jay Bellissimo ’87, a member of the Saint Michael’s Athletic Hall of Fame and chief operating officer of Vonage,

delivered the keynote address to the graduating class as Commencement returned to the Ross Sports Center for the first time since 2019.

During a speaking engagement that elicited a standing ovation, Escobedo joined Julia Colasanti ’18 (volleyball), Winston Jones II ’19 (basketball) and Gabriella Dicomitis ’22 (ice hockey), as the fourth student athlete in the past five Commencements

selected to deliver the undergraduate senior address.

Escobedo, Roxy Withers ’18 (cross country), Emily Ferreri ’19 (basketball), and Ashley Turner ’21 (lacrosse) have all won the Fairbanks Award in recent years, while Alex Mendez ’21 (baseball) and James Downs ’22 (cross country) earned the Father Prevel Memorial Award at their graduation ceremonies. The Fairbanks and Prevel accolades each honor a graduate who has

demonstrated commitment and achievement related to the intellectual, spiritual, moral, and social values of Saint Michael’s College.

Syverson, who will return in the fall to complete her athletic career, is the fourth top scholar in six years to hail from the student-athlete population. Withers and Ferreri were valedictorians in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Turner was one of five 4.0 students in 2021. Like Withers, Ferreri,

Selected by her classmates, Escobedo ’23 gives an inspiring senior address during Commencement.

and Turner before her, Syverson earned the Department of Athletics’ Roger F. Keleher ’15 Award as a standout scholar athlete in the senior class.

Commencement capped an eventful four-day stretch of award winning for Escobedo, who was recognized with the Donald Sutton Community Service Award at a senior brunch for her contributions to Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue. The next day, she landed the institution’s NCAA Woman of the Year accolade at the Department of Athletics’ 76th annual Block ʻM’ Senior Awards Banquet. By claiming the latter, Escobedo was also put forth as the College’s nominee for the national NCAA Woman of the Year award.

A Psychology and Sociology double major, Escobedo carried a 3.94 GPA into the spring semester. On the soccer pitch, the captain was 16th in NCAA Division II in goals-against average (0.60) and 18th in save percentage (.864) last fall, setting a school record in GAA while leading the Northeast-10 Conference

with eight shutouts, tying Trish Hannan ‘90’s 33year-old program record. In addition to landing NEWISA All-New England and NE10 All-Conference laurels, Escobedo graduated first in program annals in career GAA (0.93).

Escobedo’s impact was felt significantly in her local communities, as she was an

advanced EMT while serving Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue, the UVM Medical Center, and Our Lady of Providence in Winooski. She was an admission intern and tour guide, recently completed a Peace Corps Prep certificate program, and helped raise nearly $30,000 for children facing cancer through last year’s St. Baldrick’s Foundation head shaving

fundraiser. Escobedo also covertly worked as Saint Michael’s mascot Mike the Knight for the past three years. She will return to the College in the fall to coach soccer and continue serving the community as a medical professional.

Beth Syverson ’23 processing with her classmates during Commencement.

Aglorious Reunion 2023 (June 2-4) saw 950 alumni return “home.”

Class of 1973 members (50-year Reunion) became Golden Knights. The 3’s and 8’s classes enjoyed evening class events from Winooski to Burlington.

A brunch on Saturday showcased seven Alumni of the Year and a posthumous award of the Fr. Michael Cronogue Award for Service for Chris Lee ’93. Trustees presented President Sterritt with a check for just over a half million dollars from all Reunion classes. The P-Knight party on Saturday hosted 600 attendees on the 300s field with food trucks, games, and Craig Mitchell ’93 fronting the band Purple, bringing down the house. Alumni packed the townhouses, enjoying chicken patties at a late-night grill. A farewell breakfast and Mass sent alumni on their way with full bellies and hearts.

See more Reunion photos at smcvt.edu/ magazine

51

It’s All about Family

TOMMY DRISCOLL ’73 AND CHRISTINE DRISCOLL SIMONI ’08

Reunion is Saint Michael’s biggest event each year, but it wouldn’t happen without dozens of alumni volunteers serving on their reunion committees. Golden Knight Tommy Driscoll ’73 and his daughter Christine Driscoll Simoni ’08 shared why they volunteered for their class committees—and assured us that they had a blast.

“I think it’s vitally important that alumni continue to support St. Mike’s, not just because of my personal experience and that of my family, but to continue the legacy established over 100 years ago by the Edmundites,” explained Tommy.

“I know how lucky I am to have the experience that I did at St. Mike’s,” said Christine. ”The friends I made and the memories I have are very important to me. St. Mike’s is a huge part of who I am, and I can honestly say that

four years wasn’t enough for me. I’m grateful because I know not everyone can say that about their college experience.”

If you graduated in a year ending in 4 or 9, you’re up next! Please contact the Alumni office at alumni@smcvt.edu to volunteer for your Reunion May 31 – June 2. You won’t want to miss the fun!

For more on the Driscolls, visit smcvt.edu/reunion/ driscolls

CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT RECEIVES HISTORIC BOOST THANKS TO FORMER SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY

The Center for the Environment at Saint Michael’s equips the next generation of environmental advocates and stewards with the tools, skills and knowledge to make a positive impact—regardless of academic discipline—in their local and global communities. Through the 360-acre Natural Area, the Teaching Gardens, the Farm at Saint Michael’s, and sustainable campus initiatives at the College, the entire campus is a living classroom for students to hone their skills and become agents of change after graduation. Connections with the greater community, including paid internships, research, and social impact projects, expand the students’ access to immersive, intensive, and applied learning that sets them up for success beyond Saint Michael’s.

Saint Michael’s College students planning careers focused on the environment—or those hoping to better understand humans’ impact on the natural world—will directly benefit from federal funding included in the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, thanks to the work of alumnus and now-retired Appropriations Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy ‘61.

The $6.5 million appropriation—the largest direct grant ever received by the College—will fund the continued growth and development of the College’s Center for the Environment, which was officially established in 2019. The omnibus bill was signed into law in late December 2022 as one of Senator Leahy’s final achievements before his retirement from the U.S. Senate after almost half a century representing Vermont.

“The College has always been engaged as a leader in service and improving the lives of others,” said now-retired Saint Michael’s College President Lorraine Sterritt in January. “Our Center for the Environment helps prepare students to become advocates and professionals who can help address one of the world’s most urgent challenges.”

“Senator Leahy has long recognized the importance of addressing environmental challenges and the critical role of higher education in molding the next generation of leaders for that task. We are very thankful to the Senator for supporting our community’s work to do well and do good both at Saint Michael’s and beyond.”

More details about the more specific ways in which the $6.5 million appropriation will be used will be shared in the coming months.

The Leahys pose with President Lorraine Sterritt at her recent retirement party

Letter from the Alumni Board President

What a treat it has been to reconnect in person with family and friends, now that we seem to be on the other side of the pandemic. In fact, earlier this year I had the pleasure of meeting up with seven of my classmates for a wonderful New England weekend. We talked and laughed nonstop for three days as if it was just yesterday that we had seen each other, even though we graduated 37 years ago. We reminisced about our days at St. Mike’s and caught up on our lives since. I’m fortunate

weekend refreshed and rejuvenated. We also commented on how grateful we were that we chose Saint Michael’s because that’s where we met, shared experiences, and grew up in such a loving, supportive, and fun community. We’ve all had different journeys since we left, but we all share an inner connectedness that will always be part of us, and that is Saint Michael’s College.

I’ve also had the opportunity to experience a similar connectedness by attending alumni events in the Washington, D.C., area and

because it takes us back to a time in our lives that was so special. In my time on the Board, I’ve met such warm and dedicated individuals who share in the common interest of preserving the best for our alma mater so that others can experience what we did—a sense of community that allows one to learn and grow. I’m also impressed by the students I have met over the years: they are graduating with double and sometimes triple majors; they are student athletes; they are Fulbright scholars; and they, too, love their Saint Michael’s College experience. It gives me hope for the future.

that I have seen many of my St. Mike’s friends throughout the years, but having a weekend with all of us together in one place was pure magic. We all came away from the

by serving on the Alumni Board of Directors. Anytime I meet a fellow graduate, there is always a friendly smile and often an embrace

In all these instances, I have met so many in our alumni network who are leaders—whether they continued with their Fire and Rescue experience to serve their community at home, became healthcare professionals, worked in government, took on pro bono work as lawyers, became teachers who helped shape the next generation, or ran businesses that contributed to our economy. I believe they are leaders because of that sense of community that inspired us to do well and do good by helping others. This past Mother’s Day, we

added another class to the ranks of Saint Michael’s College alumni, and I have no doubt that they, too, will be strong leaders in our society. I encourage you to participate in alumni events in your community, to personally welcome the Class of 2023 and help them along their career path. I also encourage you to “Nominate a Future Knight” so others can experience the incredible education, beautiful environment, and opportunity to make lifelong friends at St. Mike’s, as we all did. And, finally, attend Reunions whether on campus or in smaller gatherings like the one I experienced in January. Believe me, it will give you a boost, make you laugh, and remind you of that sense of community that Saint Michael’s gave to all of us and that helped shape us into the leaders that we are today.

Suzanne Leous ’86 President, Saint Michael’s College Alumni Association

1963

JIM PAWLOWSKI, Houston, TX, was recently inducted into the Texas Senior Softball Hall of Fame. Jim played baseball for Saint Michael’s and was captain of the 1963 team coached by Ed Markey ’51.

1967

RICH FEELEY, Ocala, FL, reports that he and his wife of 55 years, Terri Gouvin Feeley (M ’81) are enjoying retirement in Florida and at their summer cottage on Malletts Bay, VT. Their two sons, Brad ’91 and Seth (Fordham ’93) are doing well and visit often.

1970

PAUL BARIBEAULT, Lewiston, ME, is a playwright and author. He committed to a life of writing almost immediately after graduating from St. Mike’s, and has six books currently available on Amazon, including his latest, Comedy & Grace, the sequel to his first nonfiction work, Our Brilliant Eternity. The books follow similar themes, exploring the “what if” of things, our lives here on Earth, and what awaits us beyond it. See Works, page 45.

MARK RODDY, Fairfax Station, VA, reports that he’s had two novels published recently. The first, Angela’s Letter,

Rev. Salvatore “Sal” Altavista, Class of 1957, wrote to reminisce about the enjoyable time he had at Reunion with great friends and classmates a few years back. He is a priest with the LaSalette Missionaries, living in their retirement home in Hartford, CT.

As in past years, Naples, FL, “local” guys met for lunch at Coconut Jack’s on Bonita Beach: Peter Pesenti ’69, Paul Murphy ’69, Tom Kelley ’69, John Verret ’68, Bill “Moose” Trudeau ’68, and Mike Renzulli ’69.

is a romance novel about high school sweethearts who go their separate ways and try to reconnect after 45 years. The second, RAVEN, takes place during World War II and focuses on a German agent who travels surreptitiously to Newport, RI, with a goal of destroying the U.S. Navy torpedo works there. See Works, page 44.

1972

GEOFF BATES, Brunswick, ME, is a senior sales manager at Wayfair, LLC, in Boston. On weekends he is also employed by the Diocese of Portland, ME, as a musician and solo vocalist for several Diocesan churches in the

Midcoast area, a talent he did not discover until 20 years after St. Mike’s. “It’s never too late,” he said, “to discover new ambitions.”

1973

MIKE BERARDINO, Katonah, NY, joined fellow alumni and friends to cheer on the Purple Knights men’s basketball team at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY, on December 17, 2022. St. Mike’s prevailed, 66-58. See photo below.

1978

PAUL GALBRAITH, Highland Falls, NY, has been a

St. Mike’s alumni fans cheered the Purple Knights men’s basketball victory at Mercy College: Back left, Coach Eric Eaton’s dad, Billy Howe ’72 with purple cap, Michael Berardino ’73 in purple jacket. Front row, black jacket, Coach Evan Conti’s dad, Guy Minetti ’73, Ted Horton ’73, Andy McElroy ’71, and Ken Hurley ’71.

The Feeley family, left to right: Brad ’91, Rich ’67, Terri and Seth

professional actor since 1966, and has performed throughout the U.S. in musicals, drama, film, commercials, TV, and print. He noted that a recent project, the Cupcake Shop Chronicles, Volume 2, is available to view on YouTube.

1984

THERESA KLINGENBERGER

BECHARD, Voorheesville, NY, shared a photo from the graduation of her daughter, Lt. Laura Bechard, and Lt. Amy Hayes (both doctors of physical therapy), who graduated from the U.S. Navy ODS in Newport, RI, in November 2022. The graduates introduced their St. Mike’s alumni parents to each other. See photo above right.

KATHRYN MARKEY, New York, NY, is the new summer artistic director for Opera House Arts in Deer Isle, ME. A Saint Michael’s theater graduate and longtime Saint Michael’s Summer Playhouse regular, Markey shared: “Opera House Arts is a 20year-old arts organization housed in a historic 110-yearold building, and along with the superb staff, I will be programming, directing, and developing the season ahead. Downeast friends—come visit! Non-Downeast friends—come visit! Incite Art. Create Community.”

1986

SUZANNE LEOUS, Arlington, VA, was happy to report that she and a group of

mid-’80s grads met in New Hampshire in January for a fabulous mini reunion. Suzy recently completed a twoyear term as president of the Alumni Board of Directors and begins a two-year term on the St. Mike’s Board of Trustees in July. See photo below right.

SUZANNE PRENTISS, West Lebanon, NH, was elected for a second term as a New Hampshire state senator in November 2022. She represents 15 communities in the Statehouse and serves on the Senate Education and Executive Departments and Administration Committees. “In addition,” she wrote, “I was appointed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to serve as the legislative voice on the National EMS Advisory Committee. This appointment means a great deal to me, as I started my career in public service at Saint Michael’s as a member of the rescue squad. I continue to hold my paramedic certification.”

1987

MARIA C. GALLO, Bartow, FL, after 20 years of legal work on the front lines of abused, abandoned and neglected children, has taken a position as staff attorney at Heart of Florida Legal Aid. Says Maria, “We serve Victims of Crime Accts (BOCA) clients and low-income clients. Loving it! Hi to Jonathan Billings!”

1988

DR. KRISTY MAHER, Greenville, SC, is a professor of sociology at Furman University and the winner of the 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award from the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities. She earned a B.A. in sociology from Saint Michael’s before earning an M.A. and Ph.D. from Yale. Maher knew she wanted a career at a small liberal arts college like St. Mike’s and joined the Furman faculty in 1993. Her main areas of interest include medical sociology, social determinants of health, and health disparities.

MARY ELLEN (VITRANO)

MOSCHETTA and her husband Luciano, Mahwah, NJ, hosted friends from the classes of 1987 and 1988 for a fun-filled extended weekend at the beach last September. “We had such a great time, we’re planning to make it an annual event. The weekend included a sunset boat cruise, lobster dinner, karaoke, and lots of laughs,” she told us. See photo.

1989

DANA “CARMINE” COLE , Arlington, VT, is private functions director at Hildene, the Lincoln family home, in Manchester, VT. The Georgian revival mansion was built in 1905 by Robert Lincoln, the only child of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln to survive to adulthood, and his wife Mary. The 412-acre estate

In November 2022, three St. Mike’s grads, William Hayes ’77, Terry (Klingenberger) Bechard ’84, and Tom Bechard ’85, met at the graduation of their daughters, Lt. Amy Hayes and Lt. Laura Bechard, from the U.S. Navy ODS in Newport, RI.

In January, great friends gathered for a mini reunion in New Hampshire. Top row, left to right: Jennifer (McCann) McGinley ’85, Kathy (Behan) Gallagher ’86, Sue (O’Laughlin) Ronan ’86, Kathy (Korby) Wells ’86. Bottom row, left to right: Beth (Conlin) Tailleur ’86, Karen (Dunmire) Makiver ’86, Mary Ann (Hudak) Almasian ’86, Suzy Leous ’86.

Montauk weekend with Classes of 1987 and 1988 friends, left to right: Luciano Moschetta, Mary Ellen (Vitrano) Moschetta ’88 & her beloved “Muffy,” Maria (Desmarais) McGee ’87, Deb Desjardins ’87, Sarah (Connolly) von Conta ’88, Perry Turcotte ’87, Pam (Allen) Liggett ’88, Regina (Holland) O’Connell ’88, and Mike O’Connell ’88.

Alumni, family, and friends attended the induction of Susan Fumagalli Mahoney, Class of 1992, at the St. Mike’s Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

St. Mike’s friends from the classes of 1971 to 2026 gathered at Burlington Beer Company in November. Left to right, then forward: John “Bubba” Umile ’95, Jen (Connors) Umile ’95, Greg Esbitt ’96, Karin Romanowski ’94, Chris Heatherton ’94, Jason Cameron ’94, Annie Rosello ’94, Chris Flanagan ’94; Jim Umile ’94, Maggie Flanagan ’26, Jerry Flanagan ’71, Judy Flanagan M’92, Derek DiVenere ’94. Not pictured: Scott Angel ’95, Jonathan Boutin ’94, Brett DiVenere ’99, Edith (Duncan) Story ’94, Mike Gavenas ’94, Steve Kelliher ’94, Sarah Kenney ’94, Kristi Umile.

Class of ’95 Portsmouth reunion, left to right: Brian Lottridge, Chris Phalen, Larry McGondel, Brian Aspell, Matt Keefe, Jen Barricelli Marin, Tony D’Addio, Wes Leonard, Jeremy Lombardo, Eric Grace. Not pictured: Mike Gavin, who had to leave early, and Paul Crockett, who showed up a little later.

with 14 historic buildings includes the home, formal garden, observatory, and more. “My job at this gorgeous, historic venue,” he explained, “is to sell, manage, and produce weddings.” To learn more, visit hildene.org.

1992

SUSAN FUMAGALLI MAHONEY, Gettysburg, PA, was inducted into the Saint Michael’s Athletic Hall of Fame in September 2022, representing the swimming and diving program. She was joined by family and close friends at the celebration, including four Saint Michael’s graduates: niece Jenna McQuesten ’15, lifelong friend Christi Turnbull Turner ’96, Grace Kelly ’81, and Mary Jane Kelly Steward ’83. Both Christi and Mary Jane were also swimmers for the Purple Knights. See photo above left.

1993

Fire and Rescue friends reunite in Florida, left to right: Mike Storey ’96, Mark Wilkin ’85, Pat Lynch ’95, Trish (Phalon) and Geno Tangney ’95, Jim Courtney ’93.

added, “There was something in the water with our class [of 1993] concerning writing, because it produced LOUNG UNG (bestselling author), DAN TUOHY (New Hampshire Union Leader journalist), and MATT MOWRY (publisher of Business NH Magazine). These accomplished professionals got their start in Saint Michael’s classes.” Learn more about Chris Bernard at cbbernard.com.

1994

A group of classmates and friends converged on Burlington the weekend before Thanksgiving 2022 to celebrate their joint 50th birthdays and friendships of 30-plus years. CHRIS

CHRIS “C.B.” BERNARD, Wakefield, RI, released a new novel, Small Animals Caught in Traps, this spring to rave reviews and attention from Hollywood, according to classmate DAN MURPHY (Portland, ME). Dan wrote, “My interest is as a classmate who went to school with Chris and has long admired his writing— including his moving, and sometimes hilarious, poetry readings on campus when we were students.” He

FLANAGAN was the organizer and ringleader, making plans and encouraging travel from far and wide —including Boston, D.C., Idaho, and New Zealand. The group saw a show at Higher Ground, visited local breweries, and hit the town for dinner, pool, late-night pizza, and general shenanigans. The weekend will be especially treasured by all who were able to attend due to Chris’s tragic passing in April 2023. Lessons learned: Say yes, book that ticket, and hug your friends tight. See photo above left.

1995

CHRIS PHALEN, Lowell, MA, shared some photos from a Class of ’95 get-together in Portsmouth, NH, late last

Kika Bronger ’96 and Alf Barbalunga ’93 met at the Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain in Wilmington, VT, and enjoyed great conditions, sunny weather, and lots of laughs.

fall. The group of great old friends made the rounds at a few local breweries and had dinner in downtown Portsmouth. See photos.

TRICIA (PHALON) TANGNEY, Parkland, FL, shared news of a recent Fire and Rescue reunion. “Old Saint Michael’s Fire & Rescue friends met halfway between Massachusetts and Anguilla to celebrate Pat Lynch’s 50th birthday in Florida.” See photo previous page, bottom left.

2002

RACHEL (PURDY) SCOTT, Rochester, NY, accepted the role of college registrar at Nazareth College in January.

2004

MARK OLDMIXON, Fairbanks, AK, was deeply involved as a student leader in what was then called the Wilderness Program, now the Adventure Sports Center. Recently he reported, “I’m a newly minted lifeguard instructor. The nation is short on lifeguards, which leads to fewer swim lessons, leading to many kids never learning to swim. Hopefully we can turn this trend around soon.”

2006

PATRICK ASABA , Minneapolis, MN, dreamed of building a school in his home country of Uganda, ever since he and his wife Jeni

Patrick Asaba, Class of 2006, and his wife Jeni, on a 2019 trip to his home country of Uganda. The couple founded a nonprofit and opened a school in rural Western Uganda this February, which is educating 260 eager young students. To learn more, visit buildingforbridget.org.

Instructor of Italian literature Allison Grimaldi Donahue ’06 performs her work in Italy.

took their first trip there together in 2008. The couple started a nonprofit, Building for Bridget, raised funds, sourced land, and opened the school in February 2023. It provides a safe learning environment for 260 children in a rural part of western Uganda. In addition to his day job in IT, Patrick volunteers his time to manage all aspects of the school. See photo above.

ALLISON GRIMALDI

DONAHUE completed her Ph.D. in philosophy, art, and critical thought at the European Graduate School in December 2021. She is an instructor in Italian literature at Middlebury College’s School in Italy. Her translation of Carla Lonzi’s SelfPortrait was published by

Divided Publishing in 2021. In October 2022, she performed her poetry at Kunsthalle Bern, and in January 2023 she performed her work at MACRO Rome. She lives in Bologna, Italy, with her wife Giulia Quadrelli. See photo above.

2008

MARIBETH FONDA , Indianapolis, IN, works as a behavior analyst (BCBA) at Bierman Autism Centers, where she creates programming based in applied behavior analysis for young clients on the autism spectrum. It’s her first time living outside Vermont.

Steve O’Neil ’09 holding his son Emmett, Ryan Devlin ’09 holding his son August, and Colin Tierney ’09 holding his son Anders. Each being 1 year old, the boys may be the youngest prospective students to visit campus and request information to apply to the Class of 2043.

On May 28, 2022, Andrea Slaven ’09 married Anthony Arone at Union Bluff Hotel in York, ME. Purple Knights in attendance were, front row: Kyle Hildebrand ’06, Meagan (McCarthy) Hildebrand ’06, Andrea (Slaven) Arone ’09, Megan (Sedlak) Robbins ’09, Kaitlin (Koffink) Engen ’10, Jordan (Smalling) Gilman ’09, Aaron Gilman ’09. Back row: Tricia (McCormick) Mee ’09, Amanda (Gates) Tierney ’09, Alexandra Simmons ’09, Caroline Howe ’09, Caroline (Reuss) Simonelli ’09, Danny Robbins ’09, Trygg Engen ’10.

Whitney Wildes ’10 and Daniel Purcell ’10 were married on September 24, 2022, on Peaks Island, ME. Alumni in attendance, front row: Mary (Newman) McNiece ’10, Anne (Newman) Tinsley ’10, Diana Mason, Whitney Wildes ’10, Heather Barss ’10, Elizabeth (Hawkes) Wall ’10, Molly Salt ’10 (bridesmaid). Middle row: Kara Smith, Emily Rose ’10, Christine (Amoresano) Gallager ’11, Daniel Purcell ’10, Justin Miller, Matthew Sjoblom ’10, Jolie Frechette ’10. Back row: Danielle Segal ’10, Ryan Walker ’10 (groomsman), Emily Wright ’10, Erick Gallager ’10, Sarah Carlin ’10, Scott Henchey ’10, Patrick Wall ’10, Jessica Brantl ’10, Michael McNiece ’10.

Emily Rendine married Thomas Glynn on December 10, 2022, at the Towers in Narragansett, RI. Pictured left to right: Lily Keyes ’12, Ethan Romagnoli ’12, J.P. McCormick ’11, Kaytlyn (Kelley) McCormick ’12, Jesse Sullivan ’12, Meghan (O’Brien) Sullivan ’12, Thomas Glynn, Emily (Rendine) Glynn ’12, Ashley (Langlands) Romagnoli ’12, Alli (Roberts) Verrill ’12, Chelsea Bush ’12, Brittany Benton O’Brien ’12, Kevin O’Brien ’11, and Meredith Deffley ’12.

On January 21, 2023, Kayla Carnell ’13 married Craig Ninteau at the Round Barn Farm in Waitsfield, VT. Left to right: Rachel (Liebowitz) Merchel ’13, Tom Fontana ’99, Becky (Gallagher) Fontana ’99, Megan (Olsen) West ’13, Mackenzie Dolbeare ’14, Kayla (Carnell) Ninteau ’13, Craig Ninteau, Courtney Dunne ’13, Kelsey (Velie) Bockus ’13, and Nicole Adach ’13.

Meaghan (Henn) Spillane ’13 and Jake Spillane ’11, Fairfield, CT, welcomed Maeve Anna on March 13, 2022. Reports Meg, “She’s already gearing up for her first P-Day in 2041!”

Caroline Smith ’17, Medford, MA, graduated magna cum laude from New England Law in May 2022.

Eliza McDonald ’17 was married to Matt BeDugnis on December 30, 2021, at Boston College by Rev. Michael Carter, SSE ’12, with a large St. Mike’s presence.

After the wedding, Matt and Eliza took the last name McDermott in honor of his late mother. Back row, left to right: Sam Gillespie ’17, Rachel Coley ’17, Lily Gardner ’17, Veronica McGurrin ’17, Matt McDermott, Eliza McDermott ’17, Erin Buckley ’17, Meghan Vanstry ’17, Fr. Michael Carter ’12. Front row, left to right: Chris O’Brien ’17, Jill Kahn ’17, Colleen Carter ’02, Becky Clark ’17, Ben Lambert ’17.

C NNECTI NS MATTER.

SMC students want career advice.

Will Y U help?

2014

NICK LEMON, South Burlington, VT, was promoted in February to collaboration specialist, a new position in the Information Services Department at UVM’s Larner College of Medicine.

2017

CAROLINE SMITH, Medford, MA, graduated magna cum laude from New England Law in May 2022, was sworn in to the Massachusetts Bar in November and has begun practicing as an associate attorney at McGregor Legere & Stevens, PC, in Boston. The firm has been practicing environmental and land use law for over 45 years. See photo page 60.

2020

DEANA DIBENEDETTO, Hannacroix, NY, had a great

final year at Albany Law School. “I am ecstatic to share that my Note, ‘Splits in Decision-Making,’ has officially been published with Albany Law Review,” she wrote recently. In the fall of 2022, she and a teammate won the Karen C. McGovern Senior Prize Trials Competition, and in addition, Deana won the award for best oral advocate. This spring, she was honored to receive the Capital Region Italian American Bar Association scholarship.

2021

MARLON HYDE , Loganville, GA, has departed Vermont Public after two years and joined NPR and PBS affiliate WABE News in the Metro Atlanta area as their new business reporter.

2022

JANE LEYS is among the first Peace Corps volunteers to return overseas since March 2020. She is currently serving as an agricultural volunteer in Guatemala. Leys, who graduated with a degree in environmental science, said, “I hope to grow my world view and understanding of people whose life is vastly different from my own upbringing in New England.”

Saint Michael’s College takes pride in its alumni and joyfully shares the news of their lives and achievements. All announcements are included and published in the magazine unless the content of the message promotes hate or violence. Publishing these alumni messages does not reflect any endorsements or positions taken by the College.

Ben Davis ’18 and Chandler Wilder ’18 were married in May 2022. “We’re expecting our first baby boy this summer,” said Chandler, “and can’t wait to bring him to St. Mike’s!”

In Memoriam

1949

EDWARD G. BERNARD, Roswell, GA, died September 29, 2022, at age 100. Ed was a World War II veteran and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 as a seaman second class. Later, he became a quartermaster on an English Landing Craft Tank Rocket 373 ship. He helped launch the largest amphibious invasion in history on June 6, 1944, which began the liberation of France and laid the foundation of the Allied victory on the Western front. Upon his return to the U.S., Ed received his bachelor’s degree from Saint Michael’s, and achieved First Chair of the Burlington Military Band. He moved to Lima, Peru, to study ethnology at the National University of San Marcos, where he received a second bachelor’s degree in humanities. While in Peru, he became a teacher and school principal. He later returned to the U.S. to earn his doctorate and acquire a Master of Arts degree in Spanish from the University of Arizona. He was fluent in English, Spanish, and French. In 1959, while in Cusco, he met Gloria Matilde Galimberti, an accomplished nurse and obstetrician. Ed and Gloria were married for 60 years before her passing in 2020. They shared four children, eight grandchildren, one greatgrandchild, and extended family.

1950

CONRAD BERGERON , Williston, VT, died February 24, 2023, nine months short

of his 100th birthday. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II as a bilingual artillery instructor for French airmen. Upon completion of his military service, Conrad returned to Vermont and obtained his undergraduate degree at Saint Michael’s. He married Marie Anne Dufresne in 1951 and together they raised four daughters. Conrad was employed at Burlington International Airport as a customer service agent for USAir for 30 years. In retirement, Conrad and Marie Anne spent winters in Florida and enjoyed family and friends in Vermont before her passing in 2004. Conrad is survived by four daughters, eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and extended family.

JAMES M. CONBOY, Colonie, NY, died March 1, 2023. Born in Cohoes, NY, Jim played tackle on the Saint Michael’s College varsity football team. Jim entered law school after completing his tour of duty with the U.S. Army in Korea, graduating in 1955. Jim crafted a prestigious legal career as a respected trial lawyer. He met the love of his life, nurse Jeanne Vaill, on a blind date in 1952. They had a 65-year devoted and loving marriage before she passed in 2021. They enjoyed skiing, vacations on Lake George and Cape Cod, outings at the Saratoga racetrack, golf, and many celebrations with family and friends. Jim is survived by five children, nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and extended family.

1951

L. PAUL BOUCHARD, St. Albans, VT, died April 19, 2023. Paul served in the Navy during WWII in the Sea of Japan aboard two minesweeper ships, the USS Tumult and the USS Signet. After Saint Michael’s, he attended Boston College Law School until 1953, when he married his longtime sweetheart, Irene Goldsbury. In 1954, Paul began a long career in education, first at Milton High School, then at Bellows Free Academy (BFA), teaching English and U.S. history and starting the boys’ track team. Upon his retirement from BFA after 22 years, Paul embarked on a 25-year career with the Immigration and Naturalization Service as an inspector at every Vermont port of entry. Paul was a member of the VFW, American Legion, and Knights of Columbus, and sang in the choir at his church. Paul is survived by his wife Irene, three children, three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and extended family. He was predeceased by a son.

ROBERT A. GELINAS, South Hadley, MA, died November 10, 2022. After Saint Michael’s, he graduated from Boston University School of Law. Bob joined the U.S. Navy in 1953 and attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. In 1954, he married Judith Ann Marcure, and the next day they drove to Jacksonville, FL, for his next assignment at the Naval Air Intelligence School. He was a veteran of the Korean War and

served in the Navy until 1957, when he returned to Massachusetts to begin his life’s work as an attorney, holding high-ranking positions in the legal field at state and federal levels. He continued to practice and mentor colleagues well into his 80s. He is survived by his wife Judith; brother Richard ’57; four children, including sons William ’78 and John ’80; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and extended family.

THOMAS C. REAVEY, Enfield, CT, died January 23, 2023. Tom received a B.S. in chemistry at Saint Michael’s and received a fellowship for the doctoral program in chemistry from Middlebury but left midway through the program when he was drafted into the Korean War. After his U.S. Army service, Tom earned a master’s degree in chemistry from Purdue University. He married Elaine Gobbi in April 1963, and they raised four children together. Tom was a charter employee of the Environmental Protection Agency. Over a 24-year career, he focused on public health regulations, air quality, radiation emissions, and emergency response plans. He loved sitting on the terrace at his family’s farm in Southern Vermont with a martini in his hand, looking out over the apple trees and surrounded by family and friends. He was predeceased by his wife Elaine, and is survived by four children, five granddaughters, and extended family.

1953

REV. JOSEPH A. LIVELY, Rutland, VT, died December 7, 2022. He attended Saint John Seminary in Brighton, MA, as he studied for the priesthood. He was ordained in 1957 at the Cathedral in Burlington and was assigned to parishes throughout Vermont over 45 years. One of his proudest accomplishments was his involvement in the establishment of Good Shepherd Catholic School in Saint Johnsbury. In retirement, Fr. Joe loved his “camp” in Peacham, VT, and enjoyed filling in for his brother priests when they needed to be away for the weekend. He also enjoyed hosting several pilgrimages to Europe and the Holy Land. He was predeceased by most of his family but is survived by several nieces and nephews.

1954

ANDREW FISHER, Saint Johnsbury, VT, died October 27, 2022. At Saint Michael’s, Andrew received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology and history. He taught social studies at Concord (VT) High School for 32 years, bringing history to life in the classroom. He had a love for learning and trying new things, and a great zest for life. He was a self-taught military historian, craftsman, ship builder, conservationist, hunter, angler, and amateur meteorologist. He was a storyteller and a walking example of making your own dreams come true. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Clara, and is survived by two brothers, including Paul Fisher ’59; four children; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and extended family.

EDWARD J. HETTINGER, Marblehead, MA, died January 12, 2023. After graduating from Saint Michael’s, Ed entered the U.S. Air Force in 1955 and began a career that spanned almost 30 years. He held staff and command positions across the country and around the world. He did two tours of duty in Vietnam and received many awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star. Upon his Air Force retirement, Ed returned with his wife and family to Marblehead and began a second career at Dynamics Research Corporation, from which he retired in 1997. According to his daughter Elizabeth, Ed “really knew how much his life was enriched by attending Saint Michael’s, and he was forever thankful for the education and guidance he received there.” Ed was predeceased by his beloved wife, Irene, and is survived by three children, five grandchildren, and extended family.

1955

GERARD A. SMITH, Williamsburg, VA, died November 24, 2022. Gerry graduated from Saint Michael’s with a degree in business administration, was a star pitcher on the baseball team, participated in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), and later served on the Saint Michael’s Board of Trustees. In 1955, Gerry received a commission in the U.S. Air Force and continued serving in the Reserves through the rank of captain. Gerry joined the Raytheon Company in 1957, holding positions of increasing responsibility over a stellar 36-year career, including as a major contributor to the success of the Patriot missile program during the Gulf War. He is survived by his wife of

almost 66 years, Anna Louise, five children, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and extended family.

1956

FRANK KEANE , Auburn, AL, died November 27, 2022. Born in Manchester, NH, Frank served as an officer in the U.S. Navy, where he met his wife of 62 years. He had a long career as a marketing manager at Ethan Allen, in both the Northeast and the Southeast United States. He is survived by his wife Johnnie, three children, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and extended family.

ALFRED SCAIA , Southbury, CT, died November 16, 2022. He earned a degree in mathematics at Saint Michael’s, then joined IBM where he had a very successful 35-year career, holding several national and international positions. Upon his retirement from IBM, he formed a management consulting firm, developing long-range plans for corporations and educational institutions. He was very dedicated to Saint Michael’s and served on the Alumni Board of Directors and as its president in 1969, was a member of the Board of Trustees when the College voted to become a coed institution, was named Alumnus of the Year in 1970, and served for many years on the Board of Trustees for Saint Anne’s Shrine. He is survived by his wife Nancy, three daughters, four grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and extended family.

1957

RONALD M. BERARDINO, Southbury, CT, died November 24, 2022. After graduation,

Ron served in the U.S. Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserves as a second lieutenant. He had a successful career as a stockbroker in New York City. He and his wife Jane met in Burlington, VT, where she was born and raised. They were both avid golfers and active members of their Garden City, NY, community, patrons of the arts and musical theater. Ron and Jane established the Berardino & Viau Family Scholarship at Saint Michael’s for first-generation college students from Vermont. They will be missed for their reliability, kindness, strength, humor, appreciation for life, and generosity. Ron was predeceased by his wife and his brother Joseph Berardino ’43. He is survived by his and Jane’s three children, including daughter Diane Baker ’84; four grandchildren; and extended family, including Michael Berardino ’73, Daniel Baker ’84, Joanne Polanshek M’95, and Natalie Handy ’13.

ROBERT E. DRISCOLL , Mendham, NJ, died December 17, 2022. After graduating from Saint Michael’s, Bob worked for Western Electric, which led to time working on the space program, and eventually to Bell Labs in New Jersey. In 1957 he met and married Carroll Fitz Gibbon and raised seven children. He was involved in coaching and supporting them in all their endeavors. Bob was predeceased by his daughter Kathleen. He is survived by his wife Carroll, six children, 12 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and extended family.

1959

JOHN E. DURKIN , Boylston, MA, died February 2, 2023. A proud U.S. Navy sailor during

the Korean War, John was honorably discharged. At Saint Michael’s, he captained the golf team. His career began as a bank examiner in Worcester, and he then moved on to the Internal Revenue Service, where he worked for over 30 years, retiring in 1994. John enjoyed traveling with his wife, spending time in Florida and Falmouth, MA. He was a dedicated father and grandfather and took great pleasure in attending family events. He was predeceased by his infant son. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joann, four children, six grandchildren, and extended family.

RICHARD G. FANELLI, Madison, CT, died February 2, 2023. Dick was born in Mount Vernon, NY, and grew up in Yorktown Heights. After earning a degree in chemistry from Saint Michael’s, he married Sheila Noonan in 1960. In 1968, he earned an MBA from the University of Connecticut. Dick enjoyed a prosperous and rewarding 36-year career at EnthoneOMI, where he worked his way up from sales engineer to president and CEO. Dick enjoyed having his family near him in Connecticut and enjoyed winters in Florida. He is survived by his wife Sheila, his brother John Fanelli ’63, three children, six grandchildren, and extended family.

PETER L. JACOB, Vero Beach, FL, died January 23, 2023. Born in South Burlington, VT, Peter served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was enrolled at Saint Michael’s when he met the love of his life, Vilma Camardella, whom he later married. He was owner of Janes and Jacob Real Estate for more than 40 years. Upon retirement, Peter and Vilma transitioned to Vero Beach,

FL. Peter led a life of service, volunteering and serving at local, state, and regional levels. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Vilma. He is survived by five children, 10 grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, and extended family.

JAMES L. KINNESTON , South Burlington, VT, died January 9, 2023. Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and served as a proud naval air cadet from 1950 to 1953. Following his service, he enrolled at Saint Michael’s, graduating with a B.A. in English. While at St. Mike’s, he met the love of his life, Marie Fish, and they married in 1958. Jim enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a financial planner. He was an avid outdoorsman with an amazing sense of humor, a quick wit, and a natural ability to connect with others. Jim was predeceased by his wife Marie and his sister Louise. He is survived by four children; 12 grandchildren; two siblings, Don ’59 and Joanne; and extended family.

RAYMOND H. KLOTZ , East Islip, NY, died on January 23, 2020, the College recently learned. No further information available.

DAVID J. MRACEK , Lutz, FL, died October 30, 2022. Born in Elizabeth, NJ, Dave accepted a basketball scholarship to Saint Michael’s, where he became a member of the storied 1957–58 “Iron Knights” team, which reached the NCAA national championship game, and in 2017, Dave was inducted into the Saint Michael’s Athletic Hall of Fame as part of that famed team. It was also in Burlington that Dave met Martha, his loving wife of 40 years. They raised five children together in Hudson Falls, NY. Dave was a devoted high school

history teacher at Argyle High School and was twice voted teacher of the year. He was also a great father, always present at his kids’ sporting events. After retiring from teaching, he and Martha moved to Venice, FL. After Martha passed, Dave met his second wife, Liz McFarland, with whom he enjoyed 20 wonderful years going on cruises, gardening, and traveling. He is survived by his wife Liz, five children, two grandchildren, and extended family.

RALPH O. ST. PETER, JR., St. Albans, VT, died April 1, 2023. Born in Burlington, VT, Ralph was a star basketball and baseball player in his youth, and as a Saint Michael’s student, he was a member of the famed “Iron Knights” team that played its way to the national championship with just five players. As a member of that legendary team, Ralph was inducted into the Saint Michael’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. In 1968, Ralph married Carol Calcagni, and together they welcomed five children. He spent a majority of his career at General Electric and took early retirement. Well-known for his humor and generosity, he had a special way of noticing people and taking time to get to know them. People knew he truly cared about them—whether through their conversations or by the nicknames he gave them. To know Ralph was to know a true friend. He is survived by his wife Carol, five children, nine grandchildren, and extended family, including Heidi Ludewig St. Peter ’96, director of the Purposeful Learning Program at Saint Michael’s.

1960

JOHN E. “JIM” BROWNE , Clarendon, VT, died April 26, 2023. Born in Jersey City, NJ,

Jim served in the Navy after high school from 1951 to 1955, working as a pipe fitter and playing basketball. Thanks to his athletic prowess, he was recruited to play basketball at Saint Michael’s, where he became one of the greatest guards in school history. As a sophomore, he was a member of the famous 1957–58 “Iron Knights” national finalist team. Jim scored 40 points in his final home game to secure a 99–95 win over St. Anselm in the 1958 N.E. title game. After graduating with a degree in English, Jim became a high school teacher, coach, and drivers’ education instructor and operated Browne’s Driving School for many years. Jim was a devoted and fun-loving dad to his six children and served as a father figure to many of his students and the basketball players he coached. He was predeceased by the mother of his children, Karol Browne. He is survived by his wife and best friend of nearly 37 years, Jane Sarno; six children, including Kerry Browne ’90; a grandson; three step-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; and extended family.

JOHN A. “JACK”

CHATOWSKI, Santa Monica, CA, died November 16, 2022. Raised in East Hartford, CT, Jack attended graduate school at the University of Chicago, where he met Kay Liddon. They married in Santa Monica, CA, in 1965 after Jack was discharged from the U.S. Army. From 1965 until his retirement, Jack worked in government security in the aerospace industry, including for McDonnell Douglas, TRW, and Lockheed Martin. He enjoyed travel, hiking, camping, classical music, wine, and gourmet in-home dinners with family and friends. Jack worked to promote environmental causes and charities.

Jack is survived by his wife Kay, a son and daughter-inlaw, two granddaughters, and extended family.

PETER N. CORODIMAS, Morrisonville, NY, died November 20, 2022. Born in Plattsburgh, NY, Pete received a degree in English literature from Saint Michael’s, a master’s degree from John Carroll University, and a Ph.D. in American literature from The Ohio State University. Pete’s longing for the North Country trout streams led to his return to Plattsburgh with his family and a position in the English Department at SUNY. Throughout the years, Pete was a prolific writer and published several of his short stories in academic journals and periodicals. A short story published in the New Yorker magazine was among his most notable; he jokingly stated that at a dollar a word, he hoped there would be minimal editing. Pete is survived by his five children, seven grandchildren, extended family, and dear friends.

JOHN D. “JACK”

DONOHUE , West Orange, NJ, died March 13, 2023. Born in Newark, NJ, he was raised with a strong work ethic and had a generous nature. After graduating from Saint Michael’s, he joined Catholic Relief Services and headed to Korea where he met his beautiful wife, Namhee. An incredibly successful businessman, he traveled the world with Namhee, but he was always happiest returning to his hometown and lifelong friends. Jack loved spending time with family, especially winning tennis tournaments with his beloved doubles partner. He also enjoyed biking, hiking, and talking about the stock market with his three grandsons. Jack is survived by his wife Namhee,

two children, three grandchildren, and extended family.

THOMAS F. RYAN , Champaign, IL, died December 13, 2022. Born in Pittsfield, MA, he served in the U.S. Army after Saint Michael’s. In 1974, he married LaMae Wachholz. Tom was the retired owner of Adecco Employment Agency in Champaign, IL. He is survived by his wife LaMae and a son.

1961

COL. EDWARD F. ANIBAL, JR., Fort Worth, TX, died February 26, 2023. Born in Schenectady, NY, Ed graduated from Saint Michael’s with a degree in chemistry/biology and earned a master of science degree in management from the University of Arkansas. In 1962, Ed married his high school sweetheart, MaryElizabeth “MaryE” Vavasour. He was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force in 1962 through Officer Training School and served for 24 years, stationed throughout Europe and the United States. During his distinguished years of service, Ed was awarded numerous medals for heroism, meritorious service, and excellence. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, four children, eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and extended family.

ROBERT C. BENASHSKI, Portland, CT, died November 6, 2022. Bob earned a degree in biochemistry from Saint Michael’s and began his career as an industrial hygienist engineer with the State of New York Health Department. Later, he returned to Connecticut and took a job with Travelers Insurance, where he remained for over 30 years until his retirement. He was an avid New York Giants and UConn Huskies women’s

basketball fan. Bob is survived by his wife Barbara; his four children; eight grandchildren who always wanted him to wiggle his ears; one great-grandchild; and extended family.

RICHARD M. CASEY, Green Valley, AZ, died on April 13, 2023. Born in Montpelier, VT, Dick joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve immediately upon graduation from Saint Michael’s and served for 28 years of active duty, including a post at the U.S. Air Force Academy as an instructor in the English Department, and later as a defense intelligence specialist in Saigon, Vietnam; Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines; Alconbury Air Force Base in England; Saarbrucken Air Force Base in Germany; and at the Pentagon. He retired in 1989 with the rank of lieutenant colonel and continued to serve as a defense intelligence specialist at the Pentagon as a civilian, retiring in 2000. He and his beloved wife Marjorie traveled the U.S. in their RV and settled in Green Valley, AZ, where he lived until his death. He was predeceased by his wife and survived by countless relatives and friends.

A. PETER DEARBORN , Brattleboro, VT, died April 12, 2023. Peter earned a degree in mathematics from Saint Michael’s shortly before he married Mary Corbeil in June 1961; they had five children. Among other endeavors, Peter worked at Peerless Insurance in Keene, NH, as the head of the data processing division when computers were still in their infancy. Beyond his work, Peter’s true passion was that of an artisan. He enjoyed woodworking, carpentry, and upholstery. Peter married his second wife, Collette Desmarais; they resided in Swanzey, NH, until her passing in 2018.

In his free time, Peter loved to water-ski and camp. Peter is survived by his former wife, Mary C. Rivers; children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family.

RICHARD A. LETENDRE , Feeding Hills, MA, died January 23, 2023. Rick earned his bachelor’s degree from Saint Michael’s, but not before he met the love of his life, Susan Eddy, at a beach party on Lake Champlain in the spring of 1961; they married in 1964. Rick spent his entire career at MassMutual, working in disability claim and management roles for over 35 years. His family and friends enjoyed summers on Cape Cod and in Narragansett, RI. For several years, he and Susan spent each March in Venice, FL. When Rick was home he enjoyed quiet days and nights reading, doing crossword puzzles, and feeding the backyard birds during winter. Rick was predeceased by his wife Susan and his granddaughter. He is survived by two daughters, a grandson, and extended family.

DR. JOHN R. REDDAN , Rochester Hills, MI, died October 27, 2022. A member of the Saint Michael’s basketball team, John earned a degree in biology and went on to earn a Ph.D. from the University of Vermont. Upon completion of his doctorate, John moved to Michigan and joined the Oakland University community as a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, where he served for 43 years. In addition to teaching, John did extensive research on cataracts, which led to over 300 publications and presentations. He chaired numerous conferences around the world. In 2005, he was inducted into the Saint Michael’s Academic Hall of Fame for his vast scholarship.

John was predeceased by his wife Carol Provost, and his brother-in-law Paul Provost ’63. He is survived by four sons, nine grandchildren, and extended family, including niece Laura Provost Martin ’88.

1962

PAUL HALEY, Colorado Springs, CO, died February 24, 2023. Born in Cambridge, MA, he earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Saint Michael’s and participated in the Air Force ROTC program. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He and his wife Michelle, whom he married in 1963, had four children. Paul was a veteran of the Vietnam War, and his 34-year military career took him and his family to locations across the U.S. and around the globe. Paul is survived by his wife Michelle, four children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

1963

DANIEL R. HURLEY, Jupiter, FL, died February 23, 2019, the College learned recently. Born in Elmont, NY, Dan received a bachelor’s degree in English at Saint Michael’s, and master’s degrees from City College of New York and William Patterson University in New Jersey. He taught English in both the Bronx and Brooklyn, NY, as well as Emerson High School in New Jersey. With his family, Dan moved to Jupiter, FL, where he taught English at Forest Hills High School. He taught there, then moved to the Jupiter High School guidance department. Dan was an avid sports fan and lifelong athlete who coached student sports throughout his academic

career. Those who knew Dan appreciated his love of storytelling; as a small child his nickname was “Say a Few Words, Dan,” and he never failed to do so. Dan was predeceased by a daughter. He is survived by his wife Andrea, a daughter Erica, son-in-law Bryan, two grandchildren, and extended family.

WILLIAM E. McMAHON , Palm Coast, FL, died November 29, 2022. Bill earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Saint Michael’s. A member of Air Force ROTC, Bill was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force in June 1964 and began pilot training. He was stationed in Tucson, AZ, where he met and married Annie Sloan. In 1966, he was ordered to Vietnam, where he was assigned to the 559th Tactical Fighter Squadron and flew the Phantom F-4. He returned home in late 1967, separating from the Air Force as a captain soon afterward. For his heroic service, Bill was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross along with several other decorations. In 1971, Bill returned to Fall River to become a high school teacher of history, anthropology, and Western political thought. He retired in 2000. He is survived by his wife Annie, three children, five grandchildren, and extended family. If you have memories of Bill to share, his family requests that you email them to McMahonMemorial@gmail.com.

WILLIAM F. THOMPSON , Fairport, NY, died October 21, 2022. Born and raised in Plainfield, NJ, Bill met Marge, the love of his life, in Vermont. Bill enjoyed a very successful career of 30 years at Eastman Kodak. Soon after his retirement, Bill acquired the Invention Company franchise for Upstate New York. For the next 10 years, Bill lent his

business experience, mentoring, and business planning expertise to entrepreneurs and inventors. Bill and Marge had a passion for skiing that they shared with their family and many friends. They threw an annual July 4 cookout and holiday hayride and dinner. Bill always said he “never had a bad day” and made life better for everyone who knew him. Bill was predeceased by his wife Marge, and is survived by two children, four grandchildren, one great-grandson, extended family, and close friends.

1964

PAUL E. PRAIRIE , Grand Isle, VT, died December 30, 2022. Born in Alburgh, VT, Paul received a degree in accounting from Saint Michael’s, then spent most of his career as a CPA in Grand Isle County. He loved to play cards and was always up for a family barbecue at the lake. Paul was predeceased by his brother Bernard Prairie ’67. He is survived by his partner Martha Bohannon and her three daughters; three siblings, including Maurice Prairie ’67; and extended family.

1965

LARRY A. BLETHEN , York, ME, died February 14, 2022. After graduating from Saint Michael’s, he received a B.S. in industrial technology from the University of Southern Maine, an MBA from New Hampshire College, and a master certificate in project management from George Washington University. Larry worked for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Department of Defense for a total of 43 years. He was married to Carole for 46 years, and together they enjoyed traveling the world

and hosting parties at their home. A passionate sports fan, Larry loved to watch the New England Patriots with his son and he played softball for the Portsmouth old-timers league. He was predeceased by his wife and two stepchildren. He is survived by two sons, a stepdaughter, extended family, and many wonderful friends.

DAVID T. POISSON , Orange Park, FL, died January 8, 2023. A longtime resident of Franklin, NH, David spent his final years in Florida. He was a lifelong educator, teaching and mentoring students throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts, while a religious Brother of the Sacred Heart. He was head of the Math Department at Franklin (MA) High School from 1968 to 1973, served as assistant principal at Winnisquam Regional High School from 1973 to 2000, and ran Community Action’s Fixit Program until his retirement in 2017. David was predeceased by his wife, Carolyn, and is survived by two children and extended family.

1966

BRUCE M. COTTON , Southington, CT, died April 9, 2023. Born in Hartford, CT, Bruce was a cum laude graduate of Saint Michael’s, and proudly served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War era. He worked as a salesman for many years, retiring in 2012. Known for his terrific sense of humor, Bruce loved to make people laugh. He also enjoyed hiking and was a huge fan of the New York Yankees and UConn basketball. Bruce is survived by his wife Leslie, two children, four granddaughters, and extended family.

JAMES R. SCHMIDT, Cherry Hills Village, CO, died March 31, 2023. Jim was raised in Locust Valley, NY. He was a kind and decent man, but most of all he was fun. He played polo, heli-skied, was an accomplished fly fisherman, and loved golf. He served his country as a captain in the U.S. Air Force and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam. He met Carol Woods après ski, and theirs was a true love story. They married and raised two children, Heidi and Erik, who were his pride and joy. Jim started his own business and expanded it to eight states; it was sold when he fell ill in 2009. His courage and good humor throughout his 14-year struggle with lung disease was an inspiration. Jim is survived by his wife; two children; four siblings, including Jack Schmidt ’68; and extended family.

KEVIN W. SULLIVAN , Dudley, MA, died March 29, 2023. After Saint Michael’s, Kevin graduated with honors from Suffolk University Law School. Throughout a distinguished career over five decades in both private practice and as a public defender, Kevin worked tirelessly to defend his clients’ rights and uphold the law. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need and was known for his compassion and empathy. He loved the outdoors and had a passion for sports, especially golf and horseback riding. He is survived by his wife Elinor, his three “bonus” children, a grandson, and extended family.

JOHN E. THEBERGE , Vienna, VA, died January 17, 2023. In his youth, John spent summers working in the textile mills of Lawrence, MA, which convinced him he needed to go to college. He found Saint Michael’s to be a great

experience and was a lifelong proponent of a liberal arts education and supporter of the College. John began law school at Georgetown University but was drafted into the Army after his first year and sent to Vietnam, where he worked in military intelligence. He finished Georgetown Law in 1972 and took a job with the Internal Revenue Service. In the early 1980s, he became a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Kutak Rock, specializing in the federal income taxation of state and local government obligations. It was there that he met Dianne Loennig Stoddard, and they married in 1993. John continued his legal career and earned a master of laws degree in taxation from Georgetown. He retired in 2016, but as a lifelong learner, he said that working had interrupted his education and enrolled in a master’s degree program at Marymount University. In 2022, he received a master of arts degree in English and humanities and was recognized as an outstanding graduate student by the faculty. John was a sports fan and was athletic as well; he ran marathons into his 60s, and loved cycling. John was a brilliant thinker, reader, storyteller, student, attorney, and gadget collector; and a part-time home architect and project maker. He is survived by his beloved wife Dianne, siblings, extended family, and wonderful friends.

1967

JAMES P. DAWSON , Elizabethtown, NY, died December 12, 2022. After graduation from Saint Michael’s, Jim attended Albany Law School, then spent four years serving as a JAG officer in the U.S. Army. Jim returned to

Essex County, NY, where he practiced law for 16 years, serving as town attorney and county attorney. In 1991, Jim was elected as Essex County judge; in 1993, he was elected to the Supreme Court. He served for 14 years as a Supreme Court judge in the 4th Judicial District. He retired from the bench in 2008. Jim received many professional accolades, including the New York State Trial Lawyers Capital District Affiliate Award for Judicial Excellence in 2008. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Nancy; two daughters; two grandchildren; and extended family.

DALE S. GAREE , San Antonio, TX, died January 19, 2023. Born in the Bronx, NY, Dale grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands. After college, Dale started his civil service career as a social worker in Chicago, IL. He returned to St. Thomas, USVI, and served as a federal probation officer, then as a mental health counselor and supervisor at the USVI Department of Health. He served as program health manager for the USVI Department of Education and was instrumental in developing its HIV/AIDS education curriculum and securing a $1 million-plus grant to support it. Dale met his wife Joy on a blind date, and they married in 1978. He loved traveling extensively, was a lifelong Yankees fan, and was committed to excellence in all that he did. He is survived by his wife, two children, two grandchildren, and extended family.

1968

CLARENCE E. “TOM”

SAWYER, JR., Cheshire, CT, died March 14, 2023. Tom received a B.A. from Saint Michael’s, where he made lifelong friends, and his J.D.

from Quinnipiac Law School. He served in the U.S. Army (1st Air Cavalry) in Vietnam, then went on to pursue a 30-year career as an attorney, successfully opening a private practice. An avid golfer, Tom greatly enjoyed trips with his close friends. He was a lifelong coin collector and passionate Red Sox fan, always rooting against the Yankees! Tom is survived by his wife of 50 years, Pamela; two daughters; two grandchildren; extended family; and many friends.

1969

THOMAS A. BOSICA , South Thomaston, ME, died November 21, 2022. He was born in Baltimore, MD, and his family later moved to Florham Park, NJ. It was there that he met his future wife, “A,” in his sophomore year in high school. After he graduated from Saint Michael’s, Tom and A were married and settled in Newfane, VT, where Tom took a job as director of personnel and public relations at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. In 1974, the family moved to Maine, where Tom worked at Penobscot Bay Medical Center in various roles over a 32-year career, eventually serving as VP of human resources. Tom enjoyed traveling to Italy, Ireland, Scotland, and England. He is survived by A, his wife of 53 years; three children, including Katie Bosica Dexter ’93; four grandchildren; and extended family including son-in-law Paul Dexter ’92.

RICHARD P. SPARKS, Hudson, MA, died December 26, 2022. Born and raised in Pittsfield, MA, Richard enlisted in the U.S. Army after Saint Michael’s, honorably serving during the Vietnam War from

JOHN J. “JACK” BERGERON, Burlington, VT, died January 29, 2023.

Born and raised in Burlington, VT, Jack gave his best, and then some, in everything he did. This was the Jack Bergeron way. At Saint Michael’s, Jack channeled his energy into athletics. He was never the biggest guy on the team, but his determination was unmatched. As college came to a close in 1970, Jack added academics to the list of things he could succeed at if he worked hard enough, and off he went to Washington, D.C., for law school at Catholic University. But not before he met Cathy, in 1969, in the trunk

1969 to 1973. He had a long and successful career working as a planning manager for several defense contracting companies. Richard had an uncanny ability to retain information and facts, which included a vast knowledge of sports. During a busy career, Richard spent his free time gardening and working together at home with his wife, Mary Lee. He always put his family first. He is survived by his wife, three children, four grandchildren, and extended family.

1970

TIMOTHY R. WING, Maineville, OH, died December 28, 2022. Born in Connecticut, Tim received a bachelor’s degree in American studies from Saint Michael’s. He then received a second bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Cincinnati. He worked as a stockbroker before founding CME Stock Options Consulting Company, which he ran for 20 years. He was a captain

of a car, on a blind date, when mutual friends snuck them into a drive-in movie.

Jack returned to Burlington as a married man and prosecutor working in the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office. After three years of trial experience, Jack decided to open a private practice.

Jack went on to co-found Bergeron Paradis & Fitzpatrick in 1989, where he spent the rest of his career, and where his law partners became lifelong friends. He explored his creative side through self-taught skills. He ran marathons, hiked, and skied throughout Europe and North America; often ran up Camel’s Hump before work on a summer morning; and, with his most enduring passion, rode his bike many thousands of miles over decades. In everything he did, Jack was good-natured, kind, and generous. He contributed freely to worthy causes and enjoyed serving

in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Janie; three children; nine grandchildren; and extended family.

1971

WILLIAM T. GAUTHIER, Hartford, CT, died November 1, 2022. Bill’s passion for history led him first to Saint Michael’s and then to the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a master’s degree in American civilization. He always questioned those in power and instilled in his family a wicked sense of humor and a penchant for challenging norms. He was deeply interested in genealogy and understanding the past through his French-Canadian ancestors. A voracious reader, he surrounded himself with books, and his collection of history and politics volumes rivaled those of libraries. He is survived by his wife Irene, two children, five grandchildren, and extended family.

on the Saint Michael’s Board of Trustees for nine years, as well as the Board of Saint Anne’s Shrine. Jack was named an Alumnus of the Year in 2015.

Jack was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2016, but never once complained; he maintained that he was “lucky in life.” He fought hard to the end. Doing things the Jack Bergeron way meant that he packed 150 years of life into his 75 years on this earth. He will always be remembered as being a good man.

Jack was predeceased by his parents, Pauline and Urban ’39 Bergeron. He is survived by his beloved wife Cathy; three children; three grandchildren; and extended family members, including his sister Jane Guyette M’96 and nephews Ben Bergeron ’99 and Matt Bergeron ’01; and countless friends.

1972

JOSEPH A. SULLIVAN , Cohoes, NY, died January 31, 2023. Born in Albany, NY, Joe received a scholarship to study business administration at Saint Michael’s, where he graduated summa cum laude. He went on to work at O’Connor Sullivan Real Estate, which started a 52-year career in the business. He won many sales, management, and sales training awards during his lengthy tenure in real estate. Joe coached Little League and Babe Ruth League baseball in Albany for many years. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Joanne; their three children; several grandchildren; and extended family.

1973

TIMOTHY J. Mc CARRON , Palmetto, FL, died September 21, 2022. Tim graduated from Saint Michael’s with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a concentration in drama and worked for a time as an

actor. No further information was available.

1975

WILLIAM F. FOLEY, JR., Yarmouth Port, MA, died March 25, 2023. After graduating from Saint Michael’s, Bill returned to Massachusetts to further his education, earning an MBA from Nichols College and a master’s degree in psychology from Assumption University. Bill had a long, successful career in the metal industry as a sales professional. Bill and his wife Virginia retired to Cape Cod in 2018, a lifelong dream for them both. Bill frequently drank his coffee at the beach and would watch the sun rise over the bay. He was a sports enthusiast, especially enjoying football and baseball. Bill is survived by his wife of 35 years; two daughters; a granddaughter; and extended family.

1976

JEFFREY L. PERILLO, Vernon, CT, died April 24, 2023. Jeff was employed by Makino in New Britain, CT. He was married to the love of his life, Blanche, for 29 years. He was a diehard New York Mets and New York Giants fan. He enjoyed being outside, caring for his perfectly manicured lawn. Jeff will be remembered for his trustworthy, honest, and caring demeanor. He is survived by his wife Blanche, two siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews, extended family, and dear friends.

LENNELLE M. TORREY, East Waterboro, ME, died November 1, 2022. Born in Newburg, NY, she grew up in Vermont. After earning a degree in education from Saint Michael’s, Lennelle married her high school sweetheart, Chuck Torrey. With their two daughters, they moved to Scarborough, ME, in 1996 and built their retirement home in Waterboro, ME, in 2020. She enjoyed spending time at the beach in the warm summer months, but her greatest joy in life was spending time with her three grandchildren. Lennelle is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, two daughters, three grandchildren, and extended family.

1978

JANE RICHARDS COLIHAN, Wilton, CT, died February 11, 2023. Jane spent her junior year at Saint Michael’s abroad in Madrid, where she developed her lifelong love for Spain, its culture, and international travel. She married Jim Colihan in 1985; they moved to Wilton, CT, in 1994, where they raised their four children. Jane’s extensive travels took

her on camel rides along the Great Wall of China, a Kenyan safari, and a hiking trek up Machu Picchu in Peru. Her fondest destination was always her beloved Spain, especially hiking along the Camino de Santiago. She was active in the local Spanish-speaking community, serving as a longtime volunteer at Caroline House in Bridgeport, helping migrant women assimilate into the community. She is survived by her husband, four children, three grandchildren, extended family, and friends.

ELISABETH M. McCAFFREY, Springfield, MA, died March 5, 2023. Born in Springfield, MA, Liz fought her way into the world, and her parents fought doctors’ suggestions to marginalize her, instead building an inclusive environment in which she would grow and thrive. Through her school years, Liz always mainstreamed, creating a learning opportunity for Liz, her educators and other classmates. Liz graduated from Saint Michael’s with a bachelor’s degree. She was a lifelong correspondent with her extended family and loyal friends, an avid movie lover, a voracious reader, and devoted to her many pets. Liz was predeceased by her parents and two brothers. She is survived by seven sisters including MaryRose McCaffrey ’80, extended family, and many friends.

TIMOTHY J. Mc EVOY, Cheshire, CT, died January 7, 2023. Born in Waterbury, CT, Tim was raised in Wolcott and Cheshire, CT. He worked for various companies in the information technology and manufacturing fields, and resided for a time in Westchester County, NY. Tim is survived by his father, two children, two siblings, and extended family.

THOMAS R. PAYNE , Portland, OR, died December 24, 2022. After Saint Michael’s, Tom received an MBA from Chapman University in California. It was in Southern California that he met the love of his life, Stephanie. Tom worked in pharmaceuticals and banking before following his passion and moving to Portland to build custom homes. Throughout his life, he developed a tight-knit group of friends who enjoyed boating, skiing, and the outdoors. A particular joy was his time spent on the Mount Hood Ski Patrol, working his way up to become director of training. He is survived by his wife Stephanie, two daughters, three granddaughters, siblings including Julia Cooper ’82, and extended family.

1980

DAVID ALFANO, Melrose, MA, died April 12, 2023. After graduating from Saint Michael’s with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, David became a master automotive technician, working for Acura of Peabody for many decades. He received multiple recognitions for his technical expertise and excellence over the years and was named Acura’s most valued automotive technician on the East Coast. He loved Cape Cod, fishing, and boating, and he traveled widely across Europe and the Caribbean. Later in life, David volunteered at My Brother’s Table, which gave him great joy and a way to give back to those less fortunate. He is survived by his daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, siblings, and extended family.

DR. EDWARD J. DEGNAN , San Antonio, TX, died December 30, 2022. After Saint Michael’s, Edward

graduated from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Maine, and Albany Medical Center Hospital OB-GYN residency program. Edward served in both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army as a dedicated flight surgeon, retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel. He enjoyed and took much pride in his 18 years of military service. Edward loved spending his time outdoors, reading, and gardening. He also enjoyed exploring Ecuador and sporting activities with his son Jean. Edward is survived by his wife Brenda, children, a grandson, and extended family.

1982

THOMAS W. “OBIE”

O’BRIEN , Springfield, MA, died January 4, 2023. Tom received a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages from Saint Michael’s and a master’s degree in administration from American International College. He also attended the University of Grenoble in France and Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee. He began his career as a French and Spanish teacher and later served as the assistant principal at the High School of Commerce. He moved on to become principal at the Edward P. Boland Elementary School in Springfield, and retired in 2018 as the senior administrator of human resources for the Springfield School Department. He enjoyed gardening, golfing, entertaining family and friends at home, and traveling to his home in Vero Beach, FL. He is survived by his beloved wife of 27 years, Cindy; siblings; nieces; nephews; and extended family.

1984

MICHAEL M. SCANLON , Lynnfield, MA, died April 18, 2023. Mike earned a B.A. in business administration and accounting from Saint Michael’s, where he met many of his best, lifelong friends and was a four-year member of the varsity soccer team, and captain as a senior. He went on to a successful career in the financial industry, including 16 years at Putnam Investments, earning an MBA at Babson College. Mike loved to ski, golf, and work out at strenuous HIIT classes. He served as an unwavering moral compass, a caretaker in every sense, and life of the party for his three children. Above all, wherever he went and whatever he did, he was happiest with his beloved wife Lenore by his side. Together, they had checked off many, but not all, of the destinations on their bucket list. Lenore and the kids plan to take him to some of those spots in the coming years. Mike is survived by his wife; three children; four siblings, including John Scanlon ’78; and extended family.

1985

PETER K. DOLAN , Carbondale, CO, died in January 2023. Peter co-captained the Saint Michael’s lacrosse team for two years in the earliest days of the program. According to co-captain and classmate Bill Dromeshauser, “Peter helped a fledgling group of young men persevere and grow into an extremely cohesive group. He worked as hard as anyone on the field, but what set him apart was his presence. He seemed more mature and driven, with better clarity on the goals ahead. He commanded great respect because he earned it. More importantly,

he was a person of high integrity, a kind person, a dear friend, and a loving husband and father.” Peter was a ski instructor, youth lacrosse coach, successful builder, and longtime volunteer with the “Big Buddies” mentoring program. Peter is survived by his wife Julie, a daughter, a son, extended family, and great friends.

1986

DR. ROBERT K. McINTYRE , Westwood, MA, died March 17, 2022. The eldest of nine children, Bob was a chemistry major who loved his time at Saint Michael’s. He graduated from Boston University Medical School in 1992 and served as captain in the Medical Corps of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. He was a primary care physician with Waltham Hospital, St. Elizabeth’s/ Caritas Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess, and Newton Wellesley Primary Care. He was a hospitalist at Cape Cod Hospital, then became chief of internal medicine for South Shore Hospital. He served as medical director for many years at the Campion Center. Bob loved traveling, reading, hockey, tennis, and golf, and had a passion for exploring the ocean. He is survived by his wife Susan, four sons, his mother, eight siblings, and extended family.

EDWARD J. RYAN, Scituate, MA, died December 29, 2022. At Saint Michael’s, Ed played rugby, did a lot of skiing, did a little studying, and established many lifelong friendships. After graduation, he lived in Chicago, then St. Louis, working in insurance while earning a J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law. He returned to Massachusetts and continued to work in the

insurance industry. Ed loved to hear great stories and loved even more to tell them. His appetite for travel was insatiable, but in the summer and early fall, Ed enjoyed staying close to home and spending as much time as he could on or near the water. He is survived by his beloved wife of 29 years, Laura; a daughter, five sisters, extended family, and dear friends.

1993

ANDREW W. STARR, Geneva, AL, died January 4, 2023. A member of the baseball team at Saint Michael’s, Andy devoted his professional life to helping animals. He worked as an emergency animal medical technician (EAMT) for the Arizona Humane Society in Phoenix, AZ, and was featured on a show called Animal Planet Heroes Phoenix. He traveled to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to rescue trapped animals. Andy battled Goodpasture syndrome for many years. The illness forced him to give up the career that he loved, but not before making a tremendous difference for animals across the country. According to Sue Duprat, legendary former assistant athletic director, coach, and dear family friend, “Andy exemplified everything that we want our Purple Knights to be.” Andy was predeceased by his father. He is survived by his wife Christene, four children, two grandchildren, his mother, three siblings, and extended family.

2002

CHRISTINA BOLDUC

CINTI, South Burlington, VT, died May 7, 2023, following

an aggressive recurrence of breast cancer. Christy’s first teaching job was at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in San Francisco, where she was a beloved teacher, coach, and role model. There she met fellow science teacher Ray Cinti; they married in 2009. After moving back to South Burlington in 2015, Christy taught at Christ the King School in Burlington. She had a special love for teaching middle school students. In 2021, Christy began pursuing a new career, this time as a nursing student. She loved the prospect of directly helping those in sickness and providing gentle care to anyone struggling with health. Christy is survived by her husband Ray, two children, two stepdaughters, her parents, brother Andrew Bolduc ’11, a sister, extended family, and dear friends.

2004

TODD D. SPELMAN, Rye, NH, died February 10, 2023. Growing up in York, ME, Todd was an all-star, multisport athlete who went on to play tennis at Saint Michael’s, graduating cum laude with a business degree. It was there that he met the love of his life, Joanna; they married a few years after graduating. They loved traveling, concerts, and the beach. They were blessed with three amazing children, and there was no greater joy for Todd than spending time with his family, whether it was playing, surfing, skiing, coaching kids’ sports, or sitting on the couch for family movie night. Todd is survived by his wife Joanna Spelman ’04, three children, parents, sister Kelly Spelman ’00, extended family, and countless friends.

CHRISTOPHER J. FLANAGAN, Madeira, OH, died April 24, 2023, at age 50 from a pulmonary embolism. Chris grew up in Colchester, VT, the eldest child of Jerry Flanagan ’71 and Judy Flanagan M’92, and hero to his younger brothers and sisters. After college, Chris met his beloved wife Danielle Momper while working within the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Portland, OR. They married in 1998 and moved to Cincinnati, OH. He was a loving and devoted father to Jack, Maggie ’26, Emma, and Molly.

Chris earned his master’s degree in education administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati.

Chris pursued his passion for education at suburban Cincinnati schools, ultimately as principal at Madeira Elementary School. Chris was passionate, creative, and willing to

2005

ROBERT R. “RYAN” CARR, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, died November 20, 2022. Ryan grew up in Stoneham, MA, and graduated from Saint Michael’s with a degree in economics. He left winters behind for Florida to pursue better health and his love of the ocean. An avid fisherman, Ryan enjoyed many a sunrise and sunset on a boat or a beach. He is survived by his parents, sisters, fiancée, extended family, and many friends.

ANDREW C. JOY, Wood Dale, IL, died October 26, 2022. At Saint Michael’s, Andy was a member of the hockey team and graduated cum laude with a degree in psychology. He played two years with a minor league hockey team before receiving a Master of Arts in mental health counseling and behavioral medicine from the Boston University School

go above and beyond for his students and school. He knew each student’s name and believed that no job was beneath him if it helped his students and colleagues.

Chris was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying camping, hiking, and his favorite Green Mountains. Growing up in Vermont, he was a lifelong Boston sports fan, cheering for the Red Sox and Patriots, win or lose. He enjoyed a great Phish concert and pint of Ben and Jerry’s.

He was an incredible storyteller, had a quick wit, and found humor and joy in any situation. His enthusiasm for life

of Medicine. Andy was a licensed clinical professional counselor and president and founder of The Mental Difference, a sports psychology training and counseling company. He served as a board member at the Richie Hockey Foundation, and as a mental skills coach with the Chicago Blackhawks. He is survived by his parents, sister, nephews, and extended family.

2006

JESSICA R. CONTOIS KRAMER, Essex Junction, VT, died February 14, 2023. After graduating from Saint Michael’s, Jessica became an outstanding science teacher and worked in the Champlain School District for 15 years. She loved working with her colleagues and students in Harbor House at the Williston Public School. Illness ended her career but not her passion

was unmatched. There was no one else like him—not only universally liked, but universally loved. He was the glue that held everyone together and the ringleader of so many shenanigans. His gravitational pull was mighty.

More than anything, though, Chris was a family man. His love for Danielle and his kids was always on display, whether through his attendance at countless sporting events, concerts, or leading them on adventures.

Chris is survived by his loving wife, four children, parents, siblings Katie and Seth Mobley, Megan ’11 and Sean Mannion ’12, Patrick ’98 and Melissa Flanagan, Michael ’01 and Bryn Flanagan, many nieces and nephews, and extended family, including a wide array of Purple Knights: uncle Bill Flanagan ’72, aunt Patricia Zachman ’76, and uncle David Carriere ’83. Chris also leaves behind countless students, neighbors, and colleagues whose lives were made better by his joyous presence.

for learning. She was able to complete her national board certification in teaching future educators of Vermont. Jessica fearlessly faced her challenges with strength, determination, and a constant smile. She is survived and tremendously missed by her parents, her beloved sons, her former husband, her sister, cherished extended family, and many friends.

FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS

PATRICIA L. CHAPLIN , St. George, VT, died February 24, 2023. Born in Williston, VT, Patty attended Williston School and CVU in Hinesburg. In 1974, Patty married the love of her life, Paul Chaplin. Patty was a wonderful teammate and dedicated member of Saint Michael’s physical plant staff for 28 years. In her spare time, Patty collected cookbooks, took ceramics classes, and knitted.

She was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. We will miss her smile and enthusiasm, which enriched our campus community. Patty is survived by her husband of 48 years, children, siblings, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and dear friends.

GEORGE R. FILLMANN , South Burlington, VT, died January 22, 2023. Born in Washington, D.C., George married the love of his life, Louise, in 1957; they moved to Vermont in 1969. George enjoyed working outside in his yard with his wife, and family vacations at the beach. He worked at Saint Michael’s for many years and was known for his ability to work circles around much younger people. He had a kind heart, wonderful sense of humor and twinkling blue eyes. He is survived by his wife Louise, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and dear friends.

ROSEMARY A. REISS, West Hartford, CT, died January 15, 2023. From her teens until her early 80s, Rosemary was a selfless caregiver with seemingly limitless energy for all the people in her life, and a generous spirit. Many cultural, educational, and social justice causes were close to her heart.

DORIS A. RAINVILLE , Burlington, VT, died April 7, 2023. Doris spent most of her childhood in Biddeford, ME, where she graduated from high school. She married Paul Rainville in 1955. She was employed by Saint Michael’s in the custodial department for most of her working years. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and spent most Tuesday nights playing bingo at Holy Cross Senior Living. Doris was predeceased by her husband and a son. She is survived by three sons, including Peter Rainville ’90; grandchildren; a great-grandson; extended family; and many friends.

JOHN T. GUTMAN , Sunapee, NH, died March 7, 2023. Born in Queens, NY, John graduated from Adelphi University with a bachelor’s degree in business and went on to graduate from the University of Vermont with an MBA. John started his professional career as the Colchester, VT, school district business manager and went on to become vice president of Saint

Rosemary earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Emmanuel College. While in college, Rosemary met her future husband and Lake Placid native Paul Reiss at a mixer at Harvard. They married in 1955 and had nine children. The family moved to New York City when Paul took job as a professor at Fordham University. Rosemary earned her master’s degree in theology from Fordham in 1966.

In 1985, the family moved to Burlington, VT, when Paul became president of

Michael’s for more than 18 years. He also served on the Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue Board of Advisors. After his tenure in higher education, John formed an insurance brokerage company and was a founder and president of Vermont School Board Insurance Trust. John retired in 2012 to dedicate more time to his numerous hobbies and interests. He was happiest in his workshop, fishing with family and friends, driving a boat, and cooking for crowds. John is survived by his beloved wife Patty; daughters Cathy Scanlon ’94 and Jennifer Main ’95; two stepsons; seven grandchildren, including Michael Phalen ’21; two greatgrandchildren; extended family; and countless friends.

DAVID M. LITCHFIELD, Colchester, VT, died March 4, 2023. Born in Lowell, MA, David spent childhood summers with his brothers and cousins on Peaks Island in Maine. In high school, he was a standout basketball player. Despite having had polio as a young boy, David never let the

Saint Michael’s College, a position he held for 11 years. Rosemary became Paul’s true professional partner as St. Mike’s “First Lady.” In 2014, Rosemary was awarded an honorary degree for her extensive volunteer work both on campus and in the larger community.

Rosemary is survived by her loving husband Paul, three daughters, six sons, 30 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, two siblings, extended family, and countless friends.

long-term effects of his illness stop him from achieving whatever he put his mind to. He married his wife Linda in 1973 in Burlington. Later, they moved to Colchester, where they raised their two sons. He enjoyed boating on Lake Champlain and looked forward to trips back to Peaks Island, where lobster bakes became a beloved tradition. He spent his career working in food service for Sodexo at Saint Michael’s and later at the University of Vermont. David was survived by his wife, his sons Mike Litchfield and his partner Tara Sherman, Mark Litchfield ’99 and his partner Jeff Morton ’06, grandchildren, two brothers, extended family, and many friends.

ANTHONY E. VALLACE , Naples, FL, died April 3, 2023. Born in Port Chester, NY, Tony was the youngest of six children. He was a proud graduate of the University of Notre Dame (Class of ’55), where he was a walk-on football player, and Fordham Law School (Class of ’58), from which he graduated with

The 1957-1958 “Iron Knights” Hall of Fame basketball team has lost three more members within the past year. Their legendary season will live on in Saint Michael’s lore. Back row, third from left, Dave Mracek ’59; second from right (next to Doc Jabobs), Jim Brown’ 60; Front row, fourth from right, Ralph St. Peter ’59

honors. He married the love of his life, Yvonne Bajada, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served in the U.S. Navy JAG Corps and was discharged with the rank of captain. Tony had a distinguished career in banking as well as real estate development and investment. He was a tireless advocate for Catholic education and served on the Saint Michael’s Board of Trustees in the 1980s and 1990s. He is survived by his wife; six children, including Anne Herlihy ’88; 26 grandchildren; extended family; and many friends.

The obituaries included here were submitted to Saint Michael’s prior to May 8, 2023. They are received from numerous sources and are accurate to the best of our knowledge. Our goal is to remember and honor our alumni and members of our campus community, each one of whom made Saint Michael’s the wonderful place that it is.

Some obituaries were edited down to fit. Full length obituaries can be found at smcvt.edu/magazine.

To be of use

BY MARGE PIERCY

The people I love the best jump into work head first without dallying in the shallows and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight. They seem to become natives of that element, the black sleek heads of seals bouncing like half-submerged balls.

I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart, who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience, who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward, who do what has to be done, again and again.

I want to be with people who submerge in the task, who go into the fields to harvest and work in a row and pass the bags along, who are not parlor generals and field deserters but move in a common rhythm when the food must come in or the fire be put out.

The work of the world is common as mud. Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust. But the thing worth doing well done has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident. Greek amphoras for wine or oil, Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums but you know they were made to be used. The pitcher cries for water to carry and a person for work that is real.

This poem appeared in Marge Piercy’s collection Circles on the Water Piercy is an American progressive activist, poet, feminist, and writer.

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