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Dooley Family
SupporTINg wmA
A Legacy of Legacies for the Dooley Family
BY SEAN VALENTINE Director of Stewardship & Donor Relations
TTalk to enough alumni about how they came to be at Wilbraham & Monson Academy and you will hear similar stories: Needed a push to excel; framework of prior school didn’t fit; wanted a smaller environment; parents thought it would be a good idea…
What is slightly less common is to hear these reasons expressed in relation to eight members of the same family in different generations. But with regard to the family of Richard “Dick” and Bernadine “Bernie” Dooley, this is exactly what happened.
In 1974, the Dooley’s son Richard “Rickie” Jr. had recently been placed into a “non-college track” at his high school because of trouble with math.
“Bernie and I were concerned about this as you might imagine,” Dick said. “We didn’t agree with the school’s action and were trying to figure out what to do.”
Vaguely aware of WMA’s existence, Bernie took it upon herself to investigate, walking into Rich Hall without an appointment and running straight into Head of School Francis M. Casey. An impromptu discussion ensued, and a few days later she, Dick and Rickie went back for a formal admission visit. “I was away on business at the time,” Dick said. “It is a great example of a wife and mother of five taking the initiative!”
Mr. Casey, who took time to chat with all prospective students, invited the trio into his office where they spoke at length regarding Rickie’s school situation and the opportunities WMA might offer. Dick said, “At the end of our conversation, Mr. Casey turned to Rickie and said, ‘If you come here and have any trouble in math, just visit my office and we’ll go through the problems together.’ We were very impressed.”
Rickie applied, was accepted and had no further trouble in math. He graduated in 1978 and attended St. Anselm College, where he decided to become a teacher.
His experience was so influential that his brothers Thomas ’78 and Charles ’86, and sister Gretchen ’80, followed him to the Academy. A third brother, Paul, was already in college.
Bernie and Dick’s appreciation for what WMA did for their children transformed into a lifetime of service to the school. In addition to becoming generous financial supporters and volunteers, Dick served on the Board of Trustees from 1977–1992 and was Chair from 1978–1988.
Sadly, Rickie passed away in 1994 in an automobile accident. The Dooleys dedicated a room in the Blake Middle School in his memory and created scholarships in his name at Cross Keys High School in Atlanta, Georgia, where Rickie had been a respected teacher at the time of his death, and at St. Anselm’s.
Fast forward to 2006, when Gretchen’s daughter Siobhan found herself in a similar situation.
“She was not on a strong college track in the public school system, much the same as Rickie,” Dick said. “Not excelling to her full potential.” Once again, Bernie thought of WMA. She, Dick and Gretchen suggested that Siobhan tour the Academy like her late uncle had.
Siobhan entered WMA in 2007. She played two varsity sports, traveled to the Amazon, and became Class President before graduating in 2009. In a case of history repeating itself, Siobhan’s experience was so positive that her brother Teddy ’11, and sisters Richelle ’12 and Tatum ’21, all became Academy graduates.
Bernie, the driving force behind the family’s WMA experience, passed away in 2016.
“She was the one who had the initial idea to explore WMA. Everything that happened after that was because of her,” Dick said.
To recognize and honor her legacy, Dick created the Richard & Bernadine Dooley Scholarship in September 2021. WMA is deeply grateful for Dick’s and Bernie’s years of support and honored to have the Dooley Scholarship as part of our financial aid program.
Creating a scholarship in honor/memory of a loved one makes a lasting impact on the future of the Academy. For more information, please contact Mark Aimone, Director of Advancement, at maimone@wma.us or 413.596.9134.
Dick and Bernie Dooley
hEAd of SchooL frANcIS m. cASEY
• Dick Dooley, left, with Head of School Francis Casey.
Rickie Dooley ’78 Tom Dooley ’78 Gretchen Perkins ’80 Charles Dooley ’86
Siobhan Davis ’09 Teddy Davis ’11 Richelle Davis ’12 Tatum Perkins ’21 • Dick Dooley and granddaughter Tatum Perkins ’21, the most recent graduate of the eight family members to attend WMA.
