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News
Sisters of Mercy - In an emotional proclamation on July 20, 2007, the newest community of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas was celebrated. The Mercy sisters and associates based in Pittsburgh, Erie, Pa.; Buffalo and Rochester, New York; and the Philippines—a community founded by the Sisters of Mercy in Buffalo—have united to form the New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Community (also known as NYPPAW). The new community will become official January 1, 2008.
Gloria Medonis Freire, PhD ’50 was recently elected president of the Board of Trustees of the Cuyahoga County Public Library System in Cleveland, Ohio. She was featured in the September 2006 issue of the National Network for Social Work Managers eNewsletter. Her Web site is www.gloriafreire.com.
Celebrating their 60th Jubilee with the Sisters of Mercy on June 9, 2007, are Sister Margaret Altmeyer, RSM ’59, Sister Marie Flaherty, RSM ’61 and Sister Arthur Tipping, RSM ’63.
Sister Mary Louise Simon, RSM ’62 celebrated her 50th Jubilee on September 8, 2007. Sr. Mary Louise is a chaplain at Pittsburgh Mercy Health System.
Judith Gallick O’Sullivan ’63 is a federal prosecutor and a mystery writer. Recent fiction includes “Suicide in Sea Isle City,” published in Deadly Ink 2006 Short Story Collection, and “Death and the Jersey Devil,” published in Deadly Ink 2007 Short Story Collection.
Sr. Geraldine Rosinski, RSM ’63 was elected by the emerging NYPPAW (New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Community) to the new leadership team on July 19, 2007, during an assembly in Buffalo, New York. She celebrated her 50th Jubilee on September 8, 2007.
Sr. Matthias Wemm, RSM ’63 was one of four Democrats vying for three open full-term seats in the spring 2007 primary. She is one of the five founding members of We the People, a Forest Hills citizens group that formed to oppose the council’s treatment of three disabled police officers who were shot in the line of duty from 2003 to 2006.
Teresa Kochmar Goodwin ’67 was appointed in August 2006 as the first president of The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Cincinnati, Ohio. Previously known as The Christ Hospital School of Nursing, a 105-year-old diploma program, Goodwin previously served as executive director.
Bernadette Haluska Lynn ’68 retired as an associate professor from McMaster University in November 2005, and is currently spending her time traveling and working with her church in Ontario, Canada. Recently returned home from a cruise around the world, she will be traveling to Europe in the fall, Egypt in January 2008, and will take a cruise to Greenland, Iceland, and points north in summer 2008.
Sister Matilda Holtz, RSM ’69 celebrated her 50th Jubilee on September 8, 2007. Sister Matilda is a retired teacher and currently works doing arts and crafts, as well as the Apostolate of Prayer ministry.
Dorothy O’Donnell Richardson ’69 was selected as the Cleveland County Department of Social Services Employee of the Year for 2006. This honor is presented for outstanding job performance and excellence in one’s profession. The recipient is chosen by a committee of peers, and is honored at a recognition dinner and award ceremony. In addition to a beautiful plaque, she received her own parking space for one year.
Barbara Simpson ’69 has established the George J. and Maryellen Hagan Simpson Memorial Scholarship at Carlow University. It is a scholarship that will be available to Carlow students who are veterans or who have a veteran in their immediate family.
Sr. Regina Adams, OSBM ’70 has been with the Community of Sisters of St. Basil for 50 years, during which time she has taught and been a principal in six states. She currently does pastoral ministry in Wilkes Barre, Pa.
Janet Belotti Puppo ’72 successfully defended her dissertation at Duquesne University to receive a PhD in theology. She previously taught at Our Lady of Sacred Heart School, and as an adjunct professor at Carlow University, Wheeling Jesuit College, and Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. She is currently searching for a new position.
Cheryl Brabender Walter ’72 is a recipient of the 2007 Carlow University Alumnae/i Service Award for Education. As a music teacher at Norwin Area High School, and the director of the Norwin Show Choir, Cheryl has guided her students to actively raise funds for the homeless and disadvantaged while bringing joy to their lives through music.
Sr. Elise Mora, O.S.F. ’73 was recognized by the National Franciscan Federation with a Peacemaker Award in July 2007 at the annual conference in Minneapolis, Minn. Sr. Elise is a bilingual educator with more than 40 years of teaching experience and working in non-traditional settings in the areas of ecology and environment. She is committed to the poor and marginalized through her involvement with social justice issues.
Celeste Calfe ’74 was awarded the outplacement contract for the Port Authority of Allegheny County.
Andrea Thomas Niapas ’75, researcher, writer, and producer, presented the debut of her docudrama, Close to Closure, the Amelia Earhart mystery, at the Atchison, Kan., Amelia Earhart Festival in July 2007. The Pittsburgh premier of the video was in Kresge Theater on September 28, 2007, during the Alumnae/i Reunion Weekend. Her next project is producing a documentary on the life and death of Dr. John Yelenic of Indiana County, which will detail the evidence police are working with, including a bloody shoe print and interviews with attorneys who handled Yelenic’s finances.
Clarification from the April 2007 Carlow Journal:Janet Davis ’76 recently retired from the U.S. Department of State, not the Virginia Department of State, after 27 years of government service. She had the privilege of serving in a number of interesting positions during her tenure with State. Her last position was director of the Office for International Law Enforcement and Counter-Narcotics Affairs. Specifically, her area of expertise was working with the governments of Ukraine, Russia, and Moldova, on anti-human trafficking and counter-narcotics efforts.
The first doctorate in judicial studies— in the nation—was awarded to the Honorable Stephanie Domitrovich ’76 from the University of Nevada, Reno, on May 19, 2006. She received the prestigious Woman of the Year Award from the Women’s Law Association of Duquesne University School of Law on April 25, 2007.
Elizabeth Strock Himes ’76 writes that she earned the MSN in nursing administration from the University of Phoenix in 2005. She recently accepted a position as executive director of Women’s Services at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, Miss.
Mary Beth Nagy Jaquay ’81, a Catholic school teacher for St. James in Wilkinsburg, in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, was honored on May 29, 2007, with the Golden Apple Award for excellence in performance, earning a prize of $5,000.
Barbara E. Kraft ’83 is a recipient of the 2007 Carlow University Alumnae/i Service Award for Education.
Mary Lynn Wagner ’83 accepted a position as a senior information technology specialist with IBM Information on Demand-Integration. She is actively involved with presenting information technology integration solutions to corporations on the east coast.
Marian Lucas Costello ’86 is the president of Costello Associates, a Pittsburgh-based health care management consulting firm specializing in physician services and hospital/ physician relations.
Carol Donnelly ’86 was selected to participate in the 11th Annual Sacred Exhibit at the Boxheart Gallery in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
Carolyn Hook Baird ’87 was installed on September 29, 2006 as the president of the International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA), and will serve from 2006–2008. She also represents IntNSA as the Organizational Affiliate to the American Nurses Association (ANA) Congress on Nursing Practice and Economics for the next four years.
Barbara Lucchino ’87 is celebrating her 20-year anniversary as a nurse working for the Pittsburgh Mercy Hospital System.
Michelle Snyder Drager ’88 is serving as an adjunct instructor at Alvernia College in Reading, Pa. She teaches Entrepreneurship, and Advertising and Promotion. Michelle is the founder and president of The Drager Group, Inc., a strategic business planning, marketing, and public relations firm that serves clients nationwide. Her husband, Jim, is also her business partner. A proud stepmother to Megan and Michael, the family competes with their three golden retrievers in AKC events.
Kimberly Coughanour-Martin ’88 was promoted from associate professor to professor of nursing at Daytona Beach Community College where she is employed as the patient simulation specialist for the Department of Nursing.
Lisa Paugh-Mathey ’88 was honored for her entry in the creative writing contest, Foster Parent Division. Her entry placed third and was publicly recognized at the Virginia Foster Parent Celebration on May 11, 2007 in Richmond, Va. She also received a framed copy of her entry from Virginia’s First Lady, Anne Holton, at the National Foster Parent Association Conference in Washington, D.C. on May 24, 2007.
Amy Blackburn ’90 collaborated with Verve Editions to publish her book, Caring for Cynthia. More information can be found at www.amyblackburnphotography.com.
Jane Dansevich ’90 was appointed to the 2007 Board of Examiners for the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award. This award is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive.
Deborah Scarpari, CPA ’91 is a tax manager with Sisterson and Co. LLP in Pittsburgh. She is treasurer of the Economics Club of Pittsburgh, and was elected secretary of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) for the 2007–2008 fiscal year.
Barry P. O’Leary ’93 was ordained on June 30, 2007 as a priest in the Pittsburgh Diocese. Father O’Leary is assigned to St. Bernard’s Parish in Mt. Lebanon, Pa.
Kerry Paustenbach ’93 announces her new Web site for her business and she is currently hiring. Visit: www.myavalla.com/us/pwp/kerry enter pass code: 3E80C700070687E6F.
Amie Downs ’94 was the speaker at the Carnegie Library in Carnegie, Pa., on May 3, 2007. The program focused on women’s history, the suffragist movement, and women in politics in Pennsylvania.
Mell Steven Cosnek ’95, a facilitator and trainer for race relations at YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh Center, was one of the speakers at the June 2007 CCAN meeting.
Terry Vella Reese ’95 was promoted to supervisor at UPMC.
Terry Dietz Polczynski ’96 is a seventh grade English and language arts teacher at Linton Middle School in Penn Hills, as a result of networking at a Carlow Career Advancement Network (CCAN) meeting.
Frank K. Ammer, PhD ’97 presented “Mountaintop Mining in the Eastern U.S.” at the September 14, 2007 conference A Celebration of the Environment: Carlow University Alumni Making a Difference. The conference was held to honor the legacy of Rachel Carson.
Katie Click Lococo ’97, a lung transplant coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, recently passed the certified clinical transplant coordinators exam.
Amy Semancik Diaz ’97 has worked for Hewlett-Packard Company for five years as a corporate sales representative, and recently relocated to Atlanta, Ga.
Darlene Wanamaker ’98 was presented with a Beacon of Hope award on March 18, 2007, at Carnegie Music Hall for “An Evening of Sugar ’n Soul” presented by the Hill House Association.
Anita Brown Levels ’99 returned to Carlow on April 22, 2007, as the featured guest singer at the Blessed concert, “Rebuild, Restore, Renew,” which was held at Rosemary Heyl Theatre.
Paula Day ’00 made a special presentation of “Earth Boxes,” a unique flower/garden box for the residents of Arch Court at a breakfast held for My Mother’s House, a project of Petra Ministries on May 19, 2007, at Arch Court on the North Side in Pittsburgh.
Kerry Daniels ’00 married Joseph Mihalik in January 2003 in Montego Bay, Jamaica; earned her MSW from the University of Pittsburgh in April 2003; and had a son, Ryan Lee Mihalik, on May 15, 2006.
Kate Guerriero ’00 is a recipient of the 2007 Carlow University Alumnae/i Service Award for a Non-Profit. Kate is a filmmaker and has her own company, Stargazer Video Productions.
Ruby Holmes ’00 is the database coordinator/development associate for the Development Department at Winchester-Thurston school in Pittsburgh.
Kathleen Ann Houk ’00 received her MSN from Clarion University of Pa., in May 2007.
Lisa Bastidas Shaner ’01 began her new career as a special education teacher for Kelly Elementary School in the Wilkinsburg School District.
Valerie D’Ottavio Stroupe ’01, who earned her doctorate from New York Chiropractic College in March 2007, has joined Cohen and Associates, a Nimmo Licensed ChiropractorSM practice, in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh.
Donna Broderick ’02 was selected to participate in the 11th Annual Sacred Exhibit at the Boxheart Gallery in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood for textile art.
Tauna Perenovich ’02, and her husband Rodney, became foster parents to Brent on June 13, 2007.
Alyson Berkshire ’03 presented “U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine” at the September 14, 2007 conference, A Celebration of the Environment: Carlow University Alumni Making a Difference. The conference was held to honor the legacy of Rachel Carson.
Keri D. Rebuck ’03 presented “The PA Woodcock Habitat Initiative in State Lands” at the September 14, 2007 conference A Celebration of the Environment: Carlow University Alumni Making a Difference. The conference was held to honor the legacy of Rachel Carson.
Linda Hammers ’04, owner of Spirited Training and Consulting in Greensburg, was a speaker at the June CCAN meeting.
Krista Johnston ’04 was hired by the Hopewell Area School District in Aliquippa, Pa., as a second grade teacher.
Rachel Molinaro ’04 presented “Influence of an Abandoned Acid Plant on Soil Microbes” at the September 14, 2007 conference, A Celebration of the Environment: Carlow University Alumni Making a Difference. The conference was held to honor the legacy of Rachel Carson.
Shannon O’Malley ’04 has launched her own business, Forward Motion Fitness. Her Web site is: www.forwardmotionfitness.net.
Mary Onufer ’04, ’06 presented “Empowering Women through Technology” at the South Hills Regional Chapter on May 10, 2007, in the home of Barbara Kraft ’83. She went on to Carlow, Ireland later in the month to present “Caught in the Current of the Technology Tidal Wave” at the first Carlow Round Table, along with other Carlow University faculty and fellow Mercy colleges and universities.
Kathryn Ritter ’05 is the new administrative assistant for Carlow University’s MBA Program.
Sarah Gable ’06 received her MSW from Ohio State University College of Social Work in Spring 2007. Aimee Milarski ’06 presented “Animal Biodiversity: The Work of Conservation” at the September 14, 2007 conference, A Celebration of the Environment: Carlow University Alumni Making a Difference. The conference was held to honor the legacy of Rachel Carson.
Ashley Stang ’06 received her MSLS from Clarion University of Pa., in Mary 2007. She is currently employed as coordinator of Media Services at Merion Mercy Academy in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
Justin Bushman ’07 landed a position at Turtle Creek Valley MH/MR Inc as a mental retardation training specialist at their Steel Valley Adult Training Facility in Homestead. He credits his fellow students and professors at Carlow for giving him the strength and encouragement to pursue his career goals. He expresses his gratitude for the education at Carlow.
Rachel Reuscher ’07 is the new human resources associate at GAI Consultants, Inc., in Orlando, Fla
Richard Wells, husband of Jane Beck Wells ’37, died on March 24, 2007.
Elizabeth Berry McDonough, sister of Mary Berry Panneton ’45, died on April 16, 2007.
Mary Miscovey, mother of Jo Ann Miscovey Williams ’58 and Mary Lou Miscovey Kavallierakis ’60, died on June 26, 2007.
Mark J. Williams, son of Jo Ann Miscovey Williams ’58, died on August 28, 2007.
Richard “Bud” O’Callaghan, brother of Sister Elenita O’Callaghan ’61, died on March 9, 2007; Mary Louise O’Callaghan Weber, sister of Sister Elenita O’Callaghan ’61, died on June 27, 2007; and Roseanne O’Callaghan Molnar, sister of Sister Elenita O’Callaghan ’61, died on August 30, 2007.
Francis Zang, husband of Mary McLean Zang ’63, died on March 16, 2007.
Mary Reutzel, mother of Eileen Reutzel Colianni ’64, died on April 23, 2007.
Helen Vojtek, mother of Bonnie Vojtek DiCarlo ’64, died on July 9, 2007.
Dorothy M. Riles, mother of Rita Kay Riles Meyer ’65, died on April 6, 2007.
Rudolph A. Spincic, brother of Sylvia Spincic Danehy ’65, died on July 2, 2007.
Connie Whalen Irwin, sister of Kathleen Whalen Elias ’69, died on May 10, 2007.
Emilia Sammartino, mother of Anita Sammartino Dacal ’69, died on April 7, 2007.
Marie Kekich, mother of Barbara Kekich, JD ’69, died on July 14, 2007.
Matthew Quay Ammon, only son of Kathleen Bollen (Ammon) Gaberson, PhD ’70, died on November 16, 2006.
Helen Samios, mother of Janine Samios Schmitz ’71 died on July 7, 2007.
Margaret McCusker, mother of Nancy McCusker Benson ’70 and Rosemary McCusker Nilles ’72, died on May 11, 2007.
Margaret Zolkoski, mother of Roberta Zolkoski ’72, Kathleen Zolkoski Bel Hamdounia ’73, Antoinette Zolkoski Jacobs ’76, Paulette Zolkoski Cowley ’77, and Joan Zolkoski Witt ’80, died on July 3, 2007.
Gerald “Jere” P. Comber, husband of Jean Ferry Comber ’73, died on July 24, 2006.
Mark Wolf, husband of Eve Binstock Wolf ’79, died on March 7, 2007.
Regina Larkin Diamond ’44, mother of Cleta M. Diamond McGervey ’79, died on July 17, 2007.
Dean Kollet, husband of Deborah Tomko Kollet ’80, died on September 21, 2006.
Tom Flynne, brother of Barbara Kraft ’83, died on May 16, 2007.
Rose DeCarolis, mother of Christine DeCarolis ’84, died on July 23, 2006.
Bill Mangan, husband of Lupe Saavedra Mangan ’85, father of Judy Mangan ’80, and Pat Mangan Suzio ’82 died on April 27, 2007.
Lester J. Cain, husband of Lois Drafts Cain ’86, died on August 17, 2006.
Antony Trippy, father of Natalie Jasper ’88, died on February 23, 2007.
Donald G. Lang, father of Lori Dobos ’96, died on April 1, 2007.
Mary Elizabeth Mahon, mother of Celine Cumming ’01 and grandmother of Erin Cumming ’02, died on March 6, 2007.
Anthony Verrico, grandfather of Michelle Ritenbaugh ’04, died on April 3, 2007.
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The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the
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