FLASH. St. Vincent s Academy WINTER 2017 THE

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1 St. Vincent s Academy FLASH THE WINTER 2017

2 St. Vincent s Academy s F L A S H WINTER 2017 A Saint Vincent s Academy Advancement & EDITOR - in this issue... 4 Letter from the Principal 5 A Day for the Memory Book 8 Sondra Jonson s Monument 10 Monument Donor List 12 Spotlight on Alumna, Mary Hill 15 Girlhood Embroidery 18 Athletic Highlights 20 Blast Off 21 An Unwelcome Guest 22 Lovelight Donors 24 Susie Snooper 30 The Little Snoop 2

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4 and heartache, as well as in times of happiness and success, and rebuild. In this moment, I was so aware of how God is in control. As always, I believe that our faith must be greater than our fear. I looked to Colossians 3:15: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. There was a sense of strength and peace. I arrived at my father-in-law s farm in Millen, Georgia on Thursday evening. He graciously welcomed so many of us that needed refuge from the storm. Almost two dozen family and friends from Savannah gathered to wait out the storm. Serendipitously, two of the guests were St. Vincent s students; one a freshmen and one a senior. I can only imagine being stranded with my high school principal! As we sat glued to the Weather Channel for two days, I noticed something sweet and quite wonderful. The two SVA girls stayed connected to their friends, so worried about their families and their well-being. It was about something greater than themselves and their concern and compassion was real. Early Saturday morning during the height of the storm, I stayed awake and prayed the rosary. After the worst of the storm had passed the two SVA girls couldn t get to their phones fast enough to check on their sisters from SVA. For my entire life, I have lived on a school calendar. If you are a teacher, a student, or a staff member in a school, you distributed, Christmas break, the beloved MLK holiday during the bleak month of January, and the blessed events of the last day of school and graduation. Summer vacation is just long enough to refresh your spirit and make you yearn for the comfort of school life and routine once again. School=comfort, stability, growth, change. School life is home for my soul. St. Vincent s Academy has been home to generations of young women since its inception 172 years ago. What a blessing it is to have a home that feeds your mind, body, and spirit. As we went about our business in early October, organizing our annual Pink Night to support women affected by Breast Cancer and planning diligently for our fundraiser, the Tour of Homes that supports the restoration and preservation of our historic convent, our school calendar was about to be disrupted. Hurricane Matthew was on the horizon and waiting to wreak havoc on our beautiful city. The night of Wednesday October 5th, the decision was made to call school off for the remainder of the week. The uncertainty of the days ahead sent us, as a school community, to the familiar place we know to go-- to God through prayer. We prayed for calm during the storm and safety for our homes, families, and our city. As I prepared my family to evacuate, among my prized possessions, I packed a beautiful Mercy cross that was given to me seven years ago when I began my tenure as principal of St. Vincent s Academy. This cross served as a reminder of the deep roots we have as a faith community and the support network that we have that encompasses alumnae, past parents, students, current parents, faculty, staff, and the Sisters 4of Mercy. I knew leaving my house that no matter what was to happen, our faith and school community would rise up after the storm, come together as we always do in times of trouble As the reports started pouring in about damage to homes, businesses, parks and roads, the most logical question was, What about school? The s began pouring in to me from students and their families asking about the school. Every ended the same, How can I help? or What can I do for SVA? Thankfully the fortress that has stood loyal, staunch, and true since 1845 sustained minimal damage. Cell phone coverage was spotty for me in Millen. So on Sunday October 9th, I walked to the barn, stood at the highest point and ed all parents and faculty/staff telling them that school would be closed for the following week. Families were still evacuated and at the time speculation was that Savannah would not be letting people back in to the city until Wednesday. On Monday, I left in the wee hours of the morning and headed down I-16 back to Savannah. First stop: St. Vincent s Academy. Our collective, academic, and spiritual home at 207 East Liberty served as the stable, constant, welcoming place in the weeks to come for so many of our students, faculty, and staff that had their homes damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Matthew. It was such a joy to come back together on Monday, October 17th as a family. Students, faculty, and staff assembled to do what we do in all things, at all times-- PRAY. We thanked God for his protection and asked for strength in the wake of the storm as so many needed of believers, St. Vincent s Academy weathered yet another storm. As the school calendar marches on, will always be remembered as the year that Hurricane Matthew cancelled Pink Night and the Tour of Homes, but it will also be remembered as the year that we refocused our eyes on God and His almighty power. Mary Anne Hogan, Principal, St. Vincent s Academy

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6 Loretto Dressel Lominack 64 The day I pictured for the dedication of the Mercy Monument did not look like the right one when I peered out the window into the early morning haze. It was terribly gray and gloomy, not to mention a mist was swirling in the air. What? Surely it is not going to rain on our outside dedication for the monument! Well then, we will just have the dedication inside the Cathedral and it will be beautiful. Don t myself. I was not going to let some rain dampen my spirits on this special day to honor our Sisters of Mercy! The Mass, celebrated by Bishop Hartmayer, was absolutely lovely. The students assigned to read at the Mass were perfect, the choir could not have been in better voice. Fr. Dan Firmin s homily was truly special and on target for the occasion. Of course, I kept running in and out of the church checking on the rain, but the Lord came through and not one chair in front of the Cathedral had a single raindrop on it. Perfect. the bagpipes played, the temperature was lovely and there was a mild breeze. It was what my mother would have called a soft day. Everyone was in a good mood and excited that our ceive long overdue recognition for the many good and brave deeds they have performed for the Church and the entire community of Savannah. Bishop Hartmayer gave a perfect talk regarding the Sisters of Mercy and there were several other addresses that made for a very meaningful day. Our Sisters, sitting in front row seats, could not have looked more delighted. Following the Bishop s talk, the crowd of approximately 500

7 processed to the veiled monument on the corner. Sr. Helen Marie Buttimer of St. Vincent s, Sr.Lillian Quadrella of St. Joseph s/candler and Sr. Johanna MaGuire representing St. Mary s Home, unveiled the monument and the reaction was one of excitement and pure joy. The celebration continued with everyone attending a fantastic luncheon, provided by St. Joseph s/candler, at Walsh Hall. The students in the SVA Honor Society served and were charming. As bad as the day looked in the early morning hours, it could not have been more perfect. If you have not seen the monument, the following words are inscribed on the granite: Thank you to the dedicated committee members for the monument: Avis Coleman, Sr. Helen Marie Buttimer, RSM (consulting), Rosemary Lewis, Loretto Lominack (Chair), Pat McCarthy, Henry Morgan, Nancy Schreck, Celeste Shearouse, Jimmy Ray, Sr. Jude Walsh, RSM (consulting) and Bernadette Winters.

8 from the Sculptor, Sondra L. Jonson Every artist knows that we do our best work when the subject is personal to us. In 1999 when I was invited to design a sculpture of Venerable Catherine McAuley for Mercy High School in Omaha, I jumped at the opportunity. Although I knew little of Catherine herself, the Sisters of Mercy had long been highly regarded in my Jewish family. My paternal grandfather had escaped from Russia as a teenager, had studied medicine in Philadelphia and come to Omaha to develop his medical career. In Omaha, along with a private practice in Pathology and teaching at Creighton University, he served as Chief of Pathology for the Sisters of Mercy Hospital across the river in Council Bluffs, IA. His high respect for the quality of the sisters care and dedication was legendary in our family. I felt my family owed a lot to the Sisters of Mercy, and creating this sculpture for Mercy High would be my way of showing our appreciation. title: Guiding Grace. Catherine, in her love for Jesus and His children, brings a wealth of graces to share with the young girls in her charge. The student standing at her side is open to the wisdom, knowledge and spirituality that Catherine offers. I had several models for the original sculpture. The face of Catherine was modeled from an oil painting that hangs in Mercy High School in Omaha. The Omaha sisters provided me with the full habit and veil which I studied displayed on a mannequin in my studio. A local high school student from my town modeled for the teenager in the sculpture. Throughout the six month sculpting process, I explored the history of Catherine and the Mercy Sisters. The more I read about them, the more they became my heroes. I was 8 sisters who in 1864 traveled up the Missouri River to the frontier town of Omaha, Nebraska They and the many young women who joined them brought the community education, health care, food for the poor, and shelter for the homeless. In short, they brought Christ. Since my original sculpture of Ven. Catherine McAuley and the student was unveiled in September of 2000, four identical castings have been placed in the United States: Mercy High and Mercy Academy in Louisville, KY; Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC; and Mercy High in Farmingdale HIlls, MI. However the sculpture for St. Vincent s is unique and separate from the original limited edition because of alterations I made to match the St. Vincent uniform and the addition of the St. Vincent s seal on the student s sweater. It was November of 2014, when Loretto Lominack of St. Vincent s Academy in Savannah called me with interest in St. Vincent s acquiring the sculpture. I was very excited both at the prospect of working with the local Mercy community, and the prospect of placing a sculpture in the beautiful city of Savannah. On a college visit to SCAD with one of my children, I had fallen in love with this exquisite city the architecture and iron grill work, the parks and squares, and the exotic oaks with their hanging moss. It would be an honor for any artist to place an artwork in such an environment. As a convert to Catholicism, I welcomed the opportunity to place a monument that proclaims the never-ending love of Jesus brought by the Mercy Sisters to Savannah and Sisters themselves, who chose God s Mercy Endures Forever, as the title of their monument.

9 In addition, Savannah is the home of one of mother s nearest cousins, Thelma Hoffman and her husband, Dr. Frank Hoffman. Already having family in Savannah made the project even dearer to me. The Hoffmans themselves have made great contributions to the Savannah community through Dr. Hoffman s medical practice. However, it was Loretto s energetic determination and arduous work over the next 18 months that paved the way for the sculpture to come to St. Vincent s. The school and the community are tremendously blessed to have Loretto on their team! A focal point of the Mercy sculpture is the large book held in the student s hands. The mystery is: what is the book? Is it the Bible or the catechism? Is it a book of history, philosophy or mathematics? Is it a book of questions, or a book of answers? Or could it be the Book of Life? Perhaps it is symbolic of Catherine and of every Mercy Sister whose life is an open book revealed by the Gospel. It may even be a symbol of the student, whose life is a book just being written. I try to create art that allows the viewer to enter in and make his or her own personal connection. So it is with the book that Catherine and the student are discussing. The book is a question that viewers can answer for themselves, thus becoming part of the sacred conversation between the teacher and the student. Sealed in bronze, the conversation continues. The Year of Mercy has concluded but the work of Mercy never ends. Inscribed on the pages of the book are Mother Catherine McAuley s full name and dates (1778 to 1841), and on the facing page her own prayer, proclaimed for all of us to follow: My God I am yours for time and eternity! 9

10 Catholic Diocese of Savannah Mr. & Mrs. John M. Coleman Anonymous Anonymous Knights of Columbus Council #631 Dr. Cristina M. Negrea Mrs. Maria Aliotta Oxnard 79 Mrs. JoAnne Roukos Remler 53 Mrs. Patricia McGrath Sevier 51 Miss Janet Spillane 44 St. Patrick s Day Parade Committee St. Vincent s Academy Alumnae Association Mr. & Mrs. Don L. Waters Mrs. Barbara Saseen White 45 Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. C. Ross Bickers Most Rev. J. Kevin Boland, Bishop Emeritus Ms. Mary Anne Butler 64 Mrs. Stephanie Stevens Cates 76 Mr. & Mrs. Mario de la Guardia Mr. D. Morgan Derst Dr. Eduard Docu Ms. Mary L. Hill 65 Dr. & Mrs. Michael J. Jackson Mrs. Mary Whalen Janda 87 Mr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Kender Knights of Columbus #173 Mr. & Mrs. Walter N. Lewis Lominack Kolman Smith Architects M. J. Hogan & Company, Inc Mr. & Mrs. Michael T. McCarthy Miss Ann Pinckney 76 Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Raley, Jr. Mrs. Ellen May Roach 64 Rev. Msgr. Christopher J. Schreck Miss Nancy M. Schreck 71 Mrs. Patricia Barragan Schreck 46 Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Shearouse The Catholic War Veterans, Inc. Mrs. Pat Whalen 60 Mrs. Julia M. Whelan Wolverton & Associates, Inc. 10 Dr. Colm J. Acuff & Ms. Lydia Alba American Craftsman Renovations Mrs. Catherine Munn Banks 67 Mr. Frank Barragan, Jr. Mrs. Mary Frew Barragan 79 Mrs. Claire Peterson Barsic 82 Mrs. Judith Barsic Mrs. Helen Courtenay Beasley 80 Mrs. Elizabeth Bradley Beeson 70 Mrs. Patricia T. Bishop Blessed Sacrament Church Mr. Daniel Bradley Mrs. Janina Wysocki Brauer 62 Mrs. Regina Pelli Brennan 65 Mrs. Mary Jane Furlong Brewer 52 Col. & Mrs. John D. Broderick Mrs. Penny Enzor Burgess 80 Dr. Kathleen M. Burke 71 Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas J. Burke Mr. Anthony J. Buttimer Mrs. Beth Iocovozzi Buttimer 80 Mrs. Anne Brady Byerly 74 Mr. & Mrs. Frank N. Cannella Mrs. Ofelia Del Rio Chiavacci 77 Mrs. Betty Ann Flynn Ciucevich 61 Class of 1976 Mrs. Barbara Lutz Collins 71 Colonial Couriers of Savannah, Inc. Mrs. Rose Mary Carter Cone 71 Mr. & Mrs. Hurley S. Cook III Mr. & Mrs. William C. Coonce Mr. Dennis M. Counihan Mrs. Lisa Harrison Counihan 75 Mr. Gregory N. Crawford Mr. & Mrs. Lee K. Cummings Mrs. Sandra Shea Davis 76 Mrs. Sheila Grady Dean 53 Mrs. Virginia Buttimer Dickey 79 Mrs. Rae Forker Evans 66 Mrs. Amanda Mizelle Fanning 00 Mrs. Linda Parsons Ferrell 64 Mrs. Elizabeth Lee Fogarty 89 Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Ms. Alicia Gallagher 74 Ms. Margaret Rose Ganem 65 Mrs. Faith Dean Gilroy 51 Mrs. Barbara Cook Goodwin 57 Ms. Apryl Greco 02 Dr. & Mrs. Jack W. Groover, Jr. Ms. Kay Stephens Halligan 65 Mrs. Molly O Hayer Hammond 88 Mrs. Lucy Distefano Haviland 57 Mrs. Kathleen Brown Higgs 75 Mrs. Shirley Stephens Hobe 71 Mrs. Margaret Powers Holland 71 Mrs. Megan Mamalakis Hollis 02 Dr. Eleanor Jean Long Janufka Ms. Joanne Jenkins 67 Ms. Mary Ann Kelly 42 Mrs. Mildred G. Kelly Knights of Columbus Council Dr. & Mrs. Gerald E. Kramer DDS Mrs. Susan Spillane Lai 73 Ms. Mary Ellen Leonard 63 Mr. & Mrs. Bob Letcher Mrs. Rosemary Lynch Lewis 69 Mrs. Martin Neca Logan 57 Mrs. Loretto Dressel Lominack 64 Mrs. Mary Jo Harte Long 47 Mr. & Mrs. Richard G. Long Mrs. Carolyn Eady Mason 56 Mr. David W. Mason Ms. Cynthia May 86 Mr. & Mrs. Kyle L. McCann Mr. & Mrs. Tim McGrath Ms. Josie Murphy 79 Miss Kelin Eileen Murphy 04 Mrs. Barbara Nowak Sr. Pauline Oetgen CSJ 46 Mr. & Mrs. Gary L. Ogden 71 Dr. & Mrs. C. L. Osteen Mrs. Catherine Stapleton Pharo 63 Mrs. Martha White Pounder 50 Mr. & Mrs. Wright C. Powers Mr. & Mrs. Neil G. Russell Mrs. Phyllis Wrenn Sackariasen 82 Mrs. Catherine Melroy Sale 61 Mrs. Kathy Daly Salter 73 Ms. Diana Scarwid 73 Rev. J. Gerard Schreck Mrs. Antonette Hill Schweitzer 66 Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Seyle Mr. Allen Shensky Mrs. Lynn O Hayer Sims 81 Mrs. Sarah Cannon Sink 92 Mrs. Helene Balcom Small 63 Rev. Joseph Smith Mrs. Sandra Saseen Smith 73 Mrs. Marilyn H. Spillane Mrs. Matilda Laird Stacy 46 Mrs. Sharon Sullivan Stewart 69 Mrs. Carol Lowenthal Stone 81 Mrs. Jennifer Strickland 83 Mrs. Agnes Furlong Swinson 46 Mrs. Claire Moore Tackett 70 Mrs. Rosemary Stapleton Taylor 65 The Chatham Foundation Dean s Discretionary Fund, St. Paul the Apostle Mrs. Jeanne Stringer Trapani 56 Mrs. Fran Ryan Tuttle 71 Mr. & Mrs. Richard N. Tuttle Mr. & Mrs. Albert Vierheilig Mrs. Lynn Ciucevich Wade 71 Mr. & Mrs. W. R. Walker Mr. Wiley A. Wasden Mrs. Ruth Burke Wellington 53 Ms. Sara K. Welsh 72 Mrs. Paula Gomez Williamson 82

11 Rev. & Mrs. William Willoughby III Mrs. Linda Dugger Wise 59 Mrs. Connell Cannon Youmans 96 Mrs. Molly McNamara Adams 91 Mrs. Diane Deloach Andrews 62 Mrs. Maureen Whelan Bailey 84 Ms. Lucy Dulohery Behr 58 Mrs. Patricia Mickler Billings 51 Ms. Lisa Michelle Russell Bills 84 Mrs. Julie Hernandez Blair 60 Mrs. Menzanna C. Blakley Mrs. Marie Muller Bresciani 69 Mrs. Carmella Pedicini Brown 71 Mrs. Susan Pelli Brown 75 Mr. & Mrs. William Bruggeman Ms. Margaret Burnett 42 Mrs. Helen Johnson Carlton 58 Mr. & Mrs. Fred E. Catchings Mrs. Kathleen Geelan Clark 54 Mrs. Barbara Barras Colson 52 Miss Marjory Conners 69 Mr. & Mrs. Peter Connolly Mr. & Mrs. Robert Connor Mrs. Catherine Fleming Cooper 65 Mrs. Patricia Lang Corcoran 67 Miss Krysanthe Dawes 96 Mrs. Catherine C. Dickey Mrs. Marie Ryan Dillon 54 Ms. Judith R. Downing 57 Mrs. Maureen Murphy Dustin 80 Mrs. Jane Feiler Mrs. Donna Dillon Forbes 71 Mrs. Marsha White Free 82 Mrs. Clare Dulohery Frew 55 Ms. Pat Gallagher 73 Miss Evelyn Ann Ganem 71 Mr. & Mrs. Edward G. GaNun Mrs. Mary Buttimer Garrett 81 Mrs. Nancy Harris Gayhardt 57 Mrs. Erin McGinn Gibbs 77 Mr. Thomas A. Hansen Mrs. Penelope Dawes Hanson 04 Mrs. Pam Pedicini Harris 63 Mrs. Martha A Hejka Mrs. Mary Pelli Horton 70 Mrs. Colleen Rovolis Humphries 79 Mrs. Feona Manees Johnson 62 Mr. Lester Johnson III Mrs. Mola Chu Jung 56 Mrs. Barbara Dlugozima King 63 Mrs. Shirley Lynch Kinlaw 65 Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Mrs. Carol Joe Brooks Lewis 71 Mrs. Katherine Roach Looper 64 Mrs. Carol Baran Massey 63 Mrs. Elizabeth Burn McCarthy 53 Mrs. Beth Fogarty McIntosh 71 Mrs. Patricia Dwyer McKenna 60 Miss Barbara McLaughlin 68 Mrs. Phyllis Saraf McShane 47 Mrs. Judith Jurgensen Melroy 63 Mrs. Carol Miles Mrs. Rosemary Ware Morris 83 Mrs. Suzanne Brown Moseley 00 Mrs. Mary Ellen Whelan Mulligan 75 Mrs. Joanne McDonough Nellums 57 Mrs. Elizabeth Tootle New 77 Sr. Pauline V. O Brien Mrs. Carole Balcom Pappas 58 Mrs. Nancy Miller Pearce 64 Mrs. Linda Ambrose Peebles 66 Mrs. Agnes Flaherty Pinckney 63 Mrs. Therese Powers 73 Mrs. Kathleen Filson Prince 82 Mr. & Mrs. Leon E. Proper Mr. & Mrs. Robert S. Reisert Mrs. Julie Pelli Rodewolt 73 Mrs. Angie Moore Romagosa 68 Mrs. Stephanie Summerlin Ross 82 Mrs. Jacqueline Sauls Royal 70 Mrs. Antionette Mathews Ryan 61 Mrs. Mary McDonald Ryan 52 Mrs. Eileen Hubbard Sanford 63 Mr. & Mrs. David Harnett Mrs. Elizabeth Aliotta Shay 74 Mrs. Virginia Brennan Snedeker 71 Mrs. Mary Cecile Price Stanley 81 Ms. Margaret M. Stapleton 61 Mrs. Patricia Osbourne Stewart 66 Ms. Mercedes Sullivan 52 Mrs. Eileen Eason Tillman 60 Mrs. Mary F. Todesca Mrs. Camille Pratt Tomat 46 Mrs. Rebecca Zittrauer Valentine 70 Dr. & Mrs. Irving Victor Mrs. Pamela Brannen Wagner 68 Mr. Adam Walker Mrs. Joanne Marano Weathers 65 Mrs. Teah Stillings Weiss 86 Miss Kelly Ann Williams 06 Mrs. Lori A. Williams Mrs. Patricia Williams Mrs. Andrea Kelleher Withers 62 Mrs. Lauren Templeton Zeigler 02 Mrs. Mary Hoffman Zeigler 75 Mrs. Joan Buchheit Altmeyer 80 Mrs. Ginger Ansel Mrs. Susan Barrett Mrs. Kathleen C. Filson Mrs. Alesia W. Harriott Ms. Shari Deborah Matz 84 Sr. Amata May, R.S.M. 48 Mr. Aaron Mowery Mrs. Patricia Conneff Picciarelli 80 Mr. & Mrs. David F. Sipple, Jr. Mrs. Donna Anderson Smith 82 Mrs. Helen Casey Sumowski 54 Mrs. Bernadette McDonough Winters 64 Ms. Martha McCarthy Wood 70 Ms. Mary L. Hill 65 for Sr. Jude Walsh Mrs. Kathleen Brown Higgs 75 for Esther Ryan Brown Mr. David W. Mason for Lorraine Mason, St. Joe Nursing Class of 1945 Mr. D. Morgan Derst for Mckenzie & Morgan Derst M. J. Hogan & Company, Inc for Sr. Alvin Seubott and Sr. Johanna Maguire Ms. Pat Gallagher 73 for Sr. Jogues Smith, R. S. M. Mrs. Loretto Dressel Lominack 64 for Sr. Jude Walsh Ms. Mary L. Hill 65 for Sr. M. Fidelis Barragan Mrs. Mary Frew Barragan 79 for Sr. M. Fidelis Barragan, Sr. M. Cornile Dulohery, Sr. M. Immaculata Dulohery Loretto Dressel Lominack 64 for Sr. Gloria McNally Mr. & Mrs. Neil G. Russell for Christopher & Gertrude Russell Mrs. Julie Hernandez Blair 60 for Mary Roughen Mr. & Mrs. Fred E. Catchings for Mary Roughen Mrs. Mola Chu Jung 56 for Mary Roughen Mrs. Bernadette McDonough Winters 64 for Mary Roughen Mrs. Agnes Furlong Swinson 46 for Theresa F. McCarthy 46 Mrs. Patricia T. Bishop for Cassie Tanner Mrs. Mary Jane Furlong Brewer 52 for Joseph & Josephine Furlong Colonial Couriers of Savannah, Inc. for Loreta S. Forbes-Felix and Sheila P. Cobb Mr. & Mrs. C. Ross Bickers for Elizabeth Barragan Bickers and Sr. M. Fidelis Barragan Mrs. Patricia Barragan Schreck 46 for Sr. Fidelis Barragan Miss Nancy M. Schreck 71 for Sr. M. Fidelis Barragan, Sr. Christina Marie Daily and Mother Jane Francis Burke Mrs. Elizabeth Bradley Beeson 70 for Sr. M. Kieran Davis R.S.M. 43 Ms. Mary Anne Butler 64 for Sr. Regina Joseph McCormick & Sr. Imelda Cannon Mr. & Mrs. Michael T. McCarthy for Sr. Kieran Davis, R.S.M. Mr. Lester Johnson III for The Johnson Girls: Joyce J. Hardwick, Lisa T. Webb, Leslie M.Johnson St. Joseph s/candler Hospital System Patrick McCarthy & Rabey Electric James A. Ray 11

12 spotlight on alumna 65 Loretto Dressel Lominack 64

13 When accepting a position as Independent Living Coordinator with the Department of Family & Children s Services (DFCS) in 1988, I never considered how special it was going to be to renew a wonderful friendship with Mary Hill, who was in the class a year behind me at St. Vincent s. Also, I had no idea how much this amazing woman would teach me about social work, but, after all, that was her job as the Staff Development and Training Coordinator for the agency. After St. Vincent s, we went our separate ways. I would head for Maryland and receive my degree in Speech Pathology from Mount St. Agnes and Mary would study at Armstrong College, graduate from Brenau College with a BA in Psychology and Sociology and from the University of Georgia, where she received her MSW (Masters of Social Work) in Before returning to Savannah, Mary worked at Georgia Regional Hospital in Augusta and Georgia Retardation Center in Athens. We would run into one another around town, but I never realized what an impact she would have on my life in years to come. Always active and involved beyond what she was required to do in her position, she consistently made herself available to give advice and to council workers, especially newcomers, who might seem slightly overwhelmed with the problems, the numbers of cases and the severity of some cases, with which they were dealing. Praise was a major tool used by this consummate social worker to get the best out of people and to make them want to do their best for others. If she saw a better method of doing something, she always made a positive suggestion for improvement and praised the efforts that were being made on behalf of the clients. It is impossible to count the times I heard her say, You are doing such wonderful things for these children. Mary was always looking for the good within people and most of the time she found it; sometimes she dug in and brought it forth. Her encouragement and empathy helped create fertile ground for goodness to grow. Workshops were a major concern to Mary, since she wanted everyone in the agency to have the latest information about what was going on in the world of social work, but there were many worlds of social work within the agency. She had to be aware of current developments in so many areas, not only local, but statewide and she had to keep everyone up to date on policies and procedures. The agency was multi-faceted with the following departments: Child Protective Services (Intake & Assessment, Foster Care, Independent Living, Adoptions), Adult Pro- ments (Welfare, Food Stamps, Non-Emergency Transportation, Emergency Assistance). Added to all of the above, there was the very involved informational training for foster parents. Being a good parent is one thing; being a good foster parent is an entirely different ballgame. Because there was so much needed in the way of training and for years there was no budget, Mary became the master of creativity. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Byrd Cookies were on her list of goodies to sell to raise funds. Mary and a group of employees spearheaded the use of parking lots was not allowed to sell spaces, they simply asked if people would like to give donations. It turned out to be fabulous. were very generous! Monies were raised for much-needed staff development and Mary and her crew had a great time in the process. From there, Mary just kept on going. She appealed to various organizations, such as the Junior League (where she was Vice-President), the National Association of Social Workers, Chatham County, the City of Savannah and others. She was able to convey the importance of training those involved in social work in the most recent developments in Mary eventually had nationally recognized names in social opment and conferences. Mary was a bridge builder and some conferences also included mental health agencies, hospitals, police and attorneys. Eventually, everyone would see the critical need for training for all working in the many then, Mary was imaginative in searching for and developing resources. Not only did she contract with various experts to facilitate workshops, she was also a presenter at monthly staff trainings and orientations for the new kids on the block whenever new staff joined the agency, and she supervised and guided graduate social work students. The training Mary did was not cookie-cutter training, but was carefully and three downtown buildings. Involved beyond what one might think necessary, Mary belonged to many working boards that were both work-related and community-related. At the UGA School of Social 13 Work, she was instrumental in establishing the Tisha Abolt

14 (SVA 93) Memorial Fund, which is now an endowed scholarship for a graduate student to study for an MSW at UGA. Mary held getting things done. When she was president of the Georgia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the Georgia Legislature passed the bill requiring a Georgia license for MSW s and for Clinical Social Workers. Also, when Mary was Chair of the Community Advisory Council, the Savannah State University Department of Social Work became nationally accredited for both the MSW and BSW programs. Under Mary s guidance as Program Committee Chair for the Georgia County Welfare Association, over 25 workshops were planned and over 1,200 attended. At one of those workshops, Mary forgot to arrange one slight detail someone to sing the Star Spangled Banner. Not a problem, Mary stepped up to the mic and did a great rendition. Thank goodness she has a lovely voice! Perhaps during the Christmas season, you have donated to the Empty Stocking Fund. That was another one of Mary s babies. For 22 years she was the Editor of the Empty Stocking Fund and shared the stories with us, helping families in need and giving Christmas joy. Also of great interest to her was the sonnel Policy Manual for Greenbriar. Of course, some good things come to an end and in 2004 and after 33 years with the State of Georgia, Mary retired. One loss can be a gain for other places. Do not think for one second that Mary has let grass grow under her feet. That would not happen unless she was unable to move. Mary immediately became a more than welcome volunteer at St. Vincent s. Mary has worked diligently to beautify our gardens since 2005 a monumental task. Because of this, in 2007, she graduated from the Master Gardner Program of Georgia. She chaired the Tour & Tea in 2010 and 2011 and has been on the planning committee from 2005 to the present. Mary is the chair of the 1845 Foundation, the preservation and restoration of the Convent of St. Vincent de Paul. From 2011 through 2013, Mary formed the SVA Student Safety Council and served as its advisor. She was a charter member of the St. Vincent s Alumnae Chorus ( ), and in 1986 she was on the planning committee for the Building Fund Campaign under Sr. Jude. By the way, whenever I need talents. It would be remiss of me not to mention the beautiful Day, Thanksgiving and Easter. She has also worked tirelessly at the Catholic Cemetery to landscape the area in the Holy Cross 14 section where the Sisters of Mercy, who have passed away since 1989, 9, are buried. To say that Mary is involved in her church would be an understatement of major proportions. For many years, she was an active member and leader at the Christ Church on Johnson Square but moved to St. Thomas Episcopal on Isle of Hope, closer to where she lives, and St. Thomas was fortunate to have Mary come through the doors! Of course, she is a member of the Flower Guild, has been publicity chair and chaired the Christian Life Education Conference. These days, Mary also is a vocalist for a St. Thomas choral group called the Screaming Hamsters (ya gotta love the name), that sings at two nursing homes per month. Her other choral group is Savannah Beer & Hymns (another great name), a group that sings hymns at several interesting venues around town. Some of the awards Mary has received are: Social Worker of the Year, Southeast GA, 1982 Social Worker of the Year, Georgia Chapter, 1986 Community Service Award, School of Humanities, Savannah State University, 1989 & 1999 Distinguished Service Award, SAFE Kids of Savannah Coalition Alumna of the Year, School of Social Work University of Georgia, 1989 and 99 Sr. Mary Jude Walsh, RSM Award, St. Vincent s Academy, 2007 It amazes me that one person can do so much, but Mary is a giver. She is kind-hearted, generous in every way and never meets a stranger. Mary, educated in grammar school and high school by the Sisters of Mercy, lives the Mercy Values of collaboration, compassion and service, concern for women and women s issues and spiritual growth and development. In short, Mary Hill is a true Mercy Girl and we are so proud of her!

15 Girlhood Embroidery of St. Vincent s Academy Loretto Dressel Lominack 64 On Friday, October 21, 2016, St. Vincent s Convent welcomed Ms. Kathleen Staples and a group of guests from the Textile Society of America for a break-out seminar as part of an international convention being held in Savannah. It was my privilege to show this esteemed group of scholars our beautiful Convent of St. Vincent de Paul and share its history with them. It also was a pleasure to hear Kathleen Staples discuss four needleworks created here at St. Vincent s in the 1800s. Kathleen Staples is an independent scholar from Greenville, SC and specializes in the social and cultural history of Britain and the Americas as expressed through textiles and related craft. She has written, lectured, and consulted for exhibitions on topics such as weaving and needlework in pre-contact Peru and colonial Spain, embroidery in Stuart England, girlhood samplers in America; clothing traditions of free and enslaved women in colonial South Carolina, and dress in colonial America. Her work has appeared in the Journal of Early Southern Decorative Arts and Antiques Magazine. She also co-authored, with Madelyn Shaw, Clothing through American History: the British Colonial Era. Her latest book is a fascinating look at embroidery in Georgia in the 17th and 18th centuries. The book is entitled, Georgia s Girlhood Embroidery: Crowned with Glory and Immortality. Ms. Staples visited the South Central Region archives of the Sisters of Mercy in Belmont, NC. There she meticulously researched ledgers and other records that were sent from St. Vincent s archives by Sr. Jude Walsh. She gleaned an incredible amount of information by picking up on minute details that those not trained in this type of research would never notice. By examining the payment and tuition ledgers, she could see which families were paying for extras for their daughters such as music lessons, sewing, needlework and embroidery. Supplies for handwork were expensive. Some families from humble backgrounds struggled to provide these learning tools for their daughters so However, people of means expected their daughters to have certain skills to enable them to participate in polite society. Mary Teresa Kerley, age 9, produced these words on an embroidered sampler in 1852: Hymn to the Blessed Virgin As the dewy shades of even Gather o er the balmy air Listen gentle Queen of Heaven Listen to my vesper prayer Holy Mother near me hover Thy wings of mercy cover Keep from sin thy helpless child Thine own sinless heart was broken Sorrow s sword had pierced the core Holy Mother by that token Now thy pity I implore. Queen of heaven guard and guide me Save my soul from dark despair In thy tender bosom hide me Take me mother to thy care.

16 The following is an excerpt from Georgia s Girlhood Embroidery: Crowned with Glory and Immortality: Mary Kerley s father, Nicolas, came to the United States in 1828 as one of the hundreds of Irish immigrants who poured into New York after the conclusion of the War of A son, Michael, was born there in 1831 (the mother s name is unknown) and Nicholas was a naturalized citizen in 1833 at the Marine court in New York City. He gave his occupation as house carpenter. Greater economic opportunities must have lured Nicholas south; in about 1840 he left one urban area for another, resettling with Michael in Savannah. Unlike Georgia s Scots Irish, who came from an Ulster Presbyterian background and had established themselves before the 1820s as property owners, the Irish Catholics who arrived in the antebellum era were attracted by construction projects, including canals and railways. Many of them joined the menial labor force in Savannah, making do in the neighborhoods of cramped quarters that skirted the city. Nicholas met and married Bridget Dunn in Savannah in The two may have lived in the same neighborhood or they might have encountered each other at the Church of St. John the Baptist, Savannah s only Catholic church. Their daughter, Mary Theresa, was born about Lawsuits in which Nicholas was the plaintiff for the collection of money suggest that he was actively practicing a trade in the 1840s. One of his clients was St. Vincent s Academy, and he was intermittingly in its employ as a carpenter from 1845 through Tax records suggest that the Kerley family lived in rented quarters until ily was living in Currytown, the southwestern most section of Savannah, in an improvement - likely a small dwelling that Nicholas might have D. W. Dillon. The family s neighbors, living in the surrounding wooden tenements and boarding houses, were free and enslaved workers as well as foreigners and citizens. In October 1849, Mary Teresa Kerley was enrolled as a day student at tuition. Mary s commute, undoubtedly on foot, was several miles each made regular tuition payments from January 1850 through the end of December In February of 1852, at the age of nine, Mary completed a sampler, the subject of which was a Hymn to the Blessed Virgin. This devotional had been published in the United States Catholic Magazine and Monthly Review in She surrounded the hymn s four verses and personal inscription her name, age, school, and date of completion - with col- from a printed source Although Mary continued to attend St. Vincent s Academy, her enrollment during the following three years was erratic: one or two terms in 1853, three terms in 1854, and one term is In 1854, Bridget music lessons from Miss McNulty. The beginning of this change coincides with Nicholas s absence in the academy s expenditure ledger, all In the summer and fall of 1854, Savannah experienced the second of three major yellow fever epidemics that broke out during the nineteenth century. A hemorrhagic virus carried by the female of a mosquito species native to Africa, yellow fever thrived in the climate of southern states, and those who worked outside were especially at risk during epidemics. In Savannah, poor sanitation and crowded conditions impeded recovery among the working poor. Nicholas Kerley was one of the 1,040 inhabitants who succumbed to the disease at the end of September; he was buried in Savannah s Catholic Cemetery.

17 Ms. Staples goes on to inform us that Bridget was named executrix of the estate on which there were outstanding debts which required her to appear in court many times. Eventually, Bridget was forced to throw herself upon the mercy of the court, as she was unable to settle the debts, but Bridget managed to live out her remaining days in the Curreytown home, that she still possessed, but in 1861, Bridget died of jaundice and was also buried in the Catholic Cemetery. What happened to Mary is unknown. She was no longer in St. Vincent s Academy records after Strangely, her name does not appear in any census records after Her sampler was a gift to St. Vincent s Academy, but there are not details of it recorded. It is amazing the wonderful pieces of history we have surrounding us at St. Vincent s Academy! The Editor sincerely apologizes for the following mistakes: A student was mistakenly Taylor on the Senior Awards pages in the last edition of The Flash. IN REMEMBRANCE IN GRATITUDE Kate graduated in 2016 and, out of 93 students, received the Special Services Award. We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to Kate Taylor 16 and congratulate her for this prestigious award! Our wonderful friend, Bobby Chu, was mistakenly than her brother. The Annual Fund gift from Cathy Kenney Holmes 68 was in memory of her mother, Betty Holland Kenney 45. Regina Winters 93 donated to the Clara Russo Scholarship in the names of her nieces: Katie Winters, Emma Winters, Grace Winters, Clara Bayman, and Caroline Winters.. A gift also was given to the Clara Russo Scholarship by Natalie Walker Deriso

18 ST. VINCENT S ACADEMY SAINTS A T H L E T I C S Dawn Odom, Athletic Director Region 2AA Runner up 2AA Actress of the Year, Jennie Lawson 2AA All Star Cast, Jennie Lawson, Madison Myrick, Ellie Lehto 18

19 2016 Area 2AA Champions, 7th year in a row 2016 AA State Champions 2016 State AA Coach of the Year, Katie Broderick 2016 State AA Player of the Year, Sarah Stewart Sarah Stewart Grace Friday Dylan Herb 2016 AA All State Team: Sarah Stewart, Grace Friday, Mackenzie O Hayer, Dylan Herb 2016 Area Player of the Year, Dylan Herb 2016 All Area Team 2 AA: Sarah Stewart, Grace Friday, Mackenzie O Hayer Mackenzie O Hayer Coach Broderick Go Team!! Sarah Stewart, Mercer University 19 Volleyball/Academic Scholarship

20 Donna Antonucci, SVA Natural Science Instructor In September, I received an invitation presenting me with the chance to attend both a NASA launch of the NOAA GOES-R satellite and a CIMSS (Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies) workshop. It was an opportunity of a lifetime to be part of an Atlas V rocket launch and Cape Canaveral countdown! Little did I know that this was going to be a or, with storms intervening and technical launch issues literally, changing the launch date 3 times, with actual liftoff at the very last minute of the window on November 18, 6:42PM. But oh, what a site- a nighttime launch! The GOES-R is a Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R series that will stand sentinel 22,000 miles above the Earth s Western Hemisphere aiming 6 new sensors that bring visual and infrared imagery, lightning mapping, solar imaging, and space weather data to NOAA. This improved data will be used for climatic studies, thun- detection, navigation, and netic storm forecasting. All this data will provide advanced detection to aid in public safety and better weather forecasting. Since this is a NOAA satellite, all the data is available for use in the classroom and for Citizen Science projects. I couldn t be more excited to implement the various tools on the website for the CIMSS Proving Ground

21 A Most Unwelcome Guest Yes, Hurricane Matthew has come and gone; well gone, but he left unpleasant remnants of his presence that we all see frequently. I am overwhelmed with sadness when walking my dog in Colonial Cemetery; the loss of trees is heartbreaking. We will remember and talk about Matthew for years to come somewhat like General Sherman, another guest not warmly welcomed to Savannah, but I think Sherman may have left less damage behind than Matthew. That last sentence may be up for debate. Glued to our television sets, we watched this giant of a storm as it clobbered Cuba, decimated Haiti and attacked the Bahamas. The folks at the weather channel, more excited than I had seen them since Sandy, licked their chops and quickly dispersed their reporters into harm s way and we just couldn t get enough of it as we switched channels back and forth. However, we would not do much channel-switching for long, as most of us who stayed would lose power. I wish I had a switch to the on position and felt like an idiot. By the time thing call television just like a kid once again. Before evacuations were ordered, Are you staying or going? was the question du jour, as we referred back to the televisions for the latest zig to the west or zag to the east. Matthew was a peculiar storm and unpredictable, to say the least. Many of us were depending on the South Atlantic Bight, that part of the east coastline that curves to the west and forms what looks like a large open bay just east of us in the Atlantic. Numerous weather experts feel that this coastal phenomenon keeps us from being in the direct path of many hurricanes that travel on to hit places like North Carolina and South Carolina. For this reason, it is thought, Georgia does not attract as many direct hits. Another thing in our favor is we have fewer miles of coastline than our neighboring states of Florida and South Carolina. However, if our vulnerability were to be rated by Las Vegas oddsmakers, they might say we are long overdue for a direct hit. Certainly, many of you feel as though you got a direct hit with the tremendous amount of property damage you incurred but, as we know, it cial U.S. landfall on October 8th southeast of McClellanville, South Carolina, as a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds (Tybee recorded 96 mph). Speaking of our area, Fort Pulaski set a new record tide level of an 8 foot storm surge, beating the old record set by Hurricane David in Since my block on Liberty Street is over 37 feet in elevation, we are connected to buildings on both sides and have no large trees close that might fall on us, we decided to stay. I have always said that I draw the line (staying or evacuating) at 100 mph. Well, it was a tough decision this time, but we, Loretto Dressel Lominack 64 along with many of our neighbors downtown stayed and, not evacuating. A dear friend called me stupid because she loves me and I appreciate that. If you look at the history of hurricanes that have made landfall along the Georgia coast during the 1900s, you might ask, Why all the worry? only 3 hit during that century. However, take a look at the previous century. No one is alive the 1890s alone; a total of 12 blasted our city during all of them all was the one in 1893 that became known as the Sea Island Hurricane. The people of Savannah and its islands battened down the hatches and prepared as best they could, but the storm proved to be too much, especially for those on the islands. As the winds accelerated, it moved beyond the eye passed over Tybee, a 20 foot storm surge gathered followed by waves of 20 to 25 feet on top of it. Because most houses, particularly on Tybee, had been so weakened, the best chance of survival was, for those capable, to climb the tallest trees and tie themselves into them; they would wait and pray that they would be above water and not blown away. All land east of the Wilmington River was under water. When the storm passed over South Carolina and out to the Atlantic, more than 2,000 people were dead, many of them washed out to sea. As we all know now, the real horror show with Matthew was in Savannah s lovely island communities that were hit so badly. Downed trees fell on homes, ancient live oaks were made life miserable. It was sad to see such devastation, but help was waiting-out the storm just outside of Savannah. Trucks from various electric companies all over Georgia and other states were anxious to get into Savannah and surrounding communities to deal with dangerous downed power lines and restore power. Other companies were arriving to help clear the trees so that folks could move around. All over Savannah people took to the streets and helped others. They grabbed chain saws to remove trees and cleaned up their neighborhoods as best they could. It was heartwarming to see so many doing all they could to help in the removal of debris. The good came out in people and God bless them. Next time is what I have heard from so many people. We can hope and pray that there is not a next time, but let s face it, we do have a history with hurricanes. A good thing to do is have a plan, but until next time, we will remember Matthew.

22 St. Vincent s Academy LOVELIGHT CHRISTMAS TREE LISTING Mrs. Marian Peterson Adams 54 Mrs. Susan Waters Adcox 79 Mrs. Mary McCarthy Aliotta 52 Ms. Carole Anthony 64 Mrs. Leonie Delorme Atherton 85 Mrs. Cecelia Persse Auble 76 Mrs. Janet Parr Barry 56 Mrs. Helen Courtenay Beasley 80 Mrs. Laurie Dowell Bell 73 Mrs. Theresa Porzio Blume 83 Mrs. Brennan Kennedy Bowen 03 Mrs. Marie Muller Bresciani 69 Mrs. Mary Jane Furlong Brewer 52 Ms. Kathleen Kenney Brown 67 Mrs. Jackie Register Brown 64 Mrs. Janie Lyons Bunger 73 Mr. Mark L. Burns Mrs. Betty Arceneaux Burnsed 49 Sr. Helen Marie Buttimer, R.S.M. 56 Mrs. Loretto Powers Buttimer 60 Mrs. Angie Dotson Cail 80 Mrs. Elizabeth Stanford Caplis 65 Mrs. Beth Stafford Carter 64 Sr. Paula Cockerham, R.S.M. Mrs. Barbara Barras Colson 52 Mr. & Mrs. Robert Cowart Miss Maria Danello 02 Ms. Beverly W. Davis Mr. & Mrs. Benoit DeBry Mrs. Margaret Mary Cox DeLorme 53 Mrs. Natalie Walker Deriso 66 Mrs. Marie Ryan Dillon 54 Mrs. Mali Lyons Dorman 04 Mrs. Kimberly Tackett Dowd 89 Mrs. Rosemary Emerick Downing 61 Mrs. Maureen Murphy Dustin 80 Mrs. Pamela Johnson Easson 64 Mrs. Mary Frances Cook Engle 63 Mrs. Eileen Ehmann Floyd 59 Mrs. Sarah Russo Fogarty 76 Mrs. Jennifer Burns Forbes 88 Mrs. Deborah L. Foster Mrs. Patty Demas Fulmer 59 Mrs. Cheryl Edmondson Ganem 68 Mrs. Patricia Tham Gillikin 53 Mrs. Teri McCarthy Goolsby 81 Mrs. Mary Kameron Grady 79 Mrs. Carolyn Redmond Groover 54 Mrs. Madeline Audesey Hahn Mrs. Catherine Crider Hall 74 Miss Bernadette Hamilton 77 Dr. & Mrs. Douglas A. Hanzel Sr. Susan Harms, R.S.M. 60 Mrs. Andrea Haslam Harris 86 Miss Ann Harte 73 Mrs. Marie Doyle Hartwell 62 Mrs. Lucy Distefano Haviland 57 Ms. Ida Morrissey Herb 59 Mrs. Kathleen Brown Higgs 75 Mrs. Elaine Rousseau Hillebrand 67 Mrs. Mary Anne Hogan Mrs. Megan Schreck Hulitt 93 Mrs. Kathleen Russell Inglesby 66 Mrs. Chenoa Talley Jacobs 93 Mrs. Mary Whalen Janda 87 Dr. Eleanor Jean Long Janufka Mrs. Laura DeBorde Jaugstetter 59 Dr. Gretchen Heidt Johnson 81 Mrs. Mola Chu Jung 56 Mrs. Elizabeth Cone Katz 99 Ms. Joe Ann Morrissey Kelly 62 Mrs. Elena Roush Koch 88 Mr. & Mrs. Dennis J. Lales Mr. & Mrs. T. Allen Lancaster Ms. Mary Ellen Leonard 63 Loretto Dressel Lominack 64 Miss Kelly C. Long 11 Mrs. Barbara Ann Purdy Lutz 63 Mrs. Leslie Heyel Marino 83 Mrs. Amy Tuttle Massey 83 Mrs. Carol Baran Massey 63 Mrs. Kerrie Elmore Matthews 77 Mrs. Elizabeth Burn McCarthy 53 Mrs. Kathleen Bradley McCarthy 87 Ms. Patricia Taylor McDevitt 95 Ms. Monica McGoldrick 70 Ms. Mary McLendon 74 Mrs. Judith Jurgensen Melroy 63 Mrs. Kelley Prouty Miller 76 Mrs. Suzanne Brown Moseley 00 Mrs. Anita Muller Mrs. Jackie Stafford Munch 70 Ms. Josie Murphy 79 Mrs. Elizabeth Tootle New 77 Mrs. Camille Hagan Owens 64 Mrs. Patricia Riley Pack 67 Mrs. Martha Blessington Padilla 60 Mrs. Carole Balcom Pappas 58 Mrs. Diane Ciucevich Parker 87 Mrs. Barbara Weimar Peterson 71 Mrs. Catherine Stapleton Pharo 63 Mrs. Eleanor Smith Pierce 51 Ms. Sandra Fleming Pinckney 63 Mrs. Agnes Flaherty Pinckney 63 Mrs. Judith Carter Pixley 85 Mrs. Martha White Pounder 50 Ms. Denise Powers 68 Mrs. Therese Powers 73 Sr. M. Lillian Quadrella 59 Miss Kristie Willis Ragos 94 Mrs. Betty Ann DiPietro Rappe 66 Mrs. Patricia Woodward Remion 63 Mrs. Diane Sullivan Richardson 71 Mrs. Diane Hosti Ring 61 Mrs. Ellen May Roach 64 Mr. & Mrs. David J. Rock Mrs. Connie Poppell Rudd 66 Miss Cristine Ruddy 89 Mr. & Mrs. Neil G. Russell Mrs. Phyllis Wrenn Sackariasen 82 Mrs. Anne Ferraro Sapp 62 Mrs. Phyllis Saunders Mrs. Margaret Swinford Shangle 63 Mr. & Mrs. Joseph C. Shearouse Mrs. Patricia O Hayer Sheppard 56 Mrs. Maureen O Connor Simmons 77 Mrs. Jane Harte Sipple 70 Mrs. Barbara Stamey Smith 50 Miss Janet Spillane 44 Mrs. Blake Powers Stevens 00 Ms. Ellen Struck 67 Ms. Maureen Sullivan 63 Ms. Mercedes Sullivan 52 Ms. Lisa M. Summerlin 77 Mrs. Mary Finocchiaro Sweeney 75 Mrs. Mary Jeanne Howard Tallman 84 Mrs. Cynthia Christiansen Thomas 83 Mrs. Loretto Fleming Toms 60 Mrs. Ann Sauers Townsend 64 Mrs. Barbara Muller Tromly 64 Mrs. Patty Cannon Valenti 61 Mrs. Marie Bandy Wall 92 Ms. Anne Marie White 82 Mrs. Patricia Wolfe Whitlock 76 Mrs. Joan Price Wiegand 54 Mrs. Lori A. Williams Mrs. Patricia Williams Mrs. Donna Cavuoto Wilson 79 Mr. & Mrs. John W. Witt, Jr. Mrs. Jennifer Thomas Woelber 91 Ms. Martha McCarthy Wood 70

23 Vincent s Academy Annual Fund The St. Vincent s Academy Annual Fund is our yearly appeal to support the operating budget of our school. This effort is essential to the everyday functions of the school and is SVA s top fundraising priority. Our goal is $300,000 and the parent participation goal is 60%. Currently, we have raised $125,000 towards our goal. The Annual Fund sustains a diverse scope of programs, including everything from academics, the arts, athletics, and technology. It also supports our talented and dedicated faculty and provides the resources they need to bring outstanding educational opportunities to our girls. Please support the SVA Annual Fund by mailing in your gift in the enclosed giving envelope or give online at svaga.net and click on Support Us. For more information please contact: Leigh Sipple, Director of Advancement at or leigh.sipple@svaga.net Our charity is to be cordial. Now cordial signifies something that renews, invigorates and warms. Such should be the effect of our love for each other Catherine McAuley

24 - Jobs, Moves, Accomplishments, Life Changes & Happenings - None of us will forget October 7, 2016 evacuations, no electricity, downed trees, blocked roads, no internet, no television, no phones, etc. Because of so much that happened with Matthew, our Annual Tour & Tea, exactly one week later, had to be cancelled. There simply was no choice. So many of our volunteers servers, kitchen help, cleaning crew, docents for homes and home owners were still gone, not to mention food supplies were low in Savannah. Actually, the tour lost 3,000 cookies that Ginger Schroder and friends worked so hard baking. They were stored in Ginger s freezer on Tybee. Back to the critical them. How much damage had been done to homes on the tour, to homes of those working on the tour and to the school? There were so many got in touch with enough people to get the word out sadly, the tour had to be cancelled and all the ticket money returned. Our Tour & Tea has been rescheduled for next October 21, 2017 and many of the same home owners have agreed to be on the tour! In August of 2016, the Alumnae Board sponsored a Low Country Boil to show appreciation for all that the Alumnae of SVA do for our school, from sending donations to giving their time and talents working on projects and also faithfully attending events. This event is free to all alumnae and we had a sizeable and happy crowd. There was a nautical theme, beach music, great food, a dessert contest and door prizes. Dessert contest winners were: All the 24 desserts were winners in my book and the guests got to eat them! Through dedication and hard work, the members of the Alum- were able to present a $5,000 check to St. Vincent s Academy for the academic year of This generous gift was broken up into four categories: $2,500 went to student was assigned to be used for teachers needs, and $500 will be used to place an ad in the program for the musical, Oklahoma. A huge thank-you goes out to the members: - -. A great deal of appreciation for this gift also goes to those who were a huge part of this, but recently rotated off the Board: All of these women work tirelessly for the betterment of St. Vincent s and we applaud them! Shown in the photo is an SVA member of the U.S. Air Force,, stationed at Beal Air Force Base located near Marysville, California. The caption under the photo read, Airmen work together to build a munition at the munitions pad on December 13, 2016 at Beal Air Force Base. The Airmen at the Air Force Combat Ammunition Center. Besides being a graduate of SVA, Emily also graduated from UGA in 2012!

25 We are proud to recognize our own, being named the GHSA AA volleyball Coach of the Year. Katie is in time teacher and is the head volleyball coach and head tennis coach for St. Vincent s. After graduating from SVA, Katie graduated from Armstrong State University where she played on the volleyball team for four years. During those years, Armstrong won four straight conference titles. Katie, more than anyone, realizes how phenomenal it was to win the state championship in 2016, but the most exciting thing to her was that every member of the team got to play in that match, even the junior varsity players. Congratulations to a great player and a fantastic coach! Thinking about the year 2016 drawing to a close,, said that that 2016 has been one for the books, as far as she is concerned. Well, that is certainly the truth! During 2016, she graduated from Armstrong Atlantic University with a degree in graphic design, got a much-wanted imac, was hired by Armstrong for an awesome part-time job in the Memory Lane ), was nominated for Best Female Vocalist by the Georgia Music Awards, traveled to the more important than anything else, got engaged to her very best friend and love of her life, Patrick Ellington! Susie has to say that it is going to be hard to top this past year, but knowing CC, she will top it again and again. SVA is so proud of all of CC s successes! St. Vincent s graduate and outstanding athlete, jumped an amazing at the New Balance Outdoor Championships. Taylor accepted a scholarship to Ohio State University, where she is a freshman. She is also on the wait list for the Olympic trials and all of SVA is praying that she makes it! Recently,, had the opportunity to visit St. Louis, MO. While there, she took the time to visit with Mercy novice, Sr. Kelly Williams, who is stationed in St. Louis. Even though there are 30 years separating their graduation dates, years do not matter when you are a member of the St. Vincent s Sisterhood. is providing much-needed help to of horses. Karrie owns Hoofs for Healing Equine Services and works with people through equine assisted activities and therapy that challenge individuals with various disabilities to reach their full potential. Congratulations, Karrie. Sounds like you are doing something quite wonderful! 25

26 and her family suffered through nine losses in their family in four years. Truly, that is hard to imagine. Hospice Savannah reminds her that she can get through this one day at a time. On November 7, 2016, a collection of Ann s art was featured at Hospice Savan- What a wonderful gift to a place that does amazing work with terminally ill patients and their families. A very special and happy event occurred for and her family in November at Benedictine s homecoming game. Their delightful and beautiful daughter, Rachel, who happens to be autistic, was elected Homecoming Queen by BC s student body! Those boys looked beyond the special needs label and saw Rachel s bright light, Ann said. The 2016 BC homecoming may have been the best in the history of the 114 year old school! Running in to recently, I was reminded that it has been three whole years (2013) since Sa Ronna graduated from Armstrong State University and I neglected to congratulate her in The Flash. Shame on Susie! Sa Ronna graduated with a Bachelor of Science in middle grades education and is happily teaching middle school science in the Savannah Chatham Public Schools. 26 Stopping by SVA in November for a walk down memory lane, Susie met Kelly and her husband live in New Orleans and were in town; St. Vincent s was on her to do list. Kelly moved to New Orleans to attend Newcomb College at Tulane University where she majored in Sociology and Women s Studies and minored in the Classics. She graduat- a good job as a helping professional. Three months later and in Chicago, Kelly discovered that all the jobs she wanted required a master s degree in Social Work. She became determined to make that happen. Returning to New Orleans in the winter of 2005, Kelly found a job as an outreach coordinator for the NO/AIDS Task Force, where she has been since. Thanks turn to school part time. Completing her MSW in 2010, she began the three-year process for clinical licensure. She met her soon-to-be husband, a NOPD detective, and they married in Their son, Jack, arrived in Currently, Katie sees individuals, couples and families and specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, sand tray therapy and Gottman-informed couple s therapy. She also educates other social workers and the general public about general wellness for mental health and healthy relationships. As a therapist, Kelly found that she uses many of the skills she learned in AP English and on the staff of Pleiades. She asks her clients to tell the story of their lives and looks for strengths in the stories that the client may not notice. Kelly shared that her desire for a life of service was honed during her time at SVA, where she was encouraged to help make the world a better place, to give freely of her time and energy to those in need. She is grateful to the Sisters of Mercy for their example of service and respect for all people, especially those in the margins of our society. Asked to compete in Man & Woman of the Year, was thrilled to be a part of such a worthy cause to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Shannon had an amazing experience with the LLS campaign and appeared as a speaker at SVA to ask the girls for help and, naturally, they responded. She personally raised $60,000 out of a total of $425,000 that was raised! Shannon is employed at Seabolt Brokers as an Associate Broker and is a great person to have on your team! JOIN THE SVA ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION TODAY! Once again in 2017, we are challenging all alumnae members to contribute voluntary, annual membership dues to the SVAA, corresponding to the year of your graduation. For example, a 1984 graduate would pay annual dues of $19.84 to become an active member. Every SVA graduate is a member of the SVAA automatically upon graduation. However, your generous contribution converts you to active membership. This allows us to host several annual alumnae events. In addition, many of the proceeds from our events allow us to assist deserving students in need so that they may experience an exceptional SVA education. You may donate online at www. svaga.net. Choose Alumnae/Donate and apply your gift to donor s preference of alumnae dues. Thank you for your support!

27 Our 7th Annual Holiday Shopping Night Extravaganza/ Fundraiser was held on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, and this year s event turned out to be our most successful one yet! We raised $11,500 for student scholarship/aid through shoppers paying a minimal admission fee at the door and vendors paying a table/space fee to participate. We were also extraordinarily excited to host a book signing for special guest and best-selling author, Mary Kay Andrews, who delighted her many fans by personally autographing her books and telling behind the scene stories about writing them. Shoppers enjoyed complimentary, delicious hors d oeuvres and festive beverages while they shopped the night away at over 36 vendors pop-up shops. SAVE THE DATE: The next Holiday Shopping Extravaganza will be on Thursday evening, November 30th. You won t want to miss it!!! - Wedding Belles - Can you imagine a wedding where all of the bridesmaids are sisters of the bride? Well that is exactly the wedding that took place at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist on Friday, December 30, 2016 when became the bride of Jacob Yount. There was no doubt in Stephanie s mind as to who would be the bridesmaids; they would be her four sisters, of course. Pictured from left to right are the MacLeod sisters: The newlyweds will make their home in Charleston, SC. Best wishes to the bride and groom! Also wed on the same weekend were and Bob Turner. The nuptial Mass took place on the evening of December 31, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. St. Vincent s bridesmaids were: Following the ceremony, the guests left to celebrate and dance the night away at a reception at Benedictine, which was held on the tented plaza. The Turners will make their home in Savannah, where they are both in business. 27

28 - Stork Deliveries - (pictured left to right in order of write up) A delighted family welcomed Cecilia Frances Amberson on December 13, This little doll is the third child for Lau- and her husband, Lee. Needless to say, big sisters, Kate and Lizzie had a thrilling Christmas. What a fantastic gift for Santa to deliver!, daughter of science teacher, 22, Gemma Lucia Consago is a sheer pleasure to behold to her grandmother, Mrs. Antonucci, Domenica and, daddy, Mike Consago. The family makes its home in Chicago. On July 7, 2016, gave birth to her second child. Catherine and Patrick decided to name their little girl Ellen Elizabeth and call her Ellie. This cute little bundle makes two children for the Sauers family. Ellie s big brother, Reid, is sure to be a help to his mom. A Happy New Year baby was born to and her husband, Jody, on January 4, 2017! This sweet baby is named Helen Catherine after her great-great grandmother, Helen Catherine Leech Fogarty. little sister s arrival. The Willoughby girls come from a long line of SVA grads: was excited to report the birth of her new grandchild, Kimberly Nova Fischer. Kimberly is pictured 28 at her christening at St. Peter s church. and Dad, Austin Fort, are both very excited! Congratula- tions to all! was thrilled to announce the birth of her, with information to the left. Also trying her hand at this pleasurable avocation is SVA coach,. October 22, 2016 was the big date for the arrival of this cutie-pie, daughter of her son Gene and wife, Amanda. There is no doubt in Susie s mind that Coach Dotson will have precious Adelyn Marie dribbling a basketball as soon as she learns to walk! Just like a mathematics instructor, toes and proclaimed her 1st grandchild to be perfect! Susie is not sure that this pretty in pink little girl will be a mathematician like her grandmother; she looks like a prima ballerina. Amelia Mae Zanoff, child of Trinka s daughter, Christina and Parker Zanoff, was born on November 24, Just as thrilled the third time around,, who runs our main nounced the arrival of Madeleine parents are Mrs. Poston s son, J.D. and his wife, Amanda. The family makes its home in Suwanee, Georgia.

29 - Reunions - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and that s exactly what the did for their 40th reunion! With a low country boil and an evening of dancing and story telling, the class of 76 celebrated 40 years of friendship, sisterhood and memories. They invited the Benedictine class of 76 to travel down memory lane with them as they gathered at Captain Butler s Retreat on August 13, Everyone expressed their thanks to Sandy Shea Davis for coordinating this event once again. The class was delighted when the evening was perfectly capped off with a surprise performance by Kim Michael Polote. St. Vincent s would like to thank the girls of 76 for their generous donation to the Sister of Mercy Monument Fund in celebration of their 40th! June 24th and 25th was the weekend picked by the for their 30th reunion. Friday night was spent hanging out at SVA and looking at all the changes that have come about over the last 30 years. Yes, as you can imagine, there were quite a few! Saturday found the girls visiting Tybee during the day for some fun in the sun. Golden from the Tybee sun, the girls met with the BC class of 1986 at the Hyatt where they had heavy hors d oeuvres and cocktails while enjoying the beautiful view overlooking the Savannah River. Beginning on October 21, 2016, the celebrated 20 years since graduating from SVA. These ladies were in total disbelief that their lives had arrived at this point in time! Susie was amused at that. Friday the group gathered for wine and appetizers at SVA. They toured the school to see what was new and to talk about SVA in 1996 as opposed to Of course, they argued over where the Senior Lounge was located (all the classes do) when they were here. Following fun at SVA, everyone met at Cotton Sail s Rooftop to play catch-up on their lives for the last 20 years. Saturday night found them at Tubby s in Thunderbolt. What a delightfully crazy bunch of gals! Organized by Catherine Grady, the had a wonderful July 24th and 25th reunion weekend together. The girls gathered in the Assembly Room at SVA for libations and appetizers. Honestly, you would have thought it had been 100 years since graduation rather than just 10 years! Everyone took a tour of the school and, though it had not been that long to observe too many changes, they were slightly green with envy over the Senior Lounge that was totally refurbished by a generous donor two years ago. They noticed every change! On Saturday 29 Street. A good time was had by all!

30 - The Little Snoop - Congratulations to SVA s Volleyball Team GHSA AA State Champions!!! Making Headlines On July 13, 2016, had an article appear on the front page of The Savannah Tribune. Aliyah was reporting on A Time to Mourn a vigil organized by the Savannah chapter of Black Lives Matter. Hundreds gathered to take part in the vigil in Forsyth Park, not only in memory of lives lost in recent shootings but also to call attention to issues of the black community in Savannah and across the nation. Perhaps our Aliyah is a budding journalist! Academic Honors We are so proud of the students named as new members of St. Vincent s Academy s National Honor Society! Pictured Back Row Left to Right: -. Congratulations smart ladies! has received praise for her accomplishments in the sports of volleyball, soccer and basketball since she entered St. Vincent s as a freshmen. Sarah was named to the 2017 Savannah Morning News Best Preps no surprise there. Sarah was a dominating force for our Saints volleyball team, playing a major role helping the team to win the State Volleyball Championship. She earned All-Greater Savannah Co-Player of the Year honors, as well as Georgia Volleyball Coaches Association Class 2A State Player of the Year Award. Sarah will be playing soccer for Mercer University next year. She chose Mercer because of the excellent pre-med program. Sarah also was named as the St. Vincent s Academy Wendy s High School Heisman winner! SVA is looking forward to continuing to hear great things about Sarah, both in volleyball and academics! On the team with Sarah Stewart this season were two other exceptional players who were named to the 2016 All-Greater Savannah Volleyball Team. Grace was a key player at the net; she earned 30

31 St. Vincent s Academy Pink Night Each October, St. Vincent s joins with many institutions and, was the coordinator and guest speaker for this year s Pink Night, a volleyball game centered around breast cancer awareness. Emily has a very personal dedica- last year after a long battle with breast cancer. Emily bravely started a foundation called Dana s Circle that raises money ilies going through this struggle. All of the Pink Night pro- Drama, Drama, Drama The SVA One-Act Play team traveled to Lyons, GA to compete in the GHSA 2-AA Region One-Act Play Competition at Toombs County High School on October 25, They performed Love, Loss, and What I Wore, by Nora and Delia Ephron, a group of monologues about women s issues, memories, and their relationship to the clothes they wore during important times in their lives. The play is full of hilarious comedic lines, as well as poignant, touching moments, and showcased the tremendous talent of the young team. The cast included - The team was proud to earn 2nd place in the region for their performance. Additionally, was named the best actress in the region! and Ellie were named to the All-Region All Star cast. It was an excellent showing from such a talented team; we look forward to many great things from these girls in the future. Congratulations to directors Mr. Justin Johnson and Ms. Bonnie Hance. Go Saints Theater! Fashion with a Purpose The Fashion Marketing class took a trip to Goodwill where the assignment was for each class member to purchase an elements of color, style, line and texture. They had to be able be worn and the accessories chosen for it. The class chose tion that exists for one purpose to eliminate barriers to opportunity and help people in need reach their full potential through learning and the power of work. For more than a century, Goodwill has worked in communities to help people immigrants and people with other specialized needs totaling 6.7 million people last year. Every 33 seconds of every business day, someone gets a job with Goodwill s help. The class found this to be an enjoyable learning experience 31 and appreciated the audience that attended their fashion show!

32 Mercy in Action Students worked feverishly during the month of November to raise money for our neighbor in the 500 block of Liberty Street, the Social Apostolate. On December 7th, a group of students presented Sr. Julie with a check for $1,087.68! This should help Sister continue her wonderful work for the community. Getting Involved to Help Others When attended an assembly at SVA to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a tiny seed was a part of this worthy cause. Another consideration for this young Well, Betty got so involved that she became a part of something that she had never planned on doing. To raise funds for her cause, Betty is running for Student of the Year. There will be four students from four different schools competing against one another to see who can raise the most money and the winner will be named Student of the Year. The competition begins March 3 and runs for ten weeks. If you would like to help Betty, please send checks made out to to. By the way, at SVA Betty is on the swim team, works on the musical, takes part in The One Act Play and is on the staff of our literary magazine, Pleiades. Betty is the daughter of alumna, Visitors from Kenya St. Vincent s Academy sophomores welcomed visitors from the far-away continent of Africa. For an entire day, our girls hosted a group of amazing students from Kenya. The girls participated in a day of classes at SVA and spent their after school time doing what all teenage girls love---shopping! What a wonderful experience this was for all of the girls. The Bell Ringer Many students have responsibilities at St. Vincent s, but there is one person whose responsibility is to announce the start of the day in a special way that would be our bell ringer,. at 8 am signaling the last call. Volunteering for this daily assign- just for the love of SVA. A very active student, Jo Jo is on the softball team and loves photography. She is planning on majoring in art in college. Thanks to Jo Jo for her dedication! Morning Prayer Speaking of artists who volunteer, the name certainly comes to mind. Most of the time when asking for volunteers; Jordan s hand will be raised. This is the second year that be hard to replace when she graduates this May. Putting a great deal of feeling into the morning prayer, Jordan has a very attentive audience each day. Following the prayer, Jordan leads us in the 32 Pledge of Allegiance and reads the announcements for the day. Jordan is a very talented artist and last summer spent a quarter at SCAD in July of 2016!

33 Candlelight Concert voices. The members of the SVA Chorus radiated the spirit of Christmas as they celebrated the birth of Jesus, our Savior. - had the girls rehearsing non-stop and it showed in many, her daughters, sang a stunning Celtic Christmas carol with beautiful harmony. Congratulations to Mrs. Winters and our Chorus for giving us a great way to usher in the Christmas Season! New Look for Uniforms No, the students are not necessarily out of uniform; they have more options. Before Christmas, our Marketing Class introduced a great new look to the SVA uniforms. The class designed a very spiffy and classic ribbed navy blue, v-neck sweater with the SVA logo that you see beside the Lincoln Street gate. All the girls seem to love them and they are selling like hot cakes! The Eternal City Some of Ms. Westgate s Latin students had a brainstorm. What was it? They decided to create Rome. They wanted to build the famous landmarks as they appeared many centuries ago and place them in the approximate order in which they appeared. Their abilities shined and the The Eternal City was on display for a number of weeks before the Christmas holidays. Great work, ladies! 33

34 will receive the 2017 National Catholic Educational Association Youth Virtues, Valor, and Vision Award. The award was created by the NCEA and sponsored by the Cross Catholic Outreach to recognize young people s community service projects that can and will change and enrich the world. Addie was nominated for her special needs competitive cheer squad that she started and that: We especially want to congratulate St. Vincent s Academy as a faith community for fostering an environment of servant leadership where young people like Addie are developed and nurtured. A director from the National Catholic Education Association will come to SVA during Catholic Schools Week on Wednesday, February 1st, at 10:30 to present the award to Addie. She is one of ten students recognized for their community and service projects across the nation. We will have the award ceremony in the gym at 10:30. As a result of this award, Addie and SVA, along with the other recipients and their schools, will be recognized nationally in the NCEA publications and on their website. SVA student,, points out her grandmother s 1st cousin, Justice Clarence Thomas, as he swears in Mike Pence. SVA attended the Mountain Film Festival to see original, inspiring, and Art departments. SVA Art Students experience the PULSE Art and Technology Festival at the Jepson Center for the Arts. We are so lucky to be in beautiful downtown Savannah where we can take advantage of the many cultural activities and exhibitions offered. We virtually wandered through Walden s Pond, made dinosaur sounds with a skull reproduction, made and viewed art through different technologies, talked to artists and saw face sculptures made from DNA samples randomly found. What a great experience and all that happened in a one hour art class, including a brisk walk to the museum! Art, Science and PE merged! 3

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36 207 East Liberty Street Savannah, Georgia Organization US Postage PAID Permit Number 164 Savannah, Georgia Parents of Alumnae If this publication is addressed to your daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify St. Vincent s of her new mailing address. SVA Girls going to Augusta in 1966 to play St. Thomas Aquinas in basketball. Can you identify anyone in the picture?