Alumni Notes
1967
Bobbie (Lancaster) Allen says: Hello to the Class of '67 and welcome to the age of octogenarianism. Thanks for all the great memories we bring to this time of our lives because of our four years at the Mount. How special they were and how fun to remember. Best of Luck to those students who now fill the halls. God Bless our class of '67. :)
1971
Susan Dowling-Quarles and her husband, Russ, celebrated the Fourth of July at home in Little Rock this year with their son, Thomas, his wife Jessica, and their four children who live outside Tacoma, Wash. Also, Susan’s 76th birthday was on July 3.
1972
Dr. Mary Ellen (Scannell) Doherty is presenting research on Posttraumatic Growth in Women at Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing's Research Congress in Seattle, Wash., in July 2025. She is also presenting research in Budapest, Hungary in September 2025. Dr. Doherty is a Professor Emerita at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Conn.
Drs. Mary Ellen (Scannell) Doherty and Elizabeth Scannell-Desch are presenting two research studies at Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing’s Research Congress in Seattle in July and also in Budapest, Hungary in September. This research is showcased in their 2023 book, Women’s Journeys to Posttraumatic Growth: A Guide for the Helping Professions and Women who have Experienced Trauma.
Joseph O’Connor has been chosen by The Moth in New York to tell his “9/11 Apple Pie” story. The Moth is an organization that sponsors and promotes people who have true stories to tell. When he returns from Hawaii, he will be assigned a director and editor who will work with him to streamline the story arc. He is very excited, and anticipates it will be showcased in a New York venue in the early fall, coinciding with September 11.
1973
James Dolan worked at Stewart Airport for 34 years as supervisor of Maintenance, and retired in 2008.
1977
Teresa (Santarelli) Arluck notes that seven Mounties from the Class of '77 are seated around the table celebrating with love and laughter on their 70th birthday in Chicago. They are: left, Cathie McCarthy Cavanagh and Lynne Ejercito; center, Jean Pabst Burt; right, Joan Chiaviello, Colleen Cavanagh Bendernagel, Teresa Santarelli Arluck, and Joan Fenton Henry. Affectionately known as the “The Seven Mounties,” they are already planning their next getaway.
Pam Sabatino-Holmes is renting a house and vacationing in Rhode Island with friends to celebrate their 70th birthdays this September. She says “Friendship never ends!” with her pals Meg (McCormick) Cavanaugh, Janet Hilton, Jeanette (David) Rathjen, Peggy (Schlerermacher) Cook, and Chris (Staskiewicz) Cornelis.
1978
Donald Grieco has worked as a high school special education teacher at Orange County BOCES, N.Y.; Fairfax County, Va.; and Venice, Fla. His résumé includes Pace University Law School; the Bronx D.A. office; Army JAG Pentagon; State Attorney Manatee, Sarasota Florida; and Private Practice Criminal Law and Personal Injury in Florida.
Marie (Puleo) Lown has been retired since 2013 from Minisink Valley Central School District as a reading specialist for first and second graders. She is currently the president of the Maybrook Golden Links, a local senior citizen group in the Village of Maybrook, Town of Montgomery in Orange County, N.Y.
1979
Susan (Zalewa) Canavan recently reconnected with classmates. After 46 years of not being in touch, serendipity brought them together! Cynthia (Eib) Wachob ‘79 was living in Florida and had an upcoming work conference in Charleston, S.C. Sue lives in Bluffton S.C. Cindy, at left, knew from Facebook that Susan, at right, lived closer to Savannah, Ga., where Cindy would be traveling on her way home. They shared an evening of remembering the past and catching up on the present.
Bettyjean Schleinitz-Klein is enjoying retirement with her little kitty, Peanut, her sister, Lesle Schleinitz-Cercone ‘79, and her sister’s husband, Louis Cercone ’78. Though her husband has passed on, Bettyjean enjoys her time with her many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. She says, “I hope that you all are doing well and have love and happiness in your lives!”
1981
Linda Dobias Dombroski is happy and honored to be part of the Alumni Board at the Mount. Linda and Greg also celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary and visited the island of St. Thomas.
Kathleen Killeen is happily retired from social work in Newburgh, N.Y., now residing in Bluffton/Hilton Head, S.C. She is owner/designer at Flowers by KK, specializing in wedding flowers and celebration events.
1982
Mary Terese (Richardson) Evans continues to practice as a pediatric NP in Pediatric Pulmonology at Albany Medical Center. She was recently promoted to Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, one of the first “mid level” providers at Albany Med to achieve this level of faculty practice.
Karen (Capellini) Petrosino just retired after 43 years of nursing! She spent the past 37 years at Mather Hospital Port Jefferson, N.Y.
1990
Meaghan Monahan is officially retired after 31 years of teaching – primarily in Special Education – at Mahwah High School. Life after the classroom was full and exciting. She recently got engaged and is happily planning a wedding. She has been enjoying traveling with family and friends, as well as teaching graduate courses at William Paterson University in New Jersey, where she also serves as an educational consultant in their Transition Program.
1991
Jerry Mangona has semi-retired and has taken a position at High Peaks Canna, the first cannabis dispensary in Saratoga Springs.
1996
Lee Benedict, in April 2025, earned an EdD in Curriculum and Instruction for Special Education from Liberty University. His dissertation title was “Experiences of Black Students with Disabilities Suspended for Violating a Zero-Tolerance Policy: A Transcendental Phenomenology.”
Jacqueline (Chatlos) Veach and husband, Ron, are proud that their daughter, Maggie Elizabeth Veach '26, is Vice President of Kappa Delta Pi, a 2024 Member of Phi Alpha Theta, and just received honors in Psychology this past semester. The family is proudly looking forward to her graduation from the Mount next Spring.
1999
Gerry Walsh opened Walsh Wares, a boutique shop on Long Island, selling pickled pork products, Rocky Mountain oysters, and basketball inspired artisanal jello molds.
2001
Brian Granata was promoted to associate vice president of Athletics at Arcadia University on June 1, 2025.
Jeanne Plecenik was recently promoted to Department Head for Business at Trident Technical College in Charleston, S.C. Jeanne was formerly controller and an adjunct instructor at the Mount.
Joseph Polvere is entering his 25th year of teaching. He is currently a teacher of sixth grade Social Studies in Demarest, N.J., and works as an adjunct professor at several colleges.
2003
Jody-ann Buckle-Powell is extremely happy to announce the completion of her post graduate degree in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioning from Liberty University. It has been 24 years since earning her Family Nurse Practitioner degree, so earning this degree took hard work and dedication. She will always be grateful to the staff and professors at Mount Saint Mary College for their mentorship since 1992.
2009
Andrew Harte worked for 13 years as a bedside ICU RN, before completing his MSN at UMass Boston. He went on to complete a fellowship in Palliative Care and Hospice at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, and has earned advanced certification in palliative care and hospice. This year, he was awarded an Emerging Leader in Palliative Care recognition from the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation.
2011
Adam Staiger ’11 and ’15 finished year three at SCSD. He works with some amazing people and even more amazing kids!
2012
Trudy (Cardona) Vazquez obtained her LPC in Texas in 2022 and shortly after, she and her family welcomed a daughter in late 2023. At the moment, she is focusing on her private practice and homeschooling her children.
2017
Brittany (Gilligan) Derby graduated this past May from Albany Medical College’s Center for Nurse Anesthesiology with a Doctorate in Nursing Practice, achieving her goal of becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
2021
Anila Ali is a middle school special education teacher at Robert J. Kaiser middle school in Monticello, N.Y.
Emma Doerrier joined a recruiting fair for international teachers two years into her career, and is now ending her second year teaching in Qatar! She loves her international teaching life. She teaches with talented educators from all over the world. Her students are diverse and speak many languages, and have taught her a lot about their cultures. Shukkran MSMC!
Jessica Pinelli and Vincent Escudero ‘19 got engaged on December 27th, 2024.
2022
Elizabeth Farragher is excited to start her new position as a labor and delivery nurse at Mount Sinai West in NYC.
Weddings
Alyssa (Picard) Reinhardt ‘19 and Sophia Reinhardt '21 were married on May 10, 2025. The couple first met as lab partners and remain forever grateful to the Mount for bringing them together. Fellow alumnus Nicholas Tucker '21 officiated the ceremony and the Maid of Honor was Leila Saleh ‘21. Congratulations to the happy couple!
Births
Amanda (Greenwood) Chiorgno ‘19 and husband, Lucas Chiorgno, had their first child, Archer Chiorgno, on March 14, 2025. Amanda works as a Labor and Delivery Nurse at the same unit she delivered at, St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, N.Y. Archer was 7lb 11oz and 21 inches.
In Memoriam
Claire L. Ross '66 passed away on November 23, 2024.
Darrah Dwyer ’77 passed away on December 29, 2024 from single cell cancer.
Jo-Ann (VanKeuren) Trifiro ‘78 passed away on August 6, 2023.