Alumni Council Donates Dues Basketball banquet

Every year at the annual Reunion, Cotting alumni joined students at the Alumni Council members decide how annual Basketball Banquet and Awards their dues should be donated. The Ceremony on Monday, March 31, 2014. dues are $10 per person and are sent Each alumnus received a “RoadRunners” ink in by mail or collected at Reunion. L jacket for their participation. At left, Sarah otting chool s lumni ewsletter This year, alumni voted to donate dues to the 2015 Senior Hooper, Class of 2007, greets Dan Cuddy, C S ’ A N Class Trip. George Moran, Cotting Librarian and Senior Director of Adaptive Physical Education. Class Advisor, was visiting with alumni at Reunion and Us Summer 2014 heard the news as soon as it was announced. “This is a very generous gift, A Closer Look at Life After Cotting June 2013 and I know next year’s Seniors with leanor ee ones will be very happy when I tell E “L ” J them,” George said. When Eleanor “Lee” Jones arrived at Cotting in 1995, “she From Monday through Friday she commutes on the Red Line Pictured at left is J.R. Foley, was timid and shy of trying anything new,” said her teacher, from her apartment in Davis Square, Somerville, to her job at President of the Alumni Coun- Above, left to right: Sara Frost, Class of 2010, Esther Greenspan, Class of Kathy Hickey. “With encouragement, Lee began to blossom. I Cerebral Palsy of in Quincy. In order to arrive cil, Class of 2011, who led the 2008, and Alex McDonald, Class of 2010. had high expectations, helped her meet them, and affirmed her to work on time, Lee leaves her apartment by 7:00 a.m. “By voting and announced the win- progress each month by showing her how far she had come. the time I get home at 5:30 pm, I’m too tired to do anything ner. Sarah Collins, Vice President, and Pat Dabrowney, Lee did the rest.” but heat up dinner,” she says, “but I love earning my pay- Secretary/Treasurer, participated in the voting, and Pat check!” collected dues at the door for alums who hadn’t already mailed them in. Find our social media links on our home page at cotting.org. “I love earning my paycheck!” Above, left to right: Caroline Steuart, Class of 2011, Ashley Collins, Class of 2010, Kate Atchue, Class of 2012, and Riley McGlame, a resident of HOPE- Lee often flies on her own to Florida to visit family in Pen- house. sacola. She is particularly fond of spending time with her aunt and swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. Lee has traveled to Rome, Florence and Pisa with Lesley University’s Threshold Program’s first trip to Italy. She looks forward to HOPEhouse Cotting School reunions and weekend trips with her recreation group. 453 Concord Avenue

Lexington, MA 02421 Left to right: Lee Jones, parent Bob Houde, Greg Houde, John Ceres (front center), Lizzy York Ryan, David Newman, Jenna Siracuse and Zoë Thibodeau, Director of HOPE- house, met at a local restaurant in early May for their semi-annual HOPEhouse reunion.

Starting out in Cotting’s Middle School and concluding in HOPEhouse, Lee has made the most of what Cotting offered during her nine years here. She formed friendships with fel- low students and faculty members with whom she is still in Left to right: Brendan O’Keefe and Stan Rogers, touch, and she values each teacher who helped her along the former staff, at the HOPEhouse reunion way. Lee and her parents, Ben and Senter, feel that it was Cotting that prepared her so well for the life and independence she en- “Cotting gave Lee more to educate her joys. In recognition of that, they have all made arrangements for life than any other school...” for Cotting in their estate planning. “Cotting gave Lee more to educate her for life than any other school,” Senter said, “and “When Lee arrived at HOPEhouse, her focus was strictly we are so grateful. Giving back is our way of saying thanks.” academic,” said Director Zoë Thibodeau. “After being able to practice her skills in a structured environment, she learned Lee’s advice to students is, “Try different things and follow to advocate for herself and speak up.” Now Lee uses the your heart.” skills she learned at HOPEhouse every day.

LinkUs 2014.indd 1 6/3/14 10:38 AM Share your news at [email protected] or 781-862-7323 ext. 145 Mary Murtaugh, Class of 1978, works at the Christmas Tree Seniors Enjoy High Tea with Alumni Alumni Updates Shops in Lynnfield. Karen George, Class of 1992, attends Lifeshares and Community Katie Atchue, Class of 2012, attends Willow Tree in Natick Crossroads and is part of a theater group called Play Among The Edward Reyes, Class of 2007, is still working hard with ASA. and works at Full Circle Arts gift shop in Natick. Stars. She loves living with her family from Kenya, Digna, Richard, He wakes up and gets ready for work by himself. He stays busy Lulu and Lisa, in Derry, New Hampshire. with his Saturday bowling and Special Olympics practice. Mike Camille, Class of 2011, and his parents enjoyed the 2014 Esther Greenspan, Class of 2008, continues to work as a volunteer Madeline Quintal, Class of 2011, is working at Super Cuts

A-Z Naples Half Marathon in January. at Hebrew Senior Life in , socializing with the residents. She in Norwood through a program at Lifeworks. She is the proud In the photo, Mike’s dad Bruce had a great season as part of the Cotting Alumni Basketball Team, recipient of a “Real Life, Real Work” award from DDS, which pushes his chair as Mike raises and has been an active participant in the Newton Park and Recre- she received at the State House this past March. his hand to greet Rev. Basden of ation’s theater program. lumni the local Episcopal Church. The Ilyse Ross, Class of 2012, is a first year student at Berkshire A Reverend blessed runners with James Hickey, Class of 1982, has worked at Verizon for 32 years. Hills Music Academy in South Hadley, Mass. She loves her Vanessa, Betty Coughlin, Lily, Kate and Mary Fitzgerald holy water as they passed by. school, teachers, and new friends, and is learning to become Sarah Hooper, Class of 2007, attends Charles River Center in more independent. She performs in the chorus, the world music Mary Fitzgerald, Class of 1976, joined Betty and George Sarah Collins, Class of 1993, Alumni Council Vice Presi- Natick. She also plays basketball on the Cotting Alumni team, ensemble and sings solos. In December she went to Israel for ten Coughlin, Class of 1974 and 1969, for “High Tea” with the dent, enjoys going out with her boyfriend, helping at her job, and plays alumni baseball and soccer. Sarah enjoys the computer, days with her camp group. young ladies of the Senior Class of 2014. Vanessa, Lily and playing Bingo on Fridays and being an aunt to her nephew. puzzles, dancing, music, spending time with her family and her dog, Kate enjoyed cake provided by Mary Fitz. Their teachers, Me- Boo. She helps take care of animals at Buddy Dog Humane Society, Alana Russo, Class of 2003, recently went to Clearwater, gan McGoldrick and Julie Abbott, and George Moran, Senior George Coughlin, Class of and works at St. Vincent De Paul’s and many other places. Florida with her mom and dad for a week, and is excited to be in Class Advisor and Librarian, joined in the fun. ‘69, became a Knight with the her friend, Jenna’s, wedding as a bridesmaid in October 2014. Knights of Columbus in April Joshua Hunt, Class of 2003, is in his final year at Quinsigamond 2014. George is pictured here Community College and will be getting an associates degree in hu- Christine Russo, Class of 1980, joined an Elder Care Coopera- second from left with his wife, man services. He currently works at Jos. A. Banks as a sales execu- tive Program in Arlington, and goes on Mondays, Wednesdays condolences Betty Coughlin, Class of 1974, tive. When he’s not busy, he spends quality time with family. and Fridays each week. They exercise in the morning, have a and other family members. nice warm meal at noon, and have all kinds of activities in the Cotting Alumni Richard A. Johnson, Class of 1967, graduated from Suffolk afternoon. She loves it! Zachary Dagle, Class of 2011, will graduate from the River- University after leaving Cotting, and spent 35 years in the financial Karen (Ahearn) Driscoll, mother of Tara Driscoll, passed view School in June 2014 and then attend a community-based industry with various banks. He is currently retired and lives in Keaton Sakowich, Class of 2013, has been continuing his away on December 26, 2013. Thanks to Karen’s efforts, the day program. Quincy. education at the HOPEhouse Transition Program. He has also Cotting School annual ski trip is located at Mt. Sunapee. applied to the Transitional Scholars Program at Mass. Bay Com- Mary Denning, Class of 2003, has worked for the Public Shawn Koehler, Class of 2007, is still working at Ramsey Rehab munity College for September 2014. Paul Epstein was a former Lower School student who left Relations Department of Children’s Hospital and has been a and looking for work in web applications; he keeps in touch with a Cotting in 2010. He passed away in May 2014. volunteer at the Museum of Science for the past 10 years. lot of people from Cotting. Craig Tarentino, Class of 2012, attends Triangle to work with Comcast, and is meeting lots of friends along the way. Elizabeth Hines was a former student at Cotting who also Mike DiCiero, Class of 2011, has been attending North Shore Zachary Martin is a peer leader for Making Healthy Connec- attended the Perkins School for the Blind. She passed away in Community College and is currently on the Dean’s List. tions, a delegate to the Youth Leader Forum Massachusetts, and Jake Vancour, Class of 2010, attends Quinsigamond Commu- November 2013. was a Global Messenger for the Special Olympics. He is a senior nity College, and is starting a music career. Dakota Dowse, Class of 2013, works at Walgreens in Salem as at NEARI School and is working towards enrolling at American Jesse Lucas Mozur passed away on January 22, 2014. Jesse a date checker. International College in September 2015. He hopes to study to be a Elia Veloso, Class of 2004, recently took a certified Nursing As- left Cotting in 2000 to attend another program. paraprofessional. sistant class at the Greater Lowell Technical School and passed Sharon Duncan, Class of 1989, works at Triangle in Malden. with good grades. She also took the state exam and passed with Phoebe Anais Sternbach passed away in June of 2013. Guy Martineau, Class of 2010, moved to Salem in January and one try and is officially a certified Nursing Assistant. Elia will Phoebe attended Cotting as a Lower School student and left in Gabriella Foley, Class of 2009, lives on Cape Cod and will be works one day a week for North Shore Arc in Danvers, doing cleri- take more classes in Nursing/Home Health Aide and English. 2011. moving back to the North Shore in the fall. She hopes to attend cal work. the next reunion in 2015. Gregory Walsh, Class of 2001, spent Cotting Faculty Jason McCollin teaches line and country line dancing at different three weeks on a trip to Florida with his James (J.R.) Foley, Class of 2011, locations in Southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts and also parents. He went to a Tampa Bay Rays Lucienne Dorian worked at Cotting for more than 25 years Alumni Council President, lives in does DJ work. game, visited Disney World, and met for- preparing countless meals with the kitchen team for a genera- a group home in Milton and works mer Boston Red Sox pitcher, Pete Smith, tion of students in both Boston and Lexington. Lucienne died in at an insurance company in Quincy. Pamela McLaughlin, Class of 1958, is retired from years of social who played the 1962-63 season with the June of 2013. He loves every minute of it. When work. She picked up her pen in 2008; since then she has had 40 Red Sox. he’s not working, J.R. attends a articles published which will be collected in a new book, “A Glass Verna Brackett Kirby passed away on February 3, 2013. day program called the Friendship Heart – An Inspiration of Love,” scheduled for release this summer. Verna’s father, Vernon Kirby, was a former Superintendent at Home in Norwell. He loves visit- Sister Mary Xavier (Marguerite Donovan), Class of 1949, Cotting. ing Cotting and attending alumni Peter Murray, Class of 2002, lives in an apartment and works at a sends her regards. events. supermarket. He is finishing a few courses at Dean College. Once a Falcon, Always a Falcon!

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