J A M A I • CA N•Y THE MARY LOUIS ACADEMY FIDEM SERVAVI I have kept the faith

J A M A I • CA N•Y THE MARY LOUIS ACADEMY 176-21 Wexford Terrace Jamaica Estates, 11432 (phone) 718 297 2120 (fax) 718 739 0037 www.tmla.org “The Mary Louis Academy provides an atmosphere which fosters academic excellence and respect which in turn nurtures the whole person by integrating faith and life. Consistent with the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph, The Mary Louis Academy seeks to develop leaders who are rooted in Gospel values and committed to creating a just society.”

Excerpt from Mission Statement of The Mary Louis Academy For nearly seventy years, the tall, brick school standing on one of the highest hills in has been a distinctive part of the skyline. Despite the increasing number of buildings, it is a landmark that can be seen clearly from the Long Island Railroad trains. This is very appropriate because tradition has it that while traveling on the Long Island Railroad in the early 1930’s, Mother Mary Louis, General Superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph, first gazed upon the untouched hilltops of the countryside of Jamaica and selected that as the site for a school. Although Mother Mary Louis passed away on May 22, 1932, her dream of establishing an academy for young women in the Jamaica Estates area lived on in the hearts and minds of her congregation of sisters.

The first students were fifty-seven young women who were greeted by a faculty of eight sisters on the first day of school on September 14, 1936. The stated purpose of the Academy was to educate young women to take their places in society and contribute to the world.

In the mid-1930's it was considered a heroic act of faith to establish a school. In the midst of The Great Depression, when the prevailing spirit was one of pessimism, building a school was a statement of belief in the future, and in the contributions of Catholic education to that future. The founders of Mary Louis were women of great faith and vision.

Sixty-eight years later the vision of the Sisters of St. Joseph is fulfilled in the Mary Louis graduate. They saw the women who graduated from Mary Louis as a force for good in society. The Mary Louis woman would make a difference.

The alumnae profiled in this third volume of Women of Vision are just a few examples of a TMLA education. Each alumna was asked the following question: “How did your experience at The Mary Louis Academy contribute to your success?” You will find that each is unique, special and giving. Each is a Mary Louis woman.

J A M A I • CA N•Y

1 Gertrude Lantier 1957 Jones

“Mary Louis provided me with the continuation of my religious formation, along with a strong academic foundation, which made it possible for me to have a varied and successful career.”

Gertrude Lantier Jones is Gertrude is currently on the currently a Public Education Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce Specialist for the Greene County as a Board Member; she was a past Board of Mental Retardation & president. She is a member of the Developmental Disabilities in Ohio. Fairborn and Xenia Chambers In this role, Gertrude is responsible of Commerce, the Greene County for public relations and fundraising; Public Relations Group, Family she has been responsible for raising Violence Prevention Center of 70% of the Board’s funding. Greene County, the Greene County After graduating from TMLA in Youth Council and the Citizens for 1957, Gertrude attended St. Joseph’s Beavercreek Schools. For her parish, College (Brooklyn) and earned a BA Gertrude serves as a lector and in English in 1961. After graduation, a Eucharistic Minister. She has also she became a teacher and taught in taught CCD and served on the schools in New York, New Mexico pastoral council. and Ohio. In 1979, she ventured out Gertrude has been married to her in small business with Jones’ Village husband Donald, a retired Air Force Hallmark, a store that she owned for pilot and engineer, for thirty-nine thirteen years. years. They live in Beavercreek, OH Gertrude is a dedicated volunteer and have two daughters, Donna and and community activist. In 2002 she Rebecca, and six grandchildren. Her was elected to Greene County daughters are very involved in their Women’s Hall of Fame; she has also community and are having an received the E.G. Shaw Award from impact on the lives of others. This the Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce. she states “is my biggest success!”

2 Sister Joanne 1957 Feulner, CSJ “The moral values and educational goals which were imparted to me during my years at The Mary Louis Academy have remained throughout my life. They have enabled me to be a warm human being in the various leadership positions I have held.”

Sister Joanne Feulner, CSJ, is the accepted her current position on Treasurer of the Sisters of St. Joseph. the Board of Members of the She oversees the financial management Congregation of the Sisters of of the entire Congregation of the St. Joseph. Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, NY. S. Joanne is also a member of the S. Joanne attended Brentwood Board of Trustees for Fontbonne College and received her BA in Hall Academy and for St. Francis Education in 1959. Soon after, de Sales School for the Deaf. She is she continued her education at a member of National Association Teachers’ of Catholic Chaplains and the College for her MA in Special National Association of Treasurers Education for the Deaf; she went of Religious Institutes. to Pace University for her Certification in Administration. From 1960-1965, S. Joanne taught in various elementary schools in Brooklyn. In 1965 she became Superintendent of St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf. While there she chose to remain in the classroom and continue teaching. After thirty-one years, S. Joanne left and went on to be the Chaplain at Peninsula Hospital. She remained there for three years until she

3 Dr. Deborah Cosher 1969 Levitt, D.C.

“TMLA prepared me academically for the rigors of a BS in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. It taught me how to focus and develop solid study and work habits that helped me through college, professional school and in setting up my own practice. It also instilled in me a desire to help others in both my career and personal life.”

Dr. Deborah Cosher Levitt, D.C. Deborah and her husband Paul has her own chiropractic practice in adopted daughter Alexandra May Northport, NY. She has been a from Kostroma, Russia. They instill chiropractor for twenty-seven years. in her charitable and humanitarian In 1973, after graduating from values. They have walked in the St. John’s University, Deborah Visiting Nurses of Suffolk Dog decided to go to New York Walk-a-Thon and swam in the Make Chiropractic College. At that time a Wish Foundation Swim-a-Thon. only 8% of the chiropractic students Alexandra made her First Holy were women. She later went on to Communion on May 1, 2004. complete a Diplomate Program in Instead of gifts from family and Orthopedics in 1982. It took her one friends, she happily agreed to have weekend a month for four years donations made in her name to her to complete that program. favorite charities, the Make a Wish She was a part-time faculty Foundation, Visiting Nurses and the member at New York Chiropractic ASPCA. College until the school moved its Deborah is a member of the campus to Seneca Falls. In 1977 she New York Chiropractic Association, started a private practice in Jericho, the American Chiropractic NY and had another office in Association, Ocean Avenue School Northport, NY. After nineteen years, PTA and the Northport Yacht Club she closed her office in Jericho and completely moved her practice to her home in Northport.

4 Mary Caslin 1971 Ross

“Mary Louis offered me a comprehensive education and the ability to pursue interests in activities that enabled me to pursue a career in philanthropy and public policy.”

Mary Caslin Ross is a Research of St. Francis Cathedral Foundation Fellow on national issues and finance and a member of the national advisory at the Claremont Institute of American committee of the Fund for American Statesmanship. She is also the executive Studies. She just joined the SITE Santa consultant to The Gilder Lehrman Fe Board. Mary was the first graduate Institute of American History. She was of the Fund for American Studies Director of Programs at the Economic to receive their outstanding Alumni Science Laboratory at the University Award in 1994. She also served in of Arizona and created the International the past as a founding Director of the Foundation for Research in Experimental Philanthropy Roundtable and the Economics (IFREE) with Nobel Advisory Board of The Chelsea Project Laureate Vernon L. Smith. Mary was in Boston. Executive Consultant to the David A recipient of an Honorary Dreman Foundation and its Institute Doctorate in 1990 from Marymount of Psychology and Markets. She served University in Virginia for her as executive consultant to the National contribution to the field of Center for Policy Analysis from 1995- philanthropy, Mary also holds a 2003. She also served as Director of Master's Degree from Manhattanville the Federal Mandates Project for the College. She completed her Bachelor Goldwater Institute. of Arts Degree in Government & From 1983-94,Mary was the Politics with honors from St. John's Executive Director and Secretary to University, where she was also elected the Boards of The Achelis and Bodman by the faculty and student body as the Foundations. She continues to serve first student recipient of the University on the Board of Trustees of The JM President's Medal. She has been Foundation, the Grants Committee numbered among the Outstanding of the Barker Welfare Foundation, Young Women of America, Who's the ICD International Center for the Who of American Women, and Disabled; she is co-chair of the Friends World's Who's Who of Women.

5 Colleen 1973 Caslin

“TMLA taught me to trust my instincts and question conclusions. My motto from TMLA is ‘It can be done.’ ”

Since 2003, Colleen Caslin has Colleen has worked as a Consultant been the Chief Operating Officer for Van Cleef & Arpeles, International and Creative Director at Seaman French Couture House and The Schepps and Trianon. It is a global National Foundation for Teaching business with $30 million in assets. Entrepreneurship. She was Vice They have published Seaman President for Export for Chaumet, Schepps: A Century of New York a Senior Buyer for Tiffany & Co. Jewelry Design. They also plan a and for Little Switzerland. She has Museum Installation at the Museum also been with Bergdorf Goodman of Arts & Design in NYC this Fall. and Gubelin. With a long career as a jewelry As an international globetrotter, executive, Colleen was Senior Vice Colleen has traveled in Europe, the President for Asprey Limited. She Far East and South America. Her job was responsible for planning, has brought her to work in Paris, coordinating and implementing St. Thomas, V.I. and Switzerland. strategies for Asprey, Tomas Colleen currently resides in Starzewski and Rene Boiven. She and Paris with her worked with Oscar nominees Hilary husband Gerard Schmit. They have Swank and Angelina Jolie for their been married for thirteen years. dressing at the Academy Awards.

6 Kathleen Caslin 1979 Sinnott “TMLA taught me to know how to be tolerant, appreciative, inquisitive and goal-oriented. The academic excellence stressed in school carried over to my personal life experiences. No goal was too hard to attain. Anything was possible with hard work, determination and God’s grace.”

Kathleen and her husband of fifteen Previously working for companies years, Otis Sinnott, have four children - such as Merrill Lynch, Bankers Trust, Katie, Mike, Colleen and Mary. They Chase Manhattan Bank, AFL-CIO live in Oyster Bay Cove, Long Island. Corporate Headquarters, Escada, After graduating from TMLA in Tiffany & Co. and Gucci, Kathleen 1979, Kathleen received more than finds joy now as a CYO Coach at St. twenty-five scholarships to Division I Dominic’s, as an Assistant Cub Scout colleges for basketball and academics. Leader and as a member of the Boys Kathleen went to Vanderbilt & Girls Club, coaching basketball. University, then transferred and After getting married, Kathleen was graduated from Manhattan College. able to use the wonderful tools the While a player on their team, they sisters and faculty of TMLA gave her finished second in their NCAA in her domestic life. She enjoys being a conference. full-time mother and is grateful for the In 1982, Kathleen was the recipient skills and knowledge learned at TMLA of the Barry Goldwater Foundation to help others. Scholarship to study and intern on Kathleen states, “The Women of Capitol Hill while attending Vision honor should go to the TMLA Georgetown University; in 1983, she staff and sisters for encouraging me to received the Foundation for Economic ‘Go For It.’ I remain forever grateful Education Scholarship. This Fall Mary to their leadership and kindness. They Louis is nominating her to the Catholic served me as wonderful role models, High School Athletic Association Hall along with my parents, brothers and of Fame for her involvement with the sisters.” Varsity Basketball team.

7 Esperanza Bouza 1974 Papadopoulos “My years at TMLA paved the way for a wonderful college experience at Fordham University. Not only did I feel extremely well prepared academically, but my many experiences at Mary Louis taught me how to focus and go after my dreams.”

Esperanza Bouza Papadopoulos is ten years has focused on the use of a doctor at Memorial Sloan-Kettering allogeneic stem cell transplantation Cancer Center in New York City. for the treatment of acute and After graduating from New York chronic leukemia, as well as the use University School of Medicine in of immunotherapy to treat post 1982, Esperanza completed her transplant complications. training in internal medicine at She is an active member of several Bellevue Hospital and New York medical societies and has served as University Hospital. She remained a committee member, as well as at NYU Medical Center for her chairperson for various committees fellowship in hematology and of the National Marrow Donor oncology. She later went to Memorial Program, the largest registry for Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for unrelated marrow and stem cell training in allogeneic bone marrow donors in the United States. transplantation. After a six-month She and her husband Stelios have fellowship, she began her career as an been married for twenty-five years. Attending Physician on the They have been blessed with three Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation children - Christina, a sophomore Service. She has been in that position at Columbia University; Alexandra, for the past fifteen years. a freshman at Duke University; and Esperanza is an Associate Jason who is in the fourth grade. Attending Physician and an Associate She considers raising her children Professor. Her research over the past her greatest accomplishment.

8 Dionne Gray 1989 Gajadhar “My Mary Louis experience has contributed to my success in many ways. It has given me the ability to communicate with all types of people in all levels of management in a very professional and confident manner. This has helped me in both my personal and professional life. It has taught me how to think thoroughly and on my feet. It has given me the type of class and elegance that can only be found in a Mary Louis woman. It is said that you can always tell if a woman has gone to Mary Louis by her stance and demeanor. I am very proud and grateful to be a Mary Louis Woman.”

Dionne Gray Gajadhar was the Manager in January 2004. In this Financial Center Manager for position, she is responsible to ensure Washington Mutual Bank in that the branch makes its sales goals, Bellerose, NY. She recently relocated is in compliance with federal and to Georgia to manage a branch in bank policies, and that the Hiram, GA. customers’ needs are met and Before joining Washington satisfied. Mutual Bank, Dionne worked for Dionne is married to Matthew; Fleet Financial as an Assistant Branch they have three children - Matthew, Manager for four years. In April Jasmine and Christian. 2003 she took advantage of a better opportunity with Washington Mutual, starting as an Assistant Financial Manager and was promoted to Financial Center

9 Sophia Benito 1990 Brivio

“Mary Louis not only provided me with the foundation to be a smart, determined, confident, Hispanic business woman, but it also helped mold me into a caring, loving, patient mother and wife. Mary Louis enabled me to be the best at everything I have ever tried to do and not to be afraid of taking any challenges that life should give me.”

After graduating cum laude from in the Diagnostics Division. Sophia Baruch College in 1995, Sophia was quickly trained and nationally worked at Automatic Data Processing certified as a Certified Diabetes as a District Manager. At the time she Educator (CDE). She educated and was hired, she was the youngest female trained physicians, nurses, nurses- Hispanic to become a District aides, physician assistants and patients Manager. Managing several hundred regarding all aspects about diabetes payroll accounts, she established and starting with diagnosing, to treating monitored client implementation and reducing risks of the disease. schedules and coordinated with Federal Sophia worked extensively throughout and Local governments to assure the country with the Juvenile Diabetes proper procedure of payroll account Foundation. With the help of Bayer activity. She also managed seven sales Diagnostics, she was able to place representatives who were able to attain thousands of glucometers with the JDF more new accounts. so that children with the disease would In 1998, she went to work for Bayer be able to monitor their blood glucose Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Diagnostics with more accurate and less invasive Corporation. She started as a machines. Pharmaceutical Sales Rep focusing on Sophia left Bayer in 2001. She and Hispanic neighborhoods and doctors her husband of five years, Robert, live throughout Queens and Nassau in Garden City with daughters Lauren Counties. She continuously achieved Victoria and Juliana Christina. Though highest market share in the East Coast she misses work, she considers herself Division and was promoted within the privileged to have the opportunity to year to work for the corporate offices raise her two beautiful children.

10 Diane 2004 Pflug

“Through all of my schoolwork and activities at TMLA, I became a more focused and confident person.”

A graduate of St. Kevin’s a volunteer Camp Counselor at St. Elementary School in Fresh Anthony’s Summer Day Camp in Meadows, Diane is a recent graduate Ozone Park. of TMLA. She attended Mary Louis Currently a freshman at Cornell on a full scholarship and had been University, Diane has chosen to on the Principal’s List every term. major in science. She states, “I am She recently received the CSJ unsure of what career path I am Educational Mission Award at going to follow. I am willing to go Commencement. wherever my dreams will take me.” While at TMLA, Diane was extremely involved in extracurricular activities. She was a member of Pax Christi, Medical Unlimited, the Speech Team and the National Honor Society. Though her activities and academics kept her very busy, Diane found the time to be a peer tutor, to work at St. Kevin’s Rectory and to be

11 Catherine 2004 Wauters

“Attending Mary Louis placed me in a nurturing environment with an encouraging faculty and supportive friends, which fostered my self- confidence. This, in turn, allowed me to take advantage of all the opportunities around me, bringing me to where I am today.”

One of only a handful of students responsible for walking, feeding, who come to Mary Louis from Long cleaning and taking care of dogs and Island, Catherine is a graduate of cats. She assisted the veterinarians in St. Agnes Cathedral Elementary certain procedures and was able to School in Rockville Centre. While administer medicine, such as insulin. at Mary Louis, Catherine was a Through her strong academics, member of the Varsity Soccer team, volunteer work, and extracurricular the Student Council, Adopt-a- activities, Catherine was the recipient Grandparent program and the of the Loyola Presidential National Honor Society. Catherine Scholarship, St. Joseph’s University also took advantage of many other Presidential Scholarship, Rensselaer opportunities. She attended the Medal Scholarship and the Holy Dominican High School Preachers’ Cross Scholarship. Catherine chose Conference, the Sara Lawrence to continue her education at The Creative Writing Workshop and the College of the Holy Cross. Though National Student Leadership she is currently an undeclared major, Conference for International she is planning to pursue her degree Diplomacy. in English with a concentration in Catherine has worked at the Terry creative writing. From her experience Animal Hospital in Rockville Centre at the International Diplomacy since her sophomore year at TMLA. Conference, she is considering a She worked in the kennel and was minor in political science.

12 Roxanne 2005 De la Torre

“The Mary Louis Academy has helped me to become fully confident in myself and in my abilities. In addition, the Mary Louis community has enriched my whole person – bringing me spiritually, intellectually and emotionally closer to the best woman I can be.”

Roxanne is a graduate of St. Joan instructor. She volunteers at of Arc Elementary School in Jackson Operation F.U.N. helping mentally Heights. At Mary Louis, she is disadvantaged children and adults. currently the Vice-President of Roxanne has taken the National Pax Christi, Captain of the Varsity Latin Exam for the past three years Swimming team, the President of earning medals every year. In fact, the Speech Team, the Vice-President she received a perfect score during of Orchestra and a member of the her freshman year. Last year she was National Honor Society. the recipient of TMLA’s Peacemaker From her involvement with the Award. This high honor is given to Speech Team, Roxanne has won those who promote peace and justice over twenty-five awards at different by reaching out to alleviate pain or tournaments during the past three injustice, by being inclusive and years. This year she placed in the welcoming of all without distinction, Top 24 in the nation at the thereby making a positive difference Catholic Forensic League’s National in the local and global community. Championships. She has been the Now in her senior year at TMLA, team’s Most Valuable Speaker for the Roxanne has not yet decided where past two years. she will attend college. She knows For seven years, Roxanne was a that she wants to be a pediatrician, member of the Flushing YMCA following in the footsteps of her Flyers Swim Team, serving as their father who is a doctor and her captain for two years. She works at mother who is a nurse. the YMCA as a lifeguard and a swim

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