Womenof VISION

WOMENof VISION J A M A I • CA N•Y THE MARY LOUIS ACADEMY Each year The Mary Louis Academy graduates young women with faith and dreams, intelligence and commitment. We want to share some of our students, past and present, with you as we ask your continued support for the marvelous work of educating young Women of Vision. In preparing these snapshots of TMLA grads and students, we asked each the following question: “How did your experiences at The Mary Louis Academy contribute to your success?” As you read the responses and examine the accomplishments of your schoolmates, we suspect you will be answering that question for yourself as well. One theme emerged repeatedly. Mary Louis was a wonderful place to grow and learn. In part, that learning was about self and how to use the gifts with which each woman was blessed. Personal confidence and a desire to be the best shine through each glimpse of these Women of Vision. We hope to continue to send you snapshots of our graduates so that you will be proud to contribute to a tradition of faith and excellence, which has not faltered in more than sixty-five years. J A M A I • CA N•Y 1 Lois Meaney 1953 McGowan “The example, ideals and practical application of education principles to which I was exposed during my four years at Mary Louis served me very well in my career as wife, homemaker, mother and grandmother. They have fostered my subsequent particular interest in the education of underprivileged children.” After graduating from Adelphi practice. Her volunteer work College in 1957 with a B.A. in includes being a Brownie and Girl Social Work, Lois McGowan taught Scout leader, Cub Scout den mother primary grade school in Syosset, N.Y. in Carle Place and Garden City, In 1958 she married Andrew J. N.Y., teaching CCD at St. Joseph’s McGowan and raised a family of Parish in Garden City, raising money three children while her husband for Chaminade High School, and did his medical training. During being a Eucharistic Minister at subsequent years as they moved to St. Joseph’s Parish. She is currently Washington, she administered her a board member of St. Ignatius husband’s urology group practice School, Hunt’s Point, Bronx, which from 1978 to 1990. Lois’ volunteer is a storefront school expanding activities contributed to the already to permanent headquarters, and busy life that she was leading as a weekly volunteer at a pregnancy homemaker to three children and crisis center called Life Center. office administrator to her husband’s 2 Patricia Reilly 1953 Giff “I made lifelong friends at Mary Louis, my closest friend who has shared the joys and sorrows of life with me. But there was one special relationship with the Poet and English teacher, Sister Immaculata, which was very important in my career. My experiences in her class certainly helped as a background for my writing . and the years in the debating club with Sister as a moderator were a wonderful foundation for the speaking which I do now.” Patricia Reilly Giff, noted text and remedial readers with books children’s author of over 60 books which would be both instructive yet and winner of the prestigious John joyful. Her prize winning novel, Newbery Medal, knew that she Lily’s Crossing, is a vivid portrait of wanted to write from the time she the home front during WWII. Her picked up her first book and read. most recent book, All the Way Home, After earning a B.A. degree from tells the touching story of Brick and Marymount College, she decided to Mariel, two 11-year old friends who become a teacher and after twenty know firsthand about adversity, and years of teaching and earning a together embark on a journey that master’s degree from St. John’s and brings them personal peace. a doctorate in Humane Letters from With her husband Jim and Hofstra, she decided to devote full children Alie, Jim and Bill, Pat time to writing. Kids of the Polk opened in 1990 a children’s Street School was her first series, bookstore named Dinosaur’s Paw providing new teachers with usable in Weston, Connecticut. 3 Patricia 1959 Hynes “I have always credited my experience at The Mary Louis Academy for my decision to pursue a career in law. As a member of the debating team at Mary Louis, I developed the ability and confidence to think on my feet, to marshal information and to present it coherently and persuasively in a public forum. These are skills that are essential for a trial lawyer. The debating team was only one facet of the wonderful education I received at Mary Louis.” Patricia Hynes, a lead trial lawyer the Southern District of New at the firm of Milberg Weiss Bershad York from 1967 to 1982. Hynes & Lerach LLP, has had a Pat has served on the Advisory distinguished career as a litigator, Committee to the Federal Judicial a teacher and in service to the Code Revision Project and has also profession. A Fellow of the American served on the Commission on College of Trial Lawyers, she has Government Integrity. In July of taught Trial Advocacy at Harvard 2002, she was named by Mayor Law School, Fordham Law School Bloomberg to the New York City and the National Institute of Trial Charter Revision Commission. Advocacy. Graduating with a J.D. Pat has been included on the list from Fordham Law School, she was of Best Lawyers in America since a member of the Law Review and 1993 and in the National Law subsequently served as a law clerk to Journal’s Profile of America’s Top Joseph C. Zavatt, Chief Judge of the 50 Women Litigators and Survey United States District Court for the of the Fifty Most Influential Women Eastern District of New York, and Lawyers in America. was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in 4 Sister Annelle 1965 Fitzpatrick,CSJ “Mary Louis instilled in me a deep awareness of Gospel mandate that to whom much is given - much will be expected.” Sister Annelle Fitzpatrick, CSJ ethical issues involving at-risk youth. is currently the Director of the Joining the Sisters of Saint Joseph Catholic Hospital Administrative after she graduated from college, Personnel Program at Saint Vincent’s Sister Annelle taught history at Catholic Medical Centers of New Fontbonne Hall, Saint Joseph’s High York, where she is responsible for School and served as an adjunct in the development of curriculum Sociology at St. John’s University. and selection of faculty. Since At the latter, she obtained an M.A. its inception in 1984, the in Sociology, an M.S. in Philosophy program has attracted hospital and a Ph.D. in Sociology. For administrative personnel from 15 years, from 1984 to 1999, throughout the United States, she served as Vice President for Canada, Ireland, Australia and Mission and Ethics at the Catholic England to study complex ethical Medical Center in Jamaica, New issues facing the healthcare York, where she was responsible community. Sister Annelle also for maintaining, integrating and assists at Covenant House, where strengthening the organization’s she counsels teenagers and staff on values into all policies and problems related to moral, social and procedures of the Medical Center. 5 Susan James 1966 Kropf “Mary Louis taught me the meaning of achievement as well as the importance of relationships - both key ingredients for success.” President and Chief Operating development. Under Susan’s Officer of Avon Products Inc., Susan leadership, Russia became the fastest Kropf has been responsible for Avon’s growing new market entry in Avon’s worldwide business operations since history, Central Europe grew January 2001. (Avon is the world’s dramatically, and she led Avon’s leading direct seller of beauty related entry into South Africa via Avon’s products with approximately acquisition of Justine (Pty) Ltd. $6.0 billion in annual revenues.) In 1997, Susan was placed in Joining Avon in 1970, Susan has charge of U.S. operations, the held key positions in critical areas company’s largest single market of the company’s operations including and in 1998 became Executive Vice marketing, research and development, President of Avon North America, global product development, responsible for the company’s customer service, manufacturing operating business unit that spans and others. Named as President of the United States, Canada and Avon’s product development in Puerto Rico. 1990, she was promoted to Senior Susan earned a B.A. from St. John’s Vice President - U.S.A. marketing University and an M.B.A. in Finance in 1992 and one year later Senior from New York University. Vice President of global product 6 Patricia 1971 Fili-Krushel “The values and thirst for knowledge that were instilled in me during my years at Mary Louis provided me with a foundation that I was able to build upon. Additionally, I believe that being educated in a single-sex environment allowed me to approach the business world in a confident manner.” Patricia Fili-Krushel, Executive Vice for program acquisitions, development, President of Administration at AOL production, scheduling and on-air Time Warner, Inc. has spent her entire production, with particular emphasis professional career working in the on the development and expansion media. Graduating with a B.S. from of original programming and the St. John’s University, Pat began her introduction of the network’s world career at ABC as Program Controller premiere movies. for ABC Sports from 1975 to 1979. From July 1998 to April 2000, In 1984 she went to work for HBO, Pat was President at ABC Television where she was responsible for overseeing Network.

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