1967 CLASS BRIEFS

1967  Margaret “Meg” Bishop Haight  lives in Oakdale with her husband Vaughn and earned her degree from UCONN. “I am happily retired. I enjoyed a career with lots of challenging assignments and then did a cartwheel down the hall when leaving on my last day of work, put the top down on my Miata, and drove off with the music blasting!

.....   I’ve been married 42 years. I helped out my mom and dad in their later years. I have some great Mercy memories…the after prom beach party at Joanne's on Seaside Ave.
-Getting picked up after school by my "older" boyfriend (now husband) in his silver corvette - and knowing that Sr. Amanda was watching intently as we cruised off.-Walking home (when we were still at Xavier) with Jo Russo.

-Miss Maher's take charge strength backed with laughs, Sr. Roberta Mary just exuded calm and caring, Sr. Quentin was so real by expressing both joy and sorrow. The fact is 45 years later, I can appreciate how each individual faculty member contributed to the positive experience that is Mercy. It takes hard work and tenacity to keep growing. I honed those attributes at Mercy. I wish many blessings to one and all.”  meghaight@gmail.com 

1967  Barbara Czaja Lisien-Juliano  and her husband James live in Niantic and she is a Medical Technologist at Middlesex Hospital. Barbara earned degrees from Rivier College and Northeastern University, Medical Technology Internship. She has 4 grown children, Tara, Brad, Michael and Julie, and 2 step children, Jeff and Jamie. “I enjoy boating with my husband, Jim; I love to kayak, sew and read, and belong to a small Book Club with close friends.”    She travels often to North Carolina and Pittsburgh to visit her 8 grandchildren. She has enjoyed 24 years at Middlesex Hospital, working in the Clinical Laboratory. In June, she transitioned to a small lab, serving Oncology patients, at the hospital's Outpatient Center. Her favorite Mercy memories revolve around the plays we put on. I usually worked behind the scenes, but watching it all come together was a lot of fun. I also fondly recall Sister Laura Marie Meskill, for her energy in class and courtesy towards her students.”  lisienjuliano@gmail.com 

1967  Frances Damiata Crescimanno  and her husband live in Middletown and she has two grown children, Julianne, Mercy ’08 and Xavier grad, Joseph. She earned degrees from Rivier College and her BS in Elementary Education from ECSU. She is currently a Library Assistant/Clerk. She fondly remembers “being a part of the first major production at Mercy, The Sound of Music. Also, Sr. Laura Marie, her sweetness and kindness.  She came to my mother’s wake when she passed away in 1987. Stay well” is her message to classmates.   jjfkcress@aol.com 

1967  Lynne DeDominicis Brewer  and her husband live in Old Saybrook and have 2 grown children, Kristin and Keri. She earned her AS degree from Bay Path and is retired and busy with 3 grandchildren, and one on the way! She has fond memories of making new friends from other towns while at Mercy. “I am proud that my niece, Casey Fitzgerald, is a Sophomore at Mercy!     

1967  Donna DiMauro  lives in Cromwell and earned her Master’s degree from Wesleyan University. She is a purchasing agent, but plans on retirement soon! She enjoys golfing, travel and making Oriental rugs. “I would love to hear from Linda Dudek!”  DonnaDimauro@sbcglobal.net 

1967  Phyllis DiMauro Smithwick  lives in Portland with her husband Gary. She has two grown daughters, Carla and Meghan, and four grandchildren. She graduated from Vinal Regional Vocational Technical School and Middlesex Memorial Hospital with her LPN nursing license and is a Medical Records Nurse. She is employed by Omnicare of CT, updating computerized medical records for residents in long term care facilities in CT and RI.  She has fond memories of the “gym classes with Miss Maher, especially the chicken workout! Sr. Laura Marie was truly an inspiration—so gentle, kind hearted, caring and compassionate.” Her message to her classmates is “Once a Mercy woman, always a Mercy woman. We continue the breakfast gatherings, it’s so good to see everyone!”  Phyllissmithwick@att.net 

1967  Elizabeth “Betti” Ercolani Leonard  lives in Mechanicsburg, PA with her husband John.  They have 3 grown children; Michael, Jill and Kristen, and 6 grandchildren. She is a retired Special Education Teacher at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High. Betti earned her undergrad degree from CCSU and her graduate degree from Shippensburg University. She enjoys reading, knitting, sewing and traveling.  She and John are coordinators of the Marriage Mentor ministry for their church and are active mentors of engaged couples. She was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 2000.   Betti.leonard5@gmail.com 

1967  Virginia ‘Ginny’ Ferron Abelt  lives in Henderson, NV with her husband and has a grown son, Jon, and two grandchildren. She is a retired after 39 years as an educator and taught K-8th, writing and teaching specialist. She remembers “Father Finnerty taught us about spiritual and moral values and I have remembered them throughout my life. My husband, Darryl, has made me thankful for our love, respect and friendship. Friendship doubles joy and divides grief. My spiritual journey has lead me to various paths throughout my life. My greatest accomplishment is my son, Jon and his children.”   

1967  Karen Grier Zaleski  lives in Cromwell with her husband John and they have 3 grown children, Jay, Xavier ‘00, Michael, Xavier ‘02 and Katelyn, Mercy ‘03. Karen and John both love to travel. “I was blessed to be able to return to Mercy in 2000 and serve as Sr. Mary's assistant for the next six years. I witnessed the dedication by the people of Mercy who consistently went above and beyond. My dad's job had him transfer to Middletown and I came to Mercy as a scared sophomore! I remember how friendly and welcoming everyone was so the transition was very smooth. I have fond memories of Sister Francis Joseph who taught me several business courses. I started working as a secretary right after graduation and always credited her for that. If you haven't been to Mercy lately, you'll enjoy seeing all the updates that have been made to the school. If you sit in the auditorium, chances are you'll be sitting in an original seat from when the school was built. It's a beautiful place! How many schools can say that 45 years later?” Karenz217@gmail.com 

1967  Kathy Keyes Reardon  and her husband Jim have 2 grown daughters, Caroline and Christine. Kathy earned her BA degree from the Elms College, MS degree from Troy State and MA degree from George Washington University. She is a retired Teacher and lives in Springfield, VA.  “I have great memories of sitting on the floor in the hallway before school. A US History teacher at Mercy always had a questions at the end of tests…there is something you studied that isn’t on the test.  Tell me now. I used the same question when I became a teacher.”  Reardon4@verizon.net 

1967  JoAnn LaBella Mariano  and her husband live in Middletown. She is a retired Middletown teacher.  Jom397@yahoo.com 

1967  Barbara Mann O’Rourke  and her husband, Dennis, Xavier ’67, live in Higganum and have 3 children, Brigid, Liam and Siobhan.  She is a Mathematics Teacher at Cromwell High School.  hkftbl@aol.com 

1967  Joanne Marino-Murray  earned her BA degree in Sociology from Elms College and MS degree in Education from SCSU. She is an Elementary School Teacher. Joanne is a widow and has 3 grown children, Margaret, Deirdre and Colin. She has great memories of the bus rides on the OLD Rt. 9.  Her message to classmates is “Enjoy each moment!”   

1967  Kathy McKenna Fauteux  lives in Newton, MA with her husband Stephen and she has 3 grown sons, Kevin, Michael, and Andy. She earned her BA degree in Psychology from Albertus Magnus College and her MS in Accounting from Northeastern University. She is a CPA, Senior Tax & Accounting Mgr at Flagship Ventures. She enjoys travel and knitting. “I have great memories of The long bus ride to and from school (from Old Saybrook to Middletown.) It was great fun and we got to do it every day! Sister Laura Marie was a terrific Geometry and English teacher.  Sister Roberta Mary gave me a lot of confidence when I sang with and accompanied the Glee Club. It was a wonderful experience. Mercy High School was the single most important educational experience in my life. Because we were all young women learning together, we discovered that women were strong and competent. In short, that we could do anything we set our minds to. That knowledge was revolutionary in 1967. The world was changing fast and we were prepared for it when we left Mercy.”  Kfauteux16@verizon.net 

1967  Barbara Meglin Cooper  earned her BA degree from Marquette University and is the Owner/President of Barb Cooper Communication Services.  She lives in Browns Point, WA with her husband, Dennis Finck.  barbcoopercomm@gmail.com 

1967  Rosemary Mintzer Shea  and her husband Michael live in Middletown. They have a grown son, Stephen and 2 grandsons. She earned her BS and MS in Education from CCSU and 6th Year from the Graduate Institute. She is an Elementary School Teacher. “I remember when we were at Xavier, when the boys walked to lunch, the nuns pulled the blinds so we couldn’t watch below! Sr. Laura Marie was the epitome of a teacher—kind, sensitive, extremely dedicated and knowledgeable. My days at Mercy were filled with fun and a strong sense of faith and direction. I wish my fellow classmates many more enriching years to enjoy their families  and future adventures!”  rozishea@sbcglobal.net 

1967  Ruth Moore Barningham  and her husband Stephen live in Jericho, VT. She earned her BA degree from Colby College and pursued Administration studies at The Wharton School, UPenn. She is the Office Manager for her husband’s veterinary practice, Mt. Mansfield Animal Hospital. “We have a houseful of animals, including an aging horse. I thoroughly enjoy my cottage on Lake Champlain, along with our sailboat and a pontoon boat. We play golf 5 or 6 times a year, usually on vacation in Hilton Head. I'm a member of a disaster action team for the Red Cross in Vermont. I co-chair our church choir. And, since we own our veterinary hospital, we are the "board." In a past life, I was the Administrator for the Dept of Management at the Wharton School at UPenn, Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH. My favorite Mercy memories include tripping on my robes going on stage at Xavier while playing Portia in the Merchant of Venice, Freshman year. Also, Sister Laura Marie was instrumental in preparing us to take SATs which enabled me to get into Colby College which was my first choice in colleges. The faculty and staff of Mercy allowed us the freedom to set our own standards (within limits of course) -- particularly being the first graduating class and being "top dog" for four years. We didn't have upperclassmen to emulate so we became "our own people".  I just recently reestablished connection with Barbara Meglan Cooper and Elena Baroni-Rabel after 40 years. If any of you are travelling in the Lake Champlain area of VT, please get in touch.  Ruthlesmb@hotmail.com 

1967  Patricia Nielsen  lives in Colchester and earned her BS degree in Business Management from Albertus Magnus.  She is a Client Services Manager for Saybrook Wealth Group and has two grown children, Lauren, 40, and Craig, 39.  Patricia enjoys travel, photography, animal rescue and water color painting and is a member of CT-Animal House and the Lions Club.  Her favorite Mercy memories include “having pride in our new school and driving to school. Also, Fr. Kane was so kind and considerate. Mercy provided me with an excellent education, appreciation for others, a good work ethic and pride in a job well done.” Her message to classmates is “Thank you for being there!!!”  nielsenp@live.com 

1967  Jan Parmelee Borden  lives in Cranfills Gap, TX with her husband and has four step children, Joey, Stephanie, Jamey and Greg. She earned her Bachelors and Masters Degrees from CCSU and her EdD from Illinois State University. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Alaska. When asked about her favorite Mercy memory, Jan responded “Hmm, I suppose the Dark Room Incident shouldn’t be in the running!  J  So many great times academically and socially…the mixers with Xavier and sports. As I grew older, I realized how blessed we were to have so many gifted teachers who had life-long influences on me, especially in my teaching career.  Miss Maher, Srs. Roberta Mary, Quentin and Philomena come to mind instantly, but there were many. I really want to make it one of these times to see so many old friends and to catch up.  The 50th, for sure!”   

1967  Maria Peplau  earned both her MSM and MBA degrees from Albertus Magnus College and is a retired IT professional and business owner. She lives in East Hampton and has two grown children, Sal and Michelle.  “My interests are cooking, baking, and floral design which are the main functions of my current home business. I also work part-time as a florist in a large grocery store chain.  I am a member of the East Hampton Republican Town Committee, and former  member of the East Hampton Board of Finance. I've had a successful career in IT. I am now retired. Fond memories of Mercy include a freshman trip to the New York World's Fair and a senior trip to Washington DC. Evelyn Maher was one of the most approachable teachers and is now a special friend. Mercy provided me with a good foundation in the area of values and standards that I have passed down to my children. When I meet a former classmate, I feel as though I'm meeting a sister. I feel a very close bond even though I may or may not have been their personal friend in high school.  I have two grandchildren, Daniel, 6 and Jacob, 5 years of age.   maria_peplau@yahoo.com 

1967  Lynne Petino Johnson  lives in Shrewsbury, MA with her husband Jerry. She graduated from Bay State College and works in Sales at Comcast. She has 2 grown children, Sara and Tim, and 3 grandchildren. She enjoys quilting, reading and spending time with her granddaughters.   Ljohns024@yahoo.com 

1967  Karen Thayer  lives in Middletown and earned her BS in Math degree from CCSU.  She is a Pension Analyst at Kissel, Kneale & Tobin, Inc in Madison.  Kathayer2001@yahoo.com 

1967  Sister Georgeann Vumbaco  earned both her undergrad and graduate degrees from St. Joseph College and is the Pastoral Associate for St. Joseph Parish. Sr. Georgeann lives in Meriden and enjoys reading, making candy, playing the guitar and walking her dog. “I am the Chairperson for the following boards: Mercy High School, Mercy Community Health, Advisory Board on Aging for the City of Meriden, and Board member for The Bradley Home. I have received the Catherine McAuley Award from Mercy High School and the
Leadership Award from The Women and Families Center. I have great memories of working as the stage manager in the plays and crowning the statue of Mary. Also, Sister Laura Marie Meskill, she had high expectations and was always fair. Sister Roberta McGrath was a great teacher and had a wonderful sense of humor. Mercy helped me to stand up for what I believe in and to follow my dreams. Thanks for the wonderful memories.”  gmv1@cox.net 

1967  CarolJean Wisnieski  earned her BA degree from Regis College and her MA degree from the University of No. Texas. She also attended the Fulbright School in India, USIA Teaching Fellow in Tirana, Albania, and was a Visiting Scholar at Xiamen (China) Education College. She lives in San Francisco, CA and is an Instructor.  “I have fond memories of when Sr. Amanda told me to unroll my skirt. The compassion shown when Barbara Miller, Alumnae and Development Director at Mercy attended my mother’s wake and asked if I needed support. That will never be forgotten. Also, I remember Sr. Roberta Mary for her encouragement. Keep your heart and mind open to the unexpected…everything changes.”  cwisnies@ccsf.edu 

1967  Gail Zawacki Seiferman  and her husband Thomas live in Dayville and have 3 grown children, Rebecca, Jessica and Emily, and 6 grandchildren. She earned her BS degree from ECSU and is an Accountant, CPA. She has fond memories of moving into the brand new high school. Also, “Sr. Roberta Mary…she developed my creative side. I was very glad to be part of the first graduating class of Mercy.   Galestorm40@hotmail.com