Alumnae Activity

Sister Gerardine Mueller, OP '39 was awarded an honorary degree - Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa - during the sixty-ninth annual commencement of Caldwell College on May 22, 2011.

Sister Mary McGuinness, OP '51 received the inaugural Msgr. Thomas A. Kleissler Award on June 2, 2011 at the RENEW International 12^th annual gala. This award is presented to an individual person who exemplifies the missionary and visionary qualities of RENEW's founder: to serve the needs of today's church though innovative pastoral services and resources that build vibrant faith communities of hope and gospel action. Sister Mary has contributed to RENEW International's ministry for more than 30 years. She has led small Christian community efforts and co-authored and edited many of RENEW's faith-sharing resources.

Stephanie Gochuico '05 graduated summa cum laude from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Pa. with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. She received the Merck Award for high academic achievement and the Glaxo Smith Kline Commencement Award.

Tara Cwierko '05 received a masters in social work from Fordham University, New York. She is a social worker at Cedar Crest in Pompton Plains, New Jersey.

Arden Beesley '06 lives in Denmark and is employed by the Danish Institute for study abroad. As a study-tours assistant, she is responsible for research, budget and executing tours throughout the EU.

Victoria DeFinis '07 will be teaching in Dallas, Texas as part of TEACH FOR AMERICA. She recently graduated from Loyola University, Maryland with an Honors BS in biology.

Colleen Mason '09 has accepted membership in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Mason was one of only 29 students accepted into Montclair State University's five year undergraduate/graduate dual certification program for inclusive education.

Jacqueline Dorrity '01, a student at Seton Hall University, New Jersey, spent her spring break in North Carolina volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

Liz Lembo '10, a student at Georgetown University, DC, spent this summer teaching English in a village in southern Poland.

Raina Samuel '10 is the author of Skull and Bones: A Pirate's Odyssey. "Pirates. Treasures. The two seem to coexist with each other. Pirates seek treasure and the treasure is found. Right? But what if the treasure can't be found? Or even better...its location keeps changing? Meet Captain James Noire, the proud captain of The Dark Cloud, in search of the elusive Noire treasure that has escaped the grasp of his ancestors for centuries. With his reluctant yet talented crew, Captain Noir embarks on this grand odyssey, battling vicious monsters, unraveling mysteries and dealing with the phantoms of his own past. Join this journey and witness this epic pirate odyssey."

Stasia Rogacki '10 is at the United States Military Academy,West Point, New York. where she recently earned the Recondo badge, an award given during Cadet Field Training to those cadets who excel in the various phases of Cadet Field Training and meet the standard put forth by the Commandant.

Nikki Anna Doerr '11 was selected Miss Teen New Jersey International 2011. 

Engagements and Weddings

Cathy Origlieri '98 is engaged to Brad Clark. Their wedding is November 24, 2011.

Nicole De Jackmo '01 is engaged to Michael Valentino. The couple will wed in 2011. 

Maggie Durkin '02 is engaged to John Shaw. A winter wedding is planned for next year. 

Lauren Cieremans '04 is engaged to Matthew Bach. Their wedding is August 10, 2012.

Tamikio Ronette Neal Craig '86 married Johnny Smith in May, 2010. The couple resides in Powder Springs, Georgia.

Meghan Wronko '98 married Brian Forsatzon on November 27, 2010.

Laura Hall '98 married Stephen P. Gill on May 22, 2010. She recently joined the New York firm of Allen & Overy as a litigation associate.

Juliet Little '00 married Drew Broderick on February 18, 2010 on Kikaua Beach at sunset in Kona, Hawaii.

Nicole Carbone '01 married David Uibelhoer on February 14, 2010. The couple resides in Montville, NJ.

Megan Cappiello '01, daughter of Cathy Soley Cappiello '67, married Anthony Della Fave in June 2010. The couple resides in Caldwell, NJ.

Rachel Lieb '02 married Ross D'Eredita in New York City at St. Paul's Church. The couple resides in Manhattan.

Barbara Zisa Petrie '89 and her husband, John, are the proud parents of Ian Joseph born on February 20, 2010.

Megan Molinaro Rourke '90 and her husband, Kevin, welcomed their second child on August 12, 2010. Liam Delaney Rourke weighed 10 pounds and 20 ¾ inches long. His big brother Kiernan, 23 months old can't get enough of him.

Nicole Lynch '92 and her husband, Patrick, have been blessed with a baby girl, Laura Emily, born on Christmas Eve. She joins her big brother, Jack.

Sharon Karg Holbrook '93 and her husband, Scott, had their third child, Laura Caroline, born on June7, 2010. She joins Adam, 5 years of age and Sarah, 3 years of age.

Ann Marie O'Rouke Brasco's '95 daughter, Sonoma Grace, welcomes her new sister, Sienna Jones, born on Sepember 28, 2010, weighing 8 lbs, 11oz, 20.5 inches.

Lisa Origlieri Swan '97 and her husband, Paul, had their second child, Paul David  on November 26, 2910. He joins big sister, Marie.

Andrea Koppenheffer West '02 and her husband, Mitchell, had a baby girl, Madison Elizabeth, on September 1, 2010.

Christine Costello Schmidt '90 and Joe Schmitt are the proud parents of Liam Christopher, born on August 14, 2010 and big brothers Ryan (3 years old) and Gavin (2 years old). The Schmidt family live in Holmdel, New Jersey. Christine loves staying home with their boys and is presently training for a half-marathon in April. Christine really enjoyed seeing classmates at their reunion dinner in December - she looks forward to more Mount get together down the road.

Prayers and Intentions

Our graduates often call and ask for prayers for their families and special intentions. We would like you to know that on the first Wednesday of each month the entire Mount community (students, faculty members and administration) offers their entire day of prayer for our alumnae.

In Memoriam

The Mount Saint Dominic community extends its deepest sympathy to the loved ones of recently deceased alumnae, family, and friends. A special Memorial Mass is held every November in the motherhouse chapel to remember all the deceased whose names are submitted by members of the Mount community.

Sister Mary Evelyn Mulcahy OP '42

Eileen Rose Hardebeck Fiederowicz White '43

Marjorie J. Finkle '44

Sister Doris Healey SC '49

Isabelle McAllister '49

Mary Farmer Carpenter '53, sister of Lila Farmer Nelson '56 and Anne Farmer O'Donnell '54

Sandra Gaida Goetting, member of the class of 1960

Perry Dellanno, DC, husband of Susan Iovino Dellanno '73

James E. Hailer, son of Sheila Farrell Hailer '51

Julia Krug, mother of Sister Barbara Krug OP, '57 and Kathleen Krug King '58

Doris Sharkey, mother of Heather Sharkey Kostka '61 and Maura Sharkey Eagle '66

Joseph McKenna, father of Kelley McKenna '12 and Kate McKenna '11

MaryAnne "Nan" Wycalek, mother of Stacy Wycalek Todd '80, Susan Wycalek McCann '82, Shelley Wycalek'85 and grandmother of Sydney Todd '11

Frances Gaestal, mother of Margaret Gaestal Scott '65 and Joan Gaestal Macfarlane '67

Angela Hogan, grandmother of Natalie Hogan Rivieccio '96 and Bridget Ann Hogan '95

Bernice and Walter Smith, parents of Diane Smith Blimling '59, Elaine Smith Scalamoni '62 and Jennifer Smith Shuster '66

Eileen Ryan, mother of Denise Lenihan ,RN, faculty member of Mount Saint Dominic Academy

Sister Barbara Cowan, OP, former faculty member of Mount Saint Dominic Academy

                ...excerpt from the Star-Ledger

                                "What you leave behind is not was is engraved in stone monuments,

                                         but what is woven into the lives of  others"

                                                                     -Pericles

    Sister Barbara died on Saturday, July 23, 2011, in St. Catherine Health Care Center, Caldwell, NJ.  She was 68.  Sister Barbara was born in Jersey City, NJ, entered the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell on September 8, 1963, and professed vows on July 3, 1965.  Sister graduated from St. Dominic Academy in Jersey City, from Caldwell College with a degree in Chemistry and from Seton Hall University with a masters in education.  She taught elementary school at St. Catherine of Siena School in Cedar Grove,NJ and the Ascension School in New Milford, NJ.  She also taught high school chemistry, physics, and algebra at Mount Saint Dominic Academy in Caldwell and Lacordaire  Academy in Upper Montclair, NJ., and served as dean of students and director of the external degree program at Caldwell College and as assistant principal at Mount Saint Dominic Academy and dean of students at Lacordaire Academy.  Additionally, she was bursar and superior at St. John's Convent in Caldwell and novice director for the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell. Sister Barbara is survived by her sisters, Kathleen Cowan and Claire Cowan.