Alumni Class Notes

Richard Flaherty ’87 will be inducted into the Maine Baseball of Fame on October 15, at a banquet at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland. Richard was an elite pitcher for Saint Joseph’s College in the 1980s, helping lead the Monks to their first NAIA New England Regional Championship in 1986. In 2000, he was elected as a charter member of the Saint Joseph’s College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Coach Will Sanborn ’86 will be inducted into The Maine Sports Hall of Fame on October 29 at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium along with 9 other members of the Class of 2023. Will Sanborn of Standish is synonymous with St. Joseph’s College baseball. He played at Bonny Eagle High and at St. Joe’s, where he still holds three records as a player. He became the Monks’ head coach in 1993, winning numerous conference Coach of the Year honors. Sanborn recently won his 800th career game at St. Joe’s.

Mike McDevitt ’83 has been named to the Class of 2023 Maine Basketball Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, ME on Sunday, August 20, 2023. One of the finest men’s basketball players to play for Saint Joseph’s College, the Ellsworth native scored 1,381 points to go with 674 rebounds as a four year starter, and was named the Player of the Year after his senior season in the Western Maine Athletic Conference. In over 30 years as an NCAA Division 3 coach, Mike has compiled a record of 602 -210. He is in the top 10 of active Division 3 women’s coaches in wins.

Megan Baker ’19 & Alex Gutierrez ’19 got engaged at the Athletics Complex at SJC on October 23, 2022. Megan played Field Hockey at SJC and is now the coach at Dean College. Alex was a Sports Information Intern and is now the Assistant Sports Information Director at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Congratulations to Megan and Alex!

Deborah Anderson ’16, ’23 will now oversee operations at the Bath Savings location at 8 Church St in Damariscotta, Maine. Debbie began her banking career with Bath Savings in 2000 and worked as a senior teller and a customer service representative before becoming an assistant branch manager.

“We are so fortunate to have Debbie leading our Damariscotta team into the location’s 54th year in business — and beyond,” said President Glenn Hutchinson. “Debbie represents the principles we value at Bath Savings, and we’re grateful for her leadership both in the bank and in the Damariscotta community.”

Debbie holds an MBA in leadership and a Bachelor of Science in business from Saint Joseph’s College. She serves on the board of the Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce and is active with various community nonprofits and events.

Reginald Bourn ’21 just completed his Masters in Library and Information Science at Simmons University in Boston, MA. Congratulations Reggie!

Allison McGinley ’07 and husband Aaron welcomed their first son, Asa Terence Libby, on November 18, 2022. He was 7lbs 8oz. Congratulations Allison and Aaron!

Matthew Carrier ’03 wrote his first book called To Ring the Bell which shares his amazing story of faith, family, and adversity as he recovered from his second round of cancer. Matthew graduated from SJC in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, graduating Magna Cum Laude. While a student in 2001, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which caused him to miss a semester. But he fought through, recovered from cancer treatments, and took summer classes to ensure he graduated with his class. Fast forward to 2021, he was diagnosed with sinus cancer, underwent three surgeries, and lost his left eye.

To Ring the Bell gives the reader an inside look at one man’s life with cancer. It’s the story of life, hope, and healing. It’s about living a moment at a time and being grateful for another day. As Matthew explains in To Ring the Bell:

“Sometimes, we don’t get to walk the path we choose, and if so, we must learn to adapt. During my trial, I saw life’s beauty through simple moments, and those moments–like when I wake and breathe in the morning air–changed my perspective.”

Congratulations to Anne DeSantis ’21 who will receive the “Catholic Woman of the Year” award from the Philadelphia Chapter of the Knights of Columbus on October 15, 2023. Anne is the Executive Director for the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation for Freedom, Family, and Faith. She is a Catholic Author, Speaker, and a 55+ Model/ Actress from the Greater Philadelphia area. Currently, she hosts a weekly TV show called Journeys in Faith on Fiat Ministry Network and a podcast on Patchwork Heart Radio called Sewing Hope with Bill Snyder interviewing people doing good things and spreading faith.

Amber Chembars Meyerl ’10 has been appointed as the new Executive Director of The Quell Foundation, a nationally recognized not-for-profit organization dedicated to reducing the number of suicides, overdoses, and the incarceration of people with mental health challenges. Read more here.

“I’m both honored and excited to join such a compassionate and devoted team,” says Amber. “The mission of The Quell Foundation is one which deeply resonates with me and I’m eager to be a part of the continued and far-reaching efforts to promote conversation, education, and awareness of mental health challenges and treatment for our community’s betterment.”

Lisa White Farese ’99 makes Disney’s 100 top inspiring teachers list! Read more about this creative alumna here.

Christine Hesler ’10, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for RSU 14, has been honored as the 2023 Curriculum Leader of the Year by both the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Curriculum Leaders Association. Read more about her award here.

Joshua Sheehan ’19 just completed his Master of Arts in American Military History at American Military University in Charles Town, WV.

Stacy (Burton) Dennison ’10 and husband Jason Dennison welcomed their second child, Charles Jerry Dennison, in August of 2022. Congratulations Stacy & Jason!

Obituaries

Remembering Sister Sylvia Comer ’62, Hon. ’18

As we celebrated the 111 years and counting of the Sisters of Mercy contributions to Saint Joseph’s College during the week of Giving Day, we experienced the passing of a very special Sister – Sister Sylvia Comer – who served on our campus for 30 years. Sister Sylvia initiated the Campus Ministry office, now known as the Mercy Center. With Sister Michele Aronica, she instituted the first service trips taken by students during their spring break each year. Now known as Spring Break Workfest, this weeklong experience of helping the underserved in Appalachia, New York, Washington, D.C. and as far away as California has left an indelible mark on the lives of hundreds of Saint Joseph’s students, while assisting an even greater number of families in need. Sister Sylvia’s meditations will live indefinitely on the College’s website, as will her sweet, loving, caring manner. She is one example of the selfless but rich contributions of the Sisters of Mercy to Saint Joseph’s College.

The College would like to offer the following individuals and their families thoughts and prayers.

Linda Harris Baker ’90 deceased 1/6/2023

Eleanor A. Kava ’01 deceased 1/15/2023

Nancy Myslenski ’93 deceased 2/11/2023

Fredric Vaughn Stone deceased 2/16/2023

Mary M. “Marty” Zerbi ’85 deceased 2/11/2023

Susan W. Bonak ’86 deceased 4/3/2023

Sister Sylvia Comer ’62, Hon. ’18 deceased 3/25/2023

Beverly R. Larimore ’99 deceased 3/1/2023

Dr. Joan E. Larkin ’75 deceased 3/23/2023

Catherine Sevigny Sanborn ’96 deceased 4/5/2023

Derrick S. Jenkins ’82 deceased 4/18/23

Delores Casale Kelley deceased 5/3/23

Sister Anne Louise Fitzpatrick, RSM ’64 deceased 6/2/2023

Erin Moriarty Gutknecht ’05 deceased 5/1/2023

Jeanne Marie Beaupre Silveira ’80 deceased 5/11/2023

Maureen Anne Elizabeth Tierney ’67 deceased 5/13/2023

Mary Patricia Campbell ’52 deceased 5/26/2023

Catherine K. Gates ’83 deceased 6/1/2023

Joan Mary Curran ’52 deceased 6/25/2023