Class Notes for July 2022

Find out which of our alums is celebrating a promotion, a new career, or their start-up business in Class Notes. Read about new babies and wedding announcements. See who is making news, and take a moment to remember those who have passed on.

Every month, we find ourselves short on Class Notes from classes before the 1990s. We want to share all of our alumni’s accomplishments! Please email us at alumni@strose.edu with your news, and write “class notes” in the subject line.

2020s

Conor Walsh ’20 is competing on in the Opening Act Competition, where the winner will have the chance to perform at the 9th Annual We Can Survive Festival. Conor has just released a new single, “That First Step” off his upcoming album, “Always & Forever,” scheduled for release in September.

2010s

Anthony Pokrentowski ’18, G’18 has been promoted to tax manager at Dannible & McKee, LLP. Anthony is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has been with the company since graduation.

Kristen Bonnici ’17 is the new assistant principal at Briarcliff Middle School.

Tay “Firefly” Fisher G’16 was profiled in the Albany Times Union in their “20 Things to Know About Me” feature.

Amanda Shaw G’15 is the new director of career education at Sacred Heart University. Previously, she served for several years in the career planning office at Russell Sage College.

Sarah Steiner ’15 has entered the Schenectady Police Training Academy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in in forensic psychology from Saint Rose and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati.

Themba “Every” Knowles ’14 is known as Mr. Every Day by his listeners. Wearing many hats, ranging from podcaster, producer, and on-air radio talent to the founder and CEO of Past Life Entertainment (an all-encompassing media company), Knowles has built a stellar career and was recently profiled by the Albany Times Union.

Katelyn O’Neill G’14 is bringing speech therapy closer to her patients. As part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care, she will be expanding services to the primary care offices in Manchester and Wilmington areas.

2000s

Bakeisha “BK” McCall ’07 is a certified personal trainer, podcast host, weight management specialist, transformational coach and health influencer based out of Long Beach, California. Following her own experience, BK now works with others to motivate and facilitate their own transformations so they too can “become better than you were yesterday.” You can reach BK at www.betterbodybybk.com.

Carla Bensi Doty ’04 has been working with Yelp since July 2019 and was promoted to community director of Yelp Jacksonville. She has the distinct honor and pleasure of helping small businesses in the greater Jacksonville area, connecting people to great local businesses, and engaging with her community.

1990s

Tim Fox G’97 was the May Window World Teacher of the Month. Tim is a third-grade teacher at River Oaks Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Denise Dinoto ’95, G’96 shared two pieces of good news. She is the new District Governor for Rotary District 7190 (Capital District and Eastern Adirondack area). As DG she will provide leadership and support to 38 Rotary clubs and 900 Rotarians. She also has a new job – program manager for the New York State Department of Health Disability and Health Program. In this role, she works to ensure New Yorkers with disabilities have access to public health programs and preventive healthcare.

1980s

Scott Burke ’89, G’97 shared this photo of a celebration with dear and former Saint Rose faculty. Pictured from left to right: Sister Honora Kinney (history), Richard Wunderlich (sociology), Scott, Keith Haynes (history/political science) and Carl Swidorski (political science).

1970s

Deborah Catalfamo Riitano ’71, G’81 was featured in the Albany Times Union for her work supporting older adults throughout the pandemic. The article details how as Albany County Department for Aging Commissioner she pivoted both hers and the department’s role to adapt to the changing needs of older adults as a result of COVID-19.

1960s

Mary Anne Vigliante ’68 has retired from the Academy of Holy Names school in Albany after a 52-year career there. During that time, she rose from a first year English teacher to head of school. Making this achievement extra special is that Vigliante is a graduate of the school herself and is working with teachers who were once her students.

In Memoriam

Kimberly Ashbey Mashhadi G’01
Fred Thompson Jr.’85
Lonna Leonard Hitchcock G’84
Jacquelin “Jackie” Kennell ’73
Sister Marianne Baehr ’72
Nancy Curran Leyden ’72
Ellen Lowther-Behling ’68
Elizabeth Ellis Sherman ’63, G’67
Patricia Leonard Maguire ’62
Sister Margaret Patrice (Mary Anne) Devlin ’61, G’65
Agnes Mulderry Schiano ’58
Lillian “Dolly” Wilson ’58
Jean Welch Fitzgerald ’50, G’53
Ann LaMontagne Karl ’44

Friends of Saint Rose

Judith “Judy” Anne Schaller Collins
Barbara Gillan Sherrard Place
June Anderson Partch