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Sister Mary Adalbert Inducted
Into ICHS Hall of Fame

NEW JERSEY – Immaculate Conception High School, a Felician sponsored institution for girls located in Lodi, New Jersey, held its first Hall of Fame induction on Thursday, October 10, 2013 at Il Villagio in Carlstadt, New Jersey.   At the same event, the traditional Women of Distinction Honors were held.  Congratulations to the very first members of the ICHS Hall of Fame and our newest Women of Distinction!

In photo on right: Sister Mary Adalbert Wierciszewski (third from left) poses with Mr. Joseph Azzolino (Principal/President of Immaculate Conception High School); Maryann Ference, her niece; Sister Mary Virginia Tomasiak, her presenter after she was inducted into the Inaugural Class of the ICHS Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame

Ms. Lisa C. Buono ’75
Dr. Susan Diverio ’81
Ms. Catherine Chomicki Fredericks ’71
Mr. Thomas Mann
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Taylor
(Aleta Zablatzky Taylor ’70)
Dr. Melissa Francisco Timochko ’93
Deacon Nicholas Valdez
Sister Mary Adalbert Wierciszewska, CSSF ’40
Ms. Jane Wojslawowicz ’64

 

Women of Distinction

Ms. Melina Mara ’81
Dr. Marylynn Snyder ’93

The presence of more than twenty Felician Sisters added to the uniqueness of this historic event.  While Sister Mary Adalbert was an honoree, two Felician Sisters were requested to present the honorees:  Sister Elizabeth Marie Morley presenting Mr. Thomas Mann and Sister Mary Virginia Tomasiak presenting Sister Adalbert. Sister Mary Aquinas Szott closed the evening with a special benediction prayer.

Sister Adalbert was recognized for her outstanding professional career in teaching on all levels from grammar school to college.  During the past thirty years she has been a member of the English Department of Felician College where she still teaches on a daily basis at the age of 91 (turning 92 in December) and after 73 years of religious life.  Before that she was an outstanding teacher in several high schools staffed by Felician Sisters.  She moderated award winning yearbooks and newspapers.  She also was a successful fundraiser for the Felician Sisters, Felician College and Immaculate Conception High school.  The proceeds of her tricky trays and carnivals are over three hundred thousand dollars.  But above all as Sister Virginia, her presenter, pointed out, she is an exemplary religious who daily adores Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

IMG_0805_(2)forwebAll of the honorees have gifted the world with their dedication and perseverance.

•            Ms. Lisa C. Buono is an outstanding member of the ICHS Alumnae Association and a very active member of Mt. Virgin parish in Garfield, New Jersey.

•            Dr. Susan Diverio’81 is the Director of Education for the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix.  Her responsibilities include developing and implementing programs for at-risk youth.  In 2007 she began a school St. Croix for high school dropouts which has achieved a graduation rate of 88%.

In photo on right: Sister Mary Adalbert is the “centerpiece” of the following ICHS Hall of Famers posing for the camera: Lisa Buono’75; Deacon Nick Valdez; Mrs. Aleta Zablatzky Taylor and her husband Richard Taylor; Thomas Mann with Ms. Jane Wojslawowicz’64 in front of him and Mrs. Catherine Chomicki Fredericks’71.   

•            Ms. Catherine Chomicki Fredericks is active in protecting and enhancing the lives of adopted and foster children.

•            Mr. Thomas Mann who changed his profession mid-life to become a teacher is an outstanding professor of history as well as a mentor of the National Honor Society and Middle States Preparation Committee.

•            Mr. Richard Taylor and Mrs. Aleta Zablatsky Taylor’70 have one son and three daughters.  All three daughters are alumnae of ICHS.  Rich serves on the board of Eva’s Village in Paterson, New Jersey, and supports many other noble causes.  Aleta is a board member of Oasis (A Haven for Women and Children in Paterson, New Jersey, and is a member of two papal orders.  The entire family has a beautiful mindset of giving back to others.  Rich and Aleta are longtime major supporters of ICHS.

•            Dr. Melissa Francisco Timochko (presented by her ten year old twin daughters Amanda and Emma) a school psychologist in Garfield was recognized for her sports achievements on the secondary and college levels.

•            Deacon Nick Valdez was athletic director at ICHS from 1994 to 1999 and implemented many new additions to the program.  He is currently a religion teacher at ICHS.

•            Ms Jane Wojslawowicz’64 has dedicated much time and effort to make the Alumnae Association of ICHS a vital part of the ICHS picture.

•            Dr. Marylynn Snyder’93 is a research scientist currently focusing on malaria pathogenesis.  She has published numerous articles in the Journal of Biological Chemistry and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

•            Melina Mara’81 is currently the FIRST woman photojournalist for the Washington Post.

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