Our Lady of Mercy Academy recently honored Virginia and John Ewen of Massapequa and Sister Theresa Kelly, RSM of Syosset with its Lifetime Achievement Award at the Spirit of Mercy Benefit at North Hempstead Country Club in Port Washington. The all-girls Catholic High School located in Syosset, hosted the event, which raised funds to renovate the library and build a new student study center at Our Lady of Mercy Academy.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize faith-filled individuals who uphold Catholic values and principles, and who have consistently provided inspiration and demonstrated outstanding enthusiasm, leadership, commitment, generosity, and tireless devotion to Our Lady of Mercy Academy.
Virginia (Saladino) Ewen graduated from Our Lady of Mercy Academy in 1976 and has been an active alumna for the past 40 years. Together with her husband, John, they created a successful environmental consulting company, Innovative Recycling Technology, 25 years ago. Supporters of Catholic education, they were active in St. Rose of Lima Elementary School in Massapequa and sent their children to Catholic high schools, Chaminade High School in Mineola and Our Lady of Mercy Academy. Virginia serves on the Board of Directors for Catholic Health Services and was instrumental in founding Our Lady of Mercy Academy’s alumnae board and served as president for two years.
A Brooklyn native, Sister Theresa Kelly, RSM entered the Sisters of Mercy Novitiate at the Academy in 1957. After teaching in Brooklyn schools for 33 years, she returned to Our Lady of Mercy Academy in 1990, serving first as treasurer and later becoming the Academy’s Event Coordinator in 2004. Over the past 12 years, Sister Theresa, in conjunction with the Parent Guild, has raised more than two million dollars for the school. Sister Theresa is known for her Irish charm and hospitality.
