A reception was recently held for the The History of St. Mary’s exhibit curated by assistant village historian Suzie Alvey. Dignitaries who attended were Mayor Nicholas Episcopia and his wife Dorothy; Bill Slattery, former president of the Estates Property Owners Association and his wife, Sonja; Garden City Historical Society trustee Terry Kenny; Architectural Design Review Board Chair Hugh S. Lacy and his wife, Ruth; Liz Bailey of the Environmental Advisory Board and Wayne Hunecke, former coach and teacher for St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s. Guests who also attended were Sue Eigl, Martha Yasso, Jackie Testani and St. Paul’s School alum K.C. Alvey. The following St. Mary’s alumni were in attendance: Joanne K. Adams, president of the Stewart Fund in Memory of St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s, Betsy Langmore Birchenough, Judy Keulemans Wood, Tricia Dalto Schettino, Jill Harp Yarmosh, Anastasia Sasowski Brown, Patty Rimmels Siler, Dawn Wittreich Vetrano, Donna Beckley Ursprung, Maryann Manis Livanos, Toby Christian McGovern, Denise Curci Schwartz, Mercedes Wittreich Hashas and others.
During her brief speech, Alvey thanked all who came and the generous alumni who contributed artifacts to be photographed for the exhibit. They are:
Patty Rimmels Siler, Phyllis Betz Rhein, “honorary St. Mary’s student,” John Rhein, Anastasia Sasowski Brown, Betsy Langmore Birchenough, Heather Carruthers Hall, Joanne K. Adams, Judy Breseman Berg, Kara Averett Watkins, Kendle Linfot Arcidiacono, Kim Vanname Hurley, Maryann Manis Livanos, Nancy Wildermuth, Judy Keulemans Wood, Sally Bachelder Keil, Tobie Christian McGovern, Tricia Dalto Schettino, Jill Harp Yarmosh, Jill Navarra and Stephanie Bird.
Additional contributors were: Brian Pinnola, former president of The Garden City Historical Society and Garden City Village Historian Bill Bellmer.
Thanks go to Garden City Public Library Lisa Paulo and Administrative Assistant to the Director Joanne Kastalek.
The St. Mary’s- St. Paul’s Reunion will take place on May 21 at Garden City Hotel’s Posh Ultra Lounge and the exhibit will most likely be up at the Garden City Public Library. It will be combined with the History of St. Paul’s School exhibit Alvey curated for Garden City History Month in 2015.
If anyone has any old books, photos, phone books or papers relating to anything in Garden City, contact Alvey. She can photograph the items, while you keep the original or can donate it. This will be extremely helpful for researchers using the archives at the Garden City Public Library and the Garden City Historical Society. Suzie Alvey can be reached at suziealvey@gmail.com or at 516-326-1720.
—Submitted by the
Garden City Historical Society
