'It is better to build boys than to mend men'
Mount Saint John, Inc.

Mount Saint John, Inc.

Deep River, CT

ALUMNI

MSJ Alumni Association

On August 17, 2003, about 50 former students, their families and current and former staff gathered for the annual Alumni Picnic -- during which Mount Saint Joseph announced the formation of the MSJ Alumni Association. Some of the planned features of the Association include:

Attendees welcomed the announcement with much interest and enthusiasm. Rod Yearwood and Rob Dolan, both of whom had spoken at the summer commencement, offered to take the initial leadership in the formation of the Association. Alumni Carl Griffin, a Wallingford businessman, and Fred Lowery, an MSJ Board Member, have also offered their support.

MSJ Provided a Strong Foundation for Visiting Alumnus

Robbie Dolan addresses Commencement Day 2003

Over ten years after leaving Mount Saint John, Thomas "Robbie" Dolan returned to share a story of success, leadership, and lessons learned to those gathered at Commencement 2003 last summer. He is a witness to the powerful work of Mount Saint John enabling boys to move beyond childhood pains, street-life wanderings, and court-enforced relocations to a better life for themselves and their communities. During the Commencement, the recent Naval Academy graduate was given the first MSJ Leadership through Learning award for an alumnus.

Thomas “Robbie” Dolan was a street kid in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s who came to Mount Saint John and found a home and a life here. He was kicked out of several other programs before he got here. His father committed suicide when he was 13 and his mother abandoned him to the Courts.

Rod Yearwood of West Hartford, an alumnus who serves on the MSJ Board of Directors, poses with Robbie.He was placed at MSJ with no family at all. Chris Gentili, a young staff member and his newlywed wife Mary took him in and provided him with a family and the support he needed to succeed. “He had a tough background and came from a real tough situation, but he was smart and a competitor,” says Gentili. After high school, Robbie enlisted and served in the Marines for three years and then was accepted into the US Naval Academy. He graduated this Memorial Day weekend 2003 with a 3.0 average and plans for a leadership role in the Marines in the years to come.

Cathi Coridan presents Dolan with the MSJ Leadership through Learning award.Before leaving to go to his new military stationing in Quantico VA, Robbie returned to MSJ on Commencement Day 2003 to share his success with the boys and with all of us. Long time MSJ teacher Carole Dubiell read poem Robbie wrote while he was here and another staff found an old dormitory award he was given by staff for good behavior in 1990. Cathi Coridan awarded Robbie the first MSJ Leadership through Learning award for an alumnus. His message to the young men who were preparing to leave is summarized as don’t ever give up on your self or your goals!

Robbie’s inspiring story was profiled by writer James Walker in the local Pictorial Gazette, and James got the story placed in the New Haven Register the day of our annual Alumni Reunion.

Did You Know?

When they leave Mount Saint John, the majority of the boys return home, with a discharge plan and referrals for continuing community-based services when indicated.

Of 103 boys who left MSJ in 2003,

MSJ clinicians work to maintain contact with many of the boys after they go, encouraging them to continue to get the help they need to stay in school, keep jobs and be productive citizens. MSJ's support and encouragement sometimes goes to boys who get in trouble with the law, who end up in CJTS or the adult prison system. Many would call these boys "failures" but we know that many of the youth we work with will struggle and be in the system their whole lives. We may be the only ones who continue to write and support them in their struggles. We do so because, while others might, we never want them to lose hope.