On January 27, 2017, Boston College's School of Nursing celebrated its 70th anniversary with an open house for alumni, faculty, students and the Boston College community. In 1947, the school opened its doors with a class of 35 students. Since then, Boston College has educated more than 10,000 nurses.
In her remarks, Dean Susan Gennaro read a note of well wishes sent from a member of the first nursing class. Mary Kelly Cass, who received her bachelor of science in nursing in 1950, expressed her regrets over being unable to attend the festivities, but wanted those in attendance to know how meaningful her Boston College nursing education was to her. The 92-year-old alumna holds a current R.N. license.
The open house featured an exhibition of nursing objects from University archives, including uniforms, yearbooks, and photographs. Clough Millennium Professor of History James O’Toole presented "1947 to Today," a brief history of the school.
—Photographs by Rose Lincoln
Boston College Alumni Association President Ann Riley Finck ’66 with members of her nursing school Class of '66
Members of the Class of '71: Nancy Harrington, Jean Sinausky, Thelma Thorn, and Pam Terreri
In the exhibition, Kathy Barrett '81 and Elizabeth Fee '81 look at nursing uniforms and caps
Marie McCarthy '65, Muffie (Tilley) Martin '66, Margaret Mone '64, and Jessica Kwasnik '17 view the exhibition of nursing objects
Associate Professor Emeritus Jean O'Neil '55, M.S. '63 and Barbara (Power) Madden '61
Image strips from photo booth
Alumni enjoying the event
Nursing historian Mary Ellen Doona '67, M.S. '69, who wrote Light on Life : The Nursing Collection, and Nursing Librarian Wanda Anderson
Christine Breen Previtera '79, Katherine Twitchell '79, M.S. '85, Paula Buckley '79, Nancy Murphy '79 talk with Dean Susan Gennaro
Members of the Class of '66: Bonnie Gorman, Joan Garity, Diane Connor, Ann Riley Finck, Genevieve Foley, and Muffie Martin
Regina Tellis and Cassandra Tellis '19 talk to Joan Nickell '54
Tracy Burnett Brown '80 and Scott Brown '79 talk with Dean Susan Gennaro
Cara Hughes and Kerry Hughes '88
Associate Professor (retired) Joyce Dwyer '60, M.S. '64, and Associate Professor Emeritus Ronna Krozy '71, M.S. '73
James O'Toole, Clough Millennium Chair in History, speaks to Mary Beth Sandman '69
Cupcakes with school of nursing seal