Class of 1996

The Red Class of 1996, is celebrating 25 years since our graduation and we all look forward to the time when we can celebrate in person and not just via social media or Zoom.

For Lynne Carreiro, 2020 started like any other, full of promise, plane tickets to tropical locales, and then COVID hit. After being laid off, the past year allowed for a lot of personal reflection, poolside relaxation, quarantine zoom calls, and so many connections with her Trinity sisters. She is now focused on preparing for life “after” and started a new job with Greyline Partners LLC in the spring of 2021.

Kate Lush DiAmico sends her message from PA where she lives with her husband, Jeff, and their three kids; Luke (16), Abigail (14), and Jake (7). She and Jeff continue to practice law in the suburbs outside Philly. The kids are thriving in school this year, having returned to five-day, in-person instruction and they are enjoying participating in their sports. Kate’s heart goes out to all of those who have been affected by the pandemic and hopes to be able to see her Trinity sisters soon.

Vicki McAvoy Nielsen checked in with a lifestyle change. After 20 years, Vicki left law firm lawyering in DC in 2019 to work with her husband, Jerry, in his real estate & property management business. Together they readied the business and their life so that they could live, work and travel the U.S. in a small RV with their dog, Foxy. Their main sports are mountain biking and golfing (Foxy too!), and both activities have brought them to incredible places. Vicki and Jerry departed months before COVID, and haven’t been home to MD in more than 18 months. They are having lots of fun together, living simply, outdoors, and exploring our beautiful country and they are grateful for this amazing opportunity.

Kristie O’Brien reports that after staying home during the pandemic, the twins will be starting preschool in the fall and she is ready for the new phase. It has been an exhausting year but rewarding to spend valuable time with them at home. She is grateful to serve another term on the Alumnae Association Board and hopes to be able to start traveling again in the coming year.

Jennifer Mackinaw Olivieri survived the pandemic last year and the highlight for her and her husband, Ken, was their oldest son Kenny’s graduation from high school. The ceremony took place in August with all the social distancing requirements in place but was still a very celebratory day for the class of 2020! All four of their kids now ages 13, 15, 17, and 19 finally started to return full-time to in-person school. Another highlight over the past year has been adding a new pet hamster Bear to the family and buying a condo in NH where we were able to enjoy some summertime hiking and winter skiing.

For Tonya Esposito this year has been full of personal and professional growth. In January of 2021, she was seated on the Board of the Greater DC Diaper Bank. She continues to litigate financial services and consumer matters as a Partner at Seyfarth Shaw. Her new podcast, The Financial Law Forum focuses on the intersection of all things financial service and women and people of color. She and her significant other, Marco, along with their children, Maddie (10), Emma (5), Luca (15), and Alessandro (14) recently purchased a new home together and are looking forward to the new adventure.

Amy Ward Pershkow writes that she is still living in DC with my husband and two boys, Will (15) and Ben (10) and our one year-old puppy, Bailey, who arrived just before the pandemic.  She and her husband have worked from home since last March and their boys are thankfully now back in school full time as of April (they were hybrid all last fall).  She’s still practicing law at Vedder Price, representing investment advisers, funds and fund boards in connection with their regulatory and compliance obligations.  This last year, they’ve spent lots and lots of time together as a family playing games, doing puzzles and taking long walks with the dog.  Her Peloton bike also arrived shortly before lockdown and has been a life saver!  They have been fortunate to spend time with her mom, sister and brother and their families over the holidays.  They are looking forward to their rescheduled vacation to Nantucket this summer and the boys are both on track to head to sleep away camp for a month. Things are looking up!

As for me, just prior to lockdown, I took on the role of Board Chair at the Independent School my children have all attended. While sometimes overwhelming, rolling out a new strategic plan and planning for an in-person return to school in the fall in the face of the pandemic gave me the challenge and distraction that I needed. Riley (21) will finish his college career soon and we are already searching for the right fit for Kyra (16) and Ava (15) as they finish up their sophomore and junior years. Jason and I are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and have many travel plans already in the works for the fall of 2023.

Until Next Year,
Carrie Rahl Stillwagon ‘96

To get in touch with your Class Scribe, please contact the Alumnae Affairs office for information.

The class of 1996 is using their Trinity education to advance their careers, raise great families, travel the world and sometimes fight life’s adversities.

Lynne Carreiro is currently living in London, UK after being relocated for work in 2013. She has been taking as much advantage of the close proximity to the continent and the cheap flights as possible. She traveled to Norway, Spain, Ireland, France and Belgium with trips to Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, and Portugal is on the calendar. She caught up with fellow alumna, Liza Boffen Yardinov in Munich for Octoberfest and was planing on having dinner with Jennifer Mackinaw Oliveri, Kathryn Slocum Lawson, Mary Bucci, and Amy Beaudoin while home in MA on vacation.

Katie Slocum Lawson moved to Northborough, MA in June of 2014 to open a Chick-fil-A in Westbororough, MA.  The community has been awesome and very welcoming to their family.  Mathieu will be a sophomore this year, Riley and Owen are both in grade school.  Outside of getting their new business started, the kids keep them busy with soccer and baseball. The kids have adjusted well and New England welcomed them with a winter for the record books.  They are loving MA and could not have made a better life change for their family.

For Lucresse Jocelyn her Trinity education was the focal point of her career and the beginning of things to come.  As a radiation therapist, she takes care of cancer patients on a daily basis but always felt leadership management was something that she was always passionate about.  In 1999, she began the next phase of her professional career in a management position, a move that she credits to her Trinity education.  In 2008, she enrolled in the Graduate program at University of Maryland University College (UMUC), seeking a Master of Business Administration. She graduated together with her son in May 2010 and if you look at our Trinity Yearbook of 1996, her son is pictured with her, so the tradition continued at UMUC.  In 2012, she obtained a Master of Science in Health Care Administration at UMUC.  In her very rare spare time, she has a home-based business. As she gets close to partially retiring from her primary profession she is trying to make the words “Equal Access under the Law” a reality for every American by providing affordable legal and identity theft protection for everyone.

Sekeno Whittaker Aldred and Deka Nur who both remain  in the DC area and are busy with their work and families, caught up with each other to celebrate Independence Day and send their love to the class of 1996!

Shannon McGraw and her son Peyton are doing well. They were planning to move to a condo during construction of the second small home that burned in the Jesusita Fire in 2009.  Shannon swears that this move has nothing to do with the Argentine polo players that can be seen galloping in front of her balcony but everything to do with her work with veterans at Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Santa Barbara, CA.  Shannon attributes her passion for working with veterans and volunteering so much to two life-changing events;  the birth of her son Peyton and her own healing that came as a result of the Trinity community pulling together to give hope and help at a time when her heart was broken and her family was experiencing tremendous loss.  In true TC fashion she wants to pay it forward. As she works with the families or riders who might be struggling with events occurring in their own lives she tries to emulate some of those same strengths passed on to her by her sisters. Love the Trinity! She welcomes any classmates to pay her a visit.

Liza Boffen-Yordanov joined Franklin University Switzerland as their new Vice President for Advancement last April  after three years at George Washington University. Her daughter Georga and she will be moving to Lugano, Switzerland, about 45 kilometers from Milan. Dimiter is still in Malaysia. Georga was also accepted at The American School in Switzerland (TASIS) and received a great scholarship. She’ll started her freshman year there last September. They are excited to move back to Europe (and with a kid in tow this time!)  after so many years in South East Asia they wanted to try their hand at something new. G and Liza had a great time attending Reunion 2015.

Kirsten Saweikis Sullivan, Dan & Cian are moving back to the DC area.  The mad house hunt was on in Northern VA.  They were excited to be heading back to DC. Kirsten has had a very rough medical year fighting stage IIa breast cancer that was only found on a 3D mammogram.  Kirsten is cancer free & looking forward to finishing off her reconstructive surgery. Kirsten is looking for a job in the DC area.

Ann Hartman Maier moved to Old Town Alexandria in December 2013 where she enjoys being close to the waterfront and Mount Vernon Trail. Last fall, she ran the NYC Marathon and was currently training for the Marine Corps Marathon.  Ann works for Development at National Geographic where she is VP of Operations. Her recent travels have included Montana, Wyoming, Puerto Rico, and Portugal, where she and a friend hiked 60 miles of the Camino Portugues from Lisbon to Santarem. Ann wishes all her friends a Bon Camino!

Kate Lush DiAmico continues to enjoy a busy life in Bucks County, PA.  She and husband Jeff are with the same firms they have been with for the past 10 years or so and the kids are keeping them busy! Luke, had a great year with both cub scouts and travel soccer.  Luke also started playing the recorder   (School district required) and the piano ( mom required) this past year. Abigail completed 2nd grade and was also busy with travel soccer and Girl Scouts and Kate is co-leader of the troop. They went on their first scout camping trip this year and had a blast! Abby also continues with dance and she also took up the piano this past year. Kate’s youngest is keeping them all busy running around the house and being a dare devil! Kate would love to catch up with any Trinity friends if they make it to the Philly area.

Checking in from Buffalo, NY, Laura Heyden reports that she faces many daily challenges from her Traumatic Brain Injury as well as her rare movement disorder, neuroacanthocytosis.  She meets these challenges with great doctors, the right medication, the continued love and support of her Trinity sisters, and maintaining a POSITIVE attitude!

Things are going well in Puerto Rico for Erin Moran-Mercado who still teaches history at Baldwin School and enjoying the adventures of toddlerhood with Emma, who’s keeping her extra busy. Last February Erin and her family traveled to Washington, DC and she was able to take Jose and Emma to Trinity where they visited with Prof. San Juan and Sr. Mary Hayes. It was a wonderful day.

Kristie O’Brien remains busy as ever. In January 2015, she was elected Vice Chairwoman of the Arizona Democratic Party and remains busy in politics and is already in full swing for 2016 serving as a political consultant on local, Congressional and the Presidential races. Last summer she visited the Mighty Five National Parks in Utah and returned to the Grand Canyon. Kristie continues to serve on the Alumnae Board and was looking forward to seeing everyone at our 20th reunion. Last September, Kristie returned to Trinity to address the Senior class and their families at Cap & Gown Convocation. In addition to being mom to Riley, Kyra, and Ava , I am the Advancement Chair for my kids school. It has been a welcome challenge.  We had a great travel year-from road tripping to see my favorite band to traveling to Scandanavia with Jason and the kids. We enjoyed the freedom that having self-reliant kids brings us.  Let me know if you are in Savannah!

Until next year!
Carrie Rahl Stillwagon