The Mary Consuela Mulcahy Award :

• Achieved distinction in the field of science or technology
• Open to all alumnae/i in the fields of science or technology

• Individual or organization who demonstrates exemplary service and commitment to Saint Joseph College
• Represents the College’s Core Values
• Open to members of the SJC and local community

Distinguished Alumnae/i Award Recipients 1974 - 2011

2011 Distinguished Alumnae/i Biographies:

Roselee Barbagallo Fanelli ’61, M ’66
The Mary Rosa McDonough Award

Roselee Barbagallo Fanelli has been actively involved with Saint Joseph College for many years. As an alumnae/i leader, Roselee has served as president of the Alumnae/i Association from 2006-2010, member of the Board of Trustees from 2006-2010, she was the first chairwomen of the College’s Prime Time and Graduate Committee and a member of the Presidential Search Committee in 2007. She also served on the steering committee for the building of the Winifred E. Coleman Lobby in The Bruyette Athenaeum on campus.

Professionally, Roselee has been agency services manager of Raynard & Peirce Insurance for more than 30 years and Vice President of the Raynard & Peirce Real Estate Co. for 20 years. She has been named a Realtor of the Year by the Litchfield County Board of Realtors. For over 20 years Roselee was Director of Religious Education for the Immaculate Conception Parish, Norfolk, and served as chair of the Parish Council. She was awarded the Saint Joseph Medal of Appreciation by Archbishop Daniel Cronin.

A resident of Norfolk, she has also been active in the Norfolk and North Canaan Business Associations and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. She has been very involved in lobbying state and national officials on behalf of small business.

Molly Rees Gavin ’71
The Mary Rosa McDonough Award

Molly Rees Gavin has three decades of experience leading Connecticut Community Care of Bristol, the largest non-profit provider of care management in Connecticut. Molly became CCCI’s president in 1995, but joined the organization in 1976 when it was a national demonstration project designed to keep people at home rather then nursing facilities. She has been called one of the key influences in shaping Connecticut’s long-term care programs.

Drawn to social work because both her parents were social workers during the Depression, Molly was named Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers, Connecticut Chapter. In May 2011, Hartford Business Journal named her one of the Remarkable Women in Business. She helped found and is president of the National Acadamey of Certified Care Managers, is on the executive committee of the Connecticut Elder Action Network, and a member of state’s Long Term Care Advisory Committee and the State Commission on Aging. She has a master’s degree from Rutgers University.

As an alumna, Molly has co-chaired the College’s Social Work Advisory Committee, and has be actively involved on the Reunion committee as well as participating in the Alumnae/i Phonathon and Bell-Hop programs.

Margaret Steeves-Laffin ’76
The Mary Rosa McDonough Award

Margaret Steeves-Laffin is known to all who have worked or volunteered with her as a person of the highest integrity and standards. She pushes herself to excel in both her personal life and in her work for SJC; all who have come to know her are made better through their work with her.
Following graduation from Saint Joseph College with a B.A. in English, Margaret first worked in the Admissions Office.

Since graduation, Margaret has held increasingly responsible positions in the College’s Alumnae Association. She served as Alumnae/i Association president and trustee from 1998-2002, serving on the College Relations Committee, and has been an unofficial advisor for several recent presidents. Most recently she helped the College define a new marketing image for its admissions materials.

As Vice President for Marketing at Masonicare, Connecticut’s largest non-profit provider of senior-focused healthcare services and retirement living communities, Margaret is responsible for meeting Masonicare’s marketing, public relations and communications needs.

A West Hartford resident, Margaret has been senior vice president of marketing services at Webster Bank, marketing director at InfiNet Payment Services (Yankee 24 and NYCE), and senior account executive at Mintz & Hoke Advertising. She is active in many community organizations.

A fixture at College events, Margaret made sure her mother, Bea Cashin Steeves, Class of ’40, was able to attend her last Reunion in 2010.

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November 30, 2011