Church Notes Fall 2021

By Deborah Corteggiano Kennedy, ’73

It was a pleasure to be able to participate in Reunion Weekend 2021 as a virtual participant. 

Though we could not be together again this year to celebrate and enjoy the warmth and camaraderie of renewing old friendships and traditions, it is most important that we continue to put safety first and foremost. To that end, once again, a virtual celebration is still a celebration for our cherished alumni and 50-year anniversary honorees.

Annual Report

At this time last year, a decision was made to postpone honoring our 50-year honorees from the Class of 1970 until now. Being that 2021 and the continuing of the COVID pandemic have forced us to have another virtual format event, another decision has been made to postpone the honoring of the 50-year graduates from both 1970 and 1971. These two classes and the honorees from 1972 will all be honored at the 2022 Spring event scheduled for March 31-April 2, 2022.

Please believe that “good things come to those who wait” or at least that “Patience is a Virtue”!

Distinguished Alumni

The Church Home & Hospital Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented in 2022 to very worthy individuals. Please continue to submit nominees.

Giving Back

The Freda Creutzburg Endowed Scholarship continues to grow and support the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. The market value of the scholarship as of June 30, 2021, was $396,685.

The most recent recipients of the scholarship, Lauren Shifflett and Ethan Sterling, each received $6,182.69 to assist in their nursing education at the No. 1 school in the country. 

Both Lauren and Ethan graduated in August from the Master’s (Entry into Nursing) Program. Lauren recently started working on the neurology unit at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Ethan is looking forward to working in an emergency department or ICU unit.

Please support the Creutzburg Scholarship as much as you can when you consider where to spend your donation dollars. 

I also want to thank all of the Church Home Alumni who supported the “White Coat Drive.” This is a great way to show support to incoming students and is very much appreciated. (See images of many of the students in their coats.)

During this past year, the Church Home Nursing Honor Guard was initiated. This very special tradition was started in various Diploma Nursing Schools around the country over the last 50 years at funeral and burial services for deceased nurses. Prayers, the Florence Nightingale Pledge, songs, and a “Call to Duty” are included in an Honor Guard Ceremony.

A New Day

The Alumni bid a fond farewell to Dean Patricia Davidson as she returned to Australia. Dean Davidson’s farewell was held on “Maryland Day” and a tote bag full of Maryland-theme treats was delivered to her. Trish’s friendship and support will never be forgotten. New Dean Sarah Szanton was congratulated and welcomed by Church Home with a big box of Wockenfuss chocolates! We look forward to working with Dr. Szanton.

The new School of Nursing Building is truly breathtaking and Church Home Alumni offered support in the donation of a bench in the Courtyard and by purchasing two squares on the Dedication Quilt. Many thanks to Barbara Zelenka Spink, ’69 for her talent and quilting expertise in crafting the two Church Home squares.

In Memoriam

Deborah Byrnes File, ’63
Dorothy Bennett Gardner, ’51
Faye Steinke Hagerman, ’51