Elizabeth Higgins Gladfelter '64

Gifted academically and in multiple sports, she was the 1964 Class Valedictorian, played field hockey, softball and basketball at Lauralton Hall. She continued to play in college at Stanford University, earning undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences. She has completed more than 30 half marathons, 18 marathons, as well as triathlons from 1976-1997 in St. Croix. She has won the V.I. Half-Marathon more than any woman to date. She was the first woman to represent the Virgin Island Cross Country team at the IAAF World Cross Country Championship in 1984 & 1986. She earned her Master’s Degree in Marine Science from the University of the Pacific, and her Ph.D. in Biology from UCLA. She received Lauralton Hall’s Claven Award in 2011.

Mary Ellen Curran '82

Excelling in tennis and basketball, she played varsity level for both at Lauralton. She continued to play for College of the Holy Cross, where she earned a B.A. in Political Science. Throughout her successful career in marketing she has had leadership roles for the United States Tennis Association, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, and World Wrestling Entertainment. She has a 5.0 in USTA League Tennis, and completed 9 Pan Mass Challenges – a 200 mile bike ride to benefit The Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Institute. For her volunteer and philanthropic work, she was awarded a Hire Heroes USA Pacesetter Award in 2013. She was also a finalist in 2015 for ESPN’s Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year award.

Tom McDonald

He began his coaching career in 1986 for the Crusaders as a softball volunteer assistant. The next year, he became varsity softball head coach until his retirement in 2005. He added basketball to his coaching duties in 1989 and went on to set the school record for wins in that sport. His teams clinched two State Championships, eight division and eight conference championships. He coached twenty All-State players and fifteen played Division I softball. In basketball, he guided the Crusaders to a CCIAC Championship and 5 division titles. He coached three 1,000 point scorers, six All-State players and ten players went on to Division I and II basketball. He has been recognized with numerous awards including CT State Coach of the Year, the first Sportsperson of the Year Award by the Coastal Fairfield County Sports Commission. He was inducted into the CT Scholastic and Collegiate Softball Hall of Fame in 2014.

Theresa Napolitano

Encompassing three schools, three varsity sports and six state titles, she began her career at Lauralton Hall in 1992 teaching physics and began coaching at the school in 2006 after a stellar coaching career at Amity High School. She has continued to engage Lauralton students both on and off the field. She took the Crusaders to the softball state tournaments every year and cliched the state title five times in that sport. She coached Crusaders field hockey teams to three division championships, one state championship and the Class S State Championship finals in 2011. Among her numerous awards, she was recognized in 2014 as National Coach of the Year, inducted into the CT Softball Hall of Fame in 2015 and the CHSCA-State Coaches Hall of Fame in 2015.

Amy Lindblom Andre, Class of 1995
Outstanding swimmer and NCAA All American.She swam for the Wilton Wahoos Swim Club and Lauralton Hall breaking records for both.She was a Scholar Athlete and Team Captain while at University of Miami, where she graduated with a BS in Communication/Sociology.She is a YMCA record holder and placed 15^th in the 1996 Olympic Trials.

She began running her freshman year at Lauralton Hall with Coach Jairus Gilbert, competing on the varsity team all four years.She earned a BS in Biology from Duke University where she was President of the Duke Roadrunners Club.She has completed more than 15 marathons since her first one at age 19.She has run in 6 New York City Marathons and 4 Boston Marathons.In the 2007 Boston Marathon, she was the 52^nd female finisher out 12,000 women which earned her a spot in the “Sub Elite Start” in the next year’s race.She received her Master Degree from Yale University School of Nursing.

Jennifer Kelly Greene, Class of 1979
All time high scorer in basketball and served as captain in her junior and senior years at Lauralton Hall.She played four years of basketball in college and was named to the All-Conference team in her last two years at Marymount College where she graduated with a BA in Economics.She played for the Irish National Basketball League and returned to the US where she continues to play in the CT Senior Games and is an active community volunteer and advocate for children.

Chris Farren Healey, Class of 1967
As a student she played a variety of intramural sports and was President of the Lauralton Hall Athletic Association. She earned a BA in English from Briarcliff College and returned home to coach women’s varsity squash and volleyball at Yale University where she was also Assistant Athletic Director of Operations, Promotions and Facilities for 32 of the University’s varsity and junior varsity sports. She returned to Lauralton in 1976 to serve the next 9 years as Athletic Director during a time of major expansion that added varsity volleyball, junior varsity basketball and softball, cross country and indoor track, and the creation of the Joseph Morrissey Field.

Jacqueline Catanese Klahold, Class of 1996
Two-time CT All State Softball Champion, Conference Champion and team MVP 1995, 1996 while at Lauralton Hall.She played for the CT Charmers Girls Fast Pitch League and the CT Brakettes. During her college career at Florida Atlantic University, she was a four year starter for the Division I Owls softball team, winning four Atlantic Sun Conference titles. She is in her second season as Head Softball Coach at the State University of New York – Canton.

Alyce Merwin, Class of 1943
She picked up her first golf club at the age of 13, and 75 years later is still playing. She was active on the Lauralton Hall Athletic Association and played all the sports offered, in addition to pursuing her interests in classical music. She graduated from Rollins College with a BS in Chemistry and continued improving her golf game. She continued to play competitive golf in both the Connecticut as well as New England Women's Golf Associations, and is past Club Champion of both the eighteen and nine hole courses at Race Brook Country Club and Rolling Hills GC in Arizona.

Nora Anderson Barber, DDS, Class of 1995
All time high scorer in basketball and served as captain in her junior and senior years.She was a dedicated player and exemplary and inspirational leader.While scoring more than 1,000 points, she set basketball records in 3-point field goals per game, assists, and steals.During her senior year she was also captain of the Lauralton Soccer team.Prior to receiving her degree in dentistry, she taught high school biology.She is currently a dentist in North Carolina and volunteers with Give Kids a Smile.

Laura Valade Collins, Class of 1988
Recipient of the Connecticut High School Scholar-Athlete Award, in recognition of her achievements as captain of the cross-country and tennis teams.She also excelled in soccer as a member of the youth premier program.She was captain of the Yale University Soccer Team and was named Outstanding Female Soccer Player in Connecticut her senior year.At Yale she was the second leading scorer in soccer in Yale history.She continues to play in a Women’s Soccer League and club tennis in Massachusetts.She earned an M.B.A with highest honors from Boston University.

Eileen Richetelli Crozier, Class of 1990
Outstanding diver on the swim team. She helped Lauralton win the Class S State Championships in each of her four years.She attended Stanford University on a full athletic scholarship.While at Stanford the diving team won four NCAA Championships and she won five NCAA titles in ten-meter platform and two in springboard.Twice she was named NCAA Diver of the Year. She was a member of the United States Diving team from 1990-1997 and a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team as an alternate.

Jairus C. Gilbert, Sr. (posthumously)

He created the first cross country team at Lauralton.His efforts also resulted in track and field as well as indoor track programs being added to the Lauralton Athletic Program.He was a father figure and a positive role model for students and staff; a loving husband, devoted father and grandfather; proud naval veteran.In 2002, the Lauralton Board of Trustees bestowed upon him the Father Cornelius Distinguished Service Award, an award given to a member of the staff for outstanding service.He is the first Lauralton Hall coach inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mary Money, Class of 1976

She is a life-long competitive athlete.In high school she was captain of the cheerleading squad for Fairfield Prep.She attended Tufts University and played on the Tuft’s Women’s Water Polo team and was a founding member of the Tuft’s Women’s Rugby Team.From 1986-1989 she was a member of the U.S. National Women’s Rugby Team and from 2001-2005 she played for the U.S. Masters Women’s Rugby Team. She has completed 10 marathons and more than 50 triathlons.She continues to be a strong advocate for women in sports.

Margaret A. Rooney, RSM, Class of 1951

The first alumna principal of Lauralton Hall. As principal from 1975-1987 she was a visionary leader. During her tenure, Lauralton experienced increased enrollment, academic expansion, professional and financial development and athletic enrichment.She attended Lauralton Hall from fifth grade through senior year. After graduating from Catholic University, she returned to Lauralton to teach Latin and serve as an administrator. Under her leadership, Lauralton became a serious contender in the Connecticut Association of Schools Interscholastic Athletic Conference. She was instrumental in the planning of the regulation sized softball field.

Karen McGroary Yardley

Former Lauralton Hall Principal and President, she was instrumental in guiding the school toward achieving its dream of a multi-million dollar athletic center.Following her graduation from Albertus Magnus College and Fordham University, she taught English and Latin at Lauralton.In 1993, Lauralton’s Board of Trustees created the position of president and she was appointed the first president.After a successful administrative career at Lauralton, she went on teach Latin at Notre Dame High School in West Haven and is an adjunct professor of the classics at the University of Connecticut.