Work

Annette Rafferty was born in 1930 in Worcester MA. She attended school at Midland Street School, May Street School, Oxford Public Schools and high school, Our Lady of the Elms College and received two master’s degrees from Assumption College and did graduate work at Boston College, St. John’s University in New York, and Notre Dame in Indiana. After teaching as a nun for many years, she founded Abby’s House, a shelter for homeless, abused and low-income women and children, in 1973. She reflects on her childhood, education, and career path.

Beatriz Patino was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1978. Her mother is from Puerto Rico and her father is from Mexico City, Mexico. She is currently the director of the Cross-Cultural Center at Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts, after having served as a resident director at the college for a number of years. Beatriz discusses how she always went to schools where the majority of her classmates where female and ethnically similar to her. It was a bit of a culture shock for her when she came to college where many more students were white.

Kerri Aleksiewicz Melley was born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1972 to Charles and Mary Aleksiewicz.  Kerri lived a lively childhood growing up in Tatnuck Square with a tight knit family.  As a child she danced at Charlotte Kleins and attended Christ the King Church.  Kerri attended the Bancroft school for four years of high school.  She then went on to study at Connecticut College.  After studying at Connecticut College she moved to Boston to pursue her love for dance and art.  While living in Boston she met her husband, Neal Melley.  They moved to Roch

Grace McLaughlin was born in 1924 in Worcester, Massachusetts. She was the last of four girls born to Benjamin and Isabelle Vinti. Grace’s father, Benjamin came to the United States from Italy and later sent for his wife. After settling in Brooklyn, New York, Benjamin and Isabelle made the move to Worcester, where their fourth daughter Grace was born. Grace recalls living in a close-knit community where most people were of Italian descent. Being of strict Italian descent, it was only natural that she and her three sisters were expected to date and marry Italian men.

Andrea Goodman lived in Chicago, attended college at the University of Illinois Champaign Havna and moved to Worcester in 1974 after she got married.  She has been living there ever since and says it’s a great place.  She has three children two twin boys and a daughter.  Currently she teaches computer science at Assumption College but she talks about many other jobs she had prior to this one pertaining to the business world.  In this interview she also talks about the hardships she went through to be able to get a better high paying job as a woman, and all the diff

Mona Heffernan shares information about her work experience and travelling. Her job as an airline stewardess for TWA and Pan-American allowed her to travel quite a bit and see a lot of interesting places. She discussed the multitude of jobs she had throughout her life saying she “never had a job she didn’t like.” She also discussed her family life and her nontraditional upbringing. Because of the loss of her parents early in her life, she believes that to be successful one must be self-directed.   go as follows.

Amy Gazin-Schwartz was born in Troy, New York in 1952. After her father graduated from college and got a job in Massachusetts, she moved to Natick, Massachusetts and later Duxbury, Massachusetts where she enjoyed both elementary and high school, constantly reading and exploring the outdoors. Amy discusses the importance of developing oneself freely and becoming whoever we are destined to be. The development of self is something she still encourages young women to recognize in growing up.

Sharon McLaughlin was born in 1958 in Worcester, MA and attended Burncoat Senior High School. Her father was a professor at Worcester State College and her mother a homemaker. Sharon runs her own college admissions consulting business which was inspired through her father’s love of education along with her own passionate interest in adult education. In this interview, Sharon discusses some of the struggles she encountered in her career and personal life. She gives insight on finding what you love to do and the emotional adversity she has faced with an ill boyfriend and aging parents.

Sarah Kelly was born in 1979 in Texas, and in 2004 moved to Worcester. Sarah had studied music all through her life, and became a major in flute. After working in the music business, Sarah moved to Worcester to open up the Worcester Academy of Music. In this interview, Sarah discusses the challenges and advantages of her music business in Worcester. Sarah had studied music all through her life, and in college pursued a flute major. From there she worked in the music business, but after the economic downturn decided to be her own boss.