Pennsylvania native, relocated to Maryland in 1994. David W. Keelan ’86 retired in 2020 and living his best life in Mérida, Yucatán. At the ripe old age of 55, I decided to retire early, leave the United States, and relocate overseas. A number of life events drove my decision: a house fire, divorce, downsized at work (again), my parents passing away a week from one another, children grown, pandemic fatigue, and the fact that my siblings are far-flung and spread across the United States. I was burned out. I had to do something different, but the plan did not include sitting on a beach as tempting as it was. All these events occurred in a relatively short period. My family and friends often asked how I was dealing with so many life incidents, one right after the other? I received a lot of sympathetic looks and well wishes. Well, what is one to do? My brother Dan often reminded me that a problem is an opportunity in disguise. So I decided to open a new chapter in my life. Why be driven by circumstances when one can create them? I am not under any delusion that I can control life events; there are just too many unknowns. But there are things I can control, and changing direction and starting again was one thing I could do. I decided to move to Mérida, Mexico, for a number of reasons: safety, proximity to the U.S., and economics and announced this to my friends and family. There were many comments, and most of them positive. But then another unexpected event occurred. Fortunately, nothing tragic, as I was not up for more drama. As I prepared to relocate, a college friend, Rob, called and asked if I was aware of an organization in Mérida called “The Mission of Friendship” I was not, so he went on to explain the organization as best he knew. Rob and I had not been just college friends; we were also in formation together at St. Mark Seminary in the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania. Rob went on to become a fabulous priest, but I left the seminary to begin a career and start a family. The Mission of Friendship is a collaborative effort between the Diocese of Erie and the Archdiocese of Yucatán. The Mission of Friendship has been serving the economically disadvantaged families of Mérida since 1971, and 2021 marks its 50th anniversary. Why did I not learn about this organization when I was doing my research about Mérida? Why did I learn about it only after I’d decided on Mérida? Coincidence? Luck? Providence? I do not know, but I knew that I needed to learn more. So, after a few emails, I was introduced to Patricia “Trish” Pipkin, the Mérida-based director of the program, we exchanged emails and arranged for a Zoom call. Trish and I agreed that my biggest weaknesses was my unfamiliarity with the Mission’s goals, organization, and function, and lack of Spanish speaking skills. She suggested, and I agreed, that it would be best if I helped with facilities maintenance as a means to learn about the Mission and improve my Spanish. Getting to Mérida presented some logistical (and expensive) problems. To make a long story short, I ended up making a six-day drive with my 55-pound dog, my cat, some personal possessions and clothing. I arrived in Mérida on Dec. 19, 2020. I am no trailblazer, many people made this move before I did, but I knew that I wanted to be part of something in Mérida. I was not obsessing about the Mission and what led Rob to making that phone call, but it was on my mind a lot. After settling in for a couple of days I emailed Trish and asked, “When can I get started cleaning bathrooms?” Before long I was assisting the Mission’s director of logistics, Jose, in preparing the pre-school and after-school (Nueva Vida) to reopen post-pandemic. We stripped paint, painted, cleaned, did yard work, fixed the roof and more. I knew the sun here could be brutal, and as you may know – the sun here is brutal. Twice a week now I make my way to the Mission and do what is needed under Jose’s supervision and guidance. Fortunately, I have not had to clean a bathroom. Yet. I came to learn that among the initiatives overseen by the Mission of Friendship are a subsidized preschool to help working families; an after-school program called Nueva Vida (New Life) providing a meal, academic support and enrichment classes for elementary-school girls; a medical clinic; a program for visiting groups providing opportunities for adults and college groups to experience another culture; the Amigos Program, a sponsorship opportunity that supplies essential financial support to impoverished families, and The Sister Parish Program, which pairs entire parish communities in the Yucatán with parish communities in the Diocese of Erie. The teachers and staff at Nueva Vida are an amazing and dedicated group of women. Despite my lack of Spanish and other shortcomings, they make me feel welcome – embraced really. That feeling was reinforced when the Mission invited me to accompany some of the staff on April 30, Day of Children or “Dia del Nino” to visit the program’s children and families at their homes to drop of gifts. At the time I did not understand that Dia del Nino is a celebration much like Father’s Day and Mother’s Day in the U.S. It is a big deal. As we drove through south Mérida to deliver packages of food, school supplies, and toys to 18 families — and up to 29 after the pandemic — served by Nueva Vida I noticed many cars and trucks decorated with colorful balloons, streamers, and ribbons. Entire families were packed into the cars to parade and celebrate the day in honor of their children. La familia! I rode with Trish and we spoke a lot about the families, the successes, the disappointments, and the area of south Mérida, but mostly about being involved in the lives of the families and how much the families return to the Mission which makes the work so rewarding. Helping one child in one family does make a difference. Dia del Nino was an eye opener for this expat. Intellectually I understood who the Mission was serving but visiting the homes of 18 families is quite a different experience, and my understanding grew deeper. Every home we visited sparked a different reaction from the girls – mostly excitement, but some shyness. Siblings watched from the house, a window, the yard, or jumped right in with the visits, mothers held babies on their hips as they watched their daughters, fathers looked on proudly and expressed gratitude for the food. I remember one young father standing in the doorway of their home holding his new born son in his arms and smiling proudly at his wife and daughter as they greeted our group. I witnessed families, in some cases, the entire family, who were happy, proud of their daughters, providing for their families despite the poverty and unique challenges that poverty presents. One family encouraged their daughter to thank me in English, which she did. As her mask was falling over her nose, she looked up, held her finger to her temple to think, then she said “thank you” to cheers from all around. I was charmed. Her mother and father, like the rest, are committed to obtaining the best for their children and see education and language as a key to their daughter’s (and family’s) success. After day of the children the Mission was now more real than ever. I witnessed an important part of Mérida. Nueva Vida – New Life is what the mission is trying to provide for these girls and their families — a chance to provide a higher education and help provide these girls a better shot at going to University. Trish said that won’t just change the girl’s life, it will change the entire family’s life for generations. Whatever led me here, and to the Mission of Friendship, Nueva Vida has also breathed new life into me, and has given me a different perspective on my own series of events that led me here to Mérida. Despite my setbacks, despite my personal tragedies, despite everything I have, it is petty in comparison to what these families endure, and I have received much more in return than I think I am capable of returning to them. As the Mission of Friendship celebrates its 50th year serving our community I hope you have the chance to see their work first hand, and maybe even find a way to help them continue their work for another 50 years. https://yucatanmagazine.com/man-on-a-mission-early-retirement-means-time-to-serve-others-in-merida/

June 2021 marked the 30-year anniversary for Kathy Cappello Elinski ’82 as a physical therapist. Home healthcare has been her primary focus for 25 of those years. Kathy has been with UPMC Home Healthcare -Kane since August 2019. Kathy began her career at Warren General Hospital in June of 1991 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh Physical Therapy Program. Kathy was born and raised in Kane, the youngest of seven children to John and Josephine Cappello. Upon graduating from Kane High School, Kathy attended Gannon University where she attained a bachelor’s degree in social work and an associate degree as a lawyer’s assistant. Kathy was employed by the Lutheran Home in Kane as a social worker until she felt the calling to help more people through her passion to become a physical therapist. Kathy returned to Pittsburgh to pursue her physical therapy degree. Over the course of her career as a physical therapist, Kathy has honed her skills on gait assessment, transfer, and balance training. Kathy strives to individualize her physical therapy treatments so that her patients receive the most effective course of therapy. She provides patients and caregivers with extensive safety and fall prevention education. Kathy has the expertise to determine the optimal assistive device to best help the patient while also helping to obtain this equipment. These assistive devices may include a walker, cane, or bedside commode. Kathy ensures the device is the correct height and fit for the patient. Additionally, Kathy provides large, simple illustrated home exercise programs so that a patient can best understand the exercises, which enhances patient compliance. There are many perks to Kathy’s job as a UPMC Home Healthcare physical therapist. She travels between three counties, meeting new people all along the way. She has the privilege of having one-on-one visits with patients in their own homes. Kathy’s favorite aspect of her job is having the opportunity to help people. Additionally, most of her patients have some connection to Kathy, whether they are her friends, parents of her friends, or friends of her parents. Kathy lives in Wilcox and is married to Jim Elinski. They have two sons, Jimmy, 23, and Joey, 21, along with two German Shorthair dogs, Fritz and Moose. To qualify for home healthcare, a patient must have a skilled need, be under the care of a physician, and meet homebound criteria that renders it difficult for a patient to leave their home to obtain services in an outpatient clinic. If you or a loved one think you may benefit from physical therapy in your home, ask your physician or provider for a referral for home healthcare physical therapy. https://www.pressreader.com/usa/kane-republican/20210629/281530818998998

The reflections that Dr. Aimee Knauff ’02 wrote for her children when she was diagnosed with brain cancer have become chapters in her book, " Beloved and Brain Cancer: Living Each Moment As If It Were Your Last." "After my fifth tumor diagnosis, I realized that I probably wouldn’t live long enough to experience my children's major life events with them. That got me writing to share my reflections with them and it was all the more reason to be present in the current moment rather than be upset about the past or nervous about what’s to come. My name Aimee means beloved, and in my suffering, I know everyone is beloved and has their own suffering," Knauff said. "The book is about my life and the lessons I learned are valuable. The biggest message is that we are all struggling, everyone is hurting and needs hope. I want it to be a source of love and healing for others." In Knauff's book, she shares her spiritual journey and the lessons she learned over her lifetime. About a year ago, Knauff began to add to the reflections she was writing for her children by exploring her life and reflecting on the ups and downs life brings. One of her traumatic experiences was when she was 14 years old and her sister, Candace, died of pneumococcal meningitis four days before her 13th birthday. "Her death made me question my life, what it was all about and the regrets I had that I should have been a better big sister. I should have been more present," Knauff said. Her reflections include going to Haiti and being impressed by the people who had so little and yet were happy and trusting in God to take care of them. In her book, Knauff writes, “Looking inward to my beloved-self and living out of that love has been the calling of my life. Knowing that I am beloved is the source of my joy, acceptance, and peace that radiates out to others. I hope that you will also find peace in your suffering as you too learn to live as His beloved.” "Currently, I struggle with increasing short-term memory loss and right-sided weakness from a stroke during my third surgery," Knauff said. Knauff’s journey with cancer began in 2004, a month before her wedding to husband Adam, when she received her diagnosis, and a month after the wedding she had the first of four surgeries. When she was diagnosed with brain cancer Knauff was very disappointed that she could not pursue the career she loved so much, a solo medical career in Vermont, but she knew it was the right thing to do. The Knauffs moved to the Ellwood City area to be near Adam's family and her mother who lives in Cranberry Township. "My book is who I am. It is my journey to be humble and vulnerable," Knauff said. "I practice mindfulness each day and I am thankful to God for the miracle of breath, the miracle of life, and the miracle of death." After receiving a bachelor's degree from Gannon in Erie, Knauff got a Naturopathic Doctorate from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Ariz. The Knauffs live in Franklin Township with their children, Sofia,13, in the eighth grade, Everest 12, in the sixth grade, and Carter, 8, who is in the third grade in the Riverside School District. For more information or to purchase the book go to Knauff's website belovedandbraincancer.godaddysites.com Hardcover is $24.99 plus tax and shipping, paperback is $14.99 plus tax and shipping and the ebook is $9.99. A portion of the proceeds is going to support Catholic Relief Services, and Knauff said she hopes one day to give them a big check. https://www.ellwoodcityledger.com/story/news/local/2021/06/16/book-reflects-learned-franklin-twp-woman-fighting-cancer/7695920002/ ________________________________________

Terry McCarthy '66 has developed a substantial Industrial and Consumer Goods sector consulting practice, currently serving as a Partner with RFG GLOBAL Management Consultants with His clients have included: Apple, Microsoft, MasterCard Intl., Lucent Technologies, General Electric, Time-Warner, NBC/Universal, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Barclays Bank, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, CIT Financial, and Fidelity Investments. Mr. McCarthy began his business career as a financial analyst for WR Grace. He later joined the Philip Morris Corporation in its Corporate Planning Group where he was involved in the ‘Diversification Strategy’ leading to acquisitions within the Beverage, Food and Real Estate Industries, namely: ‘Miller Beer’, ‘Seven-Up’ ‘General Foods’, ‘Kraft Foods’ and ‘Mission Viejo’, a ‘planned’ City. Terry was jointly responsible for developing the “Caffeine-Free” Soda Segment, prior to acquiring ‘Seven-Up’ Soda Brand. He assumed more senior management marketing roles in various European and Asian Marketing positions. Terry was subsequently recruited to ITT’s ‘Telecom Group’, as President and Chief Marketing Officer [CMO] of a newly formed spin-off firm, where he successfully transformed the core businesses into a rapidly growing, consumer, ‘Emerging -Technology-based’ provider in a 55-nation marketing/distribution network. The Private Equity Owners’ successfully sold off ‘The Telecom Group’ to a European Multinational. Terry McCarthy subsequently served for over five years as an Executive Vice President –Head of Marketing & Strategy for United Jersey Banks, the 8th Largest US Bank, at the time. While at United Jersey, he was the first to develop and market the “Home -Equity Line of Credit” Product that was later replicated by nearly 94% of US Banks. As the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) , he created the “Accutrack Product”, which led to gaining a 80%+ Market Share of NJ Law Firm Relationships and later heading up several Banking Subsidiaries, several of which he developed through Acquisitions or Joint-Venture Partnering. Terry joined as a US Partner -Marketing Solutions, Inc. and later PA Management Consultants in New York as the Managing Partner /USA . Ramping up the Strategy Consulting capacity, assisting in crafting Client Revenue and Marketing Initiatives for industry-leading clients, such as: MasterCard Intl., creating the ‘World Cup Soccer Sponsorship’ in the US and expanding to global sponsorship dominance. A successful Sports Program format for NBC’s Telemundo Television Network. Mr. McCarthy received a B.A. in History with Honors from Gannon University. He was a member of the Blue Key Honor Fraternity, as well as playing Intercollegiate Basketball and Tennis. He received an M.A. from New York University Graduate School in International Diplomatic History, International Affairs. Additionally, he currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at New York University’s SPS/Graduate Business School teaching: Business Strategy Management, Mergers & Acquisitions and Global Talent Management and Entrepreneurial Business Development Capstone Courses. https://www.sps.nyu.edu/homepage/academics/faculty-directory/13250-joseph-t-mccarthy.html

Kyle has been a design engineer and program manager at Accede Mold & Tool since May 2018. He started after graduating from Gannon University with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He is currently managing 11 mold builds for the medical and consumer packaging industries, including multiple 24+24 stack molds and a 16+16 two-shot cube mold system. Customers are quick to praise Kyle for his excellent leadership and communication skills and steady project management style from design launch through mold install on their production floor. Kyle embodies Accede’s culture of continuous improvement and moldmaking excellence. He is smart and conscientious, with strong attention to detail and a focus on quality. Kyle goes beyond his day-to-day responsibilities of mold design and project management. He is the internal champion and Accede representative for SPE while staying up-to-date on industry technology advancements and representing Accede at trade events. Kyle can regularly be found on the shop floor, rolling up his sleeves to work side by side with experienced moldmakers, building and assembling the injection molds he designs. At just 25 years of age, Kyle’s competencies, initiative, drive and self-motivation are helping to make a difference in moldmaking as a leader and an innovator. More here: https://www.moldmakingtechnology.com/articles/30-under-30-honors-program-mentoring-in-the-next-generation-of-moldmaking-professionals

Theresa Gamble ’86 has joined the Hagen History Center in Erie as director of library and archives. Gamble, who has more than 30 years of experience in archives and records management, will focus on digitizing the documented history of Erie County for increased public access. The former director of corporate compliance at Erie Insurance, Gamble earned a bachelor's degree from Gannon University and a master’s degree from Duquesne University. She has served as a volunteer on the collections committee of the Erie County Historical Society and as project manager and guide at the Hurry Hill Maple Museum. https://www.goerie.com/story/business/2021/05/23/theresa-gamble-director-library-and-archives-hagen-history-center/5142483001/