Sr. Janet Meehan Student Fitness Center
Sister Janet pictured in the Art Room in 1982
Sr. Janet Meehan, RDC (formerly known as Sr. Mary Leonard), a Sister of the Divine Compassion, was a pillar of the Kennedy Catholic community for nearly 50 years.
Sister began her teaching career at Preston High School in the Bronx before moving to Kennedy Catholic where she taught math, served as the Chairperson of the Art Department, and moderated the track team. Sister is credited with advancing womens’ athletics in Section 1 by Lohud and received a number of awards in her career: The Educational Art Teachers Award from Rhode Island School of Design, the Lacey Award from Westchester Coaches and Officials Association and she was named Coach of the Year by Gannett Westchester in 1990 (from the Sisters of the Divine Compassion website).
Beyond the art room and the track, though, Sister Janet’s memory touches nearly every Gael to graduate from Kennedy Catholic from 1967 to 2015. One of such Gaels is Mark Girolamo, Class of 1971. In his appeal letter to his classmates in 2021, Mark explains not only why he has taken a leadership role on the Fitness Center project, but also how he determined the most fitting name for such a facility: the Sister Janet Meehan Fitness Center.
“I have always had great affinity for Kennedy Catholic since I graduated in 1971. I grew in many ways during my four years there. Not only did I receive a first-class education, but I had the opportunity to represent the school on the athletic fields and also to make a number of great lifelong friends… I feel strongly that sports round out a student’s experience and also lay the groundwork for a healthy lifestyle for the rest of the person’s life. The benefits of a lifetime of fitness are well documented — and a lesson that I learned well at Kennedy and throughout my adult years both in the military and beyond.
I decided it would be fitting to name the center after one of my teachers and friends who entered the building in 1967 at the same time that I started my Freshman year. I chose the name “The Sister Janet Meehan Student Fitness Center.”
Not only did Sister Janet teach at Kennedy for close to 50 years, but she was a coaching legend in Girl’s Track and Cross Country. She was a seven-time Westchester County Coach of the Year, developing many fine runners for the Gaels. Her leadership allowed for hundreds of girls to experience the thrill of competition and learn how to get fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle for the rest of their lives. Her contribution to the development of so many students was outstanding. Who better to honor than Sister Janet with such a building?
The Sister Janet Meehan
Student Fitness Center
We are at $1,000,000 as of April 1, 2024!
Your Support Will Help Educate Future Generations of Gaels in Health and Wellness
Announced at the beginning of the 2021-2022 academic year, the project has reached 67% of its fundraising goal. The Fitness Center committee, consisting of members of the Board of Trustees, KCPS administration, and several alumni whose lives were touched by Sister Janet significantly, is hopeful that construction will begin in the summer of 2024.
Sister Janet pictured with Girls’ Winter Track in 2012.
From the yearbook: Varsity: Nicole Alleva, Courtney Araujo, Eileen Cassidy, Nicole Collado, Jena Lynne DiFrisco, Ariana Djerdjaj, Mackenzie Feehan, Victoria Holzinger, Catherine Katsberg, Brianna Mancuso, Jackie McAvoy, Emily Mittlestadt, Tillie O’Reilly, Alexandra Petrullo, Victoria Santini, Veronica Schorr, Jennifer Schuck, Ellen Spillane, Sienna Tedesco, Daniella Torchia, Moira Tolan, Dominique Vidal, and Flora Xavier.
Sister Janet pictured with Girls’ Varsity Spring Track in 1990.
From the yearbook: Girls’ Varsity Spring Track and Field had a very successful season with six wins and no losses. Under the leadership of tri-captains Ame Collins, Anna Fitzgerald, and Karen Pedlow they captured the League title. Maureen Young who earned ALL COUNTY and ALL SECTION recognition tied for first place in high jump at the State Meet. Janet Apap, Ame Collins, Terry Costigan, Christina Curry, Anna Fitzgerald, Vicki Lynch, Hollee McGinnis, Jeanne O’Connell, Karen Pedlow, Melanie Rusczyzk, Jessica Swolfs, Marialisa\ Walton, and Maureen Young were awarded ALL LEAGUE honors. Karen Long and Patty Magnani received ALL LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION.
The brand new, 2,300 square foot building (situated in front of the convent, on the hill overlooking the turf field and track) will house new gym equipment for students and student-athletes to work out with to achieve a healthy lifestyle. In addition, “athletic teams will be able to conduct the weight training necessary to successfully compete in today’s world of high school sports,” as Mark Girolamo said in his appeal letter. This new student fitness center will replace the small room currently in use. Due to the commitment of Kennedy Catholic, Mark and other dedicated volunteers, the center is beginning to take shape.
In early May, the planning committee chose an architect with the experience, credentials and creativity to bring the vision for the student fitness center to life. Next steps include finalizing the architectural drawings, selecting a contractor and working through various zoning approvals with the town.The plan is to break ground this summer, with the center on track to open its doors to students in Spring 2023.
Committee members working to make this happen include KCPS alumni Mark Girolamo ’71, Debbie LaPerch ’75, Terrence Yanni ’80, John Arminio ’83, Thomas McCabe ’95, Luciana Shortal ’96 and Devin Brown ’06. Father Mark Vaillancourt, President/Principal, and staff members Fred Compton, Director of Advancement, and Noelle Torre ‘14, Director of Communications, are also instrumental, as is Richard Davin, KCPS Parent and Board of Trustees member.
Team Captains
Mark
Girolamo
1971
Bill
LaPerch
1973
Deborah Buckley-LaPerch
1975
Terry
Yanni
1980
Tony
Pauline
1981
John
Arminio
1983
Christine
Lasher-Rossiter
1985
Stephen
Lasher
1987
Michele
Pacella-McKearney
1990
Danielle
Curry-Wertman
1995
Thomas
McCabe
1995
Luciana DiMartino-Shortal
1996
Danielle Wegielski-Pavletich
2002
Devin
Brown
2006
Noelle
Torre
2014
Will
Rossiter
2016
The committee would love to have more Class Captains involved in the project, particularly representing classes from the ’90s through 2000s. If any alumni are interested, please contact Fred Compton at [email protected].
There have been hundreds of donations from alumni, parents and friends of KCPS, but a little more is needed. Class of 1996 Captain Luciana Shortal wrote in the Spring 2022 Gael: “We would love for every alumnus to have a hand in making this possible for KCPS students. The student fitness center is just one aspect of the future vision of the school with much more to come! No gift is too small in supporting KCPS on this journey.”
If you would like to contribute to this project, please consider filling out the form below.