1986 Class Notes for 2016
Greetings Class of 1986,
I realize that it has been a few years since our news has made the journal and I hope all of you will send entries next year, but with the small response I opted to ask Megan Murray Steele to contribute the following piece.
Our dear friend and classmate, Mary Mulkerin Donius, died peacefully at her home in Hingham, MA on July 29 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She is survived by her adored sister, Anna Mulkerin Baxter and her family, her loving brother, John Mulkerin and his family, and her beloved husband, Kevin Donius, and their four beautiful children: Maggie (20), Jack (19), Michael (16) and Caitlin (13). Mary was preceded in death by her mother Judy, her father Jack, and her sister Julie, and was the daughter-in-law of Paula and Alvin Donius and sister-in-law of John, Chris and Laura Donius.
Mary and Kevin first met during her Trinity College years when Kevin was among the first group of Georgetown Law School students to live on Trinity’s campus in the 1980s. During that time they enjoyed many laughs together at numerous Pub Nights until going their separate ways when Mary graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with honors. Right after graduation, Mary moved to Brooklyn with her Trinity pals Renee Revaz and Christine Woros, and worked in New York City for Salomon Brothers, and Rand McNally.
Just before relocating back home to the Boston area in the early 90s, Mary also shared a few months long house sitting stint in Darien, CT with another Trinity pal, Megan Murray. It was in Boston that Mary and Kevin were reunited at a chance meeting at a Store 24 convenience store in Charlestown, MA. Kevin determined he “was not going to let her get away again” and they subsequently married.
While raising her children, Mary was a frequent freelance essayist and reporter for the Boston Globe, Yankee Magazine, and many other New England publications, musing on the joys (and frustrations) of life in the suburbs. In the following years, she worked at Fidelity Investments in Boston, a local P.R. firm, and most recently, returned for a second time to Fidelity as a Director of Communications.
Mary was beyond well loved by those who knew her in every town that was graced by her presence. Her sense of humor was infectious and she lit up every room she entered. She never tired of performing for and entertaining her friends and she did this often at her own expense. She was very smart and quick-witted, and loved learning, laughing and singing. In fact, at Trinity many of us joked that she was an honorary “ Trinity Belle” and was often found singing along with the Belles in the front row of the audience though she never actually tried out or was a member of this a cappella singing group. Her old friends in Brooklyn just this week mentioned they will never forget her acted-out rendition of Don McLean’s American Pie (long live Pub Night!). Mary also loved to spin a good tale and hold court; during Senior Week, she relished her role as the “Great Ash” at the “Senior Smoker” where she got to lead the airing of everyone’s entertaining “secrets”. Mary cherished her time with family and friends. She reveled in motherhood and delighted in the achievements of her four children, two of whom have special needs. She was also deeply involved in countless civic and non-profit groups over the years. Mary was an eternal optimist with an unwavering belief in God and in the goodness of the world. She will be missed greatly for her friendship and all of the joy she brought into our lives.
Thank you to Megan Murray Steele for your beautiful words.
I enjoyed seeing the small group who gathered for our 30th reunion in May, and thank Colleen Sonosky for organizing such a fun dinner. I hope for a higher turnout next year and increased response to the journal plea. The friendships we made at Trinity so long ago are held dear within our small groups but I hope we can reconnect and share in the future with the class of 1986.
Respectfully submitted,
DeDe Miller Castleberry