Nazareth Academy

Nazareth alumni have a special opportunity to assist Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach address the serious unmet medical needs of people in developing countries.  Mission Outreach recovers medical equipment and supplies that are deemed surplus by local healthcare providers.  Instead of these items being sent to landfills, they are sorted, cleaned, repaired, inventoried and published in an online catalog.  These items can then be ordered and shipped around the world to improve the quality of healthcare and save lives.  Dozens of Nazareth alumni have already volunteered.  The jobs are easy and fun.  This is an excellent opportunity to get to know alum from many classes.  The following dates are available:

Jan. 28, 9-noon
Mar. 10, 9-noon

Anyone interested in volunteering please contact Debbie Soldato via email at dsoldato@comcast.net or 312-590-2997.

Marie Gabay Branis '46 "After 38 years in my own home in La Mirada, I moved to a very active assisted living community, Merrill Gardens, only a block from the heart of uptown Whittier. I have a lovely 1-bedroom 1-bath apartment with a small kitchenette and an outside balcony. I enjoy my new lifestyle and with the many bus trips and activities I hardly have time for bingo!

My kids visit me frequently and take me to lunch. Scott had us for Thanksgiving and Christmas will be at Toni's.

My best to all of you for a Happy Holiday season and a successful New Year. Love to all, Marie"


Jean Mallory '71 "I have a favorite memory circa 1969-1971. During my years at Nazareth the halls during changing times, in between classes, were very active and at times a little crowded. We chatted almost non-stop during those minutes because they were the little snippets of time to banter with friends. Quickly-moving, talkative lines of girls soon came to a complete silence when they moved directly in front of the chapel. What reverence was displayed! I thank God for the opportunity to witness and partake in this.

One of my least favorite memories is when we left from school for the weekend on a Friday and everything was normal. Upon returning that following Monday, all the sisters had changed into their more "modern" garb. Most of us were in shock and just stared. Some of the sisters tried to explain the change to us, but none of the explanations made any sense. They still don't. My least favorite."


Eliza Gallo Bruscato, M.D. '85 "I graduated from Naz in 1985 and then received a bachelors and MD from the University of Illinois in Urbana and then Chicago. I have to tell you that Sister Ellen used a phrase that I still use to this day. In science lab, there was a discrepancy in one of my logs from the experiments that I was performing with my science partner. Sister Ellen looked at the quad ruled notebook, looked at me and said, "That data don't jive." That brilliant woman and mentor was right. Now I say that to my children as I check their new math homework. I also say it to myself as I check lab reports on patients, especially if I KNOW that something is off with my patient, but they look normal on paper. If a patient is cheating on her glucose testing, I say it to the patient, explain what it means, and she usually confesses her dietary sins. I also remember the time that Sister Ellen escaped my peripheral vision, came behind me and Kathy Schmidt and boinked our heads together because we were reading a magazine instead of paying attention. I am laughing out loud as I write this! Anyway, I have too many great memories!

My kids BTW, are at a great Catholic school in Atlanta. Holy Spirit Preparatory School is an independent Catholic Pre-K2 through 12 school. It reminds me so much of Naz!" (Read more...)