[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 116 (Friday, September 5, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1673-E1674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE CARLOW COLLEGE WOMEN OF SPIRIT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. WILLIAM J. COYNE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 5, 1997

  Mr. COYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor women that surpass all 
with their splendor and grace. They are the Carlow College Women of 
Spirit.
  Founded in 1929, Carlow College has dedicated itself to the spirit of 
involvement and making a difference. The Women of Spirit Award 
highlights the achievements of Pittsburgh area women who exemplify 
competence and compassion in their communities, professions, and 
personal lives. The Women of Spirit Award recipients can be found in 
almost every profession in the region. Both the Women of Spirit Award 
recipients and Carlow College embody the values that we wish to foster 
in our children, and they provide admirable role models for young women 
in Allegheny County and around the world. The year culminates in an 
annual gala to honor the award recipients of the previous year. This 
year's gala will be held on Saturday, September 27, 1997. I wish to 
speak about each of these remarkable women today.
  The October 1996 recipient of the Women of Spirit Award is Beth 
Berkebile. After graduating from Carlow College, Ms. Berkebile went on 
to become coowner of Randall's Restaurant in Perryopolis. Graced with 
one beautiful daughter of their own, Ms. Berkebile and her husband 
adopted two children from the former Soviet Union. Ms. Berkebile 
ensured that her new children would learn English by teaching them 
herself. Her son Sergey, just 1 year out of Russia, is making A's in 
reading.
  Tradition dictates that there be one Women of Spirit for each month 
of the year. Joan Brest Friedberg and Elizabeth Segel are an exception 
because of their innovative program Beginning with Books. Beginning 
with Books is an early intervention program that works hand in hand 
with the Carnegie Library and is targeted at low-income families with 
young children. Ms. Friedberg has worked with other authors on the 
subject of quality books, has written ``Super Storytimes: A Guide for 
Care Givers,'' has served on many boards, and has presented at the 
National Association for the Education of Young Children. Ms. Segel has 
coauthored a book, published several articles, served on various 
committees--including the Hans Christian Andersen Award Committee and 
the Altruistic Projects Committee of the International Reading 
Association--and taught children's literature at the University of 
Pittsburgh.
  The Leukemia Society of America is extremely fortunate to have Jeanne 
Caliguiri, winner of the December 1996 spirit award, serve as the 
director of Major Gifts. Her direction and service on various 
Pittsburgh boards, including the Pittsburgh Opera and the Salvation 
Army, shows her interest in the region and its community. Ms. Caliguiri 
is also interested in promoting the safety and well-being of children 
throughout southwestern Pennsylvania as a founding member of Girl's 
Hope and a board member of the George Junior Republic for boys. Her 
most impressive achievement to date is the foundation of the Richard S. 
Caliguiri Amyloidosis Research Fund, for which she has raised $600,000.
  American Law is the centerpiece of the Honorable Kate Food Elliott's 
life. A member of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania and the January 
1997 Woman of Spirit winner, Ms. Elliott serves as cochair of the 
Pennsylvania Bar Association's Women in the Profession Conference. She 
is on the board of advisors for Successful Women, Lawyers Concerned for 
Lawyers of Pennsylvania, and Step-by-Step, a community-based mental 
health organization.

  Shampoo and psychotherapy go hand in hand for February, 1997 Women of 
Spirit winner, Dr. Lois Dabney-Smith. In 1975, Dr. Smith had just given 
birth to twins and decided that she needed to return to work. Her 
husband fashioned a small room in the rear of their home as a minisalon 
and Lois began to style hair. She explains her successful transition 
from beauty shop owner to psychotherapist as a natural. Women would 
walk into her salon and talk about the horrific behavior of their 
husbands who drank too much or couldn't keep a job. She enrolled full 
time at the University of Pittsburgh and received her doctorate in 
1980. Today, Dr. Dabney-Smith is a nationally recognized expert on 
intervention.
  Sister Michelle O'Leary embodies Carlow College's spirit and is the 
March 1997, winner of the Women of Spirit Award. As a Sister of

[[Page E1674]]

Mercy, Michelle O'Leary is part of a proud tradition of holy women that 
have served Pittsburgh for 150 years through the Mercy Health System 
and at Carlow College. Sister O'Leary is president of the Ireland 
Institute of Pittsburgh, which was founded in 1989 to promote western 
Pennsylvanian interaction in the political, economic, and social 
stability of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
  Selflessness is a quality that embodies a Woman of Spirit and Lucille 
Rawson demonstrates this with her service to Pittsburgh and the world. 
That is the reason she has been named the April 1997, recipient of the 
Woman of Spirit Award. For years, Ms. Rawson has served as owner and 
operator of Hospital Albert Schweitzer that serves the poor in Haiti. 
She also served as host to Haitians in the United States. One of her 
more notable services was as treasurer of the Bryn Mawr Vassar Book 
Club, which provides scholarships to needy students.
  Mary Molyneux is the Carlow College Woman of Spirit for May 1997. 
After the death of her husband, Ms. Molyneux kept up the family 
business of Molyneux Tile and Carpet Store and expanded it to three 
locations. Ms. Molyneux also owns a religious gift and book store. She 
earned her certificate in pastoral ministry at Carlow College and has 
performed her ministry at St. Margaret Memorial Hospital in Pittsburgh. 
She has also created a volunteer group at that hospital. Moreover, she 
has done all this and raised four children.
  The June 1997, Woman of Spirit is Sandra McLaughlin, a senior vice 
president of Mellon Corp. Ms. McLaughlin heads Mellon's Cooperate 
Affairs Department and she chairs the board of the Mellon Bank 
Foundation and the Corporate Contributions Committee. Over the years, 
Ms. McLaughlin has moved from a teller to a very senior position in 
this company. She is also very involved in a number of community 
organizations.
  Kay Snyder, July 1997's award recipient, earned her masters degree in 
social work from the University of Pittsburgh. A widow who raised three 
daughters, Ms. Snyder is known as one of the most gentle and warm 
people at Allegheny General Hospital. Ms. Snyder had a knack for trauma 
social work, and she rapidly became a valued member of the hospital 
staff. Today she operates the injury prevention program at Allegheny 
General. She is an inspiration to us all and a true woman of spirit.
  August 1997 is highlighted with Women of Spirit Award winner Dorothy 
Davis of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, a Pittsburgh-based law firm. She 
is an accomplished professional who still works time into her day for 
volunteer activities as director of the Mt. Lebanon Extended Day 
Program and as a volunteer for the Girl Scouts of southwestern 
Pennsylvania. A graduate of Carlow College and the University of 
Pittsburgh Law School, Ms. Davis has continued to be active in these 
institutions.
  September 1997's Women of Spirit Award winner serves the public 
interest. Karen Wolk Feinstein has served on the faculty of major 
universities across the country including Boston College and Carnegie-
Mellon University. In addition to the boards she sits on at National 
City Bank, Shadyside Hospital, and Carlow College, Ms. Feinstein is 
also a member of the University of Pittsburgh Health Science Wide Panel 
on Medical Ethics. Her last position was a senior VP of the United Way, 
Allegheny County. She currently serves as president of the Jewish 
Healthcare Foundation of Pittsburgh.
  Mr. Speaker, all of these women are modern day role models, and their 
contribution to our community helps to make Pittsburgh a wonderful 
place to live. Women of Spirit can be found every day, but Carlow 
College allows them to shine. Each and every individual that I have 
spoken about has energy, enthusiasm, intelligence, compassion, and 
competence that is unmatched. I salute this year's Woman of Spirit 
Award recipients and wish them the best at this year's gala.

                          ____________________