Board Members
Board Members | Professional Specialty |
Robert Coneys ‘68 | Bob Coneys has served AWHS as a parent, an Advisory Board Member, and now as a Trustee. In 1992, Bob founded Hatherly Associates, a consulting firm which provides ongoing business and personnel management advice. From 1977-1992, Bob served as Vice President of the National Fire Protection Association and prior to that, worked as Senior Staff Audit Supervisor with The Grant Thornton Company. Bob is a 1972 graduate of Boston College and attended the PMD program at the Harvard Business School in 1990. |
Vittoria Pacifico-DeBenedictis | The principal of one of our most prolific and prized feeder schools! Under Vitt’s leadership, St. Francis of Assisi School has become a model of educational excellence and organizational effectiveness. Vitt’s background in education and contributions to the Archdiocese are remarkable. She is a graduate of Regis and Emanuel Colleges and will soon be a Doctor of Education and graduate of UMass Boston! Her expertise and perspective as an educator, her vision, and her character are invaluable assets to our Board and to our school. |
| Joseph Driscoll '88 | Joe is a Senior Vice President at O’Neill & Associates, one of the nation’s largest government relations and communications firms. Prior to this position, he served for eight years as State Representative for the Fifth Norfolk District, which includes Braintree, Holbrook and Randolph. While in the legislature, Joe oversaw banking and insurance issues as a member of the Joint Committee on Financial Services while also serving on the House Ways & Means Committee and the Joint Committee on Revenue. He also has held positions as an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant District Attorney for Norfolk County, and Selectman for his hometown of Braintree. A 1988 graduate of AWHS, Joe earned his B.A. from Boston College his Juris Doctor from New England School of Law and Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. |
Dennis M. Duggan, Jr. ‘70 | A 1974 graduate of Boston College, Dennis has been an attorney with Nixon Peabody LLD for 20 years and was an Associate/Partner at Wilner Hale for nine years before that. Dennis has served on the Board of Trustees at Suffolk University, and a Chair of our Development Committee. Dennis’ wife, Mary Reedy-Duggan, is also an AWHS graduate. Dennis loves basketball and still plays at AWHS every Thursday night. In his words, Dennis is, “Honored to help preserve, protect, and guide AWHS so that current and future students will have the same chance I did to experience our school!” |
James P. Edwards ‘63 | Jim has over 40 years experience in architectural practice and since 1980 has headed the firm his father began in the 1940’s .A graduate of Boston University and a registrant with Massachusetts Architectural Board, Jim has endeavored to lend support to the School’s facilities department in his tenure on the Board. Jim is also President of the Quincy Historical Society and has been fortunate to be able to utilize his architectural experience consulting on upgrades for a number of very historic structures in the area. |
Helen Flanders ‘67 | Helen is an officer in Retail Operations at Sovereign Bank. Active in the American Cancer Society, Helen brings a business perspective to the Board and is a Champion of alumni relations and school loyalty. Helen and her four sisters all graduated from AWHS! She likes to cycle, read, and enjoy life. In her words, “Life is too short! Enjoy each day, as if it might end. Be kind and friendly; and help someone.” |
David L. Francis | David is a Sr. Vice President and head of the Development & Advisory Services Department at Meredith & Grew, Inc. Boston. He served on the AWHS Advisory Board for many years and is the current Chairman of our Board of Trustees. David is a distinguished graduate of the United States Naval Academy and was a Fulbright Scholar at the Sorbonne. |
| Stephen Hassell '67 | Stephen is an AWHS graduate of 1967, and has extensive experience in construction, structural design, and engineering. He has led countless successful development projects in Boston and far beyond, and now sits as President and CFO of his own engineering firm. What is more, Steve constantly gives back to AWHS. He serves our Alumni Focus Group generously and has sponsored a scholarship for a number of years that supports and recognizes a graduating senior who has a future in engineering. |
Michael McCarthy, Ph.D. | Mike earned a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Boston College. Retired after 40 years in the Boston Public Schools as a teacher, Director of Instruction and Principal. He is currently working as an Educational Consultant. Mike’s wife Maryellen is an alumna of AWHS. He has nine children and five grandchildren. In his words, “I am honored to serve on the AWHS Board. Working at a Catholic school has strengthened my commitment to Catholic education.” |
Tracy Vaughan ‘82 | A Boston College graduate, Tracy’s marketing experience at Mass Hospital School and as the Senior Board Manager at Kellihan, Samets, Valk of Boston has been most beneficial to the Board. She has been in the Marketing/Communications field for 20 years; and guides our Marketing Committee in all aspects of public relations. Her husband, Rich, was Tracy’s classmate at AWHS! Tracy runs and skis when she isn’t spending time with her children, Elly and John. |
| Ellen Walsh | Ellen Walsh holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology/Education from Providence College. She received a Masters of Science in Counselor Education from Suffolk University and a Masters of Education in Elementary Education from Bridgewater State College. She is currently employed by the Law Office of Merrigan & Merrigan in Braintree and is a former Guidance Counselor within the Holbrook Public School system. A member of the AWHS parent group from 1997 to 2007, Walsh chaired the Group for three years during her tenure. She is an elected Town Meeting Member in Holbrook and formerly served on the Holbrook Board of Selectmen. She has served on the Holbrook Board of Assessors and presently is a member of the Holbrook Historical Commission. Most of all, Ellen and her husband sent four children (and extraordinary graduates!) to AWHS! |
Richard Weidmann ‘75 | Rich has been a member of the AWHS Board of Trustees since 2004 and previously served on the Principal’s Advisory Board. He received his BS Degree in Accounting from Bentley College and an MBA from Babson College, and is a Certified Financial Planner™. He has worked in financial services for nearly thirty years and is a Vice President at a wealth management firm that supports high net worth investors as well as non-profit clients. |
