CORINTH HIGH SCHOOL
The “Corinth Hall of Fame” is a program to honor
Corinth graduates who have distinguished themselves beyond the halls of Corinth
High School. This program is intended to foster a positive school climate by
recognizing the successes and achievements of Corinth graduates and provide role
models for our students. Past recipients were: Donald Moses, Bertram Mahoney,
Dr. William Cromie, Nathan Proller,
Colonel Mary Ann Morreale,
Dr. Richard
Pitkin, Sister Gail Waring,
Joan Welch, Philip Proller and
Joanne Petro
Hoffman. Applications are available in the High School Office.
Dr. William J. Cromie
Dr. Cromie is a surgeon with an
international reputation. He has also been a faculty member at some of the best
teaching hospitals and medical colleges in the country.
While at the Albany Medical
Center, he founded the Ronald McDonald House in Albany, was one of the founders
of the Albany Regatta and was a founding member of the Capital District
Physicians Health Plan. Dr. Cromie has published extensively in his field and
has pioneered surgical procedures that have contributed greatly to the expansion
of knowledge in the field of pediatric urology.
Dr. Cromie has demonstrated the
compassion of a great humanitarian. He has done much to improve the quality of
life for many thousands of people.
June 1999
Mary Ann Morreale
A 1970 graduate of the Corinth High School, Mary Ann Morreale has distinguished herself by becoming one of the few women to achieve the rank of Colonel in the U. S. Air Force. For her work on a joint health services initiative with the Navy, Army and Air Force, Mary Ann received the Army High Performance Award of Excellence. In 1992, after Hurricane Andrew destroyed the MacDill Air Force Base medical facility, Colonel Morreale led the recovery effort to restore order.
Currently, Mary Ann is the Director of Interagency Information Management and
Technology Planning and Integrations. Colonel Morreale is also responsible for
sharing military health information and technology resources with other
federal agencies.
While stationed in Guam earlier in her career, Colonel Morreale was
instrumental in bringing the parents of a critically injured female airman to
her bedside before she died.
Mary Ann has also opened her quarters several times to help those in need of
shelter including housing evacuees during Operation Fiery Vigil.
Colonel Morreale’s willingness to help others is not limited to military
service. As a member of the Zanta Club of Washington, D.C., she serves as
co-chair of the Status of Women and Service Committee. This committee reaches
out to help single mothers obtain their high school equivalency diplomas,
supports a local reading program, and delivers holiday bags to a women’s
homeless shelter.
Colonel Mary Morreale epitomizes the qualities of leadership and service. She
sets a stellar example for Corinth graduates to follow.
June 2001
Dr. Pitkin was born and raised in Corinth, New York where he graduated from Corinth High School in 1944. In 1954, he graduated from New York Medical College – Valhalla. Upon the completion of his residency at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo and Samaritan Hospital, he established a family practice in his hometown. He and his wife, Sheila, raised five children in Corinth – Alson, Alex, Cindy, Jenny and Rebecca.
For forty–five years he has dedicated his life to his family, his community, and his patients. In a time where answering machines, dictation devices, secretaries, and pagers are a way of life for his colleagues, Dr. Pitkin has always been there in the time of need for his patients – even if their need happened to come on his day off. Their ability to pay never affected the quality of their treatment. All have been cared for without bias and with compassion and skill.
When Corinth lost its community hospital, Dr. Pitkin organized a group to help save it. In November 2001, he was honored by the American Legion Post 533 for unselfish service to his community. He has been a humanitarian who has sacrificed notoriety and time to serve the Corinth community. After choosing his profession, Dr. Pitkin chose the community in which to practice that profession and to raise his family. Our school, our community, and our churches are a better place because Dr. Pitkin chose to return to Corinth to make a difference.
June 2002
Sister Gail Waring, RSM
Gail Waring, the oldest of four children of Harry and Molly Waring, graduated from Corinth Central School in 1957. In 1960 she dedicated her life as a Sister of Mercy. Gail continued her education over many years by receiving her diploma from St. Peter’s School of Nursing in 1960, an A.A.S. degree from Maria College in 1963, a B.S. in Nursing from Boston College in 1965, a M.Ed. Teaching and Administration of Associate Degree Nursing Program in 1969 and a Certificate of Spirituality from the Institute of Religious Formation, St. Louis University in Missouri in 1979. Her professional experience includes Clinical Nursing Instructor at the School of Nursing at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany, NY; Professor of Nursing at Maria College in Albany, NY; Director of Novices and Candidates at the Sisters of Mercy in Albany, NY; and Executive Council Member at the Sisters of Mercy, Albany, NY. Sister Waring currently is the Vice President of Mission Services, Mercycare Corporation, in Albany NY where she collaborates with Mercycare’s executive staff and employees to promote and integrate the mission and core values for the Catholic Healthcare Ministry in Albany, NY.
Sister Waring has served on the Board of Directors at Mercy High School and St.
Peter’s Hospital, Uhlein/Mercy Center, Lake Placid/Tupper Lake, NY; was
President of the Board of Directors at Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless,
in Albany, NY; the Board of Directors at Hope House in Albany; President of the
Board of Directors at Interfaith Partnership for Homeless, Albany and served as
Chair of the Mission Committee.
Sister Waring is also active in her community by volunteering for the Red Cross,
and is a member of the Ethics Committee, Community Health Plan. In 1997, Gail
received the “Carlyle Adams Ecumenical Award” for her selfless devotion to
ecumenical inclusiveness and her work with the Interfaith Partnership for the
homeless. She currently is serving on the Boards of the Circle of Mercy,
Community Hospice and Hope House.
Sister Gail Waring, RSM is committed to working with the St. Peter’s Health Care
Services to enable patients and their loved ones to know that they matter,
especially at the end of life. She is equally committed to promoting the health
and well being of all, as well as giving energy to strengthening her community.
June 2003
Joan Welch
Joan Welch, a 1950 graduate of Corinth Central School received her teaching degree from SUNY Plattsburgh and completed her graduate work at the Colleges of Saint Rose and Russell Sage. She began her teaching career at Shenendehowa Central School where she taught for two years, and began teaching in Corinth in 1965. Mrs. Welch continued teaching at CCS for 26 years and retired in 1991.
Mrs. Welch’s family, her late husband Herbert “Peanut” Welch and her two sons,
Tim and Tom, were a priority in her life, but her dedication to her profession
and to students was a close second. As an active member in many professional
organizations on both county and state levels, she chaired several N.Y. State
conventions, served on N.Y. State curriculum writing teams, was Saratoga County
and N.Y. State Teacher of the Year for Family and Consumer Sciences, two time
winner of the Teacher of the Year for the N.Y. State Home Economics Association
and was elected to Delta Kappa Gamma in 1968.
Mrs. Welch was very involved with her students and was an advisor for both the
National Junior and Senior Honor Societies. She also advised the classes of
1974, 1975, and 1978 and during her career supervised more than 20 student
teachers. She served on the Awards Committee, Graduation Committee, and was
Chairperson of the Home Economics Department. She and her husband were known to
provide clothing, moral support, and a helping hand to many students over the
years.
The community of Corinth has also benefited from Mrs. Welch’s kindness,
generosity, and hard work. In 1968, she started Operation Joy, the purpose of
which was to make students of Corinth Central aware of the needs of others. It
still exists today and involves not only students, but also community
members. Mrs. Welch is also active in the church community and serves on the
Altar Guild and Finance Committees. She is chairperson of the Community of
Churches’ annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner and is a member of the Corinth
Plan of Action and Beautification Committees, a Dollars For Scholars Board
member, two-time winner of the Corinth Mayor’s Award, and a recipient of the
Dewitt Clinton Award for outstanding community service.
Joan Welch chose to serve her family, her profession, and her community in
Corinth. She is a role model for every graduating senior of Corinth Central
School.
June 2004
Joanne Petro Hoffman
Joanne Petro Hoffman graduated from Corinth Central School in 1965 and went on to earn her undergraduate degree in English from Marymount College and her masters degree in English from Trinity College. She taught English for 10 years and, in 1978, entered school administration when she became the Assistant Dean of Students at Kingswood-Oxford School. She held various administrative positions at The Ethel Walker School and at Concord Academy and, currently, is the Head of School of Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, a post she has held since 1994. Mrs. Hoffman was the first female Head of School in the school’s 210-year history. She has published many articles in both local and national journals, particularly on the subject of curriculum development, diversity, school and board management, the orientation of new heads of school, school mission and budget, and long-range strategic planning. Additionally, she has served on a number of committees, boards, panels, professional associations, and civic organizations.
In addition to her various academic and administrative responsibilities, Mrs. Hoffman found time to be a role model for her students, her peers, and, of most importance, her daughter. As an English teacher, she fostered in her students enthusiasm, a love of learning, and a commitment to their personal interests. At Moses Brown, Mrs. Hoffman leads a team of ten top administrators with vision, direction, and sensitivity. She understands and addresses the needs of her faculty and staff and cares deeply for the mission and long-term health of the school. Caitlin, Mrs. Hoffman’s daughter, has followed her mother’s lead by becoming intellectually curious and disciplined. She is concerned for the well-being of others and is focused on worthwhile, long-term goals. She is completing the third year at Cornell Medical School where she plans to concentrate on pediatric neurosurgery.
Joann Petro Hoffman continues to be involved actively in many organizations. She serves on the boards of the Association of Independent Schools of New England, the Headmistresses Association of the East, the Haitian Resource Center, and the Independent School Association of Rhode Island. She is a member of the Headmasters’ Association and the National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls.
Joanne Petro Hoffman embodies the qualities of vision, leadership, and commitment to her profession, to society, and to her family.
June 2006