A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E - Colby-Sawyer College

A Calling in Healthcare
Patricia Fitzgerald Aprile ’81
In April 2011, Patricia “Patsy” Fitzgerald Aprile ’81 was named the
president and CEO of Goodall Hospital, located in Sanford, Maine. It’s
the latest step in a successful career in healthcare administration that
began 30 years ago when she arrived on campus from her home in
Wilmington, Mass.
As Aprile tells it, she originally hadn’t planned on attending Colby-Sawyer. Her best friend from
high school, Eileen London ’79, was encouraged by her mother, Roberta Ware London ’48, to consider
Colby-Sawyer. Aprile came along for a campus visit, promptly fell in love with the college, and the two
young women ended up enrolling together. While London left after completing her two-year degree
program, Aprile stayed on to complete her Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology.
After graduation, Aprile stayed in New Hampshire, moving up through the healthcare ranks, from
medical technologist to supervisor to manager and director. “It was really just professional growth,”
says Aprile of her career arc, humbly downplaying an impressive trajectory. In 2002, she became the
executive director of Clinical Services at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester. Not long after she
made the move to Maine, becoming vice president of Operations for Goodall Hospital, a position she
held for six years before her new appointment. In that role, Aprile was integral in efforts to renovate
and renew the hospital, overseeing the completion of four major building projects.
Most importantly, she helped institute a much-needed culture of regulatory compliance. “The hospital’s
license was in jeopardy,” explains Aprile, describing the dire situation she faced upon arrival. “I
helped to turn things around, both clinically and financially. From an operational perspective, we had
to make all sorts of changes.”
In announcing Aprile’s recent appointment as president and CEO, the Board of Trustees of Goodall
Hospital praised her vision, integrity, dedication and collaborative approach. As for the challenges
ahead of her, she is mainly focused on healthcare reform. “There are a lot of federal mandates that are
coming down,” she explains. “Probably my top priority is to continue to standardize care and provide
the highest quality healthcare for the community.”
–Mike Gregory
to stop and see Lizbeth Hoeffer
Nauta ’79, who is living outside
of Philadelphia. Best wishes for a
wonderful summer.
Please See In Fond Memory
1978
Jody Hambley Cooper
Post Office Box 1943
New London, NH 03257
(603) 526-4667
e-mail: jcooper323@aol.com
Please See In Fond Memory
The Alumni Business Directory
is a great way to support
Colby-Sawyer graduates.
1979
Debra Bray Mitchell
17 Rope Ferry Road
Hanover, NH 03755
(603) 643-7138
e-mail: dbraymitch@gmail.com
Britt Reynolds Bair (www.
brittbair.com) is totally
immersed in the Fairfield
County, CT, art world. She
traces her artistic passion to her
first true art class at CSC. She
took classes in the Sawyer Fine
check it out at
www.colby-sawyer.edu/alumni/business
64 COLBY-SAWYER ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Arts Center before transferring
to complete her degree in
studio art and photography at
the U. of CA Riverside. Britt
had been a photographer’s
representative and a graphic
designer, which eventually led
to the development of her own
company. Just when things were
taking off, she started visiting
the maternity ward. Eventually
those kids were off to school,
and she started painting again.
She is now the co-president of
the Fairfield County Plein Air
Painters, a group of 65 artists
that meet together to paint
outdoors. She co-founded the
Wilson Avenue Loft Artists
(www.wilsonavenueloftartists.
com) and hosts an annual event
in her hometown of Darien,
CT, called Artworks Darien.
Britt keeps in touch with Colby
friends Katie Vance ’78, Lynne
Atkinson, Julia Duncan and
Cindy Lowe Royal. I have just
returned from 4 weeks in Africa,
2 of which I spent volunteering
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with
one of my new best friends,
Joy Kerkhoff Wasz ’82, at the
Human Capital Foundation. Lifechanging
experiences included
saving 2 young men from total
despair and helping set them
up in a new, safe place to call
home, teaching art to 99 willing
and very able orphans, rescuing
the most adorable puppy from
sure death, feeding scores of
homeless, surviving without
running water for 5 days,
laughing, crying and laughing
some more. I look forward to
hearing from more of you and
sharing your stories. Keep well.
1980
Lee Hartwell Jackson
Cypress Creek Estates
6180 9th Avenue Circle NE
Bradenton, FL 34202-0561
(941) 747-0406
e-mail: Lifegrd121@aol.com
1981
Pamela Aigeltinger Lyons
436 Round Hill Road
Saint Davids, PA 19087
(610) 989-0551
e-mail: pamalyons@verizon.net
Susan Fay Wilson Lammi is
married with 4 grown, married
children and 6 grandchildren.
She lives in Ashby, MA, and
works as a registered nurse with
Fallon Insurance Co. She grows
vegetables, succulents and flowers
in her greenhouse year round
with a new hydroponic system.
She is hoping to receive some
grant money so this can be done
on a larger scale. Anne Gowen
Staples is planning to attend our
30th reunion this year and would
love to see a good turnout from
our class. Hope all are doing well.
Please drop me a line and share
what you’re up to with our class!
1982
Melissa Buckley Sammarco
Viale Alessandro Magno, 446
00124 Rome
Italy
011-39-06-509-8273
e-mail: mbsammarco@virgilio.it