St. Joseph the Worker Alumni Award Recipients for 2015

An April 11th award ceremony at Cathedral recognized the life-long achievements of James Carmody ’71, Robert Monahan ’65, and Sr. Margaret Tuley, DC ’53 who have lived out the values of the school.

The Saint Joseph the Worker Alumni Award recognizes extraordinary Cathedral High School alumni who have lived a life exemplifying the values of our school and emulating the life of service to the Holy Family led by Saint Joseph.

Each year, the entire Cathedral alumni community is invited to nominate other alumni to be recognized. An award committee, also comprised entirely of alumni, make the always-difficult decisions of selecting the award recipients.

This year we honored three alumni who lead lives of service and exceptional character through three very different career paths: James Carmody ’71, Robert Monahan ’65, and Sr. Margaret Tuley, DC ’53.

“Our honorees serve as an inspiration to today’s Cathedral scholars,” said Oscar Santos, Ed.D., head of school. “We are proud to count them as alumni of Cathedral High School as we continue our 89 year legacy of teaching values and building leaders.”

The recipients were presented with the award by Head of School Dr. Oscar Santos on Saturday, April 11th at Cathedral High School with family, friends, and fellow alumni.

James Carmody ’71

James Carmody '71After graduating from Cathedral High School in 1971, James “Jim” Carmody went on to study at Cornell University and the Culinary Institute of America. With over 40 years of hospitality experience, Jim is vice president and general manager of the award-winning Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center in Boston.

Prior to his current role, Jim served as vice president of general services for the Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston, where he was responsible for clinical ancillary services and hotel services at the tertiary care institution.

Jim held numerous management roles at a variety of upscale hotels, with a focus on food and beverage operations. He worked as hotel manager at the Boston Harbor Hotel, food and beverage director at both the Four Seasons Mandalay Hotel in Dallas and the Omni International Hotel in Atlanta, and assistant food and beverage director at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago.

Jim has a strong commitment to community involvement, and in particular, his alma mater. He is a dedicated member of Cathedral High School’s board of trustees, where he leads the marketing and communications committee. He also serves on the committee which plans the Adopt-a-Student Foundation’s annual Partnership for Success Dinner which raises substantial support for Cathedral High.

Jim is tireless in his efforts to improve Cathedral’s alumni engagement, working closely with the school and the CHS Alumni Association. He is regularly involved many of the school’s alumni events including Golden Diploma, award ceremonies, and young alumni receptions.

Beyond Cathedral, Jim is actively involved in the community. He serves on the board of directors for Caritas Carney Hospital and works with the American Diabetes Association and the New England Center for Homeless Veterans. He is the President of the Guild of Oenophilists and is Chairman of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitor’s Bureau’s Dine Out Boston event. Jim is an active Board member of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitor’s Bureau and the Massachusetts Lodging Association, where he was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Dedication to both Cathedral High School and his community alongside his career achievements make Jim Carmody an outstanding model for Cathedral scholars and alumni. His tireless service to our school, the greater Boston community, and in the hospitality industry reflect great credit on him and his alma mater.

Robert Monahan ’65

Robert Monahan '65Robert L. Monahan graduated Cathedral High School in 1965, and in 1966 he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served overseas tours of duty and achieved the rank of Sergeant. Following his honorable discharge in 1969, Bob earned a certificate in Alcoholism Treatment Studies from Boston State College. He would go on to earn a bachelor’s degree in human services and a master’s degree in education from University of Massachusetts Boston. In 2004, he earned a Ph.D. in public administration from Kennedy Western Reserve University.

For more than 35 years Bob has been working tirelessly in the human services field. He started out as a counselor helping adolescents with alcohol, drug, and emotional problems in a residential setting. He would go on to serve as a program director of the 22-bed South Shore Halfway House for alcoholics.

In 1984, Bob would help others at START, a two-week, state-run residential treatment program for habitual drunk drivers where he progressed from clinical director, to assistant director, to director of the program. Seven years later, he returned to the now re-named South Shore Recovery Home to serve as its executive director where he continues to lead.

In addition to his leadership at the South Shore Recovery Home, Bob consulted for Faulkner Hospital’s adolescent treatment program and has taught courses on substance abuse and the family as well as in psychopharmacology. He is a founding member and current president of the Recovery Homes Collaborative of Massachusetts, a group of more than 40 residential treatment programs for people with alcoholism and addiction problems.

Bob is also a strong advocate for people with addiction at the Department of Public Health, in both branches of state legislature, and with other concerned citizens. He advocates and advises others through membership in a variety of organizations and councils including Community Association Serving Alcoholics, MOAR, Quincy College Human Services Advisory Board, Quincy Mayor’s Task Force on Substance Abuse, and the Abington Anti-Drug Task Force.

In family life, Bob is a devoted husband and father of three. His 35 years of continued dedication to helping others recover from addiction and substance abuse in so many arenas and ways is in keeping with the highest values of Cathedral High School.

Sr. Margaret Tuley, DC ’53

Sister Margaret Tuley, DC '53Sister Margaret Tuley, DC, has led a life of giving and great service. A native of Boston, Sister Tuley graduated from Cathedral in 1953 and started a lifelong career of caring for others by entering nursing school at Saint Joseph’s College. It was there she discovered and later entered the Daughters of Charity.

Sister Tuley started her career as a nurse in Norfolk, Virginia. She would go on to earn a Master of Science in Nursing Service from Boston University and a Master of Science in Hospital and Health Care Administration from St. Louis University.

In a career dedicated to helping others, Sister Tuley has incredibly served on more than 50 boards of directors in Catholic health care, higher education, and other charitable and non-profit organizations. Her leadership was consistently sought out as she served as chairperson or president of the board for ten different institutions including chairperson of the board for Labouré College—a nursing school in Boston, both the Massachusetts and the Central New York Hospital Associations, and four hospitals across the east coast including Carney Hospital in Dorchester.

In addition to her leadership on boards, Sister Tuley has served as the chief executive of four hospitals and health care organizations including as CEO and President of Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital in Binghamton and as President and CEO of Carney Hospital.

While serving as President of Rendu Services, named for an 18th century French sister of the Daughters of Charity, Sister Tuley helped establish a number of critical services to those in need including a mobile health van. “The only reason we’re here is for the people we serve,” she said at van’s dedication ceremony.

In 2012, the Most Rev. Lawrence E. Brandt, Bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, presented Sister Tuley the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal awarded to her by Pope Benedict XVI. The award is the highest medal the Pope can award to laity, given to Sister Tuley for her life of charity work and for her key role in that diocese’s strategic planning process. The Papal medal’s name means “for Church and Pope” in Latin and was established by Pope Leo XIII in 1888.

Today, Sister Tuley continues her service as “Sister Servant” (the title given to Daughters of Charity who act as the local superior) at the St. Louise House in Albany, a retirement home for members of her order. Her outstanding career of dedicated service and religious life reflects the example of Saint Joseph — this award’s namesake and model — as well as represents the highest values of Cathedral High School.