Every year during Alumni Week, SFU alumnae Kerry Alexa, Judy Dombrowski, Christine Eyre and Lynne Yates return to Saint Francis to reconnect through their shared love of reading.
“We reread books we had read when we were in college – or ones we should have (read),” said Eyre, who worked in the marketing field before retiring.
“We started a book club to meet, to talk about books, and to remember the professors who taught us to love these books.
“We started the club to visit old memories and make new ones.”
The four women are all English majors from the Class of 1978.
In addition to discussing their reading selections, there is also plenty of reminiscing about their days in Loretto when the group gathers each summer.
“Saint Francis enabled us to define ourselves, over four years, through experience in this protected place,” said Eyre.
Several of the books that the group has read include “The Age of Innocence” (Edith Wharton); “Frankenstein” (Mary Shelley); and “Mrs. Dalloway” (Virginia Woolf).
“Many of the books we read have been written by women,” said Eyre. “These women were able to achieve greatness, even as their world tried to silence them.
“It’s worth remembering and rediscovering,” said Eyre.
The women enjoy bonding over their shared love of reading. They also love returning to campus each summer.
“This is home,” said Eyre. “That’s why we keep coming back to Saint Francis.”
