Feature Article
of Tecumseh City Planning Commission, and
Chair of Tecumseh DDA. Diane has developed a
life-long learning philosophy with University of
Michigan BS in Nursing (Magna Cum Laude) in
1997, Eastern Michigan University (MSN) in 2003
and Educational Leadership Doctorate (EdD) in
2015. Dr. Diane Porretta Fox, Associate Professor
Nursing at EMU, has published scholarly journal
articles, presented research and scholarly work
at numerous international conferences and is Eta
Rho Sigma Vice President. Dr. Fox received the
Thank-a-Teacher Award, and recently created the
online Introduction to Interprofessional Education
at EMU. Patrick has excelled in law enforcement
with several promotions. He is also a CYO football
coach. Patrick and his wife, Melissa, have four
children who may continue the Fox SHU Legacy.
Pictured from left: Robert Curtis Fox, Diane
Porretta Fox and Patrick Robert Fox.
Marowelli Family
Legacy names: Donna Marowelli '12,
‘14MA (mother); Tayleen Theisen '14 (daughter);
Koby Marowelli '14 (father).
Our Siena Heights legacy: from Tayleen
Theisen—Attending Siena Heights gave my fam-
ily a memory that we will cherish forever. May
2014 was the year my mother, father and I
walked across the field house stage and received
our diplomas together. My twin sister, Tenille also
graduated in 2014 from Spring Arbor University.
I am so proud of the legacy and the accomplish-
ments we achieved as a family.
Kremer Family
Legacy names: Marilyn Kremer (mother);
Kelly Whitman Parkinson ’95 (daughter); Jordan
Parkinson ’21 (grandson).
Our Siena Heights legacy: from Marilyn
Kremer—What is a legacy? Webster defines it
as a gift by will; a bequest, or as something
received from the past as an ancestor or pre-
decessor. For our three generations it is also a
continuation of the spirit of a life taken all too
soon. My daughter, Kelly Whitman Parkinson,
graduated from Siena in 1995, while I was still
attending as a graduate student. She went on to
get her master’s degree in sports medicine and
returned to Siena two years later to fulfill her
internship requirement, working for the summer
as an athletic trainer. She then married and in
December of 1998 had her son, Jordan Parkinson.
Two months later her life was cut short by a fatal
car accident on a very foggy morning while on her
way to work. While an undergrad at Siena, Kelly
was one of Coach Bauer’s track students, special-
izing in the heptathlon events, and subsequently
qualifying for and attending nationals her junior
and senior years. Eighteen years later her son,
Jordan, was accepted as the third generation to
attend SHU. Jordan is also a track stand-out for
Siena, also running for the same Coach Bauer
that coached his mother. And as I write this, he
is boarding the bus to travel to track nationals
in Alabama. Jordan’s talent is in running and
he is a part of the 4x800 relay team. Our three-
generation legacy SHU family – grandmother,
mother, grandson – is an unbroken line that is yet
unfinished as Jordan has only reached his half-
way mark as a Saint. That line is keeping Kelly’s
spirit still alive at SHU. And she’d be proud.
Our Siena Heights legacy: from Michelle
Vaccaro—My two older sisters and I attended
and graduated from Siena Heights College in
the early 80s. We have each followed different
career paths; Vicki in the nursing field, Fran in
law and myself in counseling and teaching. We
each were impacted by the talents and wisdom
of the Dominican sisters, faculty, staff and many
friends during our time there. All three of us par-
ticipated in the study abroad program in Florence
Italy run by Sr. Agnes and Fr. Van Horn of the Art
Department. This experience helped us grow
and learn in many ways beyond academics and
gave us a better sense of Siena's history and mis-
sion.
Pictured from left: Fran Lewis and Michelle
Vaccaro.
Howard Family
Legacy names: Thomas Howard ’94AA, ’96,
’06MA (father); Pam Howard ’96AA, ’06 (mother);
Jason Williams ’08, ’12MA (son); Kristin Silber-
horn ’11AA, ’12 (daughter).
Our Siena Heights legacy: from Pam
Howard—Siena has been an integral part of our
lives for many years. Continuing the family legacy
at SHU is our youngest daughter, Nicole, who is
presently taking courses while completing her
high school education.
Pictured from left: Marilyn Kremer and
Kelly Parkinson.
Vaccaro Family
Pictured from left: Koby Marowelli, Tayleen
Theisen, Tenille Marowelli and Donna Marowelli.
28 | Reflections Summer ’19
Legacy names: Michelle Vaccaro '86
(daughter); Frances Vaccaro Lewis ’84 (daughter);
Victoria (Theisen) Vaccaro ’82 (daughter); Dr. Lou
Vaccaro (father, former SHU President, ’16 Hon.)
Pictured from left: Thomas Howard (son
of Robert Howard, SHU treasurer from 1977-95),
Pamela Howard, Jason Williams and Kristin Sil-
berhorn.