Sister earns award for CSR service

Sister Rose Regina Smith, CSJ, describes herself as "unique to" The College of Saint Rose in Albany -- and she is.

The 80-year-old Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet is marking her 34th year as a staff member at CSR. She's also being honored this week for her many contributions to the college and community at CSR's annual "A Community of Excellence" luncheon.

Her aunt, Sister Rita Agnes Casey, CSJ, was one of the five founders of the college; Sister Rose Regina's mother, Ursula Casey Smith, was a member of Saint Rose's inaugural graduating class in 1924. Sister Rose Regina currently works in CSR's office of the president.

Family tree

"My grandmother, Mary A. Casey, was a woman very much ahead of her time," Sister Rose Regina recalled. "She strongly believed that women should receive an education; so, after my aunt helped establish the college, my grandmother naturally wanted my mother to attend and graduate from the school.

"I'm known around here as 'the college baby,'" she continued, explaining that she was the first daughter born to an alumna. "My baby picture is in the 1929 yearbook."

Sister Rose Regina said she's been on the CSR campus all of her life, as a child and then as a young student. She graduated from Saint Rose in 1950 and immediately went to work for the U.S. Bishops' Office in Washington, D.C., called the "National Catholic Welfare Conference" at that time.

Liaison

In the Youth Department, she was a liaison between the national bishops' office and Catholic colleges across the U.S., which was "a formative job for me," she said.

"I worked there for three years and traveled a lot. During that time, I realized that I had some skills that enabled me to work with larger entities than what I was doing."

The young woman decided to enter the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1953, studying at St. Joseph's Seminary in Troy. Later, she would come back to the campus that she considers "home," serving students, faculty and administration in various capacities.

Moving forward

Today, Sister Rose Regina said she is looking toward her future. She is grateful for "good health, energy and enthusiasm," and "making a contribution to the continuation of the vision and mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph" for CSR.

She added that she considers herself a link between the past and the 100th anniversary of the college, which will take place in 2020.

"The good Lord willing, I hope to be here then. I want to be the bridge between the past and the future; I want to be here when the college celebrates its 100th year. I'll only be 92 then. This is what I'm praying for," she said with a smile.

She has no plans to retire.

(Along with Sister Rose Regina, two local businessmen are receiving community leadership awards: Daniel Hogarty Jr., retired president and CEO of Troy Savings Bank; and John J. Nigro, president of Nigro Companies.)

Sister's thoughts

Sister Rose Regina boasted that, "today, the vision of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet [in founding CSR] is alive and well for our students because of the dedicated faculty, staff, administration and Board of Trustees of this college."

In addition to her work at CSR, Sister Rose Regina has taught and been a vice-principal at high schools, and served on her order's provincial council. She's been a Sister of St. Joseph for 55 years.

(05/15/08) [[In-content Ad]]