1989 Honorary Veritas Award

Sister Maura Campbell O.P.

The recipient of a special honorary Veritas Award, Sister Maura Campbell was Professor of Religion Studies/Philosophy Department of Caldwell College from 1970-1990.  She became Professor Emerita in 1986.

One of the first women to receive an honorary Doctorate of Religious Education, conferred upon her by Providence College, RI in 1986, Sister Maura received her B.S. and M.A. from Seton Hall University, New Jersey.  She also earned an M.A. from Providence College as well as a Ph.D. from St. Mary’s School of Theology, Notre Dame. More recently, Sister Maura was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters in 2004 at Caldwell College.

It is safe to say that no one in the history of Caldwell College has carried the name of Caldwell to such far-flung corners of the world as Sister Maura. As a Permanent Representative at the United Nations for the International Catholic Education Office (OIEC), Sister Maura has traveled widely to report to the OIEC council on the progress of the UN on education.  Her position has taken her to numerous International Conferences and World Assemblies in such places as Bogota, Colombia; Bangkok, Thailand; Manila, the Philippines; Madrid, Spain; and Seoul, Korea. In recognition of her efforts, Sister Maura was awarded a certificate of appreciation  World Congress of OIFC held in Brasilia, Brazil, in 2002.

Sister Maura also served on several UN Committees, including the Committee on the Decade of Women, the Committee on Aging, and the Committee on Disarmament.  She was also a member of the Planning Committee for the Council on World Religions. Sister Maura was President of the Board of Directors of the International Catholic Organization’s New York Center, Vice President and National Secondary College for the College Theology Society, and a member of the Catholic Theology Society, the American Academy of History, and the Catholic Historical Society.

She has written numerous articles and lectures on such subjects as Modern Catholic Theology and Meditation.  Sister Maura taught in numerous courses in theology and philosophy to hundreds of students, served as President of the Faculty Council, and was active on many Caldwell committees.  In appreciation, she received the Caldwell College Cup.

The Veritas Committee recognized Sister Maura for her Dominican scholarship, for widening the circle of Caldwell’s influence throughout the world, and for providing a role model to her students.

Excellence in Media

Irene M. Foley ‘45

Irene Foley was given the Veritas Award for the pursuit of excellence in Media.  Her career encompasses a variety of print media as well as radio and television.  In addition to a 20-year career at CBS Television (which followed an early start in radio writing and performing), Irene’s talents have led to recognition in the freelance writing field.

The Fugitive, her original half-hour suspense drama, was produced live on network television by the Armstrong Circle Theater.  Other credits include three one-act plays and a teenage novel. Her full-length play, Sara & Eleanor, won second place in dramatic competition at a drama festival in Ohio.  An earlier play, Vardon, was given a reading performance at the Footlights Theater in New York. She is currently seeking an agent for her new full-length play, Sanctifying Grace.  

Irene has also been published in the New York Times and other newspapers.

Irene’s extra-curricular activities include service on the President’s Financial Committee at Caldwell College, teaching CCD, coaching CYO plays, and contributing articles to two Archdiocese publications.  She is a member of her parish’s volunteer funeral choir and is currently completing training sessions at ESL in preparation for teaching English as a Second Language. She is a former member of The Playcrafters of Caldwell and of The Concert Chorale.

Excellence in Catholic Education

Helen Kennedy Gerity ‘50

Helen K. Gerity spent more than 40 years in the field of education.  She was one of the first lay principals in a North Jersey Catholic School.  Helen’s gift to education and youth is nurtured by her faith, her professionalism and her deep commitment to the role of the Catholic school as a leader in the community. By setting the standards of excellence for youngsters under her quiet but firm guidance, Helen has encouraged her students to realize their own potential.  After receiving her B.A. in English and Social Studies, Helen taught elementary school in St. Mary’s School, Rutherford, New Jersey. In 1956, she joined the faculty of Sacred Heart in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, as a primary grade teacher. Upon completing additional coursework in education for the learning disabled, she taught remedial reading to children in grades 2 through 3.

In 1972, Helen was tapped to serve as Acting Principal of Sacred Heart School.  She was appointed Vice Principal in 1973. She became principal in 1979, a position she held until her retirement in 1994.  Helen introduced dozens of new programs at Sacred Heart, including classes for the gifted and talented students, a child safety program, computer education, and a student council.  But perhaps her most significant innovation is Sacred Heart’s flourishing daycare center established in 1984. The center, which provides quality care for more than 150 preschoolers, is open to children of all denominations and establishes a vital link between the parish and the community.  

She is a member of the Bergen County Principals Association, both the Archdiocese of Newark and the National Catholic Education Associations, the Caldwell Dominican Associate Leadership Team, the Lacordaire Academy Board of Trustees, and the Sacred Heart School Endowment Board.

Helen is the widow of John P. Gerity and has two children, Robert and Colleen, and one grandchild.

After retiring from Sacred Heart School in 1994, she served as Assistant Superintendent of Schools for Government Programs in the Archdiocese of Newark until 1996.  Since 1996, Helen has continued to enjoy Catholic education as a temporary administrator in the Archdiocese of Newark during emergencies or illnesses of elementary principals.  Helen is the recipient of two additional prestigious awards, the 1993 Person of the Year, St. Mary’s High School, Rutherford, New Jersey, and the Lumen Award, 2004 Lacordaire Academy, Upper Montclair, New Jersey.

Excellence in Leadership and Service to Country

Margaret O’Malley ‘69

When the Commander Margaret O’Malley, United States Navy, received the Veritas Award, the citation read, in part, “A glimpse into the career she has pursued demonstrates that ‘Maggie’ exemplifies the word ‘leader.’”  As a natural leader and one who has learned by leading, she has earned the respect of her peers and those she guides. Through good management and skilled organization, she has achieved a stature as one of less than 150 women lines commanders in the United States Navy.  After graduating from Caldwell College with a degree in history, Maggie entered the Women’s Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Naval Reserve in 1969.

After several tours of duty and graduation from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1984, she was assigned as Executive Officer at the Navy Recruiting District in Houston, Texas, after which she served as Operations Officer for the Naval ROTC Program.  Two years later, she assumed command of the Naval Technical Training Center in Meridian, Mississippi, where she oversaw the training of 8,500 men and women annually. During a tour as Director, Personnel and Logistics at the Navy Recruiting Command Headquarters in Washington, D.C., Maggie was promoted to Captain (U.S. Navy).  In 1991, she assumed command of the Navy Personnel Support Activity in Norfolk, Virginia. While there, she oversaw the personnel and pay record operations for more than 52,000 Navy personnel at 15 different locations within and outside of the United States.

In 1994, after twenty-five years of Naval Service, Captain O’Malley retired.  Her decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (with three gold stars in lieu of second, third, and fourth awards), the Navy achievement Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.