Reflections from Jodi Servatius (Joanna Dee)

Reflections from Jodi Servatius (Joanna Dee)

When I enrolled at Mercy, I knew only one other person in the class, because I had come from the public school system. I enjoyed my three years at the school. In Sept. of 1963, my family moved from our home in S.F. to a new home in Los Altos Hills—their escape to the country. While I regretted leaving Mercy for senior year, I was open to new adventures. I completed 12^th grade at a large (now defunct) public high school in Palo Alto. It was quite a shock going from Mercy to a school with over 2000 kids--and co-ed, at that.

I attended Santa Clara University, which I enjoyed, but found a little bit stifling and definitely male-dominated. After my junior year I left and got married to my (still) husband of 42 years. I worked as a secretary for a year, while he finished law school at U.C. Berkeley. After that, I returned to U.C.B. to complete my bachelor’s degree. Soon thereafter I took a job as a teacher and I stayed in the education field my whole career, completing two more degrees along the way.

I was a teacher, counselor, site administrator, assistant superintendent of schools in the East and South Bay for almost twenty years. Then, in 1986, I joined the faculty at CSU Hayward (now East Bay) from which I have just retired from serving as interim dean of the Education college. I am now learning to slow down, enjoy some significant discretionary time, and “smell the roses”.

For the first 21 years of our marriage, we were “child free”. In 1988, however, we adopted a family of four little sisters from the foster care system and life changed forever. Those girls are now 22-27 and are doing well. We have one grandson, born in March, 2009.

When I look back on our Mercy days, I am sorry to have to admit that I have forgotten many things. But a flood of disconnected memories does come to me...an alarm clock ringing early in the morning, pleated skirts and white buck shoes; fog; the M streetcar; a huge statue of the Virgin Mary; brown paper bag lunches eaten on hard benches in cold weather; a grouchy old nun in the library; taking tests; a quiet little chapel; lots of bells and not enough passing time between classes; going to Stonestown after school; standing when a teacher entered the room; holy water fonts; Sister Mary Lillian teaching us Spanish; heavy text books; typing on new-fangled IBM Selectric typewriters; having laughing fits; saying “Stir” for “Sister”; father-daughter dances at Valentine’s Day; being sent to the ladies’ room to wash off my eyeliner; being happy we didn’t have to take Gym class; beanies; a ceremony for getting our school rings; cleaning my shoes with a chalkboard eraser; looking forward to dressing up for the occasional dance; our being sweet, innocent and obedient; always feeling safe, respected, supported and welcomed at school.

It’s interesting to look back and try to examine what was most formative about the Mercy experience. For me, I think the all-girl experience was important in building self-confidence, teamwork and leadership skills. I felt most of the sisters who taught us were supportive, encouraging and held high expectations for our achievement. They drilled us pretty hard, but I felt quite able alongside other college students, so I guess they did something right. It seems, looking back, that we were almost solely focused on academics. I have no recollection of sports events, social clubs, or other extracurricular activities.

Today, I am a vegetarian, Unitarian, hybrid-driving, liberal, suburban, active and mostly-healthy retiree. (The day after the reunion I will undergo the first of two total knee replacements, though.) I have been fortunate to have received a great education, be married to a wonderful man, have four lovely daughters, have had a long and successful career in a field I so enjoyed, have travelled much of the world, and have made so many dear friends. I have a deep gratitude for memories of many happy days gone by—some of them, perhaps, with you. I look forward to the 45^th reunion and hope to renew acquaintances with many of you there. I am very interested to hear your post-Mercy life stories.

Joanna (“Jodi”) Dee Servatius

Walnut Creek, CA