SHS Alumni & Friends Newsletter

A funny thing happened at the end of the summer.

I've lived in Newburyport, Mass., since September 2001, and have had the same next door neighbor, Jackie (Christenson) Salomon, who is currently 97 years young and sharp as ever. Jackie's husband passed long ago. They never had children. She has a few relatives scattered throughout New England. The families surrounding her home on Tilton Street all take care of her: we check in regularly, cut her grass in the summer, rake her leaves in the fall, shovel her out of every snowstorm and make sure her flowers are vibrant in the spring.

I came on as the Chief Communications Officer at Salem Public Schools in September of 2023. This past summer, Jackie got word from a neighbor about my role. When I saw her days later, she lit up. "I graduated from Salem High School in 1946," she excitedly told me. "Do you think there is anyone still around from my graduating class?"

I am doing my best to find out. This year would mark the Class of '46 80th reunion if there was one. Jackie gave me the names of two of her closest friends and classmates -- Amelia Poppey and Alice Tarnowski -- the latter, she remembers, married Kenny St. Pierre, also a graduate of the Class of '46. After graduation, Jackie went to work for the Pickering Coal Company, formerly located at Union Wharf, while helping raise her younger sister.

The day after our conversation, I found the SHS 1946 Yearbook. Though I never knew her maiden name, I picked her out easily: Jackie Christenson: 21 Mall Street, Field Hockey 4, Art Club 1, Movie Club 4, Swimming Club 3, 4. A quote next to her photo reads, "Gentle in manner and action." I can vouch for that.

Thus, I need help from the Salem community: If anyone knows of anyone from Salem High School's Class of 1946, my neighbor Jackie wants to reconnect. Message me at publicrelations@salemk12.org, and I'll make it happen.

And please continue to share your news with us at the same address.

Once a witch, always a witch.

Chris O'Donnell

Chief Communications Officer

Salem Public Schools

Salem Public Schools accepts donations online and the area of your choosing. Alumni and friends of Salem Public Schools can navigate to the City of Salem donations page and complete the short form to submit a donation.

Donate Now:

1. At the Unipay home page, type Salem
2. Select 'City of Salem Donations'
3. From the left menu, select 'School Donations'

In the dropdown option, donors can choose from several categories:

Every donation, however small, helps Salem Public Schools achieve the four core principles of its Strategic Plan: Elevate learning, empower educators, center belonging and strengthen its foundation.

We’re sharing the latest renderings of the new Salem High School from the Sept. 24 and Oct. 15 Salem Building Committee meetings, displaying view of the entry way, gardens and landscaping, cafeteria, auditorium and a typical classroom.

Meetings of the Salem Building Committee are always open to the public, both in person and online. The next meeting of the Committee is Thursday, Nov. 19 at (6 p.m.) at the Collins Middle School (links to join to be announced).

Visit the Salem Building Committee Website | View the Latest Renderings

Lucy Corchado, a graduate of the Salem High School Class of 1986, was named the recipient of the 2026 Caribbean American Award at the Boston Caribbean American Association’s Commonwealth Caribbean Breakfast, held in the Great Hall of the Massachusetts State House Aug. 18.

Ms. Corchado has been a tireless advocate for the Salem community for more than 25 years. The President of the Point Neighborhood Association and a former Salem City Ward 1 Councilor, Ms. Corchado was honored for her advocacy regarding affordable housing, voting access, education, and healthcare. She has also helped lead relief efforts for Puerto Rico and worked to strengthen Latino representation throughout Salem.

Ms. Corchado, the Staff Assistant for Salem State University's Center for Justice and Liberation, accepted the honor alongside her son, Justin Corchado, a 2009 graduate of SHS.

On Thursday, Nov. 19, Ms. Corchado will also cohost the Salem Alliance for the Environment (SAFE) 25th Anniversary Fundraiser and Community Awards (6-9 p.m.) at Harbor Point at Root.

WATCH | 2026 Boston Caribbean American Association’s Commonwealth Caribbean Breakfast

• WATCH: María Sucher '18 UMass Alumni
• WATCH: UMass Alumni Honors Video (8:56)

A Senior Marketing Manager for Conference & Event Strategy at VitalSource, Ms. Sucher is described as 'an enthusiastic marketing & events professional with a knack for event design, as well as social media engagement, demand generation and revenue growth.'

The honor is the latest of several postgraduate awards for Ms. Sucher. At the inaugural Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) Boston NEXT 50 Gala last December, she was the recipient of both the Community Leadership Award as well as the ALPFA Boston Board Member of the Year.

On the UMass Alumni Honors page, her biography read:

'As a passionate advocate, Ms. Sucher aims to empower individuals from underrepresented backgrounds and support their growth and development. She is a member of the UMass Amherst Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Commonwealth Honors College Advisory Board, the director of sports & health for the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) in Boston, founder of a Hispanic/Latin American employee resource group, and the founder and lead for the Latinos of UMass Alumni Network. She also volunteers with Sail Beyond Cancer, where she takes patients, caregivers, and loved ones on therapeutic sailing excursions.'

Continue Reading

Eva Maloon '21, a 2025 graduate of Suffolk University, was named a Community-Based Advocate at Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC), a free and confidential service provider supporting people experiencing domestic abuse.

With a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Sociology, Ms. Maloon graduated magna cum laude and made the most of her stay at Suffolk, getting involved with causes such as the SU's Healthy Minds Alliance and Psyched Out, and volunteering with Horizons for Homeless Children. Additionally, she studied abroad at Suffolk University Madrid and interned at a K-8 school in Boston’s South End with Doc Wayne, Inc., a nonprofit that provides sports-based therapy to youth ages 5-18.

Collins Middle School alum and local business owner Joey Uribe '07 hosted a back-to-school drive Thursday, Aug. 29, and collected specialty items to help students feel confident on their first day of school.

Continue reading in The Salem News

On Wednesday, Sept. 9, the Salem High School Class of 1966 held its 60th reunion at the Winter Island Function Hall, and also welcomed members of the SHS classes of 1965 and 1967. Spearheading the event were Joanne (Gagnon) Moir '65, Joanne (L’Italien) Solovicos '66; and John Walsh '67.

Photos courtesy of Susannah Bothe Photography

Matt "The Mantis" Doherty '06 will box his final professional match on Sunday, Dec. 13 against Louis Norman at the Salem High School Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse. The 2012 Greater Lowell Golden Gloves Champion, Doherty, 37, enters his final fight with a 10-10-1 professional record and faces Norman (14-22-1), 32, who is a former British flyweight champion from Shepshed, England.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the SHS Boxing Club, which is assisted by Doherty's manager, Michael Reyes, who trains Doherty at District Fitness in Marblehead, Mass.

An undercard is currently begin finalized. Tickets, time and other details will soon be announced.

Junior defender Chris Qirjazi '23 and junior goalkeeper Malcolm Edwards '24 are enjoying a season to remember with the Salem State University men's soccer team this fall.

Each a transfer to the Vikings program -- Qirjazi from Saint Michael's College and Edwards from Framingham State -- Salem State has clinched the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) regular season championship (6-0-1, 16-1-1 overall) with its 2-0 win at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Saturday, Oct. 24.

With a recent 4-0 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology, Salem State set a school record for shutouts in a season with its 15th. The Vikings have not conceded a goal since the 57th minute of a 2-1 home victory over Fitchburg State on Saturday, Oct. 3, a run of 753 consecutive shutout minutes, entering the MASCAC Tournament.

Qirjazi has seen action in 16 matches with four starts and added one assist in the Vikings 4-0 win at Westfield State. Edwards saw his first action in a 6-0 win over Dean College with 45 shutout minutes.

Eli Vasquez-Bastardo '24 and Shane Field '24, juniors on the Curry College football team, have helped the Colonels to a 4-3 clip this fall and wins in three of their last four games. Field has compiled 42 tackles (17 solo) in six games to rank second among team leaders while Vasquez-Bastardo has played all seven games and has registered 29 tackles (14 solo). The Colonels host former SHS standout Oscar Fernandez '26 and Husson University Saturday, Oct. 31 at 12 p.m.

Samantha Agno '25, a sophomore on the Salem State women's soccer team, has played in 14 of 15 matches this season and added a goal in the Vikings' 3-0 win over Thomas College on Oct. 14. SSU is 3-7-5 overall but unbeaten in six of its last seven matches (3-1-3). Isabella Cunha '23, a senior defender on the Wentworth Institute of technology women's soccer team, has appeared in 12 matches with six starts this fall for the Leopards (3-12-3). Among WIT's wins this season was a 1-0 win at Salem State.

Brooks Workman '26 has featured in three of five meets this fall for the Pomona-Pitzer men's cross country team, which is currently ranked No. 13 in the latest USTFCCCA Division III poll. Most recently, Workman placed 77th among 126 runners at the Pomona-Pitzer Cross Country Invitational. Workman ran the course in 28:55.4 and helped the Sagehens to first place in the 11-team field.

Walbee Pierre '23 has made six appearances as a forward for the Framingham State University men's soccer team this season, currently 6-7-1 overall and 4-1-1 in the MASCAC (second to Salem State, which it drew 0-0 on Sept. 26).

Former women's basketball standout Amayah McConney '23, was named one of three captains on the Salem State women's basketball team for the 2026-27 season. The Vikings, coached by Ashley White '09, host exhibitions with Dean College (Oct. 28) and Plymouth State (Nov. 3) before opening the season at Elms College Nov. 11.

Laura Assade '03 was the keynote speaker at the Cradles to Crayons Massachusetts Annual Pack-a-thon in August at Boston University's Agganis Arena, which drew more than 800 volunteers who assembled school supplies for children in need across Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Ms. Assade, the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Engagement at Salem Public Schools, spoke about the profound impact of the partnership between and Cradles to Crayons and Salem, and shared her experience on LinkedIn.

Mayra Aviles '07 began her first year as a teacher at the Salem Early Childhood Center in September after having served six years as the ECC front office administrator. Ms. Aviles earned her degree in Criminal Justice from Salem State in 2012 and is currently pursuing her master's degree in education from Gordon College. Replacing Ms. Aviles as the front office administrator is Taina Javier '07, of the Family Welcome Center, who is also pursuing her bachelor's degree at Southern New Hampshire University.

Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker '76 narrated the piece, "JFK: In Memoriam" by James Curnow at the Salem Community Band annual summer concert Monday, Aug. 3 at the Salem State University Marsh Hall quad.

Anyfern González Brache '19, earned his MBA from Boston University's Questrom School of Business, having graduated in May 2026.

Ethan Doyle '21 finished in a three-way tie for second at the Olde Salem Greens Golf Club Championship July 25 and 26. The Club champion in 2020 and 2024, Doyle highlighted with a 69 in the first round and finished with a 147.