Retired Faculty & Staff

Life After McDonogh is a place to find exciting news about our retired employees. If you have an accomplishment or update to share, send a message to Retiree Liaison Andrea Anderson at aanderson@mcdonogh.org.

• Charlie Britton's latest novel (written under the pen name C.W. Wells) is now available on Amazon. No Heart to Kill is Charlie's second novel featuring the character Gale McClanahan, a former pro football player. Following the murder of a notorious rival high school coach, McClanahan is thrust into a new and deadly game. Determined to safeguard a dark family secret, he is blackmailed into coaching the hated Caton Panthers. Little does he know that beneath the Friday night lights lies a level of corruption unprecedented in West Texas. Wright Abbot, who edited No Heart to Kill, says, "It's far and away the best of Charlie's books to this point." Read it and leave your own review on Amazon (it helps with sales!)
• Oletha DeVane: Spectrum of Light and Spirit is the first full retrospective honoring Maryland-based artist Oletha DeVane. Oletha has long been a prominent presence in the Baltimore-area art scene, working in all media, including public sculpture. The book documents the first full retrospective of her work, from early paintings to video artworks and interactive sculpture. Among the works presented here is a large-scale carved sculpture, N’Kisi Woman—Universal N’Kisi (2021–22); nkisi is a Kongo cultural figure invested with sacred energy. The work reflects DeVane’s fascination with how materials convey meaning and reemerge as myths and memories. Order Oletha’s book here. (submitted January 2024)
• Oletha DeVane: Bmore Art Magazine placed Oletha’s recent exhibit at UMBC as one of Baltimore’s best art exhibits of 2022. Spectrum of Light and Spirit (which ran from September 22 through December 17, 2022) traced Oletha’s extensive career, from her early paintings and works on paper to video, beaded assemblages, and interactive sculpture. Oletha’s prominence has grown significantly in the past few years with a BMA exhibit and acquisition as well as a recent public art commission at Lexington Market. (submitted January 2023)
• Frayda Salkin: Since her retirement in October 2010, Frayda has moved to Los Angeles, CA to be near her daughters (Nancy '85 and Jill '89) and their families. She has been volunteering at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA as a docent, giving tours to adults and children. Frayda’s favorite activities outside of volunteering involve going to every athletic game, band, and theater performance in which her three grandchildren participate. She fondly remembers the students and alumni who share her passion for the McDonogh Archives. (submitted January 2023)
• Diane and Tom Young: Tom and Diane stay busy daily with early morning gym trips followed by a round of afternoon golf. In between those activities, they explore their creative sides by knitting (Tom) and woodworking (Diane). (submitted January 2023)
• LaVerne Holtz: LaVerne frequents the beaches near her home in Orlando, FL. She also makes regular trips to Disney World and has begun to make her own wine (she has about 250 bottles right now). LaVerne volunteers with the Villages Honor Flight, which praises the service and sacrifice of American Veterans by transporting these heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials. (submitted January 2023)
• Buck Lyon-Vaiden: Buck has recently completed a mission trip in Puerto Rico, working to repair three houses and meeting some wonderful people along the way. (submitted January 2023)
• Jeanne Mulligan: In her free time, Jeanne fosters kittens and has volunteered for the Baltimore Humane Society as well as the Maryland SPCA. Jeanne joined the Rehoboth Art League and started painting in acrylics right before she retired. She has been fortunate enough to show and sell eight paintings since then, and she has painted four commissioned pieces for different clients. Jeanne enjoys getting back to art, which was her college major in ancient times! (submitted January 2023)
• John Grega: For more than six years, John has been volunteering as a weekly communion minister for 50 residents at Stella Maris, tutoring two children in the Reading Partners program, and serving as a docent at the Evergreen Museum of Johns Hopkins. He is also assisting the Loyola School with its religious education program as the school works toward its full PK through fourth grade enrollment goal in 2025. (submitted January 2023)
• Jen and Charlie Britton: Jen and Charlie moved to their house on Southport Island, Maine after leaving McDonogh.  Jen is now the director of the Southport Memorial Library which provides library services for the community and is also the library for Southport Central School (K-6, 18 students!)  Charlie is a senior search consultant for Carney Sandoe and is busy with head searches, executive coaching, and leadership assessments for schools across the country.  Charlie served as interim head at Sant Bani School in New Hampshire during the 20-21 school year, and has also published two novels under the pen name C.W. Wells.  Their kids are doing well.  Trevor is a senior data analyst for DraftKings and lives in Boston.  Annie is finishing her MS in Environmental Science at JHU and will begin a new job with Climate Engine in June; she lives in Chicago.  All the Brittons send their love to all at McD!  We miss you!