Donor Profile: Roberta Lavin

A Heart for the BVMs

Roberta Lavin met the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 2010 when she interviewed for the Chair of Nursing and Health at Clarke University, in Dubuque, Iowa. She was living in the Washington, D.C., metro area and preparing to fly in for the meeting.

A day before her flight, the airline called to inform her that the flight was cancelled due to the impending snowstorm which was predicted to drop several feet of snow. Acting quickly, Roberta was able to get on the last flight out that night.

On her way to the airport, she called BVM Joan (Ramone Mary) Lingen, Clarke University Provost at the time, and informed her of the situation. Joan replied, “No, you aren’t coming.” Roberta said, “I’m coming, but I have to come tonight, or I can’t get out.” Plans were set in motion.

With a quick layover in Chicago, she caught the last flight to Dubuque. When she landed, Joan and BVM Kate (Joseph Marie) Hendel were waiting. Roberta was amused that the sisters seemed to know everyone that disembarked the plane, and therefore “recognized” her. It seemed that everyone knew the sisters too, for they had parked right outside the terminal entrance without incident (a towable offence in D.C., Roberta notes).

The sisters brought Roberta to their home for dinner. BVMs Catherine (Catherine Michele) Dunn and Therese (Jeremy) Mackin joined them. Immediately Roberta felt at ease, welcomed, and knew she was with the right group of women. “After my day getting there, I would have accepted the job on the spot. We spent a couple of hours talking and then they drove me to my hotel . . . not the least bit bothered by the same snowstorm that had shut down Washington, D.C.”

Roberta served at Clarke University for three years. She says, “If we had been able to find my husband a job in Dubuque, I doubt we would have ever left. It was by far the best place I have ever worked and I’m sure that is because of the living influence of the BVMs.”

Since leaving, Roberta and her husband have faithfully been monthly donors. She says, “I like donating to people that I love and I think influenced my life in a positive way. I suspect if I had gone to school at Clarke as an undergraduate, I would have wanted to be a BVM.”

The Lavins have also included the BVMs as a beneficiary of their life insurance policy. “I have no children and my husband always said we should leave our money to places that make the world more beautiful. I think the BVMs make the world a more beautiful and kinder place.”

Roberta reflects on her time in Dubuque and with the BVMs, recalling, “I loved walking up to the Motherhouse and sitting on the balcony, watching the Mississippi River with that group of inspirational women. They are amazing role models for what it means to be an academic, a Catholic, and a woman. My heart is with them every day.”

This story was featured in:

WINTER 2023: Many Faces, One HEART

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