The Honorable Anna Jaeger Brown '70
Woman of Career Achievement
The Honorable Anna J. Brown is currently serving as United States District Judge. In 1999, President William Jefferson Clinton nominated Judge Brown for a lifetime appointment as United States District Judge for the District of Oregon. The United States Senate confirmed her nomination on October 15, 1999.
Following her graduation from St. Mary's in 1970, Anna Jaeger attended Lewis and Clark College intending to become a high school chemistry teacher. Her work-study job however was as a police dispatcher. Anna soon concluded a change of majors was in order. She transferred to Portland State University where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1975 in administration of justice. Anna began night law school in 1976, married Paul Brown (a police lieutenant for the City of Lake Oswego) in 1977, and earned her law degree in 1980.
During law school, Anna worked as a law clerk at the Multnomah County Courthouse where she fell in love with the courtroom and determined she wanted to be a trial lawyer. In 1980, Anna began private law practice with the Portland law firm of Bullivant Houser Bailey, where she worked as a civil trial lawyer. In 1992, Governor Barbara Roberts appointed Anna to be a Multnomah County District Judge. In 1996, Governor Roberts named Judge Brown to a vacancy on the Multnomah County Circuit Court. While working on the state court, Judge Brown presided at the full range of complex civil and criminal cases.
Judge Brown now works at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland where she presides in criminal and civil cases arising under federal law or involving citizens of different states. In her free time Judge Brown enjoys time with her large family, travel abroad, and collecting red Depression glass. Anna is the first American-born United States citizen in her family, who immigrated to Portland from East Prussia (Germany) in 1952. She has lived all her life in Multnomah County.
St. Mary's Academy Alumnae Association recognizes her as a fine role model to all young women, particularly those considering careers in the justice and legal fields.
Sister Mary Ryan, SNJM '60
Excellence in Teaching/Educational Administration
Sister Mary Ryan has demonstrated her dedication to Catholic education for more than 35 years, first as teacher, then as principal and now as development director. After graduating from St. Mary's Mary Ryan joined the religious community of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. She earned her bachelor's degree from Marylhurst University in elementary education in 1965 and began teaching at St. Mary's in Eugene. She continued teaching in Catholic education while she earned her master's degree in education at Portland State University in 1973.
During her tenure as principal, she initiated a partnership between Holy Cross Area School and the University of Portland, which created many benefits including the use of the University of Portland facility, and the supervisory participation of the faculty and students from the Schools of Education and Nursing.
In 1998, she became the development director for the Holy Cross Area School, and established and implemented a successful development strategy. She formed a capital campaign team that raised money to build a much-needed gym for the North Portland Catholic community. Under her leadership the Holy Cross development team raises over $100,000 per year. To date that annual fund has brought in over a million dollars.
This funny, capable, kind woman who decided in the third grade to become a nun and a teacher is said to, "bring a living faith and love to all people she has worked with while serving the educational needs of under-resourced schools."
Anna Maria Lopez '78
Outstanding Athletic Achievement
Anna Maria has established herself both as an accomplished athlete and as a coach who leads and inspires young women to strive for athletic and personal excellence. Anna Maria has received numerous honors in basketball, volleyball, track, and softball throughout her career. She dominated Oregon's high school women's sports during her years at St. Mary's, 1974-78, and went on to success in collegiate competition while at the University of Southern California. After earning her degree she competed professionally in Major League Volleyball where she earned All-Star League Honors. She has been an All-American in three sports and All-State in four sports. She began coaching at St. Mary's in 1984, earned her master's degree in physical education from Portland State University in 1989, and accepted the position of St. Mary's Athletic Director in 1991.
- Professional/ 2001 Oregon 4A Athletic Director of the Year
- Academic: 2001 Oregon Athletic Coaches 4A Female Coach of the Year
- 1995, 1997, 1999 Metro League Volleyball Coach of the Year
- 1995 Oregon High School Volleyball Coach of the Year
- 1989 Women's Sports Foundation Flo Hyman Award Recipient
- 1981 USC David X. Marks Student-Athlete Award
- 1981 CALIB Women's Collegiate Athlete of the Year
- 1979 Hayward Award Finalist
- 1979 Johnny Carpenter Oregon Prep Athlete of the Year
- Volleyball: 1998 Nike World Master's Games - Gold Medalist
- 1989 Major League Volleyball All-Star Honors
- 1987, 1992, 1994, 1998 USAV All-American Honors
- 1981 NCAA National Champions
- 1981 World University Games, Bucharest Romania - USA team
- 1980 USAV and AIAW National Champions
- 1979 & 1980 WCAA All-Conference Honors
- 1976 & 1977 Oregon 4A State Championships
- 1974, 1976, 1977 High School All-State Honors
- 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 All-Metro League Honors
- Basketball: 1979 WCAA All-Conference
- 1979 Junior National Team Member - Junior Olympic Sports Festival
- 1978 High School All-American (Scholastic, Carnation, and Parade)
- 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 All-Metro League Honors
- 1975 & 1976 High School All-State Team
- Track: 1977 & 1978 Oregon 4A State Discus Champion
- Softball: 1976 ASA All-American
Genny Nelson '70
Embodiment of the St. Mary's Mission
Genny Nelson '70 is the executive director and co-founder of Sisters of the Road Café, a nonprofit eatery "where everyone is welcome" serving 200-300 meals daily primarily to homeless, urban poor, and low-income residents of the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood of Northwest Portland.
Established in 1979 and inspired by the Catholic Worker movement, the café promotes hospitality to all, non-violence, and a loving atmosphere. Sisters of the Road opened with three goals which remain unchanged: the creation of a safe and welcoming environment to neighborhood residents, especially women and children, where nourishing meals would be served at little cost or in exchange for work, and where job training and employment experience are available. People are able to purchase meals for $1.25, one $1 food stamp, or barter for them by working in the café.
The café pioneered the 1985 federal legislation that permits the use of food stamps by food providers for the homeless. People may participate in the program for up to 12 months, during which time they work five-hour shifts and meet with Portland State University social work students to address issues of dependency, self-esteem, or whatever else stands between them and recovery.
The café's operations are supported by fundraising, personal contributions and grants. In addition to meals, Sisters of the Road Café provides a weekly self-help support group for women; handles mail and provides a postal address for any homeless person who needs one; makes large bulletin boards available (in English and Spanish) for community announcements; and houses a non-violence library and self-help resource center.
Many of the elements of the mission of St. Mary's and the charism of the Sisters of the Holy Names can be seen in the founding principles and current practices of the Sisters of the Road Café. The St. Mary's Academy Alumnae Association wishes to acknowledge Genny Nelson for taking the spirit of the mission of the school with her when she graduated and continuing to live it every day.
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