SSA is saying goodbye to three important figures who have changed the Academy for the better: John Glorioso, Toni Pettavino and Yvette Cardinale. As they step into retirement, they are not only leaving behind a legacy of love and learning, but also entering a new chapter in their lives.
Before Yvette Cardinale stepped onto SSA’s campus, she was stepping into movie premieres. Working for Paramount and New World Pictures prior to her time at SSA meant that she booked movies into theaters across Louisiana and held premieres for big movies. Her day-to-day here at SSA looks much different, but is still just as impactful.
Cardinale has been SSA’s Advancement Assistant for the past 30 years. Each day, you can find her in the Grey House doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work that keeps the school running. Some of her tasks include keeping track of donations, sending fund-raising and thank-you letters to donors, running the database with the alums’ addresses/contact information, keeping the Chapel’s prayer book up to date, and assisting in preparation for many of SSA’s events. Cardinale’s favorite thing about working in the Grey House is working as a team with her coworkers; they are always busy, and she says they are “a great bunch of women.”
Another cool thing people may not know about Cardinale’s job is that she archives all of SSA’s historical events. When alumnae come back for one of their class’s reunions, they have an archive box they can look through to relive some of their high school memories.
Cardinale has seen SSA’s campus grow and evolve over the years, including the construction of Benedictine Hall, LaSalle Hall, the Chapel, and Angelus Hall. She says, “I’m excited to see the changes that are coming at the Athletic Complex for all of the young ladies to enjoy and be a part of.”
After retirement, Cardinale is looking forward to spending more time with her children and grandchildren, especially since they live out of town. She loves to stay busy, and she will do just that by volunteering at her church and other places.
When asked to offer words of wisdom to the SSA community, Cardinale says, “Enjoy your life because it goes by faster than you think. Don’t ever give up on your dreams and don’t let anyone get you down. Ignore ugliness and always be kind. God created you all as beautiful individuals.” For over 30 years, Cardinale has been a true model of the sisterhood and hard work that comes with being a part of the SSA community. She will truly miss SSA, and we will miss her right back while cheering her on in her next adventure.
