365 Days of FREEDOM!

 It was 365 days ago that I walked out the door and chose to free myself from an unsafe situation. It took strength to not go back and not continue to be mistreated by a partner who made a promise to love me. I am so grateful for the friends and others who helped me stay strong. It was difficult to realize that life would never get better until I left the patterns of a life that I needed to leave.  I will share more but today is that day that I celebrate the fact that I was able to escape an abusive relationship. I stayed over 900 hundred days too long. 

Final Reflective - Student

The Conclusion to my student's final reflective speech! -- Soo glad to see that my courses are helping students with their public speaking and communication skills. AND - it's really special to now be referred to as Dr. Sherri!
 

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

"Foster Youth Mentorship Programs in Higher Education" by Sherri Raftery - Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education in Higher Educational Leadership - November 29, 2021.  This was signed by my four dissertation committee members. 

I am super excited for this submission! Five-years -- A Labor of Love.  

Doctoral Dissertation Defense!

 

I passed my Doctoral Dissertation Defense "Foster Youth Mentorship Programs in Higher Education" on Monday November 29, 2021! It was such an amazing experience to be able to practice my defense at Toastmasters Clubs, receive supportive feedback, and questions to help me prepare. 

What was even more amazing is that Toastmasters members actually attended my defense as well. We gathered on ZOOM and had about 30 people in the "audience". 

I shared four stories from my autoethnographic chapter 2. My dissertation committee went into a "Breakout Room" to discuss if I passed. When they came back each asked me a question and offered more feedback. I was able to answer their questions. Then Dr. Aubry Threlkeld announced - "pending edits" I am officially Dr. Sherri Raftery. 

There are soooo many people to thank and I will post them SOON! What a labor of love writing this important subject about this important population!

HAPPY 54 BIRTHDAY 

KERRI KINCAID!

On August 18, 2021 I met my childhood best friend Kerry Kincaid from Revere, Massachusetts. This was a very important healing opportunity for both of us! I lived on North Shore Road from 2nd through 5th grade during the 1970's and spent many days and nights at Kerri's home and in our neighborhoods. 

Kerri Kincaid and Sherri Raftery at her father's parents home (her grandparents) in the backyard. They had a pool and we spent many days there. They were supportive and loving towards us. This photo was taken in the early 1970's. We are not sure which year but we definitely were younger! We shared many memories and shed a couple of tears. It was healing and we hope to continue meeting more often and staying in touch. We may even write a book or a made for TV movie. Some of our stories are actually pretty incredible, fascinating and perhaps almost even unbelievable. We both turned out well. She has  three lovely daughters and I have one. Let's see what the next few decades can help us discover.  

Sherri Raftery & Kerri Kincaid (Marshall) 

August 18, 2021 at Red's Kitchen in Peabody, Massachusetts. We both had the lunch plate Philly cheese steak and shared a piece of chocolate cake with a candle for her 54th birthday!

 Sherri Raftery & Kerry Kincaid

There is nothing better than having a best friend to call, see, lean on, and share what we are going through. Happy times, sad times. We shared an incredible bond that helped me to established lasting friendships and bonds during my life. I needed those bonds of stability during my unstable life. Thank you for being my friend and accepting me for who I was. I love you always and I always carried you in the locket of my heart. You helped make life easier in the most difficult of times. Hugs to you my friend. I am so proud of you. I am grateful to have known you when we were in our childhood years. I wished we could have stayed in touched over the decades, but the bond always lasted. Proud of you and I hope you enjoy your Birthday with many more to follow. 
Love your Best Friend Forever - Sherri

Goodbye to my Biological Father, John Michael Raftery, Sr.

Good by to my Biological 

Father John Michael Raftery, Sr. 

I LOVE YOU DADDY! 

   December 20, 1944 – April 23, 2020

John Michael Raftery, Sr. was born 0n Boston December 20, 1944 and grew up in Charlestown.  He worked at the Schrafft’s Candy Factory. John.  His father was John Patrick Raftery and his mother was Rita (Edmundson) Raftery.  John had two sisters, Geraldine Raftery and Maureen (Raftery) Stearns who preceded him in death (April 7, 2019). John married Barbara Rose (Nuccio) Raftery in 1961 (who preceded him death on April 13, 2020). They have four children: Mary Raftery (Everett, MA), John Michael Raftery, Jr. (Saugus, MA), Joseph David Raftery (Chelsea, MA) and Sherri Raftery-Patton (Boston, MA). John had five grandchildren children Nito, Cecilia, Joseph, Jr., Patrick, Sabrina and a great-grand son Desmond.

John enrolled in the United States Army in the 1970’s and served during the Vietnam War. He then lived in Reno Nevada for 15-years and worked as a slot mechanic at the Riverside Casino. He enrolled in college courses at University Nevada, Reno and studied phlebotomy. He then lived in North Dakota for    several years before returning to the Boston area. He lived in Saugus with his son John, Jr. in their house for 10-years until he was place in the Norwood Nursing Home in August 2019, where he contracted the Covid-19 Virus and passed on Tuesday April 21, 2020.

 John spent many days at the Suffolk Downs Horse Track and Wonderland Dog Tracks in Revere, MA. He like to deep sea fish, watch sports, cook banana pancakes, and play music on his real-to-real record machine. John leaves his four children, five grand-children, and great-grand son, sister, nieces, and nephews, family and friends. If you would like to make a donation in his name to The Home for Little Wanderers – www.thehome.org

Goodbye to my biological Mother - Barbara Rose (Nuccio) Raftery

This morning I received a call from the Glen Ridge Nursing Car Center at 5AM but I missed it and then at 7AM I was called again. I was informed by staff that my biological mother Barbara Rose (Nuccio) Lamberti was found unresponsive. She passed. This is very difficult as I am her health care proxy. I am working with Ted from the Boston Crematory -  https://bostoncremation.org

I informed my three siblings, uncle Lou (her brother) and posted on social media. I am sadden at this loss, but there is some much more I want to share. For now, I am going to grieve and later will hold a celebration of life with family, friends, and others who would like to attend. 

Goodbye Mother, I love you. I forgive you. I already miss you.

L-R Barbara (my mother)  & Sabrina (my daughter)

L-R Barbara with her brothers Lou & Joe

Maryann (Nuccio) Arvanities - my Aunty/Mother's Sister, Sherri Rafter-Patton (ME), Barbara Rose Nuccio Raftery (My Mother) and Rose (Lamberti) Nuccio My Mother's Mother/My NaNa

Barbara, Salvator Nuccio (My grandfather) Rose Lamberti Nuccio (My grandmother) 

Uncle Louie and Uncle Joey

Ronald Patton (My husband) Barbara (My Mother), Sherri Raftery-Patton (Me)