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Reminiscences of Stephen Rynn : oral history, 2002.

Creator: Rynn, Stephen, 1955-
Project: September 11, 2001 response and recovery oral history project .
(see all project interviews)
Phys. Desc. :transcript 60 pages sound recordings 1 audio disc (98 min.) : digital ; 3 in.
Location: Columbia Center for Oral History
Full CLIO record >>

Biographical Note

Executive Director, Mission of the Immaculate Virgin.

Scope and Contents

Born in Woonsocket, RI; adolescent years: disillusionment with rigidity of Catholic Church, alienation at school, advanced class, National Merit Scholarship, discovering emotions, becoming a hippie, living in the woods, running away from home, guidance from social worker, survival school in Maine and Hurricane Island Outward Bound School; spirituality and Catholicism; education; Stonehill College, Massachusetts, B.A. and M.A. in social work, Fordham University, New York; turning to social work: closing the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin for the Protection of Homeless and Destitute Children on Staten Island and reopening as public school, senior center and community center; career: hotel and restaurant business in Boston, Nantucket, Cape Cod, Providence, Newport--bartending, waiter, maitre d', chef, substance abuse therapist, discharge planning social worker, and outpatient program manager at various hospitals in New Jersey, field instructor for Master of Social Work; September 11th: driving on New Jersey Turnpike, pulling onto outer bridge and witnessing one of the towers building, watching television coverage, emotional reponses; post-9/11: wanting to help, formulating plan for a children's group, working with Catholic Charities--funding, connecting individuals with resources, forming World Trade Center Outreach Committee at St. Clare's Parish in Staten Island, working with informal group of kids who lost a parent--self-expression through art, physical exercise, interacting with families, maintaining professional distance, long hours and emotionally draining work.

Subjects

Access Conditions

Copyright by The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 2006. Permission required to cite, quote, and reproduce. Contact repository for information.

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