Sister Rita Dougherty, RDC (Formerly Sister Mary Dolorita)
The oldest of four siblings, Sr. Rita hails from the Bronx, NY, where she attended Mount St. Ursula from first grade through high school. In 1953, Sister graduated Summa Cum Laude from Good Counsel College (GCC) with a BA in Math and Physics, and entered the Divine Compassion Community.
Sister began her ministry at Good Counsel College, where she was the business manager, a faculty member and eventually Treasurer of the College. After 20 years at GCC, Sr. Rita became the Education Director in Westchester County for The American Institute of Banking, while earning an MBA and PMC at Iona College. Sister was recruited by Iona, serving as Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs in the School of Business for 12 years, and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Admissions for 10 years. While at Iona, Sr. Rita was also the Co-Director of the RDC Associates program.
After retiring, Sister attended a sabbatical program for one year at the School of Applied Theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. Upon completion of the program, Sr. Rita was the Business Manager and Registrar for the Franciscan School of Theology, also in Berkeley. After five years, Sister was transferred to the Diocese of Oakland, and engaged in a new experience as an Assistant in the Cemetery Division, and Business Manager at an inner-city grammar school.
Upon her return to New York, Sr. Rita began to volunteer in the accounting office and gift shop at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. Most recently, Sister returned to help at the food pantry of Hope Community Services in New Rochelle, where she volunteered thirty years ago while working at Iona, “just proving that what goes around comes around,” Sr. Rita said.
One of Sr. Rita’s greatest delights is to go to California to visit her wonderful niece and her family, particularly her three grandnieces who are great helpers! Sister enjoys mystery stories, either in print or on television, and following the Yankees, Giants and Iona teams.