Thelma N. Domenici

We are most indebted to Thelma for the fact that she took so much time to note the Domenici story, as well as her own, in her wonderful memoir "My Reflections" (ISBN 9781651365380) that she published in 2020 when she was 92. She tells her own story with humor and, in doing so, she provides a fascinating window into the times in which she lived. Thelma was a natural leader and a trailblazer. Her story is a fascinating American story that encompasses nearly a century of incredible change. She was born when buckboards were still much in use in her native New Mexico and she thrived into age of the internet and smartphone technology. She was a part of, and a leader within, incredible cultural change. This written tribute to Thelma draws on her own memoir heavily, as well as on the direct memories of the writers to tell Thelma's own story within this rich context. Her writing was a great gift to all of us who knew and loved her and we recommend reading her book if you have not yet had the chance to do so.

When talking about Thelma, we must begin (as did she) with her parents: Cherubino "Chopo" and Alda Domenici. Thelma's own memoir describes Cherubino as "serious, hard-working and quick." He immigrated to America in 1904 at the age of 14 with his brother Tony, mere teenagers put on the boat from their home town in Lucca on a wing and a prayer that they would make good in the new country. Chopo loved his adoptive nation, for which he fought as an infantryman in World War I, and stands as a true example of the American dream. Thelma talked about his work ethic as a consistent priority that led him and his brother to start a neighborhood grocery store that would become the very successful Montezuma wholesale grocery business. Thelma and her siblings always described their father as a man who provided, meaning that he took seriously and accomplished through hard work the job of providing the things his immediate family needed, as well as being able to aid to family overseas in Italy. And throughout it all, as Thelma told it, the children participated in the family business through helping to check in shipments, labeling goods, visiting customers, or simply praying for the safe arrival of wheels of Parmesan cheese sent by family in Italy. Thelma spoke of Chopo as a hard man in certain respects, but she also recognized his unapologetic dedication to the simple proposition of providing for his family by way of hard work. He delivered on that proposition in every respect, which launched Thelma and her siblings to great things in their own lives.

Thelma's mother, Alda nee Vichi, also immigrated to America, at the very tender age of three in 1907, brought by her mother out of a rural and mountainous region of Italy to join her father, who had settled in Albuquerque. They came from poverty and a sixth grade education to also start a grocery business in Albuquerque, which is how Chopo and Alda ultimately met, as Chopo made sales calls on Alda's parents' store. Thelma talked about her mother as an excellent role model of giving to people in need. Regardless of whether Alda knew the people on the other side of her generosity, she would "do some of the most outstanding things for people she knew well or hardly at all". She was a free spirit and an incredible cook who would rise to the occasion of feeding 800 people as necessary. And, although a great patriot like her husband, a paperwork oversight concurrent with her wedding in 1926, had left her without formal American citizenship. Imagine the shock when people clad in "khaki military uniforms" descended upon her home to investigate her for possible treason or un-American activities in 1937! Alda took it all in stride, with her signature sense of humor, passing her American citizenship test in good order, after which she sent each of her children a pair of miniature moccasins with a card signed, "From your American Mother." All of us who enjoyed Thelma's own zest for life, graciousness, and free-spirited nature undoubtedly got a sense of Alda, for that is exactly how Thelma described her mother.

Thelma relished telling stories of her childhood in the Domenici family and within the Italian community of Albuquerque. She always had a mischievous streak and her signature sparkle would appear in her eyes as she told about getting in trouble for pushing boundaries. One of her favorites was the story of how she got scolded for catching ducks in a ditch while dressed in her best Sunday clothes. She even narrowly escaped expulsion from school for organizing a group of rule-breakers to go see Gone with the Wind, which had been labeled as too risqué by the American League of Decency at the time. But, Thelma also deeply treasured the traditions of her family and community. Interestingly enough, Thelma lived in an Italian-speaking house until she was five and it was actually a condition for her enrollment in her first school that Chopo and Alda begin speaking English at home. So, old-country traditions, like making wine and pasta, and doing so as a family affair, were part of the fabric of her childhood. And, so importantly, was the Catholic (as Thelma put it "with a capital C") faith that Thelma would live so beautifully in her own life. While Thelma's life would take her far from the Italian community in Albuquerque she cherished her roots. And, of course, she ultimately returned to Albuquerque to complete her career, contribute mightily to the community, and to serve her own family as a beloved sister, aunt, and great-aunt.

Thelma demonstrated leadership and intellectual curiosity from a young age. Never bashful, she thrived on performance and loved organizing her peers as well as the applause of the audience. She was quite the ringleader, sometimes in mischief as mentioned above, but also as class president, prom queen, and yearbook editor in her high school years. She even served as a platoon sergeant during the required military drills in the war years of 1943-1945, which mystified her veteran father as he looked quite askance at having girls involved in anything martial. No surprise that Thelma, in a distinct minority among her female friends, wanted to continue her education in college. That actually caused something of a scandal in the community, but Thelma persevered in securing a scholarship to Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati and in convincing her parents (who genuinely worried about her being so far from home) to support her in attending. Chopo and Alda not only assented, but Thelma described one of her favorite memories as their enthusiastic participation in her graduation, including her father walking arm in arm with one of her Deans on the college grounds. As one of her many trailblazing accomplishments, Thelma became the first young woman from her Albuquerque community to graduate from college.

True to form, Thelma made the most of her time at the Mount. Notwithstanding the homesickness (remember, a communal phone in the dorm or letters would have been the only way to reach the folks back home who were a three day train ride away) and the adjustment to relatively sophisticated Cincinnati (remember that New Mexico had only become a state of the union some 30 years before), she embraced the intellectual challenge of her dietetic course of study. She continued in the performing arts through orchestra and even in the role of Elizabeth Ann Seton in a play about that great saint's life. She honed her leadership skills serving in student government. She even maintained her mischievous streak, getting called on the carpet for harboring a contraband guinea pig on the dormitory roof. Yet, she still found time to excel academically and aced her dietetics to graduate as part of the Kappa Kappa Gamma honor society and Summa Cum Laude. Thelma had built the basic framework of knowledge to enter the healthcare industry that would become her professional calling.

From there, Thelma embarked on her internship with Good Samaritan Hospital, with all the rigors a 1950 internship entailed, including 20 plus hour days. In the days before mainstream insulin therapy (which was not even standardized in the US until 20 years later), diabetics comprised the most difficult patients and dieticians literally weighed and measured each piece of food to attempt to calculate the effects on their patients. Imagine that, in these circumstances, one of Thelma's first patients would be an actual "Circus Fat Lady" named Claudia seeking to end her career and restore her health. Tipping the scales at 420 pounds, Claudia's arms had the same diameter as Thelma's waist. Thelma worked with Claudia until she could be discharged at a relatively healthy 200 pounds. That experience taught Thelma the value of gratitude, which would be a consistent theme for the rest of her life. Despite some rather hilarious mishaps that would lead a present day liability attorney to have stomach ulcers, such as accidently mixing Ajax cleaning powder into the coffee for the entire hospital, Thelma's peers voted her Intern of the Year. Thelma had launched into the healthcare world.

But, God had a plan for Thelma, which manifested as a call to join the Sisters of Charity. In 1951 she flew back to Cincinnati, leaving her fiancé and family behind to take the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Her postulant and novitiate years were filled with grace and she became Sister Ancilla assigned to Good Samaritan Hospital before being called back to New Mexico to address an emergency situation at St. Vincent's in Santa Fe. Buttressed by her sister Mary, who faithfully supported her five days a week, Thelma, just 23 at the time, took on a totally dysfunctional situation. Not only had she lost key staff, but she actually had a conspiracy against her in which staff members determined to hit her over the head with a broken bottle. Frustrating that attempt due to her facility in Spanish, she went on to solve the problem of rampant theft and to fill the missing staff roles. As we all know, the reward for good work is more work, so she went on to hospitals in Michigan, Colorado, and back to Ohio, all of which involved some harrowing experiences, including facing down over zealous health inspectors who would shut down food service for an entire hospital and a hulking lumber jack stealing food. Thelma faced all of these challenges with aplomb, supported by her guardian angels, to whom she always prayed for strength.

She went on to Michigan State University to get her Masters degree in Institutional Administration, as directed by the Sisters of Charity. While on campus she distinguished herself not only by her aqua blue habit, but also by the "Kill, Bubba, Kill" pins she made (a reference to Bubba Smith who was the star of the 1967 season) for the Sisters to wear to the MSU versus Notre Dame game that year, showing her mischievous streak once again. Thelma completed a two year course of study in 18 months and went back to Good Samaritan Hospital to once again address a case of stealing. Amazingly enough, this involved the hiring of an actual Pinkerton detective. That detective went on to document cases of theft by employees who all pled guilty when confronted with their crimes. After their firing, special interest groups attempted to extort money from the Sisters of Charity with spurious allegations of wrongful termination, but Thelma stood strong for law and order and backed them off. Thelma would remain focused on administration in her professional capacity for the rest of her career.

The late 1960s were tumultuous times in our culture and certainly within the Catholic Church, which had emerged from the Second Vatican Council with a mandate for change. As a religious Sister, Thelma found herself in the midst of this and grappled with it in her own way, including leading change from the traditional habit to secular clothing as well as a transition from missioning (assignment of tasks by the Mother General) to an application process. Thelma also undertook the daunting task of administering Mother Margaret Hall, where the most elderly and ill Sisters lived. She implemented sweeping changes that transformed the facility from one with a funereal tone to a vibrant home with activities and visitors, as well as high quality care. She said that this experience truly opened her own heart as she found a way to put love into action for those most in need. From there, Thelma pursued the application process she had helped create to return to St. Vincent's in Santa Fe, where she had first been posted as a Sister in 1953.

That posting would be her last as a Sister of Charity. Notwithstanding the fact that her peers elected her as Superior of this community (another contemporaneous change, as Superiors had been appointed in the past), she found herself restless and questioning her vocation. Even as her leadership role within the Sisters grew over the next five years she continued active discernment of God's plan for her, culminating in a pilgrimage with her spiritual director to the shrine of Mother Elizabeth Seton (foundress of the Sisters of Charity). Eventually, she reached the wrenching decision to leave the Sisters and to pursue her life in the secular community. Emotionally drained, and with no possessions but a suitcase of clothing and $1,500 for a down payment on a car, she moved to Washington DC to live with her sister Rose Ann and her brother-in-law Martin. Imagine making such a hard reset to one's life at the age of 42!

Thelma struggled with the transition to secular life, as well as with the challenge of supporting herself as a professional woman in the early 1970s. She did secure a position with the Indian Health Services (IHS) bureau, an institution whose mission was close to her heart. Thelma also expressed gratitude for the "tough love" of her sister Rose Ann, who helped her find a place to live, outfitted her for professional success, supported her in the job search, and then promptly packed Thelma's bags for her to move into her own place. As Thelma put it, Rose Ann said, "Call me if you need me - be sure you need me!" That kind, but firm, support gave Thelma the confidence that she could make it on her own, and make it she did. She served at IHS for four productive years and did much to build respect and trust between the bureaucracy in Washington and the people whom they served in New Mexico and elsewhere.

Then, in 1975, she secured what she called the most challenging and productive position in her professional career as the Executive Secretary for Health within what was then the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. She found herself deep in the battles of partisan politics for the first time, as she fought for ethically sound public policy. She recalled working 24/7 for months under the leadership of Secretary Weinberger to defeat what may have been a well-intentioned, but seriously flawed, National Health Insurance program championed by Senator Ted Kennedy. Her leadership in this effort led to more opportunity as she represented the United States at the World Health Assembly in Geneva to address the eradication of smallpox and her briefings landed on the desk of the President. Changing administrations brought changing leadership and Thelma served under Secretary Califano, who elevated her to work as one of his direct advisors in the implementation of sweeping change, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. Having served under four secretaries and participated in shaping public policy at the highest level (always with her ethics as the North Star), Thelma left Washington for Phoenix, Arizona with her husband Richard Uhrich.

In Phoenix Thelma became the first female executive for Samaritan Health Services. In that role she stood up a completely new program for patient education, geared to teaching families and relatives how to care for patients upon discharge. She grew into the role of Executive Liaison Officer focused on strategic development for the hospital system. She also cultivated the relationship of the hospital system with the local community, leading fundraising and engagement. Alas, to Thelma's great sadness, her marriage foundered and she faced an inevitable divorce, which led her back to Albuquerque where her sisters greeted her warmly and welcomed her home, as did the professional healthcare community.

Thelma would cap her distinguished career as the CEO of Hospital Home Health Care for a joint venture of St. Joseph's and Presbyterian Hospitals. She perceived the need to revitalize an important, but historically mismanaged and neglected, program to provide in home care under the auspices of these two major hospitals. She took a faltering organization of 247 employees and transformed it into an 800 person strong organization supporting over 1,000 physicians. Thelma and her team pioneered such developments as creating a home health aide program, expanding services into mental health, rolling out laptop technology in the field, and the implementation of good governance through the organization's first board of directors. While changes in ownership forced a reluctant retirement on Thelma's part, this 14 year journey to create what she called "a Camelot company" remained a professional highlight of hers.

Never one to sit around, the "retired" Thelma created her own consulting firm, Thelma Domenici and Associates (TDA), providing strategic services to substantial firms in New Mexico and elsewhere. Eventually, spurred by her grand-niece Marie and her sister Rose Ann, Thelma found a calling to help young people. She created Aunt Thelma's Shy Girl program as a way to reach young ladies in the 10-13 age group and to teach them etiquette, respect for others, and community engagement. TDA grew to a team of five and the Shy Girl program became in demand, even from unexpected places. One of Thelma's great accomplishments was to work with the Women's Detention Center to use the Shy Girl program as a vehicle for social rehabilitation and recidivism reduction. Thelma was also a sought-after executive coach and even a successful columnist for the Albuquerque Tribune and subsequently the Albuquerque Journal, in which her "Ask Thelma" column ran from 2004-2014.

Thelma's heart for service to her New Mexico community led her to be a tireless non-profit board member. She served on boards for UNESCO, the Center for Domestic Violence, New Futures, ACCION New Mexico, Rotary Club, New Mexico Symphony, the Albuquerque Museum Foundation, the University of New Mexico Foundation, Catholic Charities, AFOTEC, and the New Mexico Museum Board of Regents. In these roles she made meaningful and lasting contributions to the culture and to individual lives within her community. Thelma considered this a second career and the love for her of so many people in her community speaks volumes as to her impact.

Thelma's leadership in the arts deserves special mention as part of her work in Albuquerque. She particularly loved her role with the New Mexico Museum Board of Regents, which she chaired for many years and of which she remained a member until her death. Thelma was also an enthusiastic patron of the arts, as her beautiful home full of New Mexican sculpture, paintings, weaving, and carvings attested. She very much enjoyed her relationships with the artists and served as a friend and mentor. In 2008, Thelma received the Weems Artfest Award for Excellence in the Arts in recognition of her contribution to the field.

Throughout her life, and in these years, she was also a wonderful sister and aunt. Thelma lovingly cared for her sisters Karlene and Nella in their final illnesses. She always loved and supported her brother Pete, with no small amount of pride in his great accomplishments. She and her sister Mary, who had been part of Thelma's professional launch, were close until Mary's sudden and untimely death. Rose Ann and she, affectionately nicknamed "the Magpie sisters" by Thelma's beloved brother-in-law Martin, were in daily conversation to the end of Thelma's life. Thelma's many nieces and nephews benefited from her love and her wisdom, as did her grand nieces and nephews. And, for so many in Albuquerque, she was also their own beloved "Aunt Thelma" as she abundantly shared her love and zest for life.

So, what are we to take from this amazing woman's life as her legacy and gift to us? Thelma certainly described herself as a leader, and she exemplified great leadership. Thelma certainly described herself as a woman of faith, and so she was with her wonderful mantra, "God is good all the time, all the time God is good." As people of faith, we believe that Thelma will be with her Lord even now. Also, as people of faith we believe that love, as our Lord created us to live it, is willing the good of the other under all circumstances. As much as anything else, we can take from Thelma's life the example of love in action. She lived a life of putting love into action and doing so tirelessly. May we be inspired by her to do the very same.

Family and friends will be gathering for a rosary and remembrances on Friday, September 20, 2024 at 7:00 pm at FRENCH-Wyoming. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 10:00 am at Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church 2621 Vermont Street NE Albuquerque NM 87110. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift in Thelma's memory to Catholic Charities Diocese of Santa Fe.