The All-Classes Reunion is set for Oct. 17 will bring graduates back to the halls in West Hartford where lifelong friendships began.

MSJA faculty and staff in 1974. Credit: MSJA yearbook. Courtesy photo

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Alumnae of Mount Saint Joseph Academy (MSJA) are invited to return to the halls of their beloved alma mater on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, for an All-Classes Reunion hosted at Aviva Senior Living, the historic Hamilton Heights building that once housed the all-girls Catholic academy. The afternoon reception will run from 2 to 5 p.m.

The event is open to alumnae of all class years. Admission is $35 per person, and attendees are invited to learn more about the event and RSVP by Oct. 1, 2026 at www.avivawesthartford.com/all-classes-reunion.

For the women who once walked its corridors, Mount Saint Joseph Academy was never just a school – it was where lifelong bonds were forged. Alumnae describe a close-knit community shaped by shared classrooms, shared traditions, and the kind of everyday moments that turn classmates into lifelong friends. Many of those friendships, formed decades ago on Hamilton Heights, have endured through the years and the reunion is designed to give classmates an opportunity to reunite and celebrate those bonds.

Members of the MSJA Class of 1978. Credit: MSJA yearbook. Courtesy photo

“The Mount challenged us academically and, as an all-female school free of stereotypes, gave us the confidence to speak up, lead, and grow into leaders in our fields, while also nurturing our faith and giving us friendships that have lasted a lifetime,” stated Cynthia Basil Howard, MSJA alum & Past Executive Director, Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Schools. “Attending The Mount remains one of the highlights of my life, and I’m forever grateful for the education, the sisterhood, and the memories I made while attending that cherished school.”

“The Mount gave me an education and friendships I have treasured my whole life, and I never imagined I would one day be fortunate enough to call that same beautiful building my home again,” stated Lorraine Gilmartin, MSJA Class of 1951 and current Aviva Senior Living resident. “Every day I walk these halls, I am filled with gratitude – first for the young woman the Mount helped me become, and now for the wonderful community that cares for me here at Aviva.”

“We feel a deep responsibility to preserve the character and beauty of this historic building, from the architecture to the stories within its walls, for the generations of alumnae who called it home,” stated Sandra Carlmark, Executive Director of Aviva Senior Living at Hamilton Heights  “We are honored to welcome the Mount Saint Joseph Academy community back through our doors and look forward to celebrating this reunion with them.”

Members of the MSJA Class of 1976. Credit: MSJA yearbook. Courtesy photo

A Storied History on Hamilton Heights

Mount Saint Joseph Academy’s roots stretch back to 1852, when the Sisters of Mercy founded it in Hartford as a resident and day school for girls near Saint Joseph’s Cathedral. As enrollment grew, the school relocated to larger grounds in West Hartford, where the cornerstone of the current Georgian/Colonial Revival building at 235 Fern Street, now known as One Hamilton Heights Drive, was laid in 1905. Designed by Hartford architect John J. Dwyer, the school welcomed its first students in the new building in September 1908.

Enrollment at the academy peaked at 565 students in 1958, drawing girls from across Connecticut and neighboring states. In 1932, the Sisters of Mercy also founded Saint Joseph College, the first liberal arts college for women in the Hartford area, with classes initially held at MSJ before the college moved to its own campus nearby (today the University of Saint Joseph).

The campus has its share of remarkable history. In 1936, MSJA hosted a visit from Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, then Vatican Secretary of State, who was elected Pope Pius XII just three years later. The room where he met with MSJA students still stands off the building’s lobby today. During World War II, the grounds north of the building were used by the U.S. War Department as an anti-aircraft and observation station.

Declining enrollment amid competition from new co-ed Catholic high schools led to MSJA’s closing after the 1978 school year. ITT Hartford purchased the property in 1980 and carefully converted it into a conference center while preserving its historic character. In recognition of its significance, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Dec. 22, 1983. It was reimagined once again in the 1990s, reopening in 1998 as an assisted living community which today is operated by Aviva Senior Living.

Mount St. Joseph Academy (MSJA) – 1909 view looking west toward Avon Mountain. Courtesy photo

Event Details

• What: MSJ All-Classes Reunion – Afternoon Reception
• When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, 2-5 p.m.
• Where: Aviva Senior Living (formerly Mount Saint Joseph Academy), One Hamilton Heights Drive, West Hartford, CT 06119
• Admission: $35 per person
• RSVP by: Oct. 1, 2026, at www.avivawesthartford.com/all-classes-reunion
• Open to: Alumnae of all class years
• For more information contact Chuck Coursey at 860-305-0055 or [email protected]

About Aviva Senior Living

Aviva Senior Living communities span the senior-living spectrum from active-adult and independent living to assisted living and memory care. Their associates are dedicated to creating an engaged, fulfilled lifestyle for every resident.  In West Hartford, Aviva operates in the former home of Mount St. Joseph Academy and continues to honor the building’s legacy while providing modern senior living services and programming for its residents.

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