To get you in the Halloween mood, we have a photo of the Falvey staff cavorting in their costumes from Halloween 2019, inside Special Collections, where a newly acquired H.P. Lovecraft journal was exhibited. Below, find an excerpted poem from Lovecraft himself, about the spookiest of nights!

Hallowe’en in a Suburb
By H. P. Lovecraft

The steeples are white in the wild moonlight,
And the trees have a silver glare;
Past the chimneys high see the vampires fly,
And the harpies of upper air,
That flutter and laugh and stare.

For the village dead to the moon outspread
Never shone in the sunset’s gleam,
But grew out of the deep that the dead years keep
Where the rivers of madness stream
Down the gulfs to a pit of dream.

A chill wind weaves thro’ the rows of sheaves
In the meadows that shimmer pale,
And comes to twine where the headstones shine
And the ghouls of the churchyard wail
For harvests that fly and fail.

Not a breath of the strange grey gods of change
That tore from the past its own
Can quicken this hour, when a spectral pow’r
Spreads sleep o’er the cosmic throne
And looses the vast unknown.

Marie Roman poses with Jamie Ford, author of the 2011-2012 One Book Villanova selection, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

The Falvey Memorial Library staff recently learned of the passing of Marie Roman, a beloved former Falvey Memorial Library employee, on April 21. Marie retired in 2013, after working as a Resource Management Specialist at Falvey for over 20 years.

During her time at Villanova, Marie’s trademark was her warm, welcoming nature. She cared about her fellow staff and students and invested time in getting to know their stories. Marie was also notorious for her great attention to detail, especially having formerly worked for the Philadelphia Evening & Sunday Bulletin where she met her husband of 44 years, John Roman, who was a long-time reporter for the Delaware County Daily Times.

In addition to her role as a Resource Management Specialist, Marie had a secondary assignment on Programming and Outreach Team. It was there that she assisted with events and displays, often offering thoughtful input and suggestions. In fact. In honor of the anniversary of September 11, 2001, each year Marie would arrange a special patriotic display in remembrance by the entrance of the Library. There, she would carefully place American flags, original newspapers from 2001, as well as colorful bouquets of flowers. To this day, Falvey staff still carry on Marie’s tradition of remembering the victims and heroes of September 11.

Falvey’s patriotic display inspired by Marie Roman in honor of September 11,  2001.

Marie made a lasting impact on Falvey’s staff and student employees. Some Falvey staff members reflect on their favorite memories of Marie:

Jacqueline Smith, Finance and Administration Specialist:

Marie and I would always talk about the latest episodes of PBS This Old House. She and I always wished Tommy Silva, the lead contractor on the show, would come and work on our houses!

I also felt Marie would have made a great reporter with having worked for The Bulletin and being married to a journalist. She was always aware of the “Who,” “What,” “When,” “Where,” and “Why.”

Regina Duffy, Communication and Marketing Program Manager:

Marie and I spent time working together on the Programming and Outreach team during the last few years before she retired. From the time I met her, she was always so welcoming and gracious. I was always impressed with how she could carry on conversations with even the most introverted people—I am pretty sure she could get anyone talking! Marie was so good at making people feel comfortable in her presence.

Though Marie was extremely humble, I know that she was very proud of her husband John, her sons, and her granddaughter, Marissa, whom she talked about often.

I learned a lot from Marie and I will never forget her.

Regina Duffy is a Communication and Marketing Program Manager at Falvey Memorial Library.

This week, the Curious ‘Cat asked Falvey Memorial Library staff,

“What was one highlight of your summer?”

Sarah Wingo, Librarian for English Literature, Theatre, and Romance Languages and Literature:

“Camping in West Virginia.”

Jackie Smith, Finance and Administration Specialist:

“Celebrating my son’s 40th birthday in the Poconos.”

Shawn Proctor, Communication and Marketing Program Manager:

“Having my son Colin begin his first Villanova courses.”

Joanne Quinn, Director of Communication and Marketing:

“Vacationing in Nashville.”

Kallie Stahl MA ’17 is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library. Her summer highlight was visiting Cape Cod. 

On Thursday, July 25, Jennifer Derry, MEd, Director of Training and Staff Development, led a Clifton Strengths training session for Falvey Library staff. This week, the Curious ‘Cat asked Falvey staff,

“What is one of your five themes?” 

Geoff Scholl, Library Technology Developer: “Harmony.”

John Banionis, Metrics and Assessment Librarian: “Strategic.”

Regina Duffy, Library Events and Program Coordinator: “Empathy.”

Beaudry Allen, Preservation and Digital Archivist: “Connectedness.”

Brian Warren, Library Technology Developer: “Ideation.”

Kallie Stahl MA ’17 is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library. Her favorite Clifton Strength is WOO (Winning Others Over). 

On this day in 1922, the Supreme Court ruled that organized baseball is not a business, but a sport. Celebrating America’s pastime, the Curious ‘Cat asked Falvey Library staff,

“If you were a professional baseball player, what position would you play?”

Jeannine Ahern, Finance and Administration Specialist

Jesse Flavin, Acquisitions and Electronic Resources Coordinator

Jackie Smith, Finance and Administration Specialist

Brian Warren, Library Technology Developer

Lorraine Holt, Finance and Administration Specialist

Interested in learning more about the game? Check out the resources below and view more on our website:

• Baseball: An Illustrated History
• Baseball: The Early Years
• Baseball: A History of America’s Game (Sport and Society)
• Baseball and Philosophy: Thinking Outside the Batter’s Box
• Baseball Without Borders: The International Pastime

Exhilarated about the approaching summer recess, the Curious ‘Cat asked Falvey Memorial Library staff,

“What’s your favorite vacation destination?”

Caroline Sipio, Access and Collections Coordinator:
“Ocean City, New Jersey.”

Luisa Cywinski, Director of Access Services:
“Dubuque, Iowa.”

Rob LeBlanc, First-Year Experience Librarian:
“Italy.”

Jackie Smith, Finance and Administration Specialist:
“Germany.”

Laura Hutelmyer, Acquisitions and Electronic Resources Coordinator:
“Arizona and Scotland.”