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Mount Saint Mary’s alumnae and sisters Sharon Leahy '60, Peggy Leahy Starr '64 and Mickey Leahy Payne '64 have stayed closely connected to the University since graduating with nursing degrees in the 1960s − following in the footsteps of their mother, Margaret Leahy, who was also a nurse.

They have served on the Regents Council, volunteered for the Alumnae Board and the Da Camera Society, participated as docents at the Doheny Mansion and provided financial support for the construction of the new Wellness Pavilion at Chalon. The Leahy sisters are also part of the Mount’s Heritage Society, which recognizes and honors alumnae, friends, faculty and staff who have named the Mount as a beneficiary in their will, trust or beneficiary designation. In 2012, the sisters established the annual Leahy Family Endowed Nursing Scholarship, which provides nursing students who need assistance with annual scholarships. 

The Leahy sisters understand the critical importance of financial assistance, as they, too, were once scholarship recipients. “The Mount is a really important part of all of our lives,” says Sharon. “We gained lifelong friendships, and the Mount gave us a wonderful education. We also got financial assistance from scholarships and grants. It just felt right to give back.”

To honor their contributions, the Mount awarded the sisters the 2024 Unstoppable Supporter Award at the President’s Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon on February 21.

The sisters, who grew up in Sherman Oaks, worked for a combined 100 years in healthcare in Los Angeles. During their careers, Mickey and Peggy worked for UCLA Health and the LA County Department of Health before Peggy became a pediatric nurse practitioner and Mickey became a supervisor. Sharon worked in hospital nursing and even taught nursing courses at the Mount in the 1960s after she graduated.

Since the beginning of their professional journeys, their Mount education was a significant asset that stood out prominently.

“We never even had to go through a full job interview because the Mount has such a good reputation,” says Peggy. “When we went to interviews at UCLA Health and the LA County Department of Health, they heard where we went to nursing school and said, ‘Forget the interview,’ and hired us on the spot. It happened every time.”

Mickey adds that she always felt well-equipped to deal with the challenges of the fast-paced nursing environment.

“Working on a medical floor is not easy, but I was enriched and well-prepared because of what I learned at the Mount,” she says.  

The strong nursing education is not all they remember fondly about their time at the Mount. 

The sisters, who all lived on the Chalon campus as students, have many fond memories of their college years.

“The Mount’s atmosphere was so laid back and relaxed,” says Peggy.  “I always felt very comfortable asking an instructor for help. They would take the time to explain individually what the problem was. Everybody was so congenial, and the Sisters of St. Joseph (CSJs) were wonderful.” 

The sisters say they are overwhelmed and honored to receive the Unstoppable Award, and they hope it serves as a call for others to donate.

“We hope other people do the same thing — realize that once they start working and making some money, part of it should go back to those good memories and their good education,” says Sharon.