This award distinguishes and honors a lay person within our Parish community.
The recipient generously and unselfishly gives of themselves to God, and to our Church.
They are the unsung heroes of their fellow Parishioners.
They build up our sense of community through exemplary and tireless services in
ministry and volunteerism. The bestowing of the IHM Immaculata Award
recognizes their commitment and fidelity to our faith.


JoAnn M. Murphy was a very kind, generous, loving and intelligent woman who was cherished by her family and inspired everyone around her. A long time Parishioner, supporter and a devout member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Scarsdale for over 40 years.  Her involvement in the Church included being a lector, a Eucharistic Minister and past President of the Parish Council.  Besides her devotion and service to the Church, JoAnn was an advocate for the Immaculate Heart of Mary School. While her 3 grandchildren attended IHM , you could find JoAnn at Christmas pageants and fairs, school plays and sporting events.  She graciously donated money to redo the now named Murphy Auditorium , aided in the library renovation and set the stone down for the life size statue of St. Francis of Assisi on the Boulevard side of the school. 

A dedicated member of the Iona family for over 20 years, JoAnn Mazzella Murphy '98H was a trustee of Iona College since 1998 and co-chaired the Student Development & Mission Committee of the Board. In 1998, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, honoris causa, for her dedication and support of the arts and cultural events at Iona. JoAnn chaired the Iona College Council on the Arts. She is a 2006 recipient of the Brother Driscoll Award for Heroic Humanitarian Service. JoAnn was inducted into the Goal Club Hall of Fame in 2012, and Iona College's Mazzella Field was named for her parents.

JoAnn is married to Iona trustee emeritus Joseph M. Murphy '59, '83H, the co-founder and chairman of Country Bank and chairman of Value Investors. The Murphy Science & Technology Center (now the Murphy Center) is named for his parents. This building houses the Christopher J. Murphy Auditorium, named in memory of the Murphys' son, Christopher.

JoAnn attended St. Pius V High School in the Bronx, where she later served as trustee, and is a graduate Cum Laude of Marymount Manhattan College, where she majored in art history.

She was Vice Chair of Country Bank, President & broker-owner of Ellinghouse & Stacy, and owned an antiques gallery in Scarsdale, Gallery of Art & Antiques.

JoAnn was also a trustee of the Ursuline School in New Rochelle, where she was honorary co-chair of the Innovation Campaign for the "Building on the Tradition of Innovation," a campaign which will be transformational in bringing the Catholic, all-girl school into the 21st century with expanded space and an exciting new curriculum.

As President of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers Art Foundation Ltd., JoAnn was also an honorary Christian Brother. She and husband Joe co-founded the Westchester Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and served as co-chair of Columbia University's Diabetes Advisory Committee, now the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center.

JoAnn will be forever alive in the hearts of all those who loved her.

This award distinguishes and honors a lay person within our Parish community.
The recipient, through their enduring efforts, willingness to help, and kindness to
others, promotes the building of a stronger community in faith and provides a
sense of unity and purpose. The bestowing of the IHM Serviam (from Latin, for “I
will serve,”) Award, signifies that God’s mercy and love is ever-present in us.

My name is Theresa Vaccaro Nicholson, born and raised in Eastchester, NY.  I was married at IHM to Jeffrey Nicholson, we have been married for 38 years and have 3 wonderful children. 

My life of service started early on with training from my mother, Corina Vaccaro. She was my foundation. Corina had 13 children and was widowed at an early age. She had tremendous organizational skills and the strength of God behind her; she taught us to live a life of hard work and to serve others. I took what my mother taught me to heart.  My mother said I should have been a teacher but I went with my other strength and studied accounting in college. After college I got married and started working in Healthcare Finance.

I started coaching CYO basketball at Immaculate Heart of Mary in the early 80s with my eldest brother, Luke Vaccaro and never stopped. Today I am catechist and a member of the Finance Committee, One Community Committee and newly created CCD Board. One of my favorite activities is serving Coffee and Donuts after the Sunday Family Mass. In the most recent years, I have signed up to be a weekly usher and greeter. I enjoy all that I give to my church community, serving with a smile.

 In my community of Eastchester I was a Little League coach, Girl Scout Leader and a member of the Eastchester Environmental Committee, not just for a few years but for 10+ years. Currently I am a Girl Scout leader, President of the Wilmont Manor Civic Association, a Rotarian working with high school students on service projects, and a Eastchester Councilwoman.  

Outside of my church and community I have been on the Relay for Life Committe for the past 13 years, served with the Sacred Heart of Dobbs Ferry Food for the Hunger program that distributes food to the needy on a weekly basis.  I have been at the food pantry for nearly 20 years and have enjoyed sharing the experience of helping the poor with many others . 

And I always find time to visit the local elderly and sick, and spent much time with children who are in need.

People ask how do you work full time and do all that. My answer is, I go to church,  love my family,  excerise, and remember what my mother always told me, to serve others.

I would like to thank you for this recogniton, and I would like to take the opportunity to encourage others to go out and  be a doer and serve others. There is a great benefit in sharing your time and energy with the Community - it fosters trust and safety among each other. There is much joy in giving and it makes for a wonderful mind and soul. 

Immaculate Heart of Mary CYO Basketball   - 37 years 
Coached various age groups -Boys & Girls
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catechist  -  2010-current    
Immaculate Heart of Mary Family Mass -   2005-current  
Coffee & Donuts after the 9:00 Family Mass
IHM Committees - Financial Council    -2 years    
IHM Committees - One Community Committee    -2 years    
IHM Committees - CCD Board    -current year    
Sacred Heart Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry  -  2006-current    
Eastchester/Tuckahoe Girl Scouts    1999-current    
Past Co-Community Director and Girl Scout Leader
Eastchester Little League    2000-2006  -  Coach
Eastchester Instructional Basketball League    2004-2008 -   Coach
Wilmont Manor Civic Association    2005-current    -Committee member
Eastchester Environmental Committee    2007- 2014  -  Committee member
Eastchester Relay for Life - American Cancer Society    2009-current 
Team Captain and Co-chaired Luminaries ceremony 
Eastchester Community that Cares    2010-2011  
Host Cottage Meeting and attend quarterly meetings
Eastchester Beautification    2010-current  -  Planting
Eastchester Rotary & Interact    2018-current   - International and Community Service projects