THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MAy 29, 2026 Page 9 Luca Morelli among University of Scranton graduates verett’s Luca F. Morelli was among the more than 900 members of the Class of 2026. The newest Scranton alumni received their bachelor’s degrees on Sunday, May 24, at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Township. Graduates must have completed their academic degree requirements in August and December of 2025, as well as January and May of 2026. Morelli earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science. The most common major among the graduates was nursing (10%), while accounting, biology, business administration, criminal justice, finance, kinesiology and occupational therapy represented about 5% each. In total, the graduates covered 61 distinct majors. Following the processional and a welcome by Tracy M. Stewart, Ph.D., interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., H’14, Bishop of Scranton, provided the Invocation. Sajidul Alam ’26, a double major in political science and philosophy from Kingston, addressed his fellow graduates as the class E THE PLATTERS® | FROM PAGE 3 Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll also recognized them. The Platters® were personally greeted by Peabody Representatives Thomas P. Walsh and Sally P. Kerans, underscoring the group’s long-standing connection to Peabody and the Commonwealth. Founded and named by Herb Reed in 1953, The Platters® became one of the most important vocal harmony groups in American music history. While the group’s membership evolved, Reed, who had lived in Massachusetts, remained the founding constant — the man who named the group, sang through its defining eras and devoted his life to protecting speaker. Alam spoke about how the University became “home” for the Class of 2026, referencing two quotes that graduates have seen and heard throughout their daily travels at Scranton. “‘Go forth and set the world on fire.’ At first, it may have sounded like a call to do something big, something enormous. But Scranton has taught us that sometimes, it means taking what we have learned here and carrying forward those values with intention, integrity, compassion and purpose,” Alam said. “And there is another idea that defines this place, one that is etched on the side of the DeNaples Center: ‘Not where I breathe, but where I love, I live.’ For the past four years, The University of Scranton has been that place.” Following Alam’s remarks, the University conferred honorary degrees to former Dominican University president Donna M. Carroll, Ed.D.; attorney and University alumnus Vincent F. Reilly, Esq. ’80; and longtime educator Jack Raslowsky. Karen L. Pennington, Ph.D. ‘76, G’83, H’15, then took the stage as the principal speaker. Dr. Pennington’s its name, sound and integrity. “This was an extraordinary and deeply moving day for The Platters,” said Frederick J. Balboni, Jr., Herb Reed’s handpicked successor and steward of Herb Reed Enterprises, LLC. “We are especially grateful to Senator Sal DiDomenico, whose invitation made this recognition possible, and to Representative Jessica Giannino, whose friendship and support helped carry the celebration through the House. We are also grateful to Governor Healey, Lt. Governor Driscoll, Representatives Walsh and Kerins, and the members of the House and Senate for honoring this legacy at such an important moment.” The Massachusetts recognition is especially meaning40-plus-year career in higher education administration, prior to retiring in 2021, included 22 years as vice president for student development and campus life at Montclair State University. In addition to serving as the principal speaker, Dr. Pennington celebrated her class reunion. She and other 1976 graduates gathered before the ceremony, reminiscing on their historic class: the University’s first undergraduate, fulltime student class to include women. Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president, conferred degrees upon candidates presented by the deans of the University’s three colleges: Victoria H. Castellanos, Ph.D., Leahy College of Health Sciences; Mark Higgins, Ph.D., Kania School of Management; and Carolyn M. Barry, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences. Following the awarding of diplomas, Christopher J. Neumann, Esq. ’87, president of the alumni society, addressed the graduates, as did Father Marina. Megan E. Heeder, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology, provided the benediction prior to the recessional. ful because Reed made the Commonwealth his home for nearly half a century, and Herb Reed Enterprises has long operated from Peabody. Today, the official Platters® lineage is carried forward by Lance Bernard Bryant, Omar Ross, Jovian K. Ford and Brittany Michelle Wallace, who continue the group’s living legacy for a new generation. “The Prayer” opens their new LP — presented as a musical love letter to the world and a message of harmony, dignity, faith, hope and unity. As Massachusetts prepares to recognize Juneteenth, The Platters’ story remains one of artistic achievement, perseverance through Civil Rightsera injustice and music’s enduring power to bring people together. Masshealth Estate Recovery T he MassHealth estate recovery claim is a creature of state and federal statute and regulation. Because such claims arise and are enforced under Massachusetts law by the state’s Division of Medical Assistance, state law and administrative practices are of most immediate concern to the general public and to elder law attorneys. The Massachusetts statute specifies that the state shall recover all MassHealth (Medicaid) benefits paid on a recipient’s behalf where the recipient was age 55 or over as of the time of receipt and the services were provided after October 1, 1993. Federal law mandates such recovery as the federal government reimburses the Commonwealth of Massachusetts approximately 50 cents for every dollar expended for such benefits. Massachusetts will recoup all MassHealth benefits paid on the recipient’s behalf, regardless of the service for which it was paid and regardless of whether the recipient lived in the community or was institutionalized in a long-term care facility. It is irrelevant whether the payments were for nursing home care, prescription drugs, hospitalization for a particular illness, a Medicare co-payment for an indigent elder picked up by MassHealth or visiting nurse services to keep the elder at home. You should also note that MassHealth can seek recovery for the cost of care received at any age while you were permanently institutionalized. This would include repayment for services paid by MassHealth while you were in a nursing home. Since 1989, the general rule in Massachusetts has been that a creditor of the estate must bring his or her claim by filing suit within one year of the decedent’s death, or the claim is barred. Even after the year has passed, however, the Division of Medical Assistance (DMA) can still protect its claim by filing it within four months of the fiduciary’s appointment. In short, the crucial deadline for Medicaid claims is the later of one year from the date of death or four months from the fiduciary’s appointment. The DMA would bring suit against the estate’s Personal Representative in a court of competent jurisdiction. The DMA’s chosen forum is the Boston Municipal Court. Our state legislature twenty two years ago had worked extremely hard in repealing previous legislation promulgated by the Romney administration which in effect expanded estate recovery to include assets beyond the decedent’s probate estate. The law had always provided that only assets that were in the MassHealth recipient’s name at the time of his or her death were subject to estate recovery (i.e. the recipient’s probate estate). The Romney administration sought to expand estate recovery to include virtually all property interests possessed by the MassHealth recipient at the time of his or her death such as life insurance, life estates, jointly owned property, living trusts, tenants by the entirety, IRA’s, 401(k)’s, etc. (all asset types that avoid probate). The Romney administration’s new expanded recovery rules were slated to take effect on January 1, 2004. Subsequently, the state legislature delayed implementation until July 1 of 2004 as a result of heightened pressure from many elder lobbyist groups, the Mass Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the elderly population itself. Our state legislature then went a step further by repealing the expanded estate recovery provisions altogether. As of this writing, there is no indication that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will be expanding estate recovery to include all assets the MassHealth recipient had an interest in at the time of his or her death in addition to his or her probate assets. MassHealth will not seek recovery if your probate estate is $25,000 or less. There are also several hardship exceptions to estate recovery which are important to keep in mind. The bottom line is to avoid probate at all costs if you or a loved one has been receiving MassHealth benefits. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a masters degree in taxation.
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