LETTERS

by General John S. Ross, USMC (Ret.)

Thursday, June 29, 1995
The Winchester Town Crier

Last week I was playing golf with a good friend of mine and Winchester businessman when we suddenly began talking about the last two columns which you [Winchester Town Crier Editor Ed Rice] have written on the Ross/Sister Michaelinda Plante case.

Since I am General Ross, my friend turned to me and said, "What are you going to do if they ever find out who you really are?" He then said with a concerned look on his face, "So many people already know you, they just don't know you as General Ross. How will you handle it if your identity is discovered?"

After a long discussion about this whole crazy, misconstrued affair, I decided that it was high time that I wrote to the Town Crier to express my feelings.

First and foremost, I would like to thank the Town Crier for its continued efforts in printing the articles, letters to the editor, and columns regarding this case. The paper has shown great interest in this case and has been very accurate and fair in its coverage of the events.

Several months ago I was dismayed with your column pertaining to the Town Crier's position on this case.

But the column itself drew such heated discussion and prompted so many people to realize the true issues about what was really going on, that looking back to that February 9 issue, I now feel that it was the starting point for readers to really fully comprehend what this case is and should be all about.

Please understand that this situation is very difficult for my wife and I. We have both been Winchester residents for over 30 years. Although we do maintain residence in North Carolina and travel extensively throughout the country, our roots are here in Winchester and we are surrounded by friends and acquaintances who have no idea that we are the Ross family.

Words cannot express the pain of losing a child. Our son had suffered from severe depression for such a long period of time. In many ways I believe that because of my stringent military rules and regulations, he felt he could never live up to standards which I had expected of him.

My wife and I believed that the Samaritans, specifically the director, Mrs. Ellie Leite, deserved to be honored for the four years that she had spent talking with our son and allowing other volunteers to aid him. That was the purpose of the 1993 praise campaign headed by the director of the Veteran Services, Edward J. Florino.

However, after Mrs. Leite rejected plaques and commendations from President Clinton, Governor Weld, an array of Middlesex County politicians, and a special portrait of Cardinal Bernard Law, the feud with my family and the Samaritans had only just begun.

The spark that led this heated controversy into becoming a lawsuit filed in Dedham Superior Court by Sister Michaelinda Plante and Yvonne George was due to the fact that eight members of the Samaritan board went to visit the Bishop Sean O'Malley in the Diocese of Fall River. This visit took place on July 19 after Sister Michaelinda was seriously harassed, threatened, and told to dissociate from her efforts to to mediate a solution. Mrs. Susan Lyman, chairman of the American Suicide Foundation, here in New England, also received similar threats and warnings. As you know, as a result of this visit, Sister was forced into resigning from her position as associate superintendent of schools in the Diocese of Fall River.

Many Winchester residents are confused and do not understand this story or the articles which they are reading. This is not because of the quality of writing of the paper or any other paper for that matter. It is because the pending lawsuit does not allow and/or permit many of the details of this sordid affair to become public.

Mr. Florino and I have forwarded all confidential information to the office of the Attorney General's Division of Public Charities. This office will not confirm or deny any investigations which are taking place. However, rest assured in due time, as this case unravels, people will see that Sister Michaelinda was an innocent victim who was targeted by the Samaritans and forced into resignation for unfair political reasons entangled in the methods of the church's desire to finish and end this controversy as quickly as possible. When the truth is eventually known about what really happened to Sister and how the church allowed her to be persecuted, many will be shocked and dumbfounded by the truth.

Nonetheless, amid all this madness, my wife and I regret ever having asked Sister to become involved in this horror show. Sister is a kind, compassionate saint, in my opinion, who would do anything for anybody, at any time. She has helped many families over the years and dedicated her life to prevention of cruelty of children, alcohol and drug counseling, family crisis problems, community service and humanitarian causes.

Mrs. Lyman, chairman of the American Suicide Foundation, stated that the only reason why she remains actively involved in this saga is because she believes in standing up for justice. She too wants to see the sister's name cleared.

Many have asked me why I can't come forward to help the sister.

Please allow me to say that I would do anything to help Sister Michaelinda. I have contacted Cardinal Law, the attorney general's office, the United Way, the National Suicide Foundation. Mr. Florino and I have petitioned and rallied the military and the veterans, as have also both been very vocal about this injustice.

The only purpose my coming forward would prove is that there is such a family who had a son that attempted suicide in Winchester. It certainly won't help Sister to get her job back, nor will it influence the lawsuit or have any effect on the outcome.

Let's face the facts--the only reason why there is an outcry for me to come forward is so that the public's curiosity can be satisfied.

The Town Crier has respected my privacy and has not pressed the issue of my stepping forward, but most of the other newspapers are running around like crazy trying to get the big front page story, "WE FOUND GENERAL ROSS."

Mr. Florino's office has been inundated with telephone calls, and the Boston Globe has visited everybody and anybody who is connected with this case.

The Providence Journal just last week went to visit Yvonne George's mother's home and clearly has no respect for a little elderly woman's privacy. They, too, were searching for General Ross.

The frosting on the cake came when the New Bedford Standard Times sent one of their reporters to interview Mr. Florino, Susan Lyman, and paid a surprise visit to Sister Michaelinda at her convent in Tiverton, R.I., and then decided after gathering an enormous amount of information that they would not print one word on this story unless they could interview General Ross.

So, if you read between the lines, few credible newspapers or award-winning reporters seem to really care about the sister's story. Here is a humble woman, with 40 years of dedication to the church, persecuted by a group that won't even give an explanation for their behavior. This is a story about corruptive politics, within the hierarchy of the church, and a so-called human service charity that has so very much to hide. It is all so unbelievable, yet all so real.

The Town Crier has given the public a chance to read and learn about much of what has happened without focusing on General Ross. I don't think this is just because the editor, Mr. Rice, is a former military man himself. I think it is because Rice is respectful. He has strong values and integrity. He is more than just an intelligent, bright reporter. God knows we have enough of those around. He is sensitive to the issues and displays his opinions in a strong meaningful way. Rice is not afraid to stand up for justice, which is what the American way is supposed to be all about. Rice can identify with the issues and work with the facts, rather than buying into the mystery aspect of this story, which seems to sell newspapers.

Further, Gerry Sobkowicz, who has done a great job reporting on this story, makes telephone calls inquiring about what is happening with Sister, not asking the question: "WHO IS GENERAL ROSS?" The little Town Crier newspaper certainly is not a rag or a tabloid. The Globe and Journal could learn a lot from you about appropriate behavior.

In conclusion, my wife and I are very concerned about Sister. We would like to ask residents who knew and loved Sister while she was Principal at St. Mary's to please support her. We thank many who have donated to her fund, located at the Cambridgeport Bank here in Winchester and we hope others will donate. Money is very much needed to pursue the legal fees which will help sister clear her name. We would like to thank the Committee for Justice for Sister Plante for their great efforts in helping her and the Friends of Sister Plante, headed by Ms. Jeanne La Torella of Winchester.

Most importantly, people must remember, no one deserves to be unjustly accused. Even if one has reservations or doubts about this unusual and somewhat strange episode of events, please remember that everyone has a right to defend themselves. If there is one thing I ask people to believe it is that no matter how uneasy they feel about the people in this situation--including my wife and I who are basically a mystery to the public--please believe and know that Sister Michaelinda is a victim. She is an innocent victim, who should never have been targeted, and who has never done anything wrong in her life, except to extend her aid to people like my wife and I. We deeply regret ever requesting her help. We love and respect her, as our son Michael also did. Sister was the last person to speak to Michael before he died and if he were aware of what was going on now he would be deeply hurt.

Sister Michaelinda will battle for her reputation and to clear her name. She will also battle for justice and truth. None of this would be possible without the support of Winchester folks, a newspaper which holds to the highest standards of professionalism, and the help of God. There is a time for war and a time for peace and this is a time for help.

Please help Sister Michaelinda get back her reputation and life.

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