Melinda Ottolino '87 

President

I’m excited to begin my new role as President of the Alumni Association, following Rick Ortiz, who did an outstanding job getting us started. Thank you, Rick, for your service. 

I’m Melinda Gomez Ottolino, a proud 1987 graduate. After attending Concordia Lutheran in Austin and earning my associate’s degree, I graduated from UTRGV with a bachelor’s in independent study and a master’s in special education, focusing on Autism and ABA. I've been with BISD for over 30 years, currently working as a Behavior Analyst.

In 1990, I married Al Ottolino (+) and we had two sons, Michael and Mark. During the association's formation, my husband was battling cancer, and the support from this community helped me through that difficult time. Reconnecting with SJA brought back wonderful memories and deepened my commitment to sharing the Marist Message.

I look forward to serving all alumni and encourage you to join the association.

Rick Ortiz '84 

Past President

On behalf of the entire SJA Alumni community, I would like to express our deepest gratitude for your years of dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment as the first President of the SJA Alumni Association.

From the very beginning, you led with vision and integrity—laying the foundation for a community that thrives on connection, pride, and a deep love for our Alma Mater. Your tireless efforts, countless volunteer hours, and genuine care have not gone unnoticed. You’ve been a true leader—always present, always dependable, and always advocating for what’s best for both our alumni and SJA.

Through your leadership, you reminded us what it means to give back, to stay connected, and to support the legacy of St. Joseph’s Academy. You turned ideas into action and challenges into opportunities, and for that, we are forever grateful.

Thank you for everything you've done. Your impact will be felt for generations to come.

Tara Putegnat '96

Treasurer

Tara Putegnant graduated from Saint Joseph Academy in 1996. She returned home after attending Sweet Briar College in Virginia and after finishing her undergraduate degree at UT Brownsville, she taught history at St. Joseph Academy and later at Guadalupe Regional Middle School. 

She expanded her involvement in the community by serving on boards and committees for various organizations such as: Symphony in the Park, Leadership Brownsville (Class XLVII), the Pan American Round Table I Board member, Sacred Heart Church Anniversary Committee member, and the GRMS Development Council. She also served as Secretary, Treasurer and President of the Brownsville Historical Association’s Board of Directors. 

She currently serves as Secretary on the Mitte Cultural District Board of Directors, is Treasurer of the Saint Joseph Academy Alumni Association, is a Board Member of the Historic Preservation Design Review Board for the City of Brownsville, is the Chair of the Texas Tropical Trail Region’s Board of Directors and serves on the Texas Preservation Trust Fund Advisory Board.  

Now in her eleventh year, Ms. Putegnat is currently employed as Executive Director of the Brownsville Historical Association.

Sasha de la Garza ‘96

Secretary

Sasha de la Garza graduated from St. Joseph Academy in 1996 and went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin in 2000. 

A dedicated stay-at-home mom, Sasha has served on the Alumni Board since 2021 and has been serving as the Board Secretary since 2024. She and her husband, Romeo de la Garza ‘95, are proud parents of current students at St. Joseph Academy, further strengthening their family’s deep connection to the school community. Sasha is very committed to her role on the board and to supporting the mission and growth of the Association.

Veronica Garza '93

Board member

I am a proud graduate of St Joseph Academy’s Class of 93’, the best class ever. Leaving St. Joe was difficult but attending Texas A&M was the next best thing! I graduated in 1998 with a bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies. I moved back home and began teaching at St. Mary’s. The plus side to moving back was that I became involved with St. Joe Style Show ,thanks to the amazing Mr Cantu. I married Jorge Puig and have three amazing kiddos: Valeria (Bloodhound), Katia (Bloodhound), and Jorge (future Bloodhound). I have been a volunteer at St. Joe since my oldest started in 7th grade and it’s definitely my happy place. You can find me at the Bloodhound Cafe on a daily bases or helping PAWS with their many events. Joining the Alumni Board has been such a wonderful experience. I love to reconnect and enjoy bringing everyone together. The mixers are so fun and the Road Trip is a blast! Hope to see more Bloodhounds along the way! 

Roberta Chacon '17

Board Member

After graduating from Saint Joseph Academy in 2017, I attended Texas Christian University, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Marketing. Shortly after, I moved to Houston to work in Human Resources before returning home to Brownsville. I married my high school sweetheart and fellow SJA Class of 2017 alum, Conner Pace.

We’re now proud to be back in our hometown, excited to give back to the community that helped shape us. Saint Joseph Academy has always been a special place for us—a place we’ve called home, where our faith was nurtured, and where we were given the tools to prepare for the future. We are grateful to stay connected and support the mission of SJA.

Laura Lieck Lopez '87

Board Member

Laura Lieck Lopez graduated from Saint Joseph Academy in 1987. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1991 and a Master’s in School Psychology from Texas State University in 1999.

Laura spent over 20 years working as a school psychologist in the Dallas area before transitioning into real estate. After several years in the industry, she returned to Brownsville, where she currently serves as a school psychologist for Brownsville ISD.

In 2024, Laura married fellow SJA Class of 1987 alumnus Eduardo (Teddy) Lopez. That same year, she joined the SJA Alumni Board and is dedicated to strengthening alumni engagement and membership.