Our Team
Suzanne founded Revolution of Tenderness in 2016, after reading the following from Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium: “True faith in the incarnate Son of God is inseparable from self-giving, from membership in the community, from service, from reconciliation with others. The Son of God, by becoming flesh, summoned us to the revolution of tenderness.” She joyfully lived this truth, bringing the revolution to everyone she met. She was always ready and eager to meet new people, inviting them with loving arms into this community.
Suzanne passed away on December 22, 2025.
Suzanne Lewis - Founder & Director Emeritus
Rebekah Feeley is a local Montessori teacher and parent mentor. With her lifelong love of learning and a heart for bringing people together, Rebekah wholeheartedly embraces the mission of Revolution of Tenderness and the opportunity to do this work for her community and beyond.
Rebekah Feeley - Head of the Board, Interim Co-Director
Marie Highfield- Marketing
Marie is a graphic designer, artist, and photographer with a heart for people and authentic connection. She has much enthusiasm for the mission of Revolution of Tenderness and The Studio as it is a place to build community, grow friendships, and allow all to explore their own creative genius, which is a reflection of something greater than ourselves.
Joseph was a student at Franciscan University, where he received a Master’s degree in Philosophy, focusing on the philosophy of community. He connected with Revolution of Tenderness at the 2017 “Etymology of Convivium” event. He believes that the Revolution of Tenderness represents the most important aspects of communal life and is overjoyed to be a part of this great work.
Joseph Antoniello - Director of Development
Caroline Doyle - Board Member
Caroline Doyle, PhD, is a clinical psychologist who currently resides in Chicago, IL, where she works at an area hospital. Caroline’s desire to contribute to the mission of the Revolution of Tenderness is rooted in her experience of friendship, unity, and belongingness that she discovered at its physical manifestation: The Studio. As a board member, she looks forward to contributing the the Revolution through hands-on and remote volunteering, event planning and consultation, and praying her presence can bring about a revolution of tenderness wherever she goes.
Helen C. Freiling, LCPC, LPC, CTTP - Board Member
Helen is a psychotherapist in the greater Washington DC Area. She owns and operates a practice in Maryland and Virginia where she strives to help her patients heal from the effects of trauma through the philosophical approach of a Wabi-Sabi Aesthetic and in particular the practice of Kintsugi. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist.
Helen currently serves as a volunteer in assisting with events at The Studio, where she takes particular interest in helping to establish and cultivate the importance of poetic verse and spoken word in the communal and interior life.
Lucia O’Connor - Board Member
Lucia is a Pittsburgh-dwelling mom of a neurodiverse family and former special educator, who brings her personal and professional experience of disability and neurodiversity to the Revolution of Tenderness. In order to help the Revolution on the ground to more fully embody its mission of radical, inclusive and relational love, she works to increase programming accessibility for those with disabilities or atypical needs.
Elizabeth Manion - Board Member
Elizabeth is passionate about her family which now includes numerous grandchildren. She has dedicated most of her life to raising and educating children. For nearly 30 years, she has also been a pediatric and labor & delivery nurse, working with chronic medically ill children as well as PICU and NICU nursing and children suffering from neuro trauma. She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY and works as a Clinical Nurse Supervisor for nurses working in the school system. She loves art, literature and reading, and attending jazz concerts.
Joseph Friona - Board Member
Dr. Joseph Friona Ed.D has worked in numerous educational administration and teaching positions over the past 25 years. His main role on the board is to aid in board training and governance policy, procedure, and documentation.