Strength in Stone

A family heirloom becomes a symbol of resilience for all

From the fall 2025 issue of Sacred Heart University Magazine

Key Highlights

• ^{A five-foot marble statue of Our Lady of Pompeii now stands on Sacred Heart University’s West Campus as a visual reminder of perseverance and hope for students.} 
• ^{Donor Melissa-Jean Rotini hopes students will think, “I can get through this,” when they see it} 
• ^{Melissa-Jean and her husband Josh Cole ’98 donated the statue to honor her late mother, Jean Rotini ’99, who completed her SHU degree later in life.} 
• ^{The 78-year-old statue originally stood at the Church of Our Lady of Pompeii in Bridgeport}

“I can get through this.” That’s what Melissa-Jean Rotini wants students to think as they walk by and look at the five-foot marble statue of Our Lady of Pompeii on Sacred Heart University’s West Campus. 

“I think the statue stands for perseverance. I want it to remind people of what you can do if you just keep going,” she said. “You’ll get to your goal if you just keep trying.” 

Melissa-Jean and her husband, Josh Cole ’98, donated the statue—depicting Mary holding Jesus with a rosary—to Sacred Heart in the spring in honor of her late mother, Jean Rotini ’99, who completed her SHU degree late in life.  

The 78-year-old statue had stood tall for decades at the former Church of Our Lady of Pompeii of the Most Holy Rosary in Bridgeport, where it commemorated the safe return of the Tucci family’s five sons from World War II (the younger brothers of Melissa-Jean’s great-grandmother). 

According to family lore, Melissa-Jean Rotini’s great-great-grandparents asked for prayers for the safe return of all five of their sons after their service. If the prayers were granted, the family would donate a statue of the Virgin Mary. To their relief, all five sons came back, and the statue was installed. When the church closed in 2011, Melissa-Jean was able to reclaim the statue. She allowed it to remain in place until the former church’s food pantry closed, after which she recovered the statue and had decades of damage repaired. For years, Melissa-Jean contemplated what to do with the heirloom.  

Her husband, a former Pioneer football player, recalled Touchdown Jesus, a statue that once stood near the end zone of SHU’s Campus Field, where football players would kneel and say a prayer before games. Her husband, a former Pioneer football player, recalled Touchdown Jesus, a statue that once stood near the end zone of SHU’s Campus Field, where football players would kneel and say a prayer before games. This gave Melissa-Jean an idea that allowed the statue to instill hope while also paying tribute to her mother Jean, who spent her adult life completing her college degree at SHU.  

Melissa-Jean recalled that Jean’s goal was to get her degree before her daughter did. Jean Rotini graduated in December 1999, and Melissa-Jean graduated in May 2000. However, Jean Rotini did not live to see her daughter graduate. 

“My mom really was dedicated to getting her degree,” Melissa-Jean Rotini said. “She saw the importance of getting a college education, both for personal development and for its value in the workplace. Although Jean held a management position, she was not given the full title or salary simply because she lacked a degree.”  

While losing her mom at a young age was hard for her, Melissa-Jean is grateful for the time she had with her. “She taught us so much,” the thankful daughter said.  

Like Mary, Jean Rotini persevered through ups and downs. After Jean died, SHU informed Melissa-Jean that her mother had sought information on continuing her education at SHU to get her master’s. Had she lived, she would have completed that degree at West Campus, where the statue now stands.  

“There’s so much pressure on college students, and we want the statue to remind them that, yes, college is hard work, but you can do it,” Melissa-Jean Rotini said. “I really hope they can take a minute, look up at the statue, see the sun peeking through the clouds and just know they can get through whatever challenge they are facing.” 

The statue was officially dedicated and blessed at a ceremony in December. Melissa-Jean Rotini, her family and SHU staff and community members gathered at the statue outside of West Campus. Campus ministers said a few prayers as they blessed the beautiful statue of Mary holding baby Jesus. Melissa-Jean Rotini thanked the University and hopes the statue is seen as a symbol of “serenity and hope” to the entire SHU community. “I’m so appreciative that you all agreed to have her stand here,” she said.