When she first arrived on Marymount’s campus, Elizabeth Llop-Rojo ‘69 was uncertain about what to expect.
Although she was born in the U.S., she didn’t connect much with American culture. Her father was in the foreign service, so Elizabeth and her three sisters—Rita, Louisa and Ann—were raised and educated in South America.
“My parents wanted me to go to college in the U.S. but I wanted nothing to do with it,” Elizabeth said. “We came to America on vacation, but it was very much a foreign country. I was used to the South American lifestyle and culture.”
While briefly stationed in Virginia, Elizabeth’s parents thoroughly searched for a local college that would be a good fit for their oldest daughter.
“They wanted to find a school that they felt would protect Elizabeth and take care of her while they were stationed in Buenos Aires,” younger sister Louisa Llop-Pelz said. “There were no cell phones or computers so they really needed somewhere they knew would be safe.”
The Llops decided on Marymount College of Virginia, a two-year women’s college founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) and led by Sister Marie Majella Berg, the school’s third president.
“I was fully prepared to hate it, but from the day I started I was in love with Marymount,” explained Elizabeth, who enrolled as a liberal arts major. “I loved the nuns and really delved deeply into my studies.”
During her time at Marymount, Elizabeth met her future husband, James Kelly, a philosophy and theology professor. He later served as the school’s Dean of Studies and helped guide the school as it transitioned into a coeducational, baccalaureate university.
“I was almost 21 when I came to Marymount, so I was quite a bit older than the other students and related more to the faculty than my peers. So it wasn’t quite as scandalous as it sounds!”
By the time Rita came in 1970, Elizabeth was married and pregnant with her first child.
“Coming to Marymount, it felt like entering a family because my sister had such a good experience,” Rita said. “I really got to pursue my passions of theater and dance.”
Rita was heavily involved in the Theater 18 acting group and sang with the Cold Cuts, a folk-inspired women’s choir on campus. She says everyone was extremely supportive of her passions, which helped her thrive personally and creatively.
“Sister Majella knew I loved ballet and she actually had a dance barre installed in one of the common rooms so I could practice. It was those little things that made Marymount feel like a home away from home.”
Next, it was Louisa’s turn to attend Marymount. She recalls feeling at home on campus not only because of her family’s Marymount ties but also because of her diverse class.
“Most of the girls were from Connecticut and New Jersey, but there were several who came from Latin American countries,” Louisa said. “There was one girl from Panama, two from Ecuador and I was coming from the Dominican Republic. There was a sense of community and I enjoyed having people with similar life experiences and backgrounds in my circle.”
Louisa also formed friendships with the nuns and struck up a unique relationship with Sister Majella.
“I lived right down the hall from Sister Majella while I was an RA in the Main House. Our whole family loved her,” Louisa remembered. “She was at every family wedding and baptism and became close to my parents when they moved back to the States. She is one of the main reasons we enjoyed our time at Marymount so much.”
Youngest sister Ann Llop-Keuter ‘79 also says the nuns were instrumental to her college years.
“The nuns taught me how to be a lector at mass and I got heavily involved in religious activities while at Marymount,” Ann said. “The nuns, priests and religious activities were what really connected the community and brought all of the students together.”
In addition, Ann served as president of the Sigma Tau Sigma Honor Society during her senior year and was active in the Co-Curricular Council, Student Faculty Council and Phi Theta Kappa Society.
When the Llop parents retired to the U.S., they too became engaged in Marymount activities.
“Our parents were involved with the Marymount Angels and the President’s Circle, and my mother continued to support Marymount even after our father died,” Louisa explained. “They wanted to give back to the University that had been so good to all of us, that really nurtured us and served our individual needs.”
Although Marymount saw the girls through many happy times, it also allowed them to navigate hardships. After the death of her husband, Elizabeth returned to the University to further her career prospects.
“When I found myself widowed, I knew I had to go back to school and get another degree so I could support myself and my three children,” Elizabeth explained. “I had only received an associate’s at Marymount as it was a junior college at the time. I was comfortable with Marymount and had enjoyed my time there so it was natural to come back.”
She received her nursing degree and worked as a nurse at Georgetown Hospital for 32 years. Her children later continued the Llop legacy, with three of the four graduating from Marymount.
“My children grew up here, attended the elementary school on campus and ran up and down the hill to the Main House to visit their father during lunchtime. Marymount was such a big part of our lives.”
Since then, the Llop family has seen nine direct family members attend the University, including a few who have married Marymount graduates. Three of the four sisters settled in Northern Virginia and attend Marymount events as often as they can.
Louisa says while Marymount has changed considerably since she was a student, much has remained the same.
“I think Marymount’s values and spirit have really endured. Whenever I come to campus, there’s a great sense of serenity. We are extremely grateful. Marymount has meant so much to our family and it continues to be a great source of joy for us as we continue to watch it develop.”
Marymount University celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2025. For more information on events and how to get involved, visit our website.
