SHA Cordecho Fall 2020

S P I R I T . M I N D . B O D Y . C O R D E C H O 1 3 Honoring... &Remembering Eileen Courtade Eileen Courtade was a testament to the power of a positive role model and a Christian influence. Her teaching career spanned from the 1960’s through the 1990’s. I remember her guidance as I began my own teaching career at Sacred Heart. She was there to help me through some of the early rough spots and continued to share her wisdom with me until right before she joined her Maker. Eileen treated all her students with a warm heart and a friendly way, making them feel comfortable enough to come to her for guidance. She kept pace with the times and gave the students sound advice when they came to her with difficult moral dilemmas that tested their faith. A special remembrance I have is when, during a senior retreat, the girls were asked to share their thoughts about a teacher who had been a positive influence on them in terms of teaching them about their life in a Christian community. A great many of the girls present shared that Eileen Courtade gave them a sense of the true meaning of life, how important life is, and how important they are in the world. This is a vivid example of Eileen’s influence on those who crossed her path. -BY EILEENMALONEY JimDempsey Sacred Heart recently lost a member of our community with the passing of James Dempsey. Jim formerly served as the Director of Academics at Sacred Heart Academy. Known to students affectionately as “Dr. D,” he was often seen in the hallway during passing times getting to know students, taking a genuine interest in their lives and their accomplishments. Each day he would finish the morning announcements with one of his favorite quotes, “Strive for 85!,” encouraging students to aim for academic mastery. Jim retired from SHA in 2010 but stayed actively involved with Sacred Heart well after his retirement, volunteering with SHA athletics as scorekeeper for the basketball team. Jim was born and raised in Buffalo. He graduated from Bishop Neumann High School and earned his Doctorate fromUniversity at Buffalo. “Moose,” as he was referred to by his close friends, was truly a Buffalo fan and a big supporter of the Buffalo Bills. Jim is survived by Mary, his wife of 47 years, four children, and nine grandchildren. -BY RON STEPIEN Nancy Brady retired from the English department at Sacred Heart Academy after 22 years of service. Her students remember her unwavering dedication both in the classroom and as Mock Trial moderator. Students who graduated many years ago still attribute their strong writing skills to Nancy’s teaching and guidance and still use her famous “TWIST” paragraph writing technique in college and in their careers. In Mock Trial, Nancy fostered confidence in her students, teaching them how to stand up in front of the courtroom and argue effectively. Nancy is a recipient of the Liberty Bell Award from the Erie County Bar Association for her dedicated service to the Erie County Mock Trial Program. She has led multiple teams to become Erie County and Regional Champions. Nancy also was the moderator of Franciscan Scholars for many years and has introduced countless girls to the thrill of live theater. In 2009, she received the Singh Family Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching from the University of Rochester based on the nomination of Caitlin Powalski ’04. Linda Cimusz began her first term as Director of Academics in the Fall of 2010. After she retired from her career as an educator, Sacred Heart asked her to return for one year to help establish the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Not only was Linda crucial in SHA’s successful IB certification process, she led efforts in creating synchronous virtual learning for students and staff at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers are still using this system to teach students learning from home this fall. Her colleagues commend her focus, genuine determination, passion for student and faculty success, and her thoughtfulness and sincerity. Jack Duffy joined SHA as an Advanced Placement English teacher in the Fall of 2010 after his first retirement from the Amherst School District. His students remember the balance of humor and intelligence he brought to his lessons, coupled with steadfast encouragement, pushing students to reach their potential. His colleagues will miss the jokes that brightened everyone’s day and the heartfelt, “How are ya?” greeting extended to each person he passed in the hallway. Jack always had the perfect book recommendation for a colleague. He was also a dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteer and had a passion for travel. Congratulations on your retirement! We wish each of our retired community members the best as they move on to the next stage of their lives. Thank you for your dedication to our students! Share your memories of these amazing educators with us by emailing Mary Maroney Ruelle ’10 at mruelle@sacredheartacademy.org .