Villa Voice Summer 2019 VillaVoice Summer 2019 | Page 23

FACULTY NOTES
Faculty Notes
The Villa Community Mourns Loss of Beloved Teacher and Principal
Sr. Mary Lawrence Hartmann, OSU, entered into eternal life
on April 7, 2019 at the age of 92. In 1962, Sr. Mary Lawrence
became the first principal of St. Ursula Villa and served
as principal/teacher beginning in 1967. She left the Villa
for a brief time to serve as teacher/principal at St. Henry
School in Dayton, returning to the Villa in 1971 where she
remained until 2000 and continued to tutor students long
after her retirement.
Sr. Mary Lawrence was a Villa treasure, touching countless lives with discipline, love,
patience, and her sense of humor. Her teaching ability was legendary, and it was said
she could “teach a rock to read.” For decades she used the reading series “Professor
Phonics Gives Sound Advice” to teach the foundation for reading. Upon hearing of her
passing, tributes and memories poured in from former students, parents, and teachers.
She was remembered for her love of children, support of teachers, and being an avid
fan of the Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals!
Sr. Mary Lawrence was a member of the Ursuline Sisters of Cincinnati for 74 years
entering the convent in 1945 and professing her vows in 1950. Her sister, Sr. Ruth
Ann Hartmann, was also a member of the Ursuline order and taught at the Villa. She
passed away in 2017.
St. Ursula Villa Bids Farewell to Four Retirees
St. Ursula Villa thanks Meg Coogan, Dodd Smith, Diane Hopper, and Jeannine Blatt for their combined 91 years
of service to our school and making a significant impact on our students and Villa community.
Meg Coogan has “spent my
entire career with 4-year-olds”
as an Instructional Assistant
in the Traditional 4-year-old
classroom for 38 years, saying
“4-year-olds are the perfect
age. They aren’t too young -
they can learn and understand;
you can reason with them.”
Ms. Coogan teamed with Joann McDevitt and then with
Tricia Scherer, transitioning from the original Manor
House Traditional 4-year-old classroom (currently the
Manor House Dining Room) to the new classroom in
the Early Childhood wing. In addition to other campus
changes through the years, Ms. Coogan recalls the
school’s first wooden playground, which was constructed
by Villa parents and the setting of her favorite memory:
“I was hanging from my knees, upside down on a
playground crossbar, when a little boy walked up and
asked if I would tie his shoes! I guess I looked available –
my hands were at his feet so it must have seemed like a
good idea!”
It is these interactions with children that Ms. Coogan has
most enjoyed and will most miss as she retires, saying “I
love their spontaneity and their honest wisdom.” She has
felt blessed and lucky to “find something I loved doing
and to do it for my whole life” and to “develop bonds and
friendships with families and to work with teachers who
were respectful with each other, open to suggestions, and
professional.”
Ms. Coogan’s next chapter is yet unwritten – she will
“volunteer her time and talent but has been told to wait
six months before deciding or committing.” She plans to
be a “carpool grandma” for her local grandchildren and
after 38 years is excited to have her weekdays available
to schedule appointments and go to Kroger!
22