St. Gregory the Great School has lost an icon. Sister Mary John O'Rourke, who served as principal there for 22 years, died Friday after a long battle with cancer.

Having had 3 children attend the school during her tenure, I can honestly say that Sister Mary John was St Gregory the Great School. Her passion and leadership took that school to heights no one would have ever imagined. She was an innovator as well as an educator.

Credit: St. Gregory School
Credit: St. Gregory School
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In the years I knew her she spent countless hours doing everything in her power to keep the school on the cutting edge. Be it the newest technology, the latest teaching techniques, or just plain building improvements, she would always strive for the best for her students and her faculty, and she had great success.

One of her crowning achievements was the school finally receiving the Blue Ribbon Award for excellence. It was something she had wanted for the school for a long time, and once again her hard work and dedication paid off.

She was tough in a good way, and when she spoke everyone listened, not just the students but "our parents" as she liked to call us.

Before coming to Danbury and taking over the helm at St. Gregory the Great, she served as principal at St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Hartford, St. Gregory the Great School in West Harrison, N.Y., and St. Lawrence O'Toole School in Brewster, N.Y.

A wake is scheduled at St. Gregory Church between 10 a.m. and noon on Thursday. A funeral Mass will follow in the church with a reception planned in the gymnasium.The gymnasium by the way will be dedicated and named in her honor, at a June 7 ceremony.

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