In Memoriam

Mary Squires Day

Mary Squires Day

Mary Squires Day, a First Grade teacher at Colorado Academy from 1976-1992, passed away December 18, 2019, one day after her 95th birthday. She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, David Day. They had six children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Mary and David enjoyed a home in Breckenridge, as well as their travels around the U.S. and abroad. Mary was born in Champagne-Urbana, Ill. on December 17, 1924 and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1945. Mary was a beloved CA teacher who, once she retired, missed the students so much that she continued to substitute teach until the age of 78. Current Fourth Grade teacher Suzanne Kolsun Jackson had worked with her. “Mary was one of the brightest, kindest, hard working women I have ever known. She was a mentor and role model to all who taught with her. She was a brilliant math teacher and a First Grade teacher of the highest skill. She loved CA,” she said. Among Mary’s favorite things at CA was the Lower School Library and how children received a wonderful introduction to books from then Lower School Librarian Cheryl Scheer. Former Lower School Principal Dr. Tom Fitzgerald remembered, “Mary always had her ‘eye on the prize,’ and children in her care were going to be good readers when they moved on to the Second Grade. Her passion for books was legendary.” “She patiently survived the many innovations that came her way in the 80s and beyond. There was “the whole child syndrome.” It was suggested we embrace “creative writing,” and “inventive spelling,” and “dictation” to help kids move through school. We had long discussions about the 800 words Lower School children needed to know how to spell before they moved on to Middle School and how to use these words in a proper sentence. Mary, without a bit of fuss, would fold into her teaching what seemed to make sense and move on. For some who needed extra help, Mary would say, ‘I keep chipping away at trying to make a more perfect final product.’ ” Among Mary’s other favorite CA memories, she appreciated CA’s assembly program, and the wide range of opportunities students had—from the performing arts to the outstanding speakers provided for children of all ages. In addition to teaching, Mary spent ten years as a parent educator for Parents as Teachers, a program that helps children enter school with a greater degree of success through home visitations promoting growth and development of children from birth through five-year-olds. Thanks to Mary, among the gifts they received from her, families learned about books and how to acquire a library card. At Mary’s request, donations may be made in her memory to the CA Lower School Library at 3800 S. Pierce St., Denver, CO 80235.

Alecia “Lisa” Monico O’Donnell

Lisa O’Donnell passed away on December 28, 2019 after a long illness. She is survived by her husband, Tom, and their two children, Kelly and Kevin (Kelly) O’Donnell. Lisa worked at CA for 21 years starting in 1991. For nine of those years, she served as a Third Grade teacher, and after that as a librarian in Raether Library. Lisa received her undergraduate degree in education from Central Connecticut State University and her graduate degree from CU-Denver in library media sciences. She served as the president of Colorado Independent School Librarians, and she was a member of the American Association of School Librarians and the National Council of Teachers of English. She received CA’s Frances Newton Outstanding Faculty Award in 2006 and was appointed a Preceptor in 2009. She officially retired from CA in 2013. Amazingly, Lisa and current Fourth Grade teacher Suzanne Kolsun Jackson grew up together on the same street in Bristol, Conn. On the occasion of Lisa’s retirement, “KJ” wrote about her lifelong friend and the serendipitous way that they both landed at CA:

Lisa O’Donnell

We were both born in 1952, so it is a delight to have reached the 60th anniversary of knowing one another and sharing many of life’s adventures. Our parents were friends. We are friends, and our children carry on this long tradition of family camaraderie. We >>>