by Matt Koelher ‘15
Mrs. Wilhelm to retire this year
After 23 years of teaching and faithful service, Mrs. Wilhelm will say goodbye to the Saint Ignatius community at the end of this school year. Serving under three different presidents and four principals, Mrs. Wilhelm has helped students thrive and learn at our school while teaching World History, United States History, and a class on civil rights.
Mrs. Wilhelm will be dearly missed by her students and colleagues alike due to the dedication and hard work that she puts into each and every day of teaching. Her compassion towards her coworkers and students has left a profound effect on the Saint Ignatius community. Mr. Ptak, an Honors World History teacher and current Dean of Students, sums up what Mrs. Wilhelm means to Saint Ignatius by saying, “She’s an excellent teacher, she puts a lot of time and thought into what she does, but in particular she’s very compassionate; she really cares about her students as individuals.”
Mrs. Wilhelm will be leaving Saint Ignatius to spend time with her four grandchildren and daughter, who has been away from home for almost sixteen years working for the State Department. Her daughter has worked in many places, including most recently Turkmenistan.
One thing’s for sure, Mrs. Wilhelm will greatly miss her time here teaching. “It’s hard for me to go, it really is,” she says, “because it’s been so special, and a lot of who I’ve become has really been defined by my time here.” Just as Mrs. Wilhelm will never forget the memories made teaching here, the Saint Ignatius community will always remember her many years of dedication and compassion for her students.
Mrs. O’Riordan heads to St. Eds
After the office was thoroughly cleared out and after all the college posters were taken down, only a bulletin board with a quote from Martin Luther King was still hanging on the white walls of Mrs. O’Riordan’s office. It read, ”Peace is not merely the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice.” For anyone who had her as a college counselor or who knew her as a friend, this is a fitting quote to leave hanging. Mrs. O’Riordan has a long history with Ignatius and began her career here in 1989 as a history teacher in the Caliguire wing that is named after her grandfather. She left after one year but returned in 2001 as a college counselor. In that position she has helped countless students, including myself get into colleges that they wouldn’t have been able to get into without her constant help and nagging about deadlines.
But Mrs. O’Riordan’s support goes far beyond merely helping with college choices. She has an amazing knack for calming kids down as they worry about deadlines, tuition, and the many other stressors that come with senior year. Her office serves as a mini-counseling department as she willingly listens to any student who wanders through her door with concerns. Miki Szabo, a frequent to her office, said that “No matter what the problem or situation, it always seemed like she cared.” Mrs. O’Riordan will be sorely missed as she leaves Saint Ignatius, and I’m sure students will remember the time they spent with her fondly. Even though you’ll be moving to that other school on Detroit Rd., we all wish you the best, Mrs. O’Riordan.
