Congratulations to Our Retirees!
May 28, 2021
This year, we have seven beloved faculty members who are headed towards a well-deserved retirement. A few of them retired earlier this year due to COVID-19. They have all made a significant impact on CDH over the decades, with a few of them even teaching at Cretin or Derham Hall prior to the merger.
Join us in wishing them well in their retirement!
Montse LaVelle
How long have you been at CDH? What have you taught/advised here?I started at Cretin in the 1983-84 school year. I've taught all levels of Spanish over the years. I went to Guatemala with students and Brock Beithon. I've done Red Lake trips with Peter Gleich, made soup for Empty Bowls, and worked with Habitat for Humanity. At Cretin I coached the quiz bowl team for one year.
What is a favorite memory from your time at CDH?
Seeing my son and daughter graduate from here. The plays I've seen have amazed me. I loved the basketball teams and would make cookies for them when Joe Mauer '01 and Chuck Meisbauer '03 attended. Mostly I'll remember the fun I had in the classroom with my students. Also sadly I'll miss CASA and baking for them. I could go on forever.
What are you looking forward to in retirement?
Fun and relaxation. Everyone knows I'll be playing pickleball. I also hope to travel.
Patty Murray
How long were you at CDH? What did you teach/advise here?
This year was my 22nd year teaching at CDH. I taught Spanish 100, 200, 101, 201 and 403 Honors. I also served as the World Language Dept Chair for many years.
I have served on the following committees in my time at CDH:
- The Strategic Planning Committee
- The Casa Formation Committee
- The Scheduling Committee
- Chair of the Justice Week Committee
- Advisor for the The Service Committee of the Student Council
- The Faculty Sunshine Committee
I led student trips to Chimbote, Peru and Justice Education Trips to Mississippi and Tennessee, as well as the Pilgrimage trip on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
What is a favorite memory from your time at CDH?
One of my favorite memories was being the Cooperating Teacher (Advisor/Mentor) for Tommy Murray '97 as he did his student teaching and then joined the department to work alongside me. I also was his third-grade Spanish teacher at Nativity School!
What are you looking forward to in retirement?
In my retirement, I am learning lots of new things and spending time with my family and my new granddaughter. I hope to use my Spanish (post-COVID-19) in some way as a volunteer in the community. I love baking, quilting, embroidery, biking, playing the piano, and taking long walks.
Joyce Nordby
How long have you been at CDH? What have you taught/advised here?I joined CDH in 1987, the year of the merger between Cretin and Derham Hall. I taught Chemistry, IPS (introductory physical science), Science and Engineering, physics, environmental science, and Frontiers in Science. I also led the Engineering Club and Science Olympics, as well as chaperoned trips to Guatemala and El Salvador.
What is a favorite memory from your time at CDH?
The first year we sponsored a "Mole Day," a holiday among chemists to celebrate Avogadro's Number (6.02 x 10²³), which is a basic measuring unit in chemistry. Students were to come to CDH before 6:02 am on October 23rd. We celebrated with mole games of all sorts in the commons. We had HUNDREDS of students show up for the event — food and extra credit were also available!
What are you looking forward to in retirement?
I'm looking forward to gardening, reading, and traveling — all things I don't have much time to do during the school year. Other than that, nothing really planned yet!
Pat Norusis
How long have you been at CDH? What have you taught/advised here?l have been at CDH since the merger in 1987 and 9 years at Derham Hall before that. I have taught Religion and English classes, Composition classes, and then worked as a Learning Specialist in the Learning Lab. One thing that I was part of for many years was the summer shelter at CDH, which was very rewarding. I also worked with the Environmental Club and supported their efforts.
What is a favorite memory from your time at CDH?
There are many favorite memories: seeing a struggling student experience success and the smile that comes with that, watching one student help another student, and hearing a student leaving the classroom stop to say "thank you," which happens often. We have so many kind students at CDH.
What are you looking forward to in retirement?
In retirement, I am looking forward to spending more time with my wonderful family, learning something new, like painting, and having time to enjoy nature more and stay closely connected to extended family and friends.
Working with the wonderful students and dedicated faculties and staffs at Derham Hall and CDH has been a true blessing in my life that I will treasure always.
Julie Quinn-Kiernan
How long were you at CDH? What did you teach/advise here?I was at CDH for 22 years. I have a degree in biology but also a masters in journalism so I first worked in the publishing industry before completing an education degree and switching over to teaching. I always let kids know this to show that you may not always stay on the path you start out with.
I taught all levels of biology, AP Environmental Science, zoology, environmental engineering, DNA and forensics, and journalism (summer courses). I was the advisor for the Chronicle (student newspaper) for 18 years, and advisor to the Green Team (ecology club). In addition, I have a music background and led the music at masses for around six years and directed music for some of the shows. I also originated and led the environmental trips to Costa Rica for eight years and brought my APES classes on weekend trips to environmental learning centers.
What is a favorite memory from your time at CDH?
a) Working with Katie Kreitzer and Jeff Rudi (who is a beast on the piano) on the shows. In one of them, Camelot, my dog was cast as the dog (of course) in the show and I had to walk him backstage for each of his entrances and then we'd sit in the very back of the audience and I'd give him treats until his bow at the end of the show.
b) On the first day of school in my APES classes, after watching The Lorax, we'd go outside and sit in a circle. I would pass out rocks with the word "Unless" written on them and ask them to keep the rock until the last day of school. On that last day, we'd again sit in a circle and everyone would hand their rock to the person next to them and say something nice about them. It always brought tears to my eyes to hear the kids say such great things to each other, even if they didn't know each other very well.
c) The trips to Costa Rica are a big part of my memories; seeing kids take risks on ziplines, being in strange rain forests, and helping the poor and indigenous there were experiences I treasure (plus making good friends with fellow chaperones such as Christina DeVos, Chris Kaus, Peter Watkins and Doug Meeker).
d) Being a "mother" to around 8 exchange students who stayed with me and went to school there. I saw the school through a much different lens when having a young person in the house from a different culture.
e) I loved my time at CDH. It enriched me and gave me a strong purpose for many years. I feel I will always be a member of the community there!
What are you looking forward to in retirement?
As far as retirement, it's true what they say: You're always busy if you want to be. I look forward to lots of travel, especially to Latin America, writing (I'm now working on a Young Adult book), performing more, and just relaxing and staying active. Currently, I'm working with an online company as a contractor writing and editing resumes. So we'll see where that leads me.
Lourdes Wadell
How long were you at CDH? What did you teach/advise here?
I started what would have been my 40th year last fall, before deciding to retire because of COVID-19. I began at Derham Hall right out of college in 1981. Over the years, I have taught every level of Spanish from beginning Spanish I to Spanish VI Honors. And I am very proud of my students' accomplishments.
I was the Student Council advisor at Derham Hall from when I started until the merger. I chaperoned a lot of school dances, blood drives, proms, and homecomings. I took students to Language Camp in Bemidji. We also had many field trips to see Spanish plays and have lunch at Hispanic restaurants.
What is a favorite memory from your time at CDH?
I remember the merger very clearly, since I was pregnant with my second child and had to walk between the Derham and Cretin buildings several times a day. I went into labor the evening after one of those days.
Some of my favorite classroom memories include holding a mock trial, having students write and illustrate fables, and having a talk show with my Spanish V classes. I really enjoy the numbers of former students who continue to keep in touch. Many of them tested high in their college placement and even went on to major or minor in Spanish. Some of them went on to become Spanish teachers and one of them was even my colleague—Rebecca Medellín '88.
What are you looking forward to in retirement?
In my retirement so far, I've been enjoying more time with my husband and children, as well as my two very active grandsons. I miss the students, faculty, staff, and administration, but I'm certainly enjoying the slower pace. I loved being a teacher at Cretin-Derham Hall. Go Raiders!
Peter Watkins
How long have you been at CDH? What have you taught/advised here?
I started teaching at CDH in 1993. I have taught just about all of the classes offered by the Religion department and helped to create a couple of new ones. I worked with Student Council for a few years. I also helped lead a number of trips including five to San Lucas Toliman in Guatemala, three in Spain, and one to Costa Rica. I'm still trying to learn Spanish!
What is a favorite memory from your time at CDH?
Hiking on the Camino de Santiago in Spain with students, morning chapel services especially when Dr. Janet Watson was preaching, climbing the volcano in Guatemala, senior overnight retreats at Koinonia, teaching Plato's Allegory of the Cave. Lots more!
What are you looking forward to in retirement?
To see what life has in store for me!
