After teaching for 48 years, Barnegat basic skills teacher Mary Catherine Kennedy is getting ready to retire. And at 81 years old, she's more than earned the opportunity to put up her feet and relax.
"I sort of hate to be leaving but I realize it's time now," she said. "I don't think it'll hit me until September."
Mrs. Kennedy started teaching back in 1962 and almost five decades later still feels like she's making a difference.
"You feel like you're helping people along their route to growing up and, hopefully, helping someone get through life better than what they might have been," Mrs. Kennedy said.
As it turns out, students weren't the only people she taught.
"I'm not ready to let her go. I still have so much to learn from her, I really do," said fellow teacher Lisa Fisher.
Having had two hips and one knee replaced, Mrs. Kennedy is known for the cane she walks with, which is always decorated for holidays.
She has the reputation of being a tough teacher. The man who is now Barnegat's police chief was afraid of her when he found out she'd be his 3rd grade teacher.
"She lived up to the reputation. She was strict but I thought an excellent teacher," said Chief Arthur Drexler.
A Penn grad and mother of six, Mrs. Kennedy is a faithful fan of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, but no one expects her to spend her retirement in front of the TV.
She's the town historian and active in the NJ Lighthouse Society, so she'll be busy--but that will have to wait just a bit because, once school lets out, Mrs. Kennedy has plans.
"The only thing I will be doing is floating in my pool this summer!"
