The University of St. Michael’s College community is fondly remembering the many contributions of Sr. Rita Marie McLean, CSJ, who gave generously of her talents to the university. Sr. Rita Marie, who served as an assistant registrar at St. Michael’s and as Dean of St. Joseph’s College Residence, died earlier this month in her 76th year of religious life.
An alumna of St. Michael’s, Sr. Rita Marie earned a degree in French and Music in 1946. She worked for 19 years in her religious community’s secondary schools and, over the years, went on to earn an M.A. in French, as well as to engage in theological studies at St. Paul University, Ottawa and to study organ at Laval University in Quebec.
Sr. Rita Marie was appointed Dean of Students at St. Joseph’s College Residence at St. Michael’s in 1974, a position she held until 1979, where students keenly appreciated her support and kindness. In 1974, she was also appointed an Assistant Registrar in St. Mike’s registrar’s office, a position she held until 1985.
“Sister Rita Marie was a powerful influence in my life,” says alumna Ginny Hayes O’Sullivan (SMC 7T8). “I lived in residence with her from 1974 to 1978. She encouraged me to follow my inner call to leadership and become a Don at residence in my fourth year. I was also inspired by her interest and fluency in French, which I pursued as well. She was a strong woman who will be greatly missed.”
Former colleague Rick Hayward has fond memories of working with Sr. Rita Marie.
“Although we were titular colleagues–she was Dean of St. Joe’s and Assistant Registrar and I was Dean of Men and Assistant Registrar–she was in so many ways my mentor,” says Hayward. “Her wisdom was dispensed with such good humour that I never realized that she was correcting some of my more egregiously bad ideas. She was a wonderful colleague and very supportive friend.”
Her gifts for supporting and teaching colleagues were also appreciated by former St. Mike’s staffer Jo Godfrey.
“I have very fond memories of Sister Rita. She was one of the rare gems in the Registrar’s Office,” says Godfrey. “Students loved her both in residence and when dealing with problems with courses and the like in her position as an assistant registrar at SMC. Any interaction I had with Sister Rita in my position as Executive Assistant in the office of the Principal was always very cordial and she was just a delight to interact with. I learned a thing or two in the process…she was full of innovative ideas.”
After leaving St. Mike’s, Sr. Rita Marie was named director of St. Joseph’s Centre at the Morrow Park motherhouse for three years and then continued as program director until 2000, facilitating pastoral and spiritual programs for the Catholic community.
The University of St. Michael’s College extends our condolences to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto and to Sr. Rita Marie’s extended family and friends.
A mass for Sr. McLean will be held at St. Basil’s Church on Tuesday, April 11 at 12:10pm.