In Memory of Cathy Pitt—May 17, 1944 to March 3, 2003
I met Cathy in 1989 when we were both hired at Glenforest. Our relationship was a typical working relationship in the beginning but quickly developed into a great friendship. I fondly referred to her as the “old battle axe” and when I was the acting department head, she would call and ask me how it felt to be the “old battle axe” now. We laughed a lot, mostly about the crazy things that happened to her on a regular basis. Those of you who know her well, know exactly what I’m referring to.
I’ll never forget the time she stopped to pay for gas in the US & it was discovered that the money she had was counterfeit—& it was money she had purchased at the bank.
A couple of years ago, she finally had the opportunity to go to Florida with her sister & niece in August & no sooner did she get there when she was quickly evacuated due to a hurricane or tornado.
These are just a couple of the many, many mishaps that happened to Cathy in the 13 years I’ve known her. The amazing thing about Cathy was that no matter how much bad luck she had, she always remained positive & happy & thoroughly enjoyed life.
Cathy was an amazing individual. This past November when she wasn’t feeling her best, she attended Commencement at Glenforest because she wanted to see her students graduate. She was a religious woman, a dedicated professional—mentor to many, a loving mother & a wonderful friend. She was committed to life long learning & never turned a student or collegue away, no matter how busy she might be. She had a strong will & spirit & could be stubborn in her beliefs but she also had a heart of gold & would do anything she could do to help. She touched the lives of many & certainly holds a very special place in my heart & always will. I respected her as a department head & I continued to learn from her even in the last few months of her life. I loved her like a mother, I will miss her very much, I feel very lucky to have known her & to have so many great memories.
Her dedication and commitment to education is evidenced by her winning the Robert Hillmer Award this past spring. and can best be summed up by statements made by former Glenforest students. Benita Wong—after making the Dean’s list at the University of Waterloo, acknowledged Cathy:
“Ms Pitt has always been very encouraging, which makes her a wonderful teacher. She is the one who influenced me to pursue a career as a Chartered Accountant. Thank you, Ms Pitt, for making a difference in my life!”
Husseinali Hussein--in a letter from the Dean of the University of Waterloo:
“Ms Pitt has always been involved in many additional activities, often going beyond her role as a teacher. She is always available to offer her guidance and is a true role model. She was the first to introduce me to the concept of lifelong learning; a concept which I now have come to realize is essential for surviving in a world which is in constant change. I hope that the teaching profession continues to attract instructors like Ms Pitt…because she made education a valuable and enjoyable experience.”
Tracy Church (Bates) (1975)
In Memory of Cathy Pitt—May 17, 1944 to March 3, 2003I met Cathy in 1989 when we were both hired at Glenforest. Our relationship was a typical working relationship in the beginning but quickly developed into a great friendship. I fondly referred to her as the “old battle axe” and when I was the acting department head, she would call and ask me how it felt to be the “old battle axe” now. We laughed a lot, mostly about the crazy things that happened to her on a regular basis. Those of you who know her well, know exactly what I’m referring to.
I’ll never forget the time she stopped to pay for gas in the US & it was discovered that the money she had was counterfeit—& it was money she had purchased at the bank.
A couple of years ago, she finally had the opportunity to go to Florida with her sister & niece in August & no sooner did she get there when she was quickly evacuated due to a hurricane or tornado.
These are just a couple of the many, many mishaps that happened to Cathy in the 13 years I’ve known her. The amazing thing about Cathy was that no matter how much bad luck she had, she always remained positive & happy & thoroughly enjoyed life.
Cathy was an amazing individual. This past November when she wasn’t feeling her best, she attended Commencement at Glenforest because she wanted to see her students graduate. She was a religious woman, a dedicated professional—mentor to many, a loving mother & a wonderful friend. She was committed to life long learning & never turned a student or collegue away, no matter how busy she might be. She had a strong will & spirit & could be stubborn in her beliefs but she also had a heart of gold & would do anything she could do to help. She touched the lives of many & certainly holds a very special place in my heart & always will. I respected her as a department head & I continued to learn from her even in the last few months of her life. I loved her like a mother, I will miss her very much, I feel very lucky to have known her & to have so many great memories.
Her dedication and commitment to education is evidenced by her winning the Robert Hillmer Award this past spring. and can best be summed up by statements made by former Glenforest students. Benita Wong—after making the Dean’s list at the University of Waterloo, acknowledged Cathy:
“Ms Pitt has always been very encouraging, which makes her a wonderful teacher. She is the one who influenced me to pursue a career as a Chartered Accountant. Thank you, Ms Pitt, for making a difference in my life!”
Husseinali Hussein--in a letter from the Dean of the University of Waterloo:
“Ms Pitt has always been involved in many additional activities, often going beyond her role as a teacher. She is always available to offer her guidance and is a true role model. She was the first to introduce me to the concept of lifelong learning; a concept which I now have come to realize is essential for surviving in a world which is in constant change. I hope that the teaching profession continues to attract instructors like Ms Pitt…because she made education a valuable and enjoyable experience.”
Tracy Bates