Senate Resolution No. 1354

BY: Senator O'MARA

CONGRATULATING Sister Mary Walter Hickey upon the
occasion of her retirement after 47 years of
dedicated service to Notre Dame High School

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of
and publicly acknowledge individuals of remarkable integrity and
character whose endeavors have enhanced the quality of education in this
great State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
congratulate Sister Mary Walter Hickey upon the occasion of her
retirement after 47 years of dedicated service to Notre Dame High School
to be celebrated with a Party in her honor on Friday, May 31, 2019, in
Elmira, New York; and

WHEREAS, The result of many individual efforts, the excellence and
the success of Notre Dame High School is due in large part to the
efforts of Sister Mary Walter Hickey; and

WHEREAS, Margaret G. Hickey was born the oldest of four children to
Walter B.D. and Elizabeth Flint Hickey; with her brothers, Walter and
Jeremiah, and sister, Elizabeth (Betsy), she attended local schools and
was a member of the first graduating class at Rochester's Our Lady of
Lourdes grammar school in 1949; and

WHEREAS, Inspired by the nuns who taught her, Margaret G. Hickey
entered the Sisters of Mercy after graduating Mercy High School in 1953,
and took the name Sister Mary Walter; and

WHEREAS, Sister Mary Walter Hickey attended Nazareth College of
Rochester and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where she was named a
1960 General Electric Fellow pursuing Economics; she received a Bachelor
of Arts degree in Philosophy from Siena Heights College in Adrian,
Michigan, and earned her Master of Arts degree in History from Catholic
University in Washington D.C., where she was inducted into the Theta
Omicron Chapter of the International Historic Honor Society; and

WHEREAS, This extraordinary woman began her ministry at St. James
School in Irondequoit, teaching second grade before moving to St. Louis
School in Pittsford, and then to Our Lady of Mercy High School in
Brighton, where she taught history, theology, and math; and

WHEREAS, Sister Mary Walter Hickey's arrival in Elmira, New York, to
become Notre Dame High School's new Assistant Principal was preceded one
week earlier by the devastating 1972 flood; graduation was postponed
until mid-July, and the school was used as a distribution center for the
community; and

WHEREAS, In 1975, Sister Mary Walter Hickey was named Principal of
Notre Dame High School and remained in this position until 2008, when
the school adopted the President/Principal model of leadership and she
became its first President; and


WHEREAS, For her steadfast and unwavering commitment to her
community, Sister Mary Walter Hickey has been the proud recipient of
numerous awards and accolades including the Twin Tiers Outstanding
Educator Award in November of 1999, the Chemung County Chamber of
Commerce Athena Award in December of 2005, and the Catherine McAuley
Award in October of 2007; and

WHEREAS, Sister Mary Walter Hickey has truly dedicated her life to
leading Catholic Education efforts in the Southern Tier, touching the
lives of thousands of young adults, faculty members and parents; her
legacy will continue to grow well into the future as Notre Dame High
School expands and builds on the solid foundation she has built; and

WHEREAS, A caring, competent and committed leader, Sister Mary
Walter Hickey's character and integrity are the hallmarks of her life
and work as an educational leader, a community volunteer and as a
person; and

WHEREAS, The Elmira community is indeed fortunate and blessed to
have had such a dedicated and respected educational leader; her wisdom
and contributions reached into every classroom, truly making a
difference in the lives of those lucky enough to have worked with her;
and

WHEREAS, A significant contributor to education in New York State,
Sister Mary Walter Hickey has continually demonstrated an impressive
dedication, an unparalleled devotion and an unremitting enthusiasm for
the quality of the educational programs and opportunities offered at
Notre Dame High School for the benefit of its faculty and students, as
well as for the entire community; and

WHEREAS, In completing her service as President and Principal,
Sister Mary Walter Hickey leaves behind more than mere bricks and
mortar; she leaves behind a legacy to the students of Notre Dame High
School and to the residents of the Elmira community; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Sister Mary Walter Hickey upon the occasion of her
retirement after 47 years of dedicated service to Notre Dame High
School; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Sister Mary Walter Hickey.