MONROE – Monroe High School is mourning the loss of long-time choir director, Ms. Cathryn Windelborn.
Windelborn, a teacher of 28 years, was a student favorite teacher at MHS for over 20 years.
Senior Malaki Reilly reflected on being a student of Ms. Windelborn for the past three years.
“Ms. Windelborn was caring, nice, and knew what she was doing”, Reilly said. “She had the funniest classroom rules, the coolest vocal warm-ups, and she planned a trip to New York City every other year”.
Windelborn continued traditions for the show group, Generations of Sound, by performing the festive holiday favorite Madrigal Dinner. The Madrigal Dinner has been canceled for this school year. UPDATED OCT. 13, 2023 – “Generations of Sound will present the Madrigal Dinner in the spring of 2024 this school year”, said senior Thomas Wentz.
“It feels bittersweet to not be able to be part of such a long-standing tradition at Monroe High School,” Senior Natalie Charney said. “Though it is probably for the best, it still fills us with the sense of loss” Charney added.
Faculty of Monroe High School are also mourning the loss of their friend and colleague, Cathryn “Cate” Windelborn.
“Cate was by far, one of the most positive and amazing humans this world has ever seen. Her light shone so bright – that we were just lucky to have been able to bask in it for a short time. Cate was one of my closest and dearest friends, and I, along with so many, will miss her ‘awesomeness’ as she called it, that she offered up each and every day” Melinda Carr reflected.
Carr also recalled Windelborn’s deep appreciation for the Wizarding World and shared the following quote from J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”: “To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure”.
Students and faculty were encouraged to wear red on Friday, October 6, 2023, in honor of Ms. Windelborn and for heart attack awareness.
A statement from Ms. Windelborn’s family encouraged those wishing to offer a tribute in Windelborn’s memory to consider donating to the recently created Cate Windelborn Memorial Scholarship at Monroe High School.
As for how the music department will move forward, John C. Tyner, former director of K-12 music for Monroe Public Schools, as well as former choir director for Monroe High School has returned on an interim basis to support these students during this time of loss and transition.
In a statement from Steve Pollzzie, school principal of Monroe High School, “This is such a blessing for our students and the school community”.
“Mr. Tyner is putting passion in his music directing which in turn is starting to fill us with passion,” Natalie Charney said. Also speaking positively about Tyner, Malaki Reilly said “He pushes everyone to do their best”.
As the adviser for The Lotus Leaf, I feel for my colleagues and students who are mourning the loss of Ms. Windelborn. On several occasions, Ms. Windelborn would talk with me at staff meetings or send me the occasional email with words of encouragement or praise for what the students of The Lotus Leaf achieved.
Ms. Windelborn will be remembered by many as not only a dedicated teacher but a dedicated friend who will be missed dearly.