[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 137 (Monday, December 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2158-E2159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO SHIRLEY CONNOLLY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 6, 2004

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Shirley Connolly, who was 
recently honored with the prestigious St. Madeleine Sophie Medal by the 
Schools of the Sacred Heart in Atherton, California.
  Shirley was born in Helena, Montana and became a San Franciscan at 
the age of seven. She graduated from the San Francisco College for 
Women, better known as Lone Mountain College, with a Bachelor's Degree 
in History and World Literature, and later received a Master's from 
Lone Mountain in

[[Page E2159]]

American History. Shirley also completed graduate courses in Education 
at Boston University and Harvard University.
  Shirley's heart was always with Lone Mountain and she continued her 
dedication to her alma mater, always being a shining example of her 
willingness to take on a tough job whenever needed. After Lone Mountain 
closed, official alumnae activities understandably waned and it became 
difficult to keep graduates and faculty in touch with one another. This 
became Shirley Connolly's challenge. She has worked hard to preserve 
this community, leading the Alumnae Association for many years and 
enabling students and their RSCJ teachers to continue or rekindle their 
Lone Mountain relationships.
  Shirley began her own teaching career over 40 years ago at St. 
Joseph's School in Atherton. After 4 years at Lone Mountain and 3 years 
in the Religious Formation Program, Shirley was ready, willing and able 
to begin her career educating girls and young women. Her first teaching 
assignment was a classroom of 35 eighth-grade girls and boys. Shirley's 
warmth and wisdom were more than a match for the eighth graders, and 
this was the beginning of her long and tremendously successful 
relationship with St. Joseph's.
  Shirley spent 2 years in what was then Menlo Park, and then moved to 
San Francisco where she served as a teacher, Dean of Students and 
Director of Studies at the Schools of the Sacred Heart there. After a 
brief stint in Newton, Massachusetts, Shirley joined the California 
Province of the Sacred Heart. This role gave her the opportunity to 
develop one of her greatest gifts, the ability to train teachers. Even 
today, she is highly regarded and remembered throughout the Sacred 
Heart community for this skill. One of her pupils described her as 
someone who had the common sense to sort through all the academic 
training and understand and pass on what young teachers really needed 
to know. After this stint with the Province, Shirley returned to Menlo 
Park in 1973, serving as Principal of the high school under Sister 
Nancy Morris until 1975.

  In 1976, Shirley set off on a new path, joining the Catholic 
Telemedia Network in Menlo Park. She stayed with CTN until 2002, rising 
through several positions to become General Manager for her last 10 
years there.
  Shirlley has a gift for combining crystal clarity and great wisdom 
with diplomacy, humility and kindness. She is the most generous, 
selfless person one could ever know. She is always available to assist 
whomever needs help, whenever they need it, without question, 
complaint, or regard to her own needs.
  Shirley has been the best friend to the resident of Oakwood over the 
years, always dropping whatever she is doing to help with whatever 
needs to be done. She served as Chair of its Board of Directors for 
several years, and has recently accepted an invitation to return to 
this Board.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this great 
and good woman, Shirley Connolly, as she is honored with the St. 
Madeleine Sophie Medal.

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