Best Wishes to our Four Retirees

June 8, 2022

Congratulations to our four retirees as they move on to their next adventure.  Their collective impact on our school is unmeasurable and they will be truly missed!

We asked each of them for a few thoughts before they start sleeping in.

Mary King has been at CDH for 19 years.  She started as an administrative assistant to Mary Jo Groeller, Director of Admissions in January, 2003. She later became the Assistant to President Dick Engler and, for the past 7 years, Assistant to President Frank Miley. "I am humbled to have had the opportunity to work with such caring, committed people," she said especially noting her bosses Mary Jo Groeller, Tony Leseman, Dick Engler and Frank Miley and her co-workers in the school main office and Advancement.  "I was happy to come to CDH every day! 

She said it would be hard to pick a favorite memory, but she treasures the opportunity to observe the faculty work with our students.  "Teaching is truly a calling!"  In her retirement, she is looking forward to having more time with her husband, grandchildren, and aging mom and hopes to visit relatives who live in warmer climates in the winter, read more books and improve her pickleball game.

She notes that her favorite memory of her time is "everyday when I overhear students and staff supporting one another as they gather in the hallway." She also loved the Champions Parade through the hallways when students and teams went to state. In retirement, she is looking forward to traveling, sleeping past 4:15 am and spending time with her family.

Sylvia Hoffstrom has been a Science Teacher for 20 years and brought her energy and joy to students and colleagues alike.  She and her husband will be moving to Texas later this summer. 

Leslie Connelly has served the CDH community for the past 13 years as a College Counselor. 

Her favorite memories include bringing the awards program to an all-school assembly format during the day so students can be honored in front of their peers, faculty, staff and invited guests. "I think it's important for students to be recognized in front of the entire community...I love watching how our students cheer each other on!"   

In retirement, she is looking forward to a slower pace of life, more time with family, and traveling.