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Tennis: A Perfect March for BVM Educator |
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However, she discovered tennis late in life. Although she has always enjoyed sports, opportunities were few for a young teen attending Mundelein Cathedral High School. The school had no gym and thus no girls’ sports. Much of Helen Jeanne’s teaching career was also spent at Holy Name Cathedral. After short stints in Rock Island and East Moline, Helen Jeanne taught kindergarten and primary grades at Holy Name School. Six years later she moved over to Cathedral High School. She was recognized as a skilled teacher, whether with second grade number facts or senior year calculus. Since the school still had no gym, arrangements were made with the local park for the students to use their facilities. The girls’ classes were at Lake Shore Park and Helen Jeanne was appointed to accompany the girls the six blocks to the field house. During these weekly sessions she became acquainted with Erna Wachtel, the activities director at the park, and later a dear friend. Erna suggested that she join the adult exercise group. At the other end of the field house, tennis lessons were in progress, and Erna encouraged Helen Jeanne to sign up for them also. She proved a natural, and after joining the park district summer league, went on to win the citywide C Team Championship. Meeting players from other parks led to an invitation to join a group at Waveland Park and then to substitute at Mid Town Tennis Club. Since becoming a member herself, she has played with the same evenly matched foursome, Judy, Iris and Carolyn, every Friday night for 25 years. They switch partners and play three games of doubles. Helen Jeanne loves the challenge of sport. Although she is the senior of the foursome and may be a step slower at this point, she thrives on the competition. Exercise and relaxation are worthy goals, but Helen Jeanne subscribes to the Vince Lombardi school of sport—she always plays to win. At her most recent Saturday outing, she prevailed 6-2, 6-3 and 6-2, holding her serve all but once. At a time in life when knees and elbows frequently give out, Helen Jeanne is grateful that she can take the court each weekend. She has not been without injuries, however. Rotator cuff surgery sidelined her for six months and a broken wrist another four. But she recovered from both injuries and has regained her old form, with a backhand as dependable as her forehand. After 29 years at Cathedral, including eight as principal of the high school, Helen Jeanne became a math teacher at Mount Carmel, a boys’ high school in Chicago, where she will begin her 20th year this fall. Recognizing her contributions to the school and the students, the Mount Carmel alumni recently designated Helen Jeanne as an “Honorary Alumnus.” For a Spanish class assignment a student described Helen Jeanne as “muy atlética e inteligente.” Three years ago, Helen Jeanne did cut back to teaching three classes and supervising a study hall. Articles on aging urge us to remain mentally and physically active. Teaching and tennis provide both of these for Helen Jeanne Hurley. About the author: Margaret A. McGinn, BVM (Daniel Anne) is an adjunct faculty member at Truman College, Chicago, and a member of the Communications Advisory Committee. Return
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