some days, you just need warm pie for dinner and a friend to bake it for you

Woke to find the following email in my work in-box.  I wish I could say that I knew the woman~but in a way, I do.  Her daughter is the Head of the Lower School and is the one who highly recommended that I be hired for the Middle School. I teach her two grandsons.  And I walk her campus daily.  We've three official services that are being planned for the next week~lots of music to organize.  

Here's to the hope that when one shuffles off the coil, someone will write the following (or some such sentiments) regarding one's life & efforts.

"Dear Trinity Community:

I write to you tonight with a truly heavy heart.  Jane Ferguson Hill, the beloved founder of Trinity Episcopal School, died late this afternoon after a long and difficult illness. No words can adequately express our sadness at the passing of this amazing woman and the great loss her family has suffered.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hill family, her husband Dr. Tom Hill, daughter Jennifer Morgan (Todd), son Andrew Hill (Heidi), and her grandchildren Hill, Drew, Libby and Charlie.  We are sincerely grateful that they have so generously shared their wife, mother, and grandmother with the entire Trinity Family.

Jane Hill was quite simply a force of nature. The consummate educator, Jane began her career as a kindergarten teacher at Good Shepherd Episcopal School, and then spent the next decade as Head of School at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Day School.  In 1999, Jane became the founding Head of School of Trinity Episcopal School.  Jane’s gifts were innumerable.  Her vision, leadership and charisma, tenacity, and innate sense of what was good for children inspire us all, making her the Pied Piper of Trinity. Over the years Jane received numerous honors and accolades for her work in schools.  Because of the vision and dedicated hard work of Jane Hill, generations of children have known and will know the love of God and through that foundation realize their potential as both students and human beings.  I have no doubt that Jane has been welcomed into the arms of our Lord with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

There will be a special All School Chapel in the coming days.  Our message will be an age-appropriate celebration of our founder and the seeds she planted here at Trinity.  Services at St. David’s Episcopal Church are being planned by the family for next week.  Trinity will also host an evening Celebration of Life honoring Jane Hill for the adults in our school community in the week that follows.   As soon as details regarding services and donations in Jane’s honor are confirmed, the information will be posted on the Trinity website (www.austintrinity.org). 

After careful consideration and conversation with Jennifer, it was decided that, with the family’s blessing, we would not close school on the day of services.  However, it is our intent to allow every faculty and staff member who would like to attend the St. David’s services the opportunity to do so.  Once we know the timing of the services, I will be in contact and we will make firm plans on coverage.

While this is a loss to the whole Trinity Community, it is felt most especially by the Hill and Morgan family.  We are sensitive at this time for their need to mourn privately. You are invited to share remembrances and condolences with the family and the community through the Jane Hill tribute page of the Trinity website which will be available tomorrow. If you or your child experiences this loss in such a way that you need support, please know that our Chaplain, Brin Bon, and our school counselors are available.

Jane’s physical presence may no longer be here among us, but her spirit lives on in the classrooms of Trinity Episcopal School.  Although Jane’s voice is now silent, her message is still heard in the lessons we have learned.  Though Jane’s hands that were always so busy now lie still, her good work remains.  And, though Jane’s heart of gold has stopped beating, her love remains here among family and friends, and the Trinity Community.  Trinity is Jane’s gift of love to us, given with every intention that we should take up her vision and carry it forward. 

Yours in service,

Marie Kidd

Head of School