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New Board of Directors
During the past year, the St. Joseph School Foundation Board of Directors lost four of its valuable directors. Long-time board member Thomas Ross resigned in January 2010; Chris Connolly and Mark Locker’s ten-year terms ended on August 31, 2010; Catherine Barnes, longtime secretary/treasurer, died on May 3, 2010. The Board is grateful for their service.
Four new members were elected at the annual meeting in September. Board members serve ten year terms unless they replace someone that left his term early. Paul Bernauer, a member of St. Michael’s Parish, is a former member of the Board of Directors. Paul recently retired from TVA. During his career, Paul served in management and worked as a project engineer. John Dupuis is a member of St. Joseph’s Parish and serves as the chairman of the church finance committee. John is an investment advisor and he has operated an Edward Jones office in Florence for the past seventeen years. David deWolfe, a member of St. Michael’s Parish, retired from Nichols Wire as its Chief Financial Officer. A Georgia Tech electrical engineer, he obtained an MBA from the University of Dayton. Garry Rosenberger, a member of St. Joseph’s Parish, came to Florence to manage Bevis Furniture Plant. His professional experience is primarily in the manufacturing sector with P&L for the past seventeen years. Garry is currently working as an Independent Business Coach and Advisor.
The Board of Directors is pleased to add these four new directors. The talent, experience, and commitment that they bring will certainly benefit the Foundation.
An Incredible Gift
Catherine Semmes Barnes
December 8, 1951 - May 3, 2010
St. Joseph School Foundation received an incredible gift when Catherine Barnes joined its Board of Directors in 1997. Catherine replaced Betty Meagher as secretary/treasurer when Betty and her husband Jim moved to Boulder, Colorado to take new jobs.
During her tenure on the board, Catherine worked with an expertise and efficiency that only a few can equal. Catherine was an extraordinary woman. She shunned any limelight and she was truly a selfless, humble servant. She was meticulous and accurate in performing her duties as secretary/treasurer. Of all of her many interests, her work on the Foundation was what she held onto until the very end of her life. Catherine died on May 3, 2010 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Catherine believed in Catholic education and her children were educated at St. Joseph School. She and her husband were generous to both St. Joseph School and the St. Joseph School Foundation. Catherine’s firm belief in the mission of the Foundation was fully established at her death. In Catherine’s will, she designated a portion of her estate to be given to the Foundation. Her wishes were fulfilled and the Foundation received the largest single donation in its history. Another incredible gift.
Loved and admired by all who knew her, Catherine’s legacy of service and sharing is a model for all of us to try to emulate. Catherine will be missed by all of her family and friends, and St. Joseph School will continue to be blessed by Catherine’s many gifts for years to come.
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