Sister Vivian, Chapter III

By Jim Davis - Florida Catholic

FORT LAUDERDALE | Sister Vivian Gomez has served St. Jerome School for nearly four decades, first as teacher, then as principal. But don’t look for suntan oil or travel brochures in her hands. Instead, she'll continue serving as its first-ever director of development.

"I never want to retire," Sister Vivian, 72, said at a reception celebrating her third career. "When people retire, they start falling apart. I want to be around young people and have more energy."

And they clearly want to be around her, judging from the 95 -- many of them former students or parents of students -- who gathered after Vigil Mass June 13.

"The best teachers are not just the ones that teach you a subject, but the ones that prepare you for life," said Jorge Egues, a corporate consultant who graduated from St. Jerome School in 1979. "She was a phenomenal math teacher, but I don’t use that every day. What I do use is my faith. She taught me things that God wanted me to know, things that I teach my children."

Meeting in the school's parish hall, the guests noshed on snacks including sandwiches, pastries and cold cuts, finishing with a sheet cake decorated with strawberries and a message, "Thank You, Sister Vivian."

They also heard a tribute by Father Curtis Kiddy, St. Jerome pastor, on her 19 years as a teacher and 29 as principal.

"She has been the face of St. Jerome for nearly a half-century," he said, in presenting Sister Vivian an etched-glass certificate of recognition.

Father Kiddy compared her to St. Anthony of Padua, noting that the June 13 reception fell on the feast day for him. "Like St. Anthony, Sister Vivian has fed the poor in word and deed, and educated those who are hungry."

In accepting the honor, Sister Vivian turned the praise back onto the school itself. "St. Jerome is special because St. Jerome is a family," she said. "And you all are my family."

As at other St. Jerome gatherings, people testified to the blend of warmth, spirituality and scholarly rigor might be called the Sister Vivian effect.

"She gave me a strong foundation in math and morals alike," said Tom Byrne, a venture capitalist who graduated in 1976. "She's a wonderful, inspirational, loving lady."

Alexis Wells attended kindergarten through eighth grade, graduating in 2002. Now she and her husband, Jeff, plan to enroll their 9-month-old daughter Makenzie when the child turns 3.

"I still have friends from school," Alexis said. "We've gone to each other's weddings and baby showers."

Her mother, Julie Castro, agreed. While putting her through school, Castro worked as a volunteer "cafeteria mom," and made friends with other workers.

"When I first met Sister Vivian, I felt so loved and embraced," Castro said. "It's more than a school, it's a family. And through all the times, happy or tragic, God is still the center."

Deacon John Okragleski told how Sister Vivian worked with him to put his two children in St. Jerome. When he said he couldn't afford the fees, she set a reduced rate in return for his coaching soccer. He enjoyed the work so much, he added girls' softball coaching.

"She doesn't think inside the box," Deacon Okragleski, who serves at Blessed Sacrament Church, Oakland Park, said of Sister Vivian. "She has been accommodating and understanding. A real blessing."

The school has already named a new principal: David Revezzo of the social studies department at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Fort Lauderdale. He's scheduled to start July 1, Father Kiddy said. But Sister Vivian's new office will be only five doors away in the St. Jerome complex.

In looking ahead, Father Kiddy noted that this year is the 500th anniversary of the birth of St. Philip Neri, the founder of Sister Vivian's order. "We've been asking St. Philip to intercede for us," he said. "We expect great things to happen."

Sister Vivian confided, though, that she would have to learn more about the development career she was starting. "First, I'm going to get my former students to teach me. And I'll get in touch with my friends to see how they can help St. Jerome.

"Then, I'm going to trust God and walk in faith. Just as I did as a teacher and principal."