It is with both deep sadness and deep love that the community of Assumption marks the passing of a phenomenal leader in Catholic education, Mary Lee McCoy.

Mary Lee served Assumption High School with passion and commitment from 1980-2006 as teacher, English department chair, assistant principal, principal, and as our first president. For 26 years, her vision and persistence resulted not only in groundbreaking educational developments which received national recognition but also in breaking ground for our Convocation and Athletic Center as she led our first capital campaign. Mary Lee’s devotion to this work came second only to her love and devotion to her family: her husband, Chris, son, Colin, and daughter, Caroline, Assumption High School Class of 2000, whom we hold in our hearts and prayers.

The mark Mary Lee has left on our campus was surpassed only by how she shaped Assumption’s culture of hospitality and humor. Mary Lee firmly believed in the power of the community of Assumption. In fact, she coined the phrase that we continue to use with our students today, “Remember who we are, we are the community of Assumption”.

There is no doubt that Assumption High School will continue to remember Mary Lee’s impact and be indebted to her as we move forward with the work that she committed her life to: the purposeful and mission-driven education of young women.

In 2010, Mary Lee was inducted into Assumption High School’s Hall of Fame. Below are her induction video and some of our favorite photos of her over the years.