Page 5 - Carrollton 2010

To see the growth that takes place in an individual over the years and to be a part of that fills me with a sense of awe.
There is nothing I would rather have done with my life.
- Sister Catherine Baxter, June 1989

Sister Catherine Baxter
Born, Providence, Rl - November 16, 1928
Final Profession, Rome - February 4, 1964
Deceased - Oakwood Atherton, California - December 25, 2009

The daughter of Alice Gorman and John Baxter, Catherine Baxter was raised in Newport, Rl. In 1950 she graduated
from Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart in Purchase, NY. She taught in the Providence public school system
prior to entering the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1956. After two years at Kenwood, Sister Baxter went to Newton
to teach history and literature in the Middle and Upper Schools. Four years later she traveled to Rome to prepare
for her Final Vows on February 4, 1964. In July, of 1964, Sister Baxter returned to Newton to assume the role of
Headmistress.

Sr. Baxter was appointed Headmistress of Carrollton in 1969. She served in this role until 1978 when she returned
to Newton as Headmistress. During Sr. Baxter's tenure as Headmistress, Carrollton grew and developed as a
Sacred Heart school. Sr. Baxter oversaw the opening of what we now call the Barry Building which first served the
Middle and High Schools. Sr. Baxter forged the relationship between Carrollton and the Barnyard when Carrollton
hosted Barnyard's first summer camp in 1970. Sr. Baxter's commitment to Madeleine Sophie Barat's vision was
demonstrated in her support of the programs with migrants, the development of a strong retreat program, the
expansion of curricular programs and the strengthening of financial need based scholarships. Sr. Baxter helped start
Carrollton's yearbook which we know as Yggdrasill although in its first year, 1970-1971, it was called For What
It's Worth. The number of alumnae who have written us about Sr. Baxter points to the fact that Sr. Baxter's lasting
contribution to our community rests in the quality of relationships with students, faculty, staff and parents.

In the words of Leslie Jones '73, who wrote when she heard of Sr. Baxter's death, "This is very sad news indeed. I
really loved Sister Baxter. She was a very tolerant person and headmistress, always with a twinkle in her knowing
eyes. Her love and persistence with me certainly made me a better person. I will remember her fondly always,
especially when I saw her at my 30th reunion. She announced then that she would have walked from her place of
residence to see how the Class of 1973 turned out."

During the years Sr. Baxter served our community, the Network of Schools of the Sacred Heart in the U.S.
committed itself to Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria. As the first Chair of the Sacred Heart Commission on Goals, Sr.
Baxter held a key role in the process of evaluation that holds the Sacred Heart Schools in the U.S. accountable for
living and growing according to the Goals and Criteria. She was also a member of the Society's Provincial team.

After serving at Newton (1978-1989), Sr. Baxter attended Seattle University for courses in Pastoral Ministry and
was the Society Area Director for Seattle, Washington while working at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart as
Administrative Assistant, Director of Development, and Public Relations Manager. From 1997-2004, Sister Baxter
was Director of Oakwood, the retirement center for Religious of the Sacred Heart in Atherton. She then served in the
U.S. Province Archives of the Society of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis, MO. In 2008, in failing health, she returned to
Oakwood where she died peacefully on Christmas morning.

In thanksgiving for all that Sr. Baxter contributed to the life of Carrollton, the Board of Trustees has designated the
recently remodeled counseling center on the first floor of the Trinita which has been named the Catherine Baxter,
RSCJ College Counseling Center. The center was dedicated during the memorial mass for Sr. Baxter during the
Anniversary Weekend.