The Lives He Touched
MARCEL LEBLANC ’50
BY ANNIE ROSELLO ’94
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Marcel LeBlanc ’50
M
ost of us fondly rememFrench from Middlebury in 1957, as ber the best teacher well as undertaking additional we ever had. Perhaps it post-graduate studies at UVM and was their academic Saint Lawrence. brilliance, energetic style of teaching, or gentle encouragement. This His students remember him fondly: teacher may have been a role model “He was an educational icon with or mentor, had a memorable greeting, amazing intelligence,” recalled one or told fascinating stories of travel, former student. “To say he was adventure, and the wide world an inspiration is putting it mildly,” beyond the schoolyard. remembered another. “Marcel was an outstanding person, a gifted To generations of students at teacher, and a gentleman always.” New York’s Harrisville Central School, Another stated plainly, “Our world Marcel LeBlanc was all of those was certainly better for knowing him.” things, and more. Upon his death in The impression LeBlanc made on late 2020, LeBlanc put a beautiful the tiny hamlet of Harrisville, New final coda on his career as an York, is beautiful and lasting. And his educator by bequeathing $100,000 to legacy at Saint Michael’s is one to Saint Michael’s, a gift that will be cherished, as well. educate and inspire generations of Purple Knights, including those “Marcel was really proud of graduatfollowing in his footsteps. ing from Saint Michael’s, back when there were only two buildings—one for Born in Winooski in 1928, LeBlanc administration, the other for classgraduated summa cum laude rooms,” explains Jean Paul LeBlanc, from Saint Michael’s in 1950, at the who was glad to carry out his uncle’s head of his class. He majored in wishes of leaving such a meaningful classical languages and minored in gift to Saint Michael’s. “I know he French and philosophy. After wanted to help both the College and graduation, he began teaching in Saint Michael’s students.” New York, but in 1951 undertook a tour of duty in the U.S. Army that Saint Michael’s core mission, included service in the counterintelliDo Well and Do Good, was a natural gence corps and Korea. part of LeBlanc’s life’s work. “He didn’t believe teaching was a career, LeBlanc returned to New York in he believed it was a calling,” Jean 1953 and resumed his teaching career Paul remembers. Thanks to the as department head and instructor generosity of the Marcel J. LeBlanc of French and Latin in the Harrisville ‘50 Endowed Scholarship, future Central School, a position he held for Purple Knights may strive to leave 36 years until his retirement. While such a profound impression. educating Harrisville’s students, LeBlanc continued his own studies, earning a master’s degree in
