Sam Niu ’15:The first and second Triumvirates were two sets of three extraordinary people, the most influential and powerful of their time in Ancient Rome. Amongst the Episcopal Academy Classics Department, a third Triumvirate has been established by three incredible members Lee Pearcy, William MacArdle, and Michelle Domondon, all of whom will unfortunately not be returning to Episcopal next year.
After twenty-eight years at this school, although his first day “seems like yesterday,” Pearcy will be relocating to Bryn Mawr College. At Bryn Mawr, Peracy will lead a research project called “Classicizing Philadelphia” and become the editor of Classical World, an academic quarterly.
In his time at Episcopal, Pearcy has just about done it all: he has been Chair of the Classics Department and Director of Curriculum (Academic Dean); he led the Accreditation for Growth process, coached Middle School Boys Tennis for fifteen years, taught part-time for the last four years, and has been awarded with Raymond H. Keegan Coaching Service Award, the Bishop William White Award, the Class of 1940 Award, and the prestigious 2012 American Philological Association Pre-collegiate Teaching Award. Pearcy noted that although he is leaving,“I will remember and continue to have the friendships [I have made] with the faculty and students.”
MacArdle, who has spent fourteen years as a member of the Classics Department, will also be leaving Episcopal next year. When asked about his favorite memory of EA, he responded, “getting the job and telling my wife that I was a member of a classics department.” The position, he said, allowed him to “[have] the opportunity to finally do something I really wanted to do.” MacArdle expressed that he has learned the most rewarding experience as a teacher is “seeing [a student] struggling, then the light goes on. [It is] the appreciation of effort; seeing someone who sincerely tries and then succeeds is most gratifying.”
He described his feelings as bittersweet as he will miss his colleagues, but is looking forward to a less hectic schedule and more reading time. MacArdle recalled saying, “I don’t want to hang it up until I can teach Latin.” Without a doubt, he has done far more than simply teach. He has brought with him, every day for fourteen years, admirable passion that has inspired and will continue to inspire his students and colleagues.
Michelle Domondon, after eleven years of teaching, will be taking a break in order to spend time with her son. During her time, Domondon has served as the I-form Coordinator, Latin and Greek teacher, and has assisted in the study abroad program. When asked what she thought her greatest contribution to Episcopal was, she responded with great humility, “I don’t really think of myself so highly…Teachers learn more or as much as they teach.” Domondon hopes to return to teaching at some point and described her leave as being “Bittersweet. On one hand, I’ll enjoy spending more time with my son and family. On the other, I feel that teaching is my calling and I can’t think of a better place to teach Latin and Greek.”
However, no matter how fortunate Domondon, as well as Macardle and Pearcy, have been, it is their students, colleagues, and friends who are the lucky ones for having had the chance to know these three incredible people.