Phoebe Christos ’18: This past academic year, two of Episcopal Academy’s esteemed employees, Lenard and Edna Haley, announced their retirement. Lenard and Edna have both given decades of work, loyalty, smiles, and dedication to Episcopal. Lenard Haley, current Alumni Associate, has worked in the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools, and most recently in Institutional Advancement, after eighteen years in Facilities and Operations. Edna Haley has worked for over twenty-nine years as a 1st grade teacher and educator.
“We’ve been here a long time, 75 years combined,” said Len Haley, “I’ve had the opportunity to do so many jobs around here, so it hasn’t felt that long, but if I was doing the same job for 44 years, I don’t know if I would have lasted this long!”
Len and Edna Haley met long before they started working at Episcopal Academy. Edna Haley explained, “We met sophomore year of high school. I started teaching here about fifteen years after Mr. Haley joined the faculty.” Len Haley attended Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School and Edna Haley attended Sacred Heart High School. “We lived about a mile apart our whole lives but did not meet until tenth grade!”
“Everything I have done, she has always been by my side,” says Len. “I wouldn’t be what I am here without her.” Even though Len and Edna Haley soon will be leaving Episcopal, they agree that the school will always remain a large part of their life. “Some of my strongest memories here are definitely having the privilege, with Len, of handing our three children their diplomas at graduation,” says Edna Haley. Similarly, Len Haley recalls, “The Community Outreach programs were great, especially when we were the national model for schools. Senator Ted Kennedy called my office and I didn’t believe it was him on the phone! In addition, another great memory is seeing my wife across campus walking with the her students. It always made my day better.”
Even so, concerning their retirement, Len and Edna Haley decided that it was “just time.” Describing their future plans, they said, “We want to spend some time in New Orleans. We do a service project out there called The Roots of Music Program with the Middle School musicians and we would like to spend a month there to help out.” Edna Haley also explained she and her husband have seven grandchildren, and she is “excited to be able to help and spend time with them.”
They also agree that leaving Episcopal will not be as easy as it may seem. Len Haley explained that, “The faculty we work with are friends. When we told them we were retiring, some were upset, and some were shocked. But, many others knew it was about time.”
For the Haleys, the students made up a large part of their experience at Episcopal as well. “I loved watching the children grow into amazing, independent, talented young men and women, and remembering what they were like as little first graders,” Edna Haley recalls. Len Haley echoed this explaining, “I will miss teaching the children, and coaching them and doing community service with them. I love seeing them succeed and being proud of what they have accomplished, and I will miss the close connection with the students that Episcopal enables.”
Edna Haley and Len Haley are large advocates of Episcopal Academy, having sent their three children here. Edna Haley explained, “My favorite thing about Episcopal is the way we educate the whole child, and not just the academic aspect, but the physical and faith aspects along with the immense character building.” They explained that any student at Episcopal must “realize how fortunate [he is] to be at a school like this, and to make the most of [his] time here. It goes by so quickly, so make sure to appreciate in the moment what you have and what you are doing.”
Similarly, their cautionary advice warned, “Don’t sweat the small stuff. There is always going to be another day, and another assessment. Look at the big picture. “Even though they will greatly miss the Episcopal Academy, and their memories created, both are excited to spend some time together. Len Haley explained, “What is interesting is that when I was Head of Facilities, I was working during the summer and my wife was off. And when she returned to school in September, I was able to take some time off. So, finally, we are going to catch up on some- what’s the phrase again?” “Some long overdue time together,” Edna Haley filled in, as she shared a smile with her husband.