Former Westport superintendent of schools Paul Kelleher died December 24 at his Cape Cod home, after a long illness. He was 82.
The Worcester, Massachusetts native played football and basketball in high school. He received a scholarship to Harvard College, where he was earned a bachelor’s degree in English cum laude, and a Masters of Arts in Teaching English.
He was awarded a doctorate in education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Kelleher taught in Newton, Massachusetts, for 5 years before starting an administrative career. He was principal of Scarsdale (New York) High School, and superintendent of schools in Bedford, New York; Westport, and Lawrence, New York.
He later served as the Norine R. Murchison Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Education at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
Paul Kelleher
During his superintendency in Westport, Kelleher received a Golden Shield Award from the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, for courage in the field of education after “repeatedly confronting racist policies expressed in public fora.”
His obituary says, “Courage was perhaps Paul’s most formidable characteristic, always advocating for what was moral, just, and right in educational issues no matter what career risks were involved.”
Kelleher also devoted himself to improving staff development techniques, especially for administrators and educational leaders.
As professor emeritus he continued to work as a consultant in this field. He wroteseveral books, articles, and grants on educational leadership, resiliency, and implementing high standards and expectations.
Kelleher lived in East Orleans, Massachusetts for his final 2 decades. He enjoying boating, reading, writing, consulting, and offering courses at Snow Library’s Lifetime Learning Program and the Beacon Hill Seminars in Boston.
He was predeceased by his brothers Robert and Richard (Steve) Kelleher. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Peggy; their son Sean Joseph Murphy, and Paul’s children Timothy (Natalie), Christine (Steve) Kelleher Okun, and Melissa (Jim) Kelleher Lunchick; grandchildren Amanda Okun Quadrini, Ben Okun, Zach Okun, Kaity Kelleher Claeyssens and Augustus Lunchick, and great-grandchildren Charlotte Claeyssens, and Harper, Leo, and Isla Quadrini.
A remembrance reception will be held at the Barley Neck Inn in East Orleans on January 24 (12:30 p.m.).
I had the honor of serving on the Westport Board of Education (two years as chair) during Paul’s tenure as Superintendent. Paul was an educational leader and put the needs of students and teachers first. During his time here, the curriculum was completely updated for the new century, and plans were started for the new facilities that we enjoy today.