NHS Administrative Assistant Carol Ann Villodas, who served for 18 years at Newtown High School, passed away on Thursday, August 15th in Fairfield County. She was 74.
Villodas worked with the English and science departments, but was always available to help any staff member. She could often be found at her desk in the English Department cataloging books or ordering supplies. Villodas was famous for her ability to make and laminate signs to help others find teacher offices or to direct parents to rooms for Open House.
“I could go to her for everything, and if she didn’t know the answer she would follow through and get it,” NHS Administrative Assistant Rebecca Gehrken said. “I felt comfort in knowing I had someone there to help me. She never said no. It was a rare sight to see her mad because it was so hard for her to get to that point.”
This desire to be sure everyone who needed help could get it from her extended to seemingly everyone. NHS Principal Dr. Kim Longobucco reflected on the impact Villodas had on everyone with whom she came into contact. She knew about staff members’ families, their health issues, and if they were dealing with anything challenging in their lives.
“Carol was a beloved member of the NHS community. She was the queen of organization, labeling and caring for others. She taught all of us how to be a good listener and genuinely care for those around us. She always checked in about our families, our health and just to say hello. Carol will be deeply missed at NHS and we will all strive to continue her memory in everything we do,” Longobucco said.
Villodas was adored by many, and will be missed dearly. She was a blessing to the school in her way of keeping everything organized and checking in on anyone who needed it. In fact, many teachers cite Villodas’s concern for others as her greatest trait.
“For me, Carol was like a mom figure. She was always checking in to make sure things were going well and if there was something wrong she would try to find a way to fix it,” NHS fine arts teacher Janice Gabriel said.
NHS Science Department Chair Christian Canfield discussed the impact Villodas had on the teachers in his department.
“She was really good at anticipating needs, and there would be times where I’d speak to her, I’d be talking to her around the office and I’d glance over at something and she’d stop and say ‘What? Is there something you need over there?’ She was so on top of it,” Canfield shared. “She was very dependable. I miss her as a person and as a good friend. She had good advice and she had her own relationship with everyone else in the department so she talked to them about whatever else they needed to talk about. She loved animals, she had a cat that she was always talking about. She cared a lot about her family. She was there to help and she really took her position at Newtown seriously.”
NHS English teacher Marc Kenney also spoke about Villodas’s impact beyond her day-to-day responsibilities.
“Years ago I sent a student to get a book checked out and I called her ‘my secretary.’ Well, she never let me forget it, and from that day on always called me ‘Boss,’” Kenney said. “I will also miss the fact that she never EVER missed a birthday. There were always cupcakes on the table with a sticker announcing the day’s birthday. Brian [Tenney] and I could not pass by that table without taking one multiple times a day. I will also never forget her wit. She was so funny. We all laughed so much when she was around.”
Kenney’s colleague Jacob Thomas spoke about Villodas’s innate ability to make everyone feel so valued.
“I always thought that I was Carol's favorite. It wasn't until much later that I discovered that several people thought that they were her favorite. This was Carol's gift. She cared about everyone in the office. If any of us had a problem, it became her first priority. If we had something to celebrate, Carol made sure that there was a celebration. We saw it as favoritism because her goodness was so far removed from our personal experience,” Thomas said.
Villodas is survived by her husband Anthony, her son Christian, and her daughter Lauren. She is also survived by her sister Sharon Monfort, and her cat Scout. Villodas was a lover of animals, owning a dog and two cats throughout her life. She loved sharing quality time with her friends, family, and cat.
Villodas was born in Syracuse, N.Y., to the late Frederick K. Schug II and Betty Ann Schug. In Syracuse, she attended St. Brigid Catholic School, and West Genesee junior and senior high schools in Camillus, New York.
Villodas made a lasting impression on so many people at the high school. Her presence was so nice to have at this school, and it will be missed. Over 50 faculty members attended Villodas’ memorial service on Saturday, September 21st. Carol Villodas was an amazing woman with an amazing life, and the school will be mourning her loss for a long time.
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