Obituary of Nora Eberhardt Quigley

Nora Eberhardt Quigley was welcomed into the world on July 11, 1928 by her parents Nora Lenahan Eberhardt and August E. Eberhardt, who lived in Astoria, New York entered into eternal life on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. She was their fifth child.  That’s where the story begins.

Nora attended P.S. #5 elementary school.  Being the last of the children, all she ever hear was, “I hope you are as nice as your sister Marie, as sweet as Gus and as bright as William” She had a lot to live up to and she wanted to be all the things the Eberhardt clan was.

Being ready for high school, Nora’s mom selected The Mary Louis Academy (TMLA).  She made an appointment to visit the school and meet with the principal, Sister Angelica.  She and Nora put on their Sunday best and took the trip to Jamaica Estates.  Nora’s mom had all the necessary paperwork proving Nora’s eligibility.  After a long while and much conversation, Sr. Angelica promised to save a spot for Nora in the fall class of 1942.  Nora’s mom took care of all the necessary requirements for admission and Nora was a future TMLA girl.

Nora spent four great years at TMLA.  Nora felt she came from a weak junior high and that the girls at TMLA were scholastically ahead of her, but the sisters of St. Joseph really helped her.  Guess they knew she was there to work and the worked her tail off.  It paid off – thanks to them.  She wasn’t slow at all, instead a very interested student who was there to inhale all the knowledge she could.

Upon graduation, Nora attended Marymount College to finish her training.  She got a BA in Psychology and also earned another major in Education.  She needed those 36 credits in education to apply for the license to teach.  She got her degree in February and was in a second grade classroom in March.

Nora was married and with that came a big move to upstate NY as a result of her husband’s job.  She stayed in the classroom during the day and continued working on her certifications in the evening.  She earned the following permanent certifications:  Common Branch Teaching certificate, Reading certificate, Elementary Principal certificate and a Supervision and Administration certificate.

All these certifications gave her the wherewithal to achieve.  She left the regular classroom in 1965 and began her career in Administration becoming the Reading Coordinator in the Highland Central School District for grades 1-8.  She established a reading lab for grades 7 & 8, a summer reading program for grades 1-8 under Title I and Head Start program for both public and parochial school.  She was the Project Writer for the program which involved student selection, program scheduling, budget preparation, curriculum establishment and development, instructional supervision, staff selection and school community relations through media and individual contracts.  Quite a challenge for a first job but Nora liked it.  Nora’s other endeavors included participation in the Curriculum Revision Committee for Highland Central Schools.

District Wide Primary Supervisor came next for Ballston Spa Central Schools where she was involved in visiting classrooms, writing reports on the visits and advising beginner teachers to help make them better at their craft.  After 2 years her job was abolished.

With no full time administrative positions available, she returned to the classroom.  She kept her fingers in the pie and this time she took student teachers from Russell Sage College.  That led to the full time professor asking her if she would like to teach the Language Arts Methods course at the college.   Nora was in her classroom full time and taught at Russell Sage in the evenings and in the summer for 4 years.  Another great experience.

Her next assignment was for the Shenendehowa Central School District.  She became an assistant principal.  In this position she was responsible for program scheduling and budgeting processes.  She also assisted the principal in instructional evaluation and supervision through classroom visits, observations and conferences and participated in school community relations with both individual and group contacts.

While in this position, Nora was appointed acting principal to cover for the incumbent principal who was hospitalized.  The position was supposed to be for two weeks and turned into a four month opportunity for which Nora was delighted.  She liked being in charge.

Upon retirement from public school in 1985, Nora became an adjunct professor at the college of St. Rose teaching PBTE I & PBTE IV.  These are the first and last class student take in the Scholl of Education, which includes student teaching. 

Nora’s advice to anyone striving to attain goals:  DON’T GIVE UP!   She sent 3 resumes to the College of St. Rose, 3 years in a row and suddenly one day heard from them.  The Dean said he kept hearing from this lady and finally they looked he up, gave her an interview and the next 10 years was history.

Though retired, Nora took part in the scoring of the NY State Teaching Certifications test for the licensing of teachers for five years.  Nora was in the field of education for45 years.

Currently Nora is writing picture story books for children.  Even at the age of 89 one needs a challenge.  When she is not busy with her books, Nora volunteers her time in a variety of ways.  When her husband Jim passed away she was offered a clerical position at Albany Med Hospital by his doctor.  She also volunteered in the gift shop at Ellis Hospital helping patient relations to pick out gifts to take upstairs.  She also helps to feed the poor at St. Helen’s.  And finally, she volunteers at St. Edward the Confessor her local parish in a variety of ways including as a Eucharistic Minister and working in the Faith Formation program as a catechist for First Holy Communion.  She also takes the time to test her books out reading them to the younger children in the program.  In fact, after reading on of her books, a little 5 year old boy said to her, “I wish I had a book like that.”  Nora is trying to make that wish a reality.

On October 1, 2016, Sister Kathleen, principal of the Mary Louis Academy inducted Nora Eberhardt Quigley into The Hall of Excellence (aka – The Hall of Fame in most schools).  Now Nora is truly known as a TMLA girl ranked as THE girl, also known as The Hall of Excellence young lady.

To quote Nora, “I chose the profession I enjoyed, was delighted with my experiences and apparently my supervisors were pleased with my work ethics.  And God blessed me with three wonderful people who cheered me on, my mom, my dad and my wonderful husband, James Andrew Quigley.”

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, April 13, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Gordon C. Emerick Funeral Home, 1550 RT-9, Clifton Park, NY 12065 and at St. Edward the Confessor Church Chapel, 569 Clifton Park Center Rd., Clifton Park, NY 12065 on Friday morning, April 14, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. with her Mass of Christian Burial to follow in St. Edward’s Church at 11:00 a.m.

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