The Bishop O’Connell High School community in Arlington is
mourning the loss of Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Maureen
Christopher Dusterhoff, who died Jan. 21 at Camilla Hall in
Immaculata, Pa.
Sister Mo, as she was known to students and colleagues,
taught, among other things, AP Government and Principles of
Economics for 30 years at the Arlington school. A long-time
chairperson of the social studies department, she broadened
the school’s curriculum, mentored scores of young teachers
and touched the lives of thousands of adoring students.
Sister Mo joined the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate
Heart of Mary after high school. She earned her bachelor’s
degree from Immaculata College (now Immaculata University),
before receiving her M.A. in History from Villanova
University. She professed her vows in 1955.
She taught in schools in Pennsylvania and Virginia before
settling at O’Connell in 1985. An entry in the 1986 yearbook
acknowledges Sister Mo’s immediate impact on the school
community. “This year the O’Connell family was blessed with
Sister Maureen Christopher, a tremendous asset to the
faculty. Her blazing trumpet and acute wit have truly added
to this year.”
“Sister Maureen Christopher loved learning herself, and she
loved the learners she taught,” said Head of School Joseph
Vorbach.
“She was an icon,” said Greg Haas, O’Connell’s social studies
department chair. “Sister Mo was that teacher every student
remembers. She stood out for her passion, a no-nonsense
attitude, and a brilliant sense of humor. More than anything
else, she cared. She cared about Catholic education, about
Bishop O’Connell, about her colleagues. She cared about her
students. And it showed. She marched through pep rallies to
standing ovations as she led the students in ‘Seniors Rule’
chants before taking her place with the rest of the faculty.”
“She was proud that she had all the latest gadgets and was
using them in the classroom,” added Student Life Director
Frank Roque in a recent blog entry on the subject of Sister
Mo, where he explains the moniker that she gave
herself-“techno-nun.”
To say that
Sister Mo is lovingly remembered by the O’Connell
community is an understatement. Many students and faculty
members tell stories of her presence in the Trinidad Street
lobby every morning and how she made it a point to engage
with anyone and everyone. Others remember her pre-Christmas
traditions with her government classes, where the students
“caroled” throughout the building. The songs sounded like
familiar Christmas songs, but the lyrics were taken from
government and economics concepts.
“She truly was what I.H.M. Sisters would call ‘a school
woman,'” said Sister Catherine Hill, I.H.M. “She was someone
who loved to teach and was totally energized by being with
high school kids and with her colleagues.”
The school was closed Jan. 26 to allow faculty and friends to
attend the viewing and funeral, which were held at Camilla
Hall. A memorial Mass and reception were held Jan. 28 at
O’Connell.
