Judge Memorial CHS icon RaeAnn Eck to retire July 31

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RaeAnn Eck

SALT LAKE CITY — There have been many constants at Judge Memorial Catholic High School over the years. One of those has been the welcoming face of RaeAnn Eck, who has worked there for 38 years.

Known as an icon at Judge, Eck, 77, said she is finally ready to retire.

Originally from Butte, Mont., Eck moved to the Salt Lake area almost 50 years ago. Having attended Catholic schools, including an all-girls high school, during her formative years, Eck knew she wanted the same experience for her children if at all possible.

While her daughter Lisa was a student at Judge, Eck found herself newly single and in need of a job. As an involved parent, she knew most of the administration at the school. So when she discovered then-Dean of Students Tim Carr needed an attendance secretary, it seemed like a good fit. Carr agreed and hired Eck, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Throughout her career at Judge, Eck estimates that she has worked for at least 10 deans of students and more than 15 principals.

“I kind of lost count after a while,” she said.

The school office will be interesting without Eck, said admissions secretary Rita Scholl, who has worked with her for more than 28 years. “RaeAnn is very dedicated to her job,” she said. “She was so proud to work for Judge.”

Scholl said people sometimes compared her and Eck to the secretary in the movie “Grease,” particularly at those times when the school had a special schedule and Eck had to ring the bell by hand.

As the deans’ attendance secretary, Eck got to know many parents and students over the years.

In fact, Eck has been at Judge so long that in many cases she knows three generations of families who have attended school there, Scholl said.

Eck remembers those times with fondness.

“The most interesting part was when the kids that graduated, and then their kids, came back,” she said. “That was amazing to me. It was also great to see the students grow from freshmen to seniors.”

Principal Patrick Lambert said although he has worked with Eck for only three years, he has known her for 25 years, since he was himself a student at the school.

“I think that RaeAnn was the first person most people met when they came to the school, and she is the first person people check on when they come back,” Lambert said, “and she remembers all their names and faces. … Her warm presence set the tone for the welcoming attitude we are known for here at Judge Memorial.”

Vice Principal Louise Hendrickson also spoke of the relationships Eck built over the years.

“I think the biggest strength she had was she knew everybody in the community,” Hendrickson said. “Although we’re happy for her to go into retirement, she will be dearly missed.”

Eck said she will miss working with her coworkers and seeing them every day, but one thing she won’t miss will be getting up at 5 a.m. every morning.

Described by Scholl as “a woman with a really strong faith,” Eck is a member of St. Vincent de Paul Parish. She has three children: Tim, Lisa and Terri; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. With her retirement she plans to spend more time with them. Eck is also an active walker, taking her Maltese, Spencer, for walks three times a day, something she plans to continue.

She also plans to volunteer with the parish and said she has promised Lambert she will volunteer at the school when she is needed.

Eck’s last day will be July 31. On that day in her honor, the administration will host a barbecue at noon at the school. For information, visit www.judgememorial.com.