Mont Vernon educator ‘born to be principal’

MONT VERNON – Educators and school officials across the Souhegan Valley are mourning the loss of one of their own this week with the death of Milford High graduate and Mont Vernon Village School principal Gail E. Westergren.

Westergren, who would have turned 53 next week, succumbed Friday to the cancer she began battling almost a year ago. She had resigned her principalship at the end of the school year to focus on her recovery.

Born Gail Elizabeth Kaufold in Amityville, N.Y., she graduated from Milford High in 1974 and made education her lifelong career, teaching elementary school in her hometown for 21 years before becoming an administrator in Manchester and, most recently, serving as principal at the Village School. “Her lifelong dream was to one day be a principal,” said Bill Kaufold, her younger brother. “She loved her job.”

Westergren, who was just named Village School principal for the 2008-09 year, would most likely have continued on for the foreseeable future, her brother said.

“Unfortunately, she found out she had cancer in December, after just four months as principal,” he said.

SAU 39 Superintendent Mary Jennings said Westergren was a perfect fit for the job.

“We were so thrilled we were able to hire Gail and bring her extensive experience in reading and her love of children to the Village School,” Jennings said on Monday.

“I feel privileged to have known her and worked with her.” Jennings recalled Westergren’s upbeat attitude and fighting spirit as she learned about, and battled, the disease.

“It was only halfway into the (school) year that we discovered, along with Gail, that she would be fighting to beat cancer,” Jennings said. “What we were all so impressed with was how gracious and caring Gail was toward others, even in the midst of this huge struggle of her own.”

Friends and co-workers can pay their respects on Wednesday, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., at the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm St., Milford. A funeral will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. at Milford United Methodist Church. A reception will follow at the church.

In memory of his sister, Kaufold is starting the Principal Gail E. Westergren Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will award an annual scholarship to a Souhegan High School graduate from Mont Vernon who is planning a career in education.

Donations can be made out to the fund and sent to Kaufold at 44 Fox Run Road, Milford, 03055.

Dean Shalhoup can be reached at 673-3100, ext. 31 or dshalhoup@nashua telegraph.com.