"Good-bye tension. Hello pension," Holly Lehmann said gleefully to a laughing crowd.
Lehmann wrapped up an illustrious career that started as an 18-year-old with a job at the school board office. She has more than 33 years of administrative work behind her, 18 of those in Chatelech Secondary School where a crowd of well-wishers gathered June 12 to celebrate her service.
Bob Cotter, who emceed the event, worked with Lehmann for five years in the early '80s at West Sechelt Elementary School."I'm sure she could write a book or three about her time in the district," Cotter said.
Cotter remarked about Lehmann's dedication, to staff as well as to parents and children in the schools she worked in."There are many, many children in the community and now their children are here with fond memories," he said.Colleagues commemorated Lehmann for her good humour, resourcefulness, organizational skills, impish antics and generosity. Ann Skelcher, who was vice principal at Chatelech alongside Lehmann, spoke about Holly's TLC -the "tender loving chair" she would sit people down in and hand a teddy bear to when they needed some comfort on a hard day.
Skelcher also talked about Lehmann's "eagle eye," a gift for knowing when some kind of trouble was brewing on school property regardless of the fact she had no actual view of hallways or outdoor fields from her office. Somehow, she just knew.Lehmann has been active in other capacities over the years, publishing articles in sailing magazines and poetry. Lehmann was president of the Brownies and Guides Council and chair of Community Services and was instrumental in the building of Transition House, a shelter for women and children leaving abusive situations.
With Karin Tigert leading the audience, Lehmann was sung into retirement where she looks forward to taking time with her husband and pup Skipper on their sailboat and days spent with the grandchildren who surrounded her at the party.
"Good-bye Holly, good-bye, so long, it's time to say adieu. It's time to go, so don't be slow. It's time to pull the plug," they sang.
So long Holly Lehmann, and anchors away.
