On January 31, 2018, our Alumni Night honored the memory of Virginia Loogman.
Attending St. Rose School was just the beginning of Virginia's lifelong journey of education, inspiration, and service.
In the late 1940s, she led, as president, the "Brigidites" young adult group at St. Brigid Church. She then became wife and mother, and continued to serve the parish as a Catechism teacher, receiving the St. Pius Award for her service.
When there was a need in the early 1960s for a teacher at the then Thomas McCarthy School, she was recruited and said yes to the call. She left after three years to continue her family — her lifelong desire for a large one!
Because of her belief that Catholic education was of great importance, Virginia shared this belief with her six children, and, she, along with her husband, John, sacrificed to send them to Thomas McCarthy School.
She was honest, loving, and forthright with her service and participation. During this time, she also participated in Bible study and prayer groups, developing her ever present desire for a deeper faith.
In the early 1980s, she again returned to the parish as a Confirmation teacher and to the classroom, as an aide, until she retired.
She also took great pleasure in being an encyclopedia sales representative. From her heart, she convinced most of her clients that books were fun, fabulous, and a necessity for the inquiring mind.
"Nanny" Virginia always loved reading to her grandchildren and sharing her faith.
All of her six children attended St. Rose-McCarthy, and all 14 grandchildren have attended Catholic grade schools — seven at St. Rose-McCarthy, five in Fresno, and two in Indiana.