The St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Society
The St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Society honors alumnae and friends of St. Jean Baptiste High School who have made the visionary decision to provide for our mission in their estate plans. The most common way to gain entry into the society is to name St. Jean's in your will. We also welcome gifts through other estate planning vehicles which allow donors to see the benefits of their gifts to SJB during their lifetimes.
To become a member of the St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Society, please inform the school that you intend to include St. Jean's in your estate plans through a bequest, life income gift, or life insurance policy gift. These legacy gifts help to ensure the future of SJB. Please contact Kathryn Collins, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at 212-288-1645 ext. 121 or [email protected].
We are eternally thankful for the foresight and generosity of all members of the St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Society. Two recent bequests have had a profound impact on St. Jean's. Catherine Loftus '49 and John Coleman, through their forward-thinking generosity, have left an indelible imprint. Their acts exemplify a deep sense of purpose, a vision for the future, and a dedication to the enduring mission of our school.
Catherine Joan Loftus '49
Catherine Loftus, who died on October 24, 2022, was a deeply committed alumna throughout her life. The youngest daughter of immigrant parents from Ireland, Catherine was born during the Great Depression. Growing up in that era, she developed a thirst for knowledge and a motivation to succeed and provide for herself. She put herself through Hunter College, after which she landed a job at Texaco where she would spend her entire career despite having to move to Dallas which she grew to love, but initially disliked. “Everything is in slow motion here!” Her work took her to many parts of the globe including Indonesia and Iran. “Aunt Catherine” was the intellectual aunt, “the city slicker,” her nieces and nephews would say. She took them to museums, gallery exhibits, and other cultural venues. The Frick was her favorite. Catherine walked like she was 18 years old until she was ninety. A true New Yorker, she was a jay walker until the end and taught exercise classes in her building into her eighties.
Catherine was the sister-in-law of the late Dorothy Loftus (née McCarthy) ‘49 whom Catherine introduced to her older brother, David Loftus, while the girls were students at St. Jean’s. SJB was honored to host several members of the Loftus, Mathews, and Stewart families recently to explore the school their mother and aunt–or grandmother and great aunt as the case may be–first entered as Jeanites almost 70 years ago. “The girls at St. Jean’s are so articulate and empowered!” Kathleen Loftus Stewart noted. “I am proud that Aunt C could contribute to the mission.”
John "Jack" Coleman
Beloved husband of the late Margaret “Marge” M. (McKeon) Coleman ’50, John Coleman died on February 21, 2023. A 1953 graduate of Boston College, he was employed as a manager with IBM for 30 years in such places as Paris, Frankfurt, Washington, D.C., and San Diego, California. He was also an accomplished artist known for his personality portraits, sports cartoons, and illustrations. For many years, he was very actively involved in supporting parish activities and teaching CCD at St. Camillus Church in Arlington, Massachusetts.
John met and married Margaret while they were both on active duty in the U.S. Navy. After her military service, Marge became an elementary school teacher, CCD teacher, and guidance counselor practicing for over 40 years and earning two master’s degrees along the way. During her later years Margaret developed dementia. John was her loving caregiver until her death in 2018.
The couple prioritized philanthropy throughout their lives annually supporting 62 nonprofits, including St. Jean’s. In 2020, during the most difficult days of Covid, Jack made a transformative gift to the school. He explained at the time that he and Marge were married for 61 years and that it was the best decision he ever made. He added, “I can’t help but think that a little bit of who she was had to do with her foundation at St. Jean’s.”
St. Jean Baptiste High School
Federal Tax-ID Number: 13-2693089
For additional information or to notify St. Jean's that you have included the school in your estate plans, please contact Kathryn Collins, Vice President of Institutional Advancement
[email protected] or 212-288-1645 x121