The Lives He Touched
Future teachers to receive scholarship support from the estate of beloved educator and Saint Michael’s alumnus Marcel J. LeBlanc ’50
By Annie Rosello
Admission and Development Officer
Marcel J. LeBlanc ’50
Most of us fondly remember the best teacher we ever had. Perhaps it was their academic brilliance, energetic style of teaching or gentle encouragement. They may have been a role model or mentor, or had a memorable greeting or fascinating stories of travel, adventure and the wide world beyond the schoolyard.
To generations of students at New York’s Harrisville Central School, Marcel LeBlanc was all of those things, and more. And upon his death in late 2020, Marcel put a beautiful final coda on his career as an educator by bequeathing $100,000 to Saint Michael’s, a gift that will educate and inspire generations of Purple Knights, including those following in his footsteps.
Born in Winooski in 1928, Marcel graduated summa cum laude from Saint Michael’s in 1950, at the head of his class. He majored in classical languages and minored in French and philosophy. Upon graduation, he began teaching in New York, but in 1951 undertook a tour of duty in the US Army that included service in the Counter Intelligence Corps and Korea.
Marcel returned to New York in 1953 and resumed his teaching career as department head and instructor of French and Latin in the Harrisville Central School, a position he held for 36 years until his retirement. While educating Harrisville’s students, Marcel continued his own studies, earning a master’s degree in French from Middlebury in 1957, as well as additional post-graduate studies at UVM and Saint Lawrence.
“He was an educational icon with amazing intelligence,” recalled one former student.
“To say he was an inspiration is putting it mildly,” remembered another. “Marcel was an outstanding person, a gifted teacher and a gentleman always.”
Another stated plainly, “Our world was certainly better for knowing him.”
The impression Marcel made on the tiny hamlet of Harrisville, New York, is beautiful and lasting. And his legacy at Saint Michael’s is one to be cherished as well.
“Marcel was really proud of graduating from Saint Michael’s, back when there were only two buildings—one for administration, the other for classrooms,” explains Jean Paul, who was glad to carry out his uncle’s wishes of leaving such a lasting gift to Saint Michael’s. “I know he wanted to help both the college and Saint Michael’s students.”
The vision of Saint Michael’s College, Do Well and Do Good, was a natural part of Marcel’s life’s work. “He didn’t believe teaching was a career, he believed it was a calling,” Jean Paul remembers. Thanks to the generosity of the Marcel J. LeBlanc ’50 Endowed Scholarship, future Purple Knights may strive to leave as lasting and meaningful an impression.
Like Marcel, you can live the vision of Saint Michael’s College and make a difference for students with a gift in your estate plan. Contact Carla Francis at 802-654-2618 or cfrancis@smcvt.edu to learn more.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.