Carolyn Linnig O'Rourke

MEMOIRS

Carolyn Linnig O'Rourke

Daughter of Michael John Linnig and Carrie T. Wessel Linnig, Carolyn Linning O’Rourke was born in Louisville, Kentucky. Carolyn was raised on the Linnig Family Farm in Pleasure Ridge Park , Kentucky –overlooking the Ohio River, just outside of Louisville. There were eight children in the Linnig family – five daughters and three sons: William Anthony, Dorothy Marie, Imelda Rose, Marjorie Therese, Leonard Joseph, Earl Michael, Carolyn Helen, and Marianne. Carolyn was the seventh child of Michael and Carrie Linnig.

Carolyn attended St. Paul’s Catholic grade school in Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky, and, when she graduated from the eighth grade, she attended one year at Nazareth Academy at Bardstown, Kentucky, Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Kentucky.

Carolyn’s remaining high school years were at Presentation Academy at 861 South Fourth Street in Louisville, Kentucky. Carolyn commuted to Presentation via Greyhound bus every morning from the family home in Pleasure Ridge Park. Catholic education was most important to Carolyn’s mother and father, and they made particular sacrifices to see that their children were educated in Catholic Schools.

At Presentation, Carolyn was cheerleader, Editor of the school newspaper and on the yearbook staff. Her goal was to major in English, and to go on in career in journalism. This career was not to be.

After graduation from Presentation in 1951, Carolyn was accepted at St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana. While at St. Mary’s, after reading books by Jesse Stuart, poet laureate of Kentucky and one room schoolhouse teacher in Appalachia, Carolyn decided that this is what she wanted to do – to teach.

Carolyn graduated from St. Mary’s Cum Laude in 1955. It was during the last few months of her Senior year at St. Mary’s that Carolyn met her husband to be – Richard Nason O’Rourke, a senior at the University of Notre Dame majoring in Business Administration.

Richard and Carolyn were married at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky on June 5, 1956. John O’Rourke was best man. Joan Hausman, Carolyn’s roommate from St. Mary’s (and cousin) – was the Maid of Honor. Other attendants included: Mary O’Rourke, sister of the groom, Joan Bullock, classmate of Carolyn’s while at Presentation, and Jack Fitzsimmons and Jim Duffy who were classmates of the groom at Notre Dame University.

While Richard served in the United States Navy at NAS Memphis, Tennessee, Carolyn taught at St. William’s Catholic School IN NEARBY Millington. Richard and Carolyn’s son, Richard Michael was born at the U.S. Naval Hospital, in Memphis. Richard, Carolyn, and Richard Michael returned to California at Christmas time, 1957.

Richard and Carolyn were members of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Lemoore, California from this time on. For awhile the little family lived in a small farmhouse on Hanford Armona Road. and then. in 1958, Richard, Carolyn and son moved to Washington Drive in Lemoore, California where they were near to St. Peter’s Church, to the Doctor, to the Post Office, the Park, and downtown Lemoore. This was where the remaining children entered the family.

Richard and Carolyn became the parents of three more children. Timothy Sean O’Rourke was born in 1961, and Maura O’Rourke was born in 1962 – both children arriving from the Infant of Prague. Timothy arrived at the age of ten days. Maura arrived at the age of four months. Timothy was baptized at St. Peter’s by Monsignor James O’Doherty. Maura, who had been baptized earlier, was given her name – Maura - by Monsignor O’Doherty Anne O’Rourke was born to Richard and Carolyn – after many prayers- in 1964, at St. Agnes Hospital in Fresno, California, and was baptized by Monsignor O’Doherty at St. Peter’s church in Lemoore.

And now there was a full household, and so, Richard and Carolyn thought that it was time for them to move their little family to a larger home with more outdoor space to run and to play. And so they began to plan for a home on the ranch.

Richard’s father, Charles Richard O’Rourke, and Richard’s Aunt, Marie O’Rourke, gifted the family with 20 acres of ) O’Rourke land at Grangeville Boulevard. (This part of the Ranch was named “The REBA”.) And Richard and Carolyn chose to build their home on this land. The family moved in to their new home on Grangeville Boulevard, Lemoore, California, on March 19, 1966, the feast day of St. Joseph, Patron Saint of the family.

As the family grew, Carolyn felt the need to go back to her teaching in order to assist her husband with the family needs. Carolyn received a Scholarship and earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education from California State University, Fresno. Subsequently, Carolyn taught in the Lemoore Elementary Schools – both general education and special education classes until 1975. In 1975, Carolyn asked for a leave of absence in order to spend more time with her children. Also, in 1975, Richard Michael left the family home for the United States Coast Guard Academy in new London, Connecticut.

In 1976, Carolyn was asked by Monsignor O’Doherty to teach at. Mary Immaculate Queen School in Lemoore. Timothy, Maura, and Anne were students at Mary Immaculate Queen School, and, after discernment and conversations with her husband, Carolyn made the decision to teach at Mary Immaculate Queen School. Carolyn taught the first and third grades at MIQ from 1976 to 1987.

There was a divorce between Richard and Carolyn in 1985, and with the divorce, it became necessary for Carolyn to seek another position in teaching in order to take care of herself financially. Tim, Maura, and Anne were in college by this time, and Richard Michael had graduated in 1979 from the Coast Guard Academy and was now a Coast Guard Officer.

Carolyn was hired by Superintendent Gene Billingsley to teach special education classes for primary severely disabled children at the Kings County Office of Education Schools.( Mr. Billingsley was Carolyn’s Principal and Superintendent when she taught for the Lemoore Elementary Schools). Carolyn is forever grateful to him for his support at this most important time in her life.)

In the 1980’s Carolyn continued her work in special education , and also went back to California State University where she completed another Master’s degree in 1989, in Educational Administration. From 1990 to 1993, Carolyn worked as lead teacher integrating special education students at Akers School, Lemoore Naval Air Station. From 1993 to 1996, Carolyn worked as resource specialist for Court and Community Schools, Coordinator in the Infant Program, and as Staff Development Coordinator for the Kings County Office of Education. From 1996 to 1999 Carolyn served as Assistant Principal, as Acting Principal, and as Principal of the Kings County Community School. In 1998, while serving as Principal, Carolyn defended her Doctoral dissertation and earned her Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Laverne, Laverne, California. Her dissertation was a leadership study of women in Education.

After the completion of her dissertation and having served in administration, Carolyn realized that her happiest times and the times of most fulfillment were always those times she spent as teacher. Carolyn returned to teaching in the position of resource education specialist for students with learning disabilities in Kings County district Programs and in Juvenile Center and Boot Camp. Carolyn continued to teach the children who were most challenged, most “at risk”, and most in need. Carolyn found this to be her calling – her real mission.

Carolyn also continued to teach - as Adjunct Professor – for Chapman University – supervising student teachers, and as Learning Support Faculty for the Cal State Teach Program at California State University, Fresno, California. Carolyn’s favorite quote : “I TEACH. I TOUCH THE FUTURE”.

Timothy O’Rourke married Laura Jean Bonsall in Illinois in August, 1987. Richard Michael O’Rourke married Joanie Griffin in Florida in 1989. Anne O’Rourke graduated from Stephens College (BFA) and University of Arizona (MA). Maura O’Rourke received her AA Degree from West Hills College.

Now, as single Mother of four grown children, and as Grandmother of two Grandsons, Sean and Kyle O’Rourke (sons of Timothy and Laura O’Rourke) Carolyn continues to teach – to live alone – to enjoy her days with friends and family – missing her children – but always finding a certain gift of peace, and consciously choosing forgiveness and joy, for each minute of each day.

Carolyn is presently a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society for exemplary teachers and of Phi Delta Kappa, a professional fraternity in education. Carolyn is also a member of the American Association of University Women, and is a Board Member of the Kings Rehabilitation Center, Hanford, California, of the United States Navy League, and of the Catholic Business and Professional Club in Fresno.

Carolyn is a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Selma, California, where she serves as Lector and Eucharistic Minister is' a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Women’s Club, and volunteers with the Safe Environment Program in the Fresno Diocese. Carolyn’s hobbies continue to be cooking and gardening, swimming and walking, drawing and reading.

Carolyn’s joy, as always, is to be with children.