DR. ANITA LOUISE PADIAL

PADIAL, DR. ANITA LOUISE - age 71, died on September 1, 2014, at Hancock Medical Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, after a brief illness. Born in Havana, Cuba, Anita moved to the United States in 1966 and settled in Knoxville, Tennessee. She pursued studies at the University of Tennessee, which awarded her a doctorate in philosophy in Romance languages. She was a teacher and later principal at Lonsdale Elementary School for 35 years, dedicating herself to the area's underprivileged children and securing significant federal and private grants that brought additional resources to the school. Anita's first application to the post of principal at Lonsdale Elementary School was turned down. To end gender bias and disparity in the selection of principals, she brought suit to the school system three times and in 1987 was finally placed as principal. Her trailblazing efforts brought about the use of objective standards for the selection of principals in the school system, thereby opening the door for other women educators in the Knoxville area seeking advancement in their professional careers. In the years since her retirement, she resided part-time in Waveland, Mississippi. Anita was preceded in death by her son, Ricardo Casado, Jr.; and her parents, Jose Angel Padial of Havana, Cuba, and Sylvia Guerchoux Peyrefitte of New Orleans, Louisiana. She is survived by her brother, Antonio Padial; and niece, Sarah Padial, both of San Francisco; her sisters, Sally Peyrefitte Firestone of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Cristina Padial Aguiar of Spain; many cousins, in-laws, step siblings, and loyal friends; and her partner, John Sosville, and his family. A memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23, at the Church of the Savior, 934 N. Weisgarber Rd. Donations to the Morris Animal Foundation, the American Cancer Society, or the charity of your choice are preferred.