Jean Baptiste Nicholson

1936 - 2011

Nicholson, Jean Baptiste O.S.U.

Sister Jean Baptiste Nicholson, principal of The Ursuline School from 1974 and president from 2005 to 2009, died at White Plains Hospital on March 23, 2011. She was 75 years old.

Jean Baptiste, better known as JB, brought energy, innovation, and initiative to her leadership at The Ursuline School, a private Catholic school for girls in grades 6 to 12. The school was honored three times as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Upgraded science laboratories and the Mooney-Hancock Arts Center were significant additions that enriched student learning opportunities.

Her achievements include an increase in enrollment and diversity of race, religion, and socioeconomic background in the student body. Academic programs expanded to include more foreign languages, computer science, the arts, honors programs, and advanced placement courses. Athletic programs were added to provide a wide range of competitive sports. Programs were developed to enrich students' personal development such as Peer Counseling and Mediation, Personal Development Education, and Peer Ministry. She continued to serve as a student advisor. She took great pleasure in teaching Greek and Latin at 7:30 a.m. Faculty enrichment was part of her agenda for guaranteeing a rich educational program. She was much esteemed and loved by the students, their parents, and alumnae.

A graduate of the Academy of Mount St. Ursula, Sister Jean Baptiste entered the Ursulines in 1954 at Beacon, NY. She made her first vows in 1957. In 1960 she graduated from the College of New Rochelle with a degree in Classics. She went on to earn a master's degree in Latin and Greek at The Catholic University of America.

Jean Baptiste taught at the Ursuline Academy in Bethesda from 1960 to 1964. From 1965 to 1969, she taught at The Ursuline School. Before that she taught for 1 year at St. Joseph's Academy in Malone, NY, returning there in 1969 as principal for 4 years. After a year's tertianship in Rome, Jean Baptiste returned to The Ursuline School as principal in 1973, where she served until 2009; she was given the title President Emerita.

Jean Baptiste created collaborative relationships in the community, notably with HOPE Community Services and with two neighbors, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and Beth El Synagogue. She opened the school's facilities to the New Rochelle Opera Company, the Wykagyl Crossways Neighborhood, and Youth Baseball League of New Rochelle. She served on the Board of Trustees of the College of New Rochelle, and she served on or chaired Ursuline province committees.

Born in New York to Helene and John Nicholson in 1936, she was predeceased by a brother, John; she is survived by 3 sisters, Margaret Ann Fenn, Marie Frances Guiney, and Helene Mary Lennon; 14 nephews and nieces; and 21 grandnephews and nieces.

Wake will be held at the Ursuline Provincialate, 1338 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY, on Thursday, March 24 from 7 to 9 P.M. and on Friday, March 25, from 3 to 8 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday, March 26, at 9:30 A.M., at Holy Family Chapel at the College of New Rochelle. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In place of flowers, donations may be made to the Ursuline Sisters Retirement Fund or to The Ursuline School.

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