Linda Heinzer - Class of 1969
In 1962, Walsh University officially opened its doors to women under a program operated by the Youngstown Diocese to train lay teachers for elementary schools of the diocese. Classes were taught by the Ursuline Sisters and Walsh faculty. By 1967, Walsh officially becomes co-ed. Linda Heinzer joined Walsh in 1965. Since that first day on campus, she has been a lifelong supporter and friend of the University. In 2004, she retired as Principal of Mason Elementary School, Canton City School District, after 35 years as an educator. Her career included serving as an adjunct professor in education for both Walsh University and The University of Akron. She currently resides in Canton, Ohio, with her husband Roy, and is active in the community in various roles. Her son Eric is a Walsh graduate as well, Class of 2006. In 2007, Linda was honored with the Walsh University Outstanding Alumni Award for her years of service to the Walsh community.
As far as I can recall, I first stepped foot on the Walsh campus on June 6, 1965. I had just graduated from Central Catholic High School on Thursday night and began my first summer class here at Walsh the following Monday morning. I was a part of the second group of girls to be accepted onto the Walsh campus. There was a teacher shortage at the time, and a special program had been implemented to encourage students into the profession.
As a part of the Catholic school teacher cadet program, I pledged to teach two years in my home parish of St. Michael’s in Canton in exchange for tuition reimbursement. It was a decision I never regretted. Because there were no dorms for the small number of females on campus, I made up my mind to get as involved as possible in college life as a commuter. I began my first classes during the summer and barely noticed the disproportionate number of females to males. It wasn’t until my first day of class that fall that I felt in the minority.
I can remember getting out of my ‘59 Ford Fairlane outside of Farrell Hall and seeing a large group of young men standing on the outside patio. I was so intimidated that I waited until a friend of mine arrived so that we could walk in together. Coming from Central Catholic where the boys and girls were taught separately, this was my first experience having boys in my classes since grade school. The feeling of intimidation quickly passed though. It wasn’t long before Walsh felt like home to me. And it still does.
I tried to fit in every educational, social & religious activity I could. I wrote for The Spectator and served on the Walsh Orientation Committee. My friends and I even organized the first “Pep Club” to support our Cavalier basketball team, and I never missed a game, whether it was home or away. After earning 100 credit hours I began teaching at St. Michael’s on a cadet teaching certificate at the same time I was attending Walsh. In order to graduate with “my class” in four years, it was necessary to attend evening, Saturday and Summer classes. Looking back I don’t know how I did it, but I definitely learned how to multi-task! This need to always “be involved” has been present my entire life!
Besides always working hard on the job, volunteerism in school, church or civic groups has continued to give me that natural “high” you experience when you feel you’ve made a difference. The late 1960’s were a tumultuous time in the United States. We were at war in Vietnam and as a nation grieving over the tragic deaths of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy. But here at Walsh, we felt very sheltered from the unhappiness of the outside world. We spent our spare time hanging out together at the Snackbar in the Student Union, having special dinners at RusLees or in the back room of Stroubles, which everyone knew was “Walsh territory.” Father Hickey was the Chaplain, and he was constantly promoting peace building activities which really helped to foster a feeling of family. Brother Farrell was the University President at the time, and he knew us all by name. There were a lot more Brothers and Sisters on campus back then, and their influence was all around us. We went on spiritual retreats, and reminders of our Catholic faith penetrated everywhere we went and in everything we did.
I can still remember feeling the first shock of the “real world” punching through that protective bubble. It was the summer of graduation when several of my male friends were drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. College students were safe from the draft while in school, and it was a terrible awakening to what was happening in the world around us to see them leave.
To this day I am grateful for the solid foundation of faith and support I received at Walsh that helped me get through those tough and confusing times. I truly credit my Walsh experiences with the successful career in education that I have enjoyed. People like Brother James, Brother Harrison, Sister Marie Helene and Ralph Perrico were very instrumental in my development.
Dynamic leaders like Brother Farrell and Brother Robert gave me the example to always be myself, enhance my strengths, and expand my goals and aspirations. Excellence, integrity and service were not only talked about at Walsh, but eventually became a way of life for me. As a Walsh alumnus I continue to always have a fondness and loyalty to this wonderful institution.
My relationship with Walsh University has spanned the greater portion of my life. I was able to serve on the Alumni Board, which was a very rewarding experience. And on May 5, 2006, my husband Roy and I watched with incredible pride as our son Eric became a second-generation graduate of Walsh University.