School secretary retires after 30 years

PORT CLINTON – After 30 years as secretary for Catawba Elementary and Port Clinton City Schools, Helen Nemecek said a fond farewell to all her friends at Port Clinton Middle School to retire and travel the world.

“I thought it’s time to enjoy life,” Nemecek said about retiring. “I like to golf and I want to travel. My husband (Rick) and I are packing our bags and leaving for the Caymans, then Aruba and in April, Hawaii.”

Nemecek said she will miss everyone in the school district because they made her feel like family, whether it is was coming to Port Clinton after 10 years with Catawba Elementary, or getting to know thousands of students and staff during her 30 years of service.

“At Catawba, there were 85 students. When that closed, I went to the middle school with 350 students,” said said. “That was a very big culture shock, but we had fun.”

Aside from giving advice and tutelage to the other middle school secretary, Jenny Coleman, Nemecek was a jack-of-all-trades in the office. Each day she was responsible for attendance and compiling information for students being disciplined at the office and for purchase orders, answering phones and collecting school fees.

“With all her experience, she is a great resource of information,” Coleman said. “I relied on her a lot, she’s always a go-to person for answers. I will miss her.”

Nemecek said she became a secretary as a way to continue following her sons Justin and Ty while they were attending school in the district. She started working as a part-time classroom aide and thought it would make sense to follow her boys through school.

While finishing her last day of work Friday, Nemecek said she was surprised to see so many students come to the office to wish her well in retirement.

“It’s so nice to have that. I didn’t even think they were paying attention to that,” said Nemecek.

cshoup@gannett.com

419-734-7504

Twitter: CraigShoupNH