Rosemary Magrann, 57, head of Friends school
When Rosemary Magrann became head of school at Friends Academy of Westampton in 2009, its librarian, David McCormick, had a suggestion.
When Rosemary Magrann became head of school at Friends Academy of Westampton in 2009, its librarian, David McCormick, had a suggestion.
For an October overnight encampment of its students at the elementary school, he said, "I wanted to set fire to a cord of wood on the front lawn."
"And the kids would pitch their tents, 50 tents, and spend the night."
A cord of wood stands four feet high by four feet wide by eight feet long. The school stands on a 15-acre campus, near woods and farm fields.
Instead of killing the idea outright, McCormick said, Mrs. Magrann suggested something a bit less inflammatory.
"We ended up with a quarter of a cord," he said. Even with firefighters on hand for what is now an annual event, "she didn't want to burn the campus down."
On Tuesday, May 31, Rosemary Theilacker Magrann, 57, of Hainesport, head of school at Friends Academy of Westampton from 2009 until last month, died of cancer at home.
The school is to close at the end of June, because of declining enrollment.
James T. Magrann, Mrs. Magrann's husband, said because the school was not connected to a Quaker meeting, "there was nobody to help bail it out."
"It's a shame. She worked so hard."
What allowing the campfire meant, McCormick said, was "she was willing to take a risk."
At first in 2009, "she needed convincing. Once I convinced her," he said, "she was willing to go along."
The fire is lit at 6 p.m., the children are taught at the campsite - one year about the Lewis and Clark expedition, another about the Underground Railroad in Burlington County - and the fire is extinguished at midnight.
"It's good fun," he said.
At her death, Constance Beetle, the school's founder who is now interim head for its 200 students, sent out a message to parents, recalling that "Rose began her career at Friends Academy in 1999 as our kindergarten teacher."
"She was promoted to assistant head of school in 2006 and head of school in 2009."
All the while, Beetle wrote, "Rose captured the heart and soul of Friends Academy in every endeavor she undertook."
Born in Delaware County, Mrs. Magrann graduated from the former St. Leonard's Academy in West Philadelphia in 1976 and earned a bachelor's in 1980 and a master's in 1985, both in special education at La Salle University.
Mrs. Magrann was a special-education teacher for Pennsauken Public Schools from 1981 to 1987, her husband said."She liked the challenge," he said, "of working with children who needed more than just the basic reading, writing, and arithmetic."
And though she stayed home to raise their children for the next 10 years, at times she worked weekend shifts as a special-ed teacher at the Voorhees Pediatric Facility.
In 1999, after two years at the Mark Newbie Elementary School in Collingswood, she began the last leg of her career.
The Magranns' two children were at Westampton Friends, and when Beetle found that Magrann was available, she was hired.
Besides her husband, she is survived by son James F., daughter Colleen, a brother, and three sisters.
A visitation was set from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at Perinchief Chapels, 438 High St., Mount Holly, before a 3 p.m. memorial service there.Donations may be sent to Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice, Suite 300, Five Eves Drive, Marlton, N.J. 08053.
Condolences may be offered to the family at perinchief.com.
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