In Memoriam

Eva N. Balas, Longtime teacher at Bridgeport Catholic Academy, died May 26, 2006 after a nearly yearlong battle with cancer. She was born July 6, 1954, and lived in Berwyn, IL. Eva taught for nearly 21 years at Bridgeport Catholic Academy’s campus on 3700 S. Lowe Ave. She had taught grades five through eight in math as well as eighth grade science, religion, and homeroom. Before Eva Balas taught at BCA, she taught at Blessed Agnes and at St. David’s. She was very, very passionate about teaching. Her children, her students, were definitely her family and they came first. Balas also prepared students for their confirmations. Ms. Balas also took her students on trips to Washington, DC. She could very easily do tours of Washington on her own because she just knew Washington inside and out. Eva also was an active member of the American Sokol Organization and for 30 years belonged to the Moravian Cultural Society, with which she performed traditional folk dances of her ancestral homeland. She is survived by her mother, Eva A. Balas, her sister Irene Heddermen, and her niece and nephews Danielle, Jimmy, and Franky.

Louise Schuck, a 7th grade teacher at Bridgeport Catholic Academy, was born into eternal life on Thursday, July 19, 2007. Mrs. Schuck was the wife of Michael for 26 years and the mother of Mateja, Aloysius and Franz. Mrs. Schuck was a teacher at Bridgeport Catholic Academy for 12 years. She also taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel School and in Toronto, Canada. Mrs. Schuck was an active member of the Slovenian Center in Lemont. Louise developed the curriculum for the Slovenian school. She was also a member of their choir and dance group. While at Bridgeport Catholic Academy she taught English, Literature and Religion. She challenged her students to love God and each other. She coordinated the school newspaper and its literary magazine. She encouraged her students to help others especially those in the missions through prayer and service. Her presence will be sorely missed. Hundreds of BCA graduates were lucky enough to study and learn from her. Donations can be made in her memory to the Sarcoma Foundation of America, 9884 Main Street, P.O. Box 458, Damascus, Maryland 20872.