Mary Lou Munroe McCaw

Born on November 18, 1927 to John Anthony and Lutie Schwarz, Mary Lou grew up in North Denver attending St. Catherine's Catholic Grade School. She then graduated with honors from Cathedral Catholic High School in 1945 and from the University of Denver with a degree in education in 1948. Mary Lou married Robert E. Munroe at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in 1948. They had three children, Robert M., Carol and John. Over the next 15 years, Mary Lou dedicated her life to her career as a wife and mother. Beginning in 1960, Mary Lou undertook her 'second' career outside the home, focusing on those endeavors she held most dear throughout her life, education and children's issues. In the early 1960's, she was a founding member of the Junior Great Books program in Denver. This program taught 'critical thinking' techniques to grade school and high school students. In 1969, she was appointed by Archbishop Casey as a member of the Advisory Committee on Catholic Education to the Denver Metropolitan Area (DMA) Board of Catholic Education. She was later appointed a member-at-large to the DMA. From 1974-1975, she served as president of the DMA Board. At that time, she was the first woman ever to hold that position. During the early 1970's, she continued her post-graduate education, culminating in 1973 when she received her Doctor of Education, Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver. In 1975, Dr. Mary Lou was one of the first women inducted into the Phi Delta Kappa society, a previously all-male educational honorary society. She was also a member of the Kappa Delta Pi and Delta Kappa Gamma educational honorary societies. In 1972, she was named a Woman of the Year for the Archdiocese of Denver Education Association. From 1971 to 1975, Dr. Mary Lou was listed in Who's Who of American Women and she was picked for Who's Who in America in 1975. Finally, in 1975, Dr. Mary Lou received one of her most cherished honors. At the request of Archbishop Casey, Pope Paul VI awarded Dr. Mary Lou the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (For the Church and the Pope) medal in recognition of her outstanding service to the Church, especially in the area of education. Beginning in the late 1970's, Dr. Mary Lou transitioned her love of children and education into a counseling career. During the 1970's and 1980', she was the Associate Director and Education Coordinator for the Adolescent Unit at Mount Airy Psychiatric Center in Denver. There she was able to work directly with disturbed children and adolescents, creating and administrating educational and counseling programs that allowed the children to progress at a pace that matched their individual abilities and capabilities. Again, a very proud and cherished moment was November 20, 1986, when the Munroe Learning Center was dedicated in honor of Dr. Mary Lou for her exceptional efforts in developing a quality education program at Mount Airy Psychiatric Center. After the closure of Mount Airy, Dr. Mary Lou became a licensed psychotherapist, an achievement for which she was most proud. She focused her attention on family and children's cases. She worked in both private practice and through the Church in counseling families and children in need. She was also appointed to the Archdiocese of Denver's Response Team, using her counseling and education background to work with the Catholic clergy on special issues. She continued this work until the early 2000's when she retired from service. In 2002, Dr. Mary Lou married her long-time friend and associate, Dr. William W. McCaw. Dr. Mary Lou Munroe McCaw passed away peacefully at her home, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008. She is survived by her husband, Dr. McCaw, her three children, Bob and his wife, Jill, Carol and Dr. John and his wife, Kathy, six grandsons (Brian, Jeffrey, Wesley, Jon, Christopher and Michael) and several great-grand children.