Alumna’s $1 Million Bequest Establishes Strategic Fund at Lacordaire Academy

 

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Lacordaire Academy recently received a $1 million bequest from alumna Caroline “Carrie” Anne Mallon Harris ’67, ’71 and her husband, George Stanley Harris. The couple’s extraordinary generosity will support the Academy’s mission and traditions for generations to come.

Carrie, who passed away on November 29, 2021, just one day shy of her sixty-eighth birthday, was a lifelong advocate for education. Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and raised in Montclair, she attended Lacordaire for middle and high school before earning her Bachelor’s degree in History from Rosemont College and a Master’s in Educational Counseling Psychology from the University of Virginia. Her career spanned decades of dedication to students, most notably as the founding Director of the Center for Academic Advising at George Washington University’s School of Business, where she built the office into a nationally recognized model of excellence.

Carrie’s professional accomplishments were matched by a life rich in adventure and family. She and George, whom she married in 1983, shared a love of camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains and northern Maine, hiking, kayaking, and documenting their travels in meticulous photo albums. She delighted in holiday gatherings, elaborate decorations, and the joy of bringing friends and family together. Even in the face of serious health challenges, including breast cancer, multiple strokes, and heart surgeries, Carrie faced life with determination, inspiring all who knew her.

George Harris, a proud Navy veteran who passed away on November 15, 2023, at age 90, also dedicated his life to service. Born in Miami, Oklahoma, he enlisted in the Navy at 18, served in Korea and Vietnam, and rose to the rank of Captain in the Medical Service Corps before retiring in 1990. Known for his humor, wisdom, and compassion, George’s life was defined by integrity and devotion to family.

Reflecting on her sister’s impact, Lacordaire alumna Kitty Mallon Johnson ’65 shared, “Lacordaire Academy was the cornerstone of Carrie’s career in education. Her life was centered on her love of learning. The sense of community and commitment to excellence she experienced at Lacordaire was at the root of her desire to work with students and led to her profession in counseling. Carrie often reflected on what being a member of the Lacordaire community meant to her… She felt truly blessed to be able to help provide for the continued maintenance of those traditions.”

With this bequest, the school has established the Lacordaire Strategic Fund, part of which will be invested, while the remainder will serve as a savings reserve, creating a transformative resource that every school aspires to have.

The Harrises’ $1 million estate gift ensures that Lacordaire Academy will continue to foster the profound love of learning that shaped Carrie’s remarkable life. Their legacy is a testament to a lifelong belief in the transformative power of a Lacordaire education.