Libertyville High School staff mourns loss of friend and co-worker

Staff members at Libertyville High School say they are mourning the loss of a friend and highly skilled colleague.

College/career counselor Patricia Finnerty, 41, of Arlington Heights, perished in a house fire Tuesday along with her husband, Kevin, 46, and 11-year-old son, Garrett. The couple's two other children, Bridgit, 12, and Pierce, 6, escaped with no major injuries.

Of the many people who worked alongside Finnerty, Ole Stevens was one of the closest to her.

As her direct supervisor, Stevens hired Finnerty to replace him as the school's college/career counselor when he was named director of student services.

"I was a mentor to her in some ways, but she came here with a wealth of experience," he said. "She was extremely dedicated to her craft. She had a positive impact on so many of the students here."

Stevens said Finnerty had keen insight into the needs of students and their parents.

"She was phenomenal. Words can't say enough about the kind of person she was," Stevens said. "Trish really understood kids and families, and was so great at helping them make decisions about life after high school."

Finnerty is also remembered as a person who combined a sense of humor, intense energy and professionalism in her life and career.

Finnerty's secretary, Marilyn McBride, said her boss was one of a kind.

"Trish was vibrant. She was always in motion, and more fun to work with than you can imagine," McBride said "She was such a force and really funny too. There wasn't a day when we wouldn't all be laughing at some point, including the students.

McBride said Finnerty treated her as an equal, not an underling.

"She never put on airs or had an attitude," McBride said. "She was amazing to work with and to work for."

Nancy Dick served as Finnerty's assistant. She said Finnerty loved her kids deeply.

"We knew them each by name and what they were up to," Dick said. "Trish would talk about them all the time. It's really heartbreaking."