Principal devoted life to students
Camelot Therapeutic Day School Principal Shirley Cochran lived to work.
As the leader of the alternative school for special education students in Naperville, co-workers say it's fitting Cochran's passing Friday happened at the conclusion of the work week.
"Somebody asked her about retiring once and she told them that she'd die if she retired," Camelot social worker Tim Trojanowski said. "It almost feels that she was at home waiting for someone to ask her a question. Then, at 4, she said, 'OK, the week's over. I can go now.'"
Cochran, 67, died at her Sugar Grove home after a battle with cancer.
She amassed a 35-year career in special education, most recently as principal of Camelot School on the city's west side.
The school provides therapy and academic instruction for children and adolescents ages 10 to 21 who require special education services for social and emotional disorders, learning disabilities and other health impairments.
If there was ever any disciplinary problems with any of the school's 100 students, she'd be the one to diffuse the situation, colleagues said.
"Shirley would walk up and say, 'Why don't you come down to my office and take a seat,' " Tim Trojanowski said. "She'd take care of the situation with her calm, warm personality. She'd just let them sit and chill out in her office."
Cochran is survived by her husband, Dave, three children and four grandchildren.
She was raised in Lexington, Ill., and graduated from Lexington High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Elmhurst College and a master's degree from Northeastern Illinois University.
Camelot graduate Sean Mulhern, 19, knew Cochran for about eight years. He said she greeted him with a smile each morning.
"We interacted with her every single day. She would greet every single student at the door every day personally," Mulhern said. "She would always be there for every single student. She really cared about us."
Students at Camelot School decorated maple leaf cutouts with memories of Cochran on Monday. They'll have a memorial service at the school Thursday where they'll read poetry, share stories and release 40 doves.
"She was a remarkable person, very caring, very bright, very perceptive of the staff and the students," said Superintendent Rella Peeler. "She organized the school so it could run very efficiently in her absence."
A visitation is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Healy Chapel, 370 Division Drive, Sugar Grove.
A second visitation will be Friday morning at Calvert & Musselman Funeral Home, 120 W. Park Ave., Lexington, prior to Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 201 N. Lee, in Lexington. Interment will be at Lexington Cemetery.