Colleen E. Ritzer Library Dedication At Danvers High School Approved

DANVERS, MA — The Danvers High School library will officially be named in memory of slain teacher Colleen Ritzer after the School Committee unanimously approved Superintendent Dan Bauer's recommendation to do so on second reading Monday night.

The approval comes days after the 10th anniversary of the 24-year-old math teacher's killing at the school, with the proposal generated by teachers and former colleagues of Ritzer to honor her legacy of kindness and make her spirit part of the permanent fabric of the school.

"It seems a perfect way to remember Colleen and make sure she has a special place in the memory of everybody here at the high school," School Committee member Eric Crane said, "and will for decades to come."

"I want to thank the teachers too for really doing this in a grassroots way and coming up with their own thoughts about this," School Committee Chair Robin Doherty said. "I really appreciate that."

Danvers High math teacher Julie Glynn, a colleague of Ritzer, presented the proposal to the School Committee two weeks ago following a survey of school faculty and with the blessing of the Ritzer family.

"When a library is named in someone's memory it strengthens the sense of community by reminding everyone of the values and virtue that person embodied," Glynn said that night. "It also ensures that their memory lives on. Not just for those who knew her but for future generations to come."

The Andover native's impact on Danvers Public Schools has continued in the decade since her death with the annual Day of Kindness across the district on Oct. 22 — the date of her death in 2013 — each year. Her memory has also inspired the annual Step Up for Colleen 5K in Andover, which has attracted thousands of participants.

"We believe this is a meaningful step to show the family, staff and community that Colleen will always be remembered," Glynn said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)