Dr. Nicholas Mancini passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 22, 2014, after a long, happy and rewarding life. Family, profession, faith and community were the cornerstones of his life, stated his obituary, and the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board was one of many organizations to benefit from his goodness and service.
“Dr. Mancini made a tremendous contribution to Catholic education not only locally, but to Catholic school boards throughout the province,” said Chairperson Patrick J. Daly. “What a great example he has been to our community.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
A long-serving trustee with the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, Dr. Mancini placed his talents, and indeed, his heart, at the service of Catholic education. He was elected Chairman of the Hamilton Separate School Board, and became the first elected Chairman of the newly amalgamated Hamilton-Wentworth Roman Catholic Separate School Board (renamed the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board in 1999).
From 1963 to 1986, Dr. Mancini served as Hamilton’s representative in the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association. For three of those 23 years, and at the height of the struggle to achieve full funding for Catholic schools, he served as Chairman of the organization. At the national level, Dr. Mancini also served on the Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association for several years, which included one term as its Chairman. He served as Chairman of the Ontario School Trustees’ Council, an umbrella body which, at that time, included representatives of all English, French, Catholic and public school trustees associations. Dr. Mancini was comfortable in this role; he was effective and highly respected by all because of his openness to frank and sincere dialogue with the entire education community, and because his quick wit and great laugh helped to keep debates in balance at all times.
Dr. Mancini devoted himself completely to the goal of obtaining full funding for our Catholic schools. During his years of service with our Board and with O.S.S.T.A., he worked skilfully and diplomatically to build bridges of communication with the clergy, Catholic boards throughout the province, government officials, parliamentarians, and the Catholic community at large. His tremendous work on behalf of Catholic education was recognized by the board which named a building after him – the Dr. Nicholas Mancini Centre – and, in 2011, bestowed its highest honour, the Award of Merit for Distinguished Service to Catholic Education, on him.
*published with permission from the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board*
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