Mary Margaret P. Jurik

Mary Margaret Jurik was born to eternal life on October 18th, 2018. Mary Margaret was a teacher with MPS for 27 years, of which, she spent 25 of those years at Casimir Pulaski High School as a teacher of English and Major Dramatists. Her unique talents and background in the Arts gave her students opportunities that few would ever have. Mary Margaret's background was above and beyond what most knew of her. Her education began at the Wisconsin College of Music with a full vocal scholarship leading her to studies at UW Madison to study theatre with Lee Strasberg and opera with Boris Goldovsky to perform short operas in repertoire. By her senior year, she had made her professional debut in the soprano role in Arion's production of THE MESSIAH. Following graduation, she received a full scholarship to the Philadelphia Academy of Vocal Arts. Here she studied under famous opera personalities, including Nicola Moscona, Anton Guadagno, David Bamberger, Domingo, Pavarotti, Beverly Sills and others. A master of her native English, she was also fluent in Italian, German, & French due to her opera beginnings. Mary Margaret eventually channeled her talents to become a teacher in MPS, and used her voice and theatre background to develop a Major Drama course with business partners from all the UPAF participants introducing the students to the arts, including theatre, opera, ballet, and the art museum. This then became the catalyst for her to develop two courses for MPS teachers, Theatre Connection I and II, where all the companies presented what each of their arts brought to the young students. Mary Margaret retired from Pulaski in 2003 but had continued to work as a substitute teacher in the high schools until just recently. For those of us who knew her, Mary Margaret was not just a "Prima donna" or chief female singer/diva in an opera on the stage, but her larger than life personality flowed into her classroom, her students, her colleagues, and her friends. She will be especially missed by her little Molly, her special friends Kathy Bloom, Debbie Bylan, Robin and Gregg Krawczyk, her friends at Boz’s Clozet Jill Goldberg, Jodi Marcus & Dena Grossman, Rachel at Two Tails, and Madison at Neroli Salon and Spa. Mary Margaret was not survived by any family, and so her friends at every level were her family. A Memorial Gathering will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at the CATHEDRAL OF SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST, 812 North Jackson Street, Milwaukee from 1pm until the Memorial Mass at 2pm.