Cathy Green-Redekop remembered as a patient and caring educator

Cathy Green-Redekop was known to many people as the first lady of Fort Erie, the loving wife of Mayor Wayne Redekop for 48 years.

But she also touched countless lives as a local high school teacher for 35 years, eight spent at Fort Erie Secondary School and the remainder of her career at Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School (RCBHS).

She passed away on Monday at age 70 with her family by her side, reads her obituary.

Former students and colleagues are remembering her for her positivity and caring approach to education.

Jen Smalldon’s relationship began with Cathy when she was a little girl participating in the ‘Brownies’ program.

Cathy was her ‘Brown Owl’ leader and it was the first time Smalldon received mentorship from her.

Fast forward several years later, Smalldon landed her first teaching gig when Green-Redekop took a leave of absence for a surgery in 2008.

Smalldon took over her position as a co-operative education teacher, but Green-Redekop helped her in many ways while she was away from the high school.

“During that time she really mentored me and helped me fall into the role,” Smalldon told Fort Erie Radio.

“She was really great at guiding me with how to work with all sorts of students and how to support them,” said Smalldon, who described Cathy as “incredibly calm” and “classy.”

Shannon Smith worked with Green-Redekop for 10 years at RCBHS.

“She was so kind to kids and was willing to do lots of things to give them the best experience,” said Smith, who is now the president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation District 22 Niagara.

Smith recalls personally driving with Green-Redekop back and forth to volleyball tournaments, bringing students with them who needed a ride in order to play.

She was always “very patient” and seemed to not have a temper, according to Smith.

“I can’t really remember her being angry or even yelling,” she said.

Green-Redekop was well-versed in many subjects, teaching geography, science, and physical education.

She also worked in the co-op department at RCBHS as well as the library.

“She kind of did it all,” said Smith.

Fred Louws, principal at Greater Fort Erie Secondary School, had Green-Redekop as a science teacher in grades nine and 10 when he was a student at RCBHS.

They would later become colleagues when he was vice-principal from 2006 to 2010 at RCBHS.

“I have many fond memories of Cathy over the years,” Louws told Fort Erie Radio, noting he witnessed how great of a person she was as both a colleague and a friend.

“She was always very supportive of myself and everyone else she came in contact with,” said Louws.

“She always helped people be the best version of themselves, and always lit up a room with her smile,” said Louws.

Jill Gunn, a geography teacher at GFESS, was very close to Green-Redekop, but not as a former student or colleague.

Gunn grew up with Wayne and Cathy’s youngest daughter Kylie, and spent plenty of time at the family home during her childhood.

Gunn said Cathy was “always a teacher” and that lessons were often incorporated into activities at events such as birthday parties.

Cathy was willing to lend advice and support to Gunn when she began pursuing her career as an educator.

“She was always great for giving me resources,” said Gunn, adding that Cathy “kept everything” and had plenty of hard copy materials to lend as needed.

“She was a cheerleader for everybody, regardless of what you wanted to do,” said Gunn.

Green-Redekop’s obituary says she was actively involved in coaching athletics, planning trips, running clubs, and organizing the annual Terry Fox Walk for over 25 years.

“She was most proud of her work with the environmental club as they planted many trees and shrubs throughout town and cleaned up litter along the shoreline and trails,” reads her obituary.

Cathy and her family are thankful for the caring nurses, especially Joyce and “the Amandas,” who attended to her over the past 16 months, the many personal support workers who assisted her as she neared the end and Dr. Kim Scher and his assistant, Marty, says her obituary.

Her family also described her as “giving, caring, generous, outgoing, considerate, thoughtful, charming and, in a word, vibrant.”

Donations in Cathy’s memory can be made out to the Cancer Research Society or to St. Paul’s Anglican Church.

There will be a visitation on Friday, January 31, from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at Benner’s Funeral Services.

The funeral will take place on Saturday, February 1 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Anglican Church.

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