Carol Ann Barailloux (1944-2017): Navarre Elementary principal a union rep

5/19/2017

Carol Ann Barailloux, who concluded a career in education as principal of Navarre Elementary School, where she had the respect and loyalty of faculty and students, died Saturday in Holy Family Hospital, Methuen, Mass. She was 73.

She died of respiratory failure and septic shock after getting the flu, said her daughter, Melissa. She’d had lymphoma and moved last year from Oregon to Chester, N.H., to be with her daughter.

Mrs. Barailloux retired in 2004 after seven years as principal of Navarre Elementary School in East Toledo.

“It was exciting, and every day, you weren’t sure what was going to come,” Mrs. Barailloux told The Blade after the Toledo Board of Education honored her for outstanding service. “I’m so glad because I got to work with the greatest bunch of people the whole time I was there. It became a family.”

The staff remained largely intact during her tenure, said Robyn Hage, who taught at Navarre for 23 years.

“She truly was supportive and always had our backs,” said Mrs. Hage, now a music teacher at Bowsher High. “If you needed to speak with her, she was your confidante. She created such a positive environment for the staff and for students. It was truly our privilege to work for her.”

She was born April 7, 1944, to Phyllis and Wayne Williams. Her father died in World War II, and she was raised by her mother and stepfather, Robert “Red” Snider. A 1962 graduate of Waite High, she was added to the ranks of Waite Distinguished Alumni in 2005.

From the University of Toledo she received a bachelor of elementary and special education degree and a master of elementary administration and supervision degree.

She started out as a substitute in the Toledo system. She taught special education in the Lake and Northwood districts and then special education and second grade at DeVeaux School in Toledo.

Her quick wit evoked laughter among colleagues and some students, recalled Nan Zawisza, who taught special education with her early in their careers.

“There’s never a challenge Carol backed down from when it came to teaching those students,” Mrs. Zawisza said. Mrs. Barailloux became a Toledo Federation of Teachers representative and knew the contract well, which served her and teachers well when she went into administration, Mrs. Zawisza said.

Mrs. Barailloux also taught at Longfellow School and was an assistant principal at Whittier and Oakdale elementaries.

She endured adversity, including a period of single motherhood, with a positive outlook, her daughter said.

“She was amazing that way. That woman could smile through anything,” her daughter said.

She was formerly married to Gary Calhoun. She married Jesse Barailloux on March 30, 1985. He died Sept. 3, 2000.

Surviving are her daughter, Melissa DeLuca; sons, Christopher and Gregory Calhoun; half brothers, Jim and Bill Snider; half sister, Sue Winterhalter; six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. today at the Eggleston Meinert & Pavley Funeral Home, Oregon Chapel, where funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The family suggests tributes to Mercy Health Perrysburg Cancer Center.

Contact Mark Zaborney at: mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.