Sonia Daly Belcher '94: February 20, 1976 - February 20, 2008

The Montrose family is heartbroken by the sudden passing of Sonia Daly Belcher, Montrose Class of 1994. A dedicated alumna, trustee, and dear friend, Sonia’s love and laughter still fill the halls of Montrose School. Countless alumnae, families and friends have requested that, as her alma mater, we honor Sonia's memory by opening a scholarship fund in her name. More information about the Sonia Daly Belcher Scholarship Fund will be forthcoming.

Sonia's family has created a beautiful website in memory of her. Please visit www.soniabelcher.com to read and share rememberances of Sonia.

Dear Nick, Andrew and the Daly Family,

What more can I tell you about the magnificent wife, mother, daughter, sister and dear friend we all love and are heartbroken to have lost? It’s no surprise that the heavens were darkened with a lunar eclipse the night God called her to Himself. Sonia lit up our world in so many ways and her loss casts a shadow on our hearts. Her indomitable spirit has not departed, though, it is simply hidden.

Sonia’s life has left a mark on all of us—she was a woman of great heart, enormous talent and generous faith. Her infectious laughter still resonates throughout the halls of Montrose School. Her love for people continues to grow stronger and bring more of us together in her amazing network of friends and family. Her desire to serve and advance worthy causes from Theophany and Montrose to St. George’s Church and Hellenic College will continue to be realized. She approached everything she did with a sense of urgency—not anxiety—but an urgency to give of herself, to bring projects to the next level and to connect people.

I have known Sonia since she was a new student in the ninth grade at Montrose School. She came to us shy, delightful and eager to make friends—and that she did indeed. Her gift for friendship extends around the world. It is no surprise she had her wedding web cast.

I have found myself telling “Sonia stories” throughout my career as an educator, and I am grateful that she agreed to be immortalized—somewhat amusingly —in the opening chapter of my book on teaching literature. Here she makes a cameo appearance as “Sarah,” a lackluster 15 year old, who has a life changing experience on our tenth grade study abroad trip to England.

In the tenth grade before our midyear trip to England Sonia shared her three great passions with me: family, friends and television (especially soap operas). I was not surprised at Sonia’s eagerness to participate in our trip abroad; I was simply concerned that ten days without All My Children might be too much for her to handle. We talked, and Sonia decided to earn her status on the trip by re-focusing her energies on school, fundraising and our pre-trip seminars. In the end, she was enamored with London, Bath and Oxford and decided then, she wanted to be a world traveler.

From childhood, Sonia was a great organizer, eager to help family and friends. Her desire to mobilize worthy initiatives was re-awakened at the Tower of London in England, and upon her return to school, she capitalized on every opportunity to serve the school community. She launched the school’s first literary magazine, Word for Word, ran the international club, joined the yearbook staff and became the most successful business manager in school history. Throughout her high school years she also participated in drama and athletics and abandoned her addiction to soaps altogether. Her senior year in high school, we traveled to Italy together, met Pope John Paul II in Rome and celebrated her 18th birthday. As only Sonia could do, she accomplished the unprecedented feat of selling a Montrose yearbook ad to restaurant manager in Florence.

By her senior year at Montrose, Sonia was affectionately referred to by faculty as the “happy wanderer.” Sonia Daly was a wanderer with a purpose. She took advantage of every opportunity to “visit” friends, teachers and administrators to advance worthy projects—the yearbook, the literary magazine, international club, the school play. While we often had to re-direct Sonia to class, we were happy to be enlisted in her latest charge or ambitious idea.

Most importantly, Sonia turned her attention to God and started taking her own faith journey seriously. She prayed and attended Mass daily. She sought spiritual formation and took steps toward making her Orthodox faith her own. She loved and respected Catholicism and prayed for unity among and between Churches. Her prayers were powerful, and I leaned on them often.

Sonia knew at the end of her high school career that she wanted to found a school with a mission similar to Montrose. Three short years later she did, opening the Theophany School. She leveraged all of her professional savvy, initiative and contacts to bring this dream to fruition.

Sonia was far more than a student and advisee. And as all of her friends know, her thoughtfulness was unrivalled. From birthdays to spontaneous gatherings, Sonia had a gift for bringing people together. She has been and remains a dear friend.

Because of her passion for character education, faith formation and marketing all things worthwhile, Sonia and I collaborated professionally at Boston University, ChildrenFirst and Montrose School. She served as a trustee at Montrose and regularly recruited families, faculty, staff and alumnae volunteers. She founded our alumnae association and built our first database of contacts. She spoke eloquently at our Open Houses. I tried to recruit Sonia back to Montrose on more than one occasion. Now she is our senior consultant from heaven.

Mr. and Mrs. Daly, Jack, Albert, Judy, Tony, Sonia loved you so much. She admired each one of you and cherished your affection for her. She took great pride in every milestone your family celebrated together.

Nick, you were the greatest joy of her life. I remember when she first told me about you. I was so eager to meet the man who had conquered Sonia Daly’s heart. She cherished every moment of her life with you. The only person who can begin to rival that affection is Baby Andrew, the beautiful gift of your love. Andrew, I am confident that your mother will faithfully walk with you throughout your life and that you will make her proud.

Sonia Daly Belcher, I now understand your sense of urgency. You were a woman on a mission. I thank God for the time He has shared you with us and the opportunity we now have to light the world with your memory.

Karen E. Bohlin
Head of Montrose School