On December 6, 2024, Msgr. McClancy High School mourned the passing of Mrs. Theresa Busso. Mrs. Busso was a long-time faculty member and beloved art teacher from September of 1991 until her retirement in August of 2016. Mrs. Busso touched the lives of many through her dedication, kindness, and unwavering commitment to her students. Her loveable, energetic, and creative spirit will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
One student of Mrs. Busso, who was deeply influenced and inspired by her, went on to become an Art teacher at Msgr. McClancy High School. Driven by the same warmth and encouragement he received from Mrs. Busso, Mr. Savoca strives to make his students feel welcomed. He accomplishes this by remembering each student’s name and encourages them to step out of their comfort zones, much like Mrs. Busso did for him.
For many students and faculty members who may not have had the opportunity to know Mrs. Busso personally, I spoke with Mr. Savoca, who has known her both as a teacher and as a mentor, to share a glimpse of her lasting impact.
____________________________________________________________________________
Q: Who was Ms. Busso?
“Ms. Busso was here for over twenty years. She was kind of an icon of the era, and everyone had an experience with her. She was really like the defining character of our high school experience. She certainly was for me. She was very tough, but fair. She would push you to do the best that you could, whatever that was, and took the time to notice things with kids, little details, and try and find ways to get a kid to fully express themselves over the years.”
Q: How did you meet Mrs. Busso?
“When I came to McClancy I’d never heard of it. In elementary school, my principal said to check it out. I met Mrs. Busso at the open house. Then, as a freshman, Mrs. Busso popped up out of the art room, and saw me, waved, and said, “Oh Michael I’m so glad you decided to come to McClancy.” How did she remember my name?! I met her for 10 minutes a year ago and she remembered who I was.
Q: Can you tell us the story of how Ms. Busso practically forced you to join the choir?
“At the Foundation Day Mass for the Brothers, I was standing in the bleachers mumbling, singing along to the songs in mass. Mrs. Lozada (Ms. Smith at the time) was watching, and she must have told Mrs. Busso. So, the next day during bio class, Mrs. Busso dressed immaculately, knocked on the door, and you could just see her red hair sticking out from the window. She asked, “Can I speak to Michael?” And once she got me alone, said, “Dear I hear you sing; you should join the choir. Come to a meeting and if you don’t like it, you don’t need to come back.”
Then… I avoided her! I’d see her come near and I would duck into different hallways. Then one day, she caught me in front of the art room up against the lockers. She asked why I hadn’t gone to a meeting. After all of her convincing, I agreed to go to the next meeting, asking what day it was scheduled for.. She grabbed me by the wrist and said, “It’s right now!” and made me go to a choir meeting. The rest is history!”
Q: How did Ms. Busso set the ground for The Sentinel?
“Ms. Busso was the moderator of the newspaper. It was like her baby. We would sit there until 6 to 7 p.m. working on the articles. I was the editor, Br. Lucien did the layout, and we would sit in the art room as the newspapers would be printed and delivered. Anything she asked me to do, I would do.
I was Editor in Chief during my senior year. Ms. Busso wanted a student to do it. We would work for hours but it was fun. We made puzzles, comics, and wrote about a variety of topics from sports articles, current events, politics, and news in addition to things going around in McClancy. We won awards for it from “The Tablet.” Some of my happiest memories with her would be sitting here until 7 p.m typing up the paper.”
Q: How did Ms. Busso inspire you?
“She was everything that I aspired to be as a teacher. When I heard she was retiring I was kind of upset actually because I was afraid. When I was a student, there weren’t that many outlets for kids like me who had other interests. I got the chance to come in and take over for her; one of the reasons I decided to do it was to make sure her legacy was carried on, and that there was a place for kids like me to feel comfortable, safe, and happy in this school. I truly hope I do create that space for my students, to honor her legacy, because that’s very important to me.
Q: How have the arts flourished since then?
“The arts have expanded in a lot of ways. Mrs. Busso started doing some of the designs for the sets for the school musicals and obviously, I’ve picked up on that. She was co-director of the choir and Br. Joe Rocco was the director. The two of them were major parts of me growing up so when I took over, I helped run the choir and assisted with directing the choir with Br. Joe.
The reason I tell that story about Mrs. Busso pulling me into the choir is because you never know who God puts in your life and for what reason. She saw potential in me that I did not see in myself and that’s what I want for my kids. One of the greatest joys for a teacher is watching their students find themselves, find their voices, and see that transformation happen, that growth, that confidence that’s what it’s all about.
We’re all here for the same reason, you guys. You get into teaching because you remember what it was like to have teachers who cared about you and you want to replicate that, or you remember what it was like to not have supportive teachers and you want to be that to fix that for others to make sure everyone is taken care of.”
Q: How would you like for her legacy to be carried on?
“By continuing to invest in the arts and making sure that any kid with an interest in arts has a place. You don’t have to be just an artist; you can be an artist who is an athlete or a scientist or a historian. There is no limit to your possibilities, so by continuing to invest in it and showcase the capabilities of our kids across the arts, we can honor her legacy.”
Q: How would you describe Mrs. Busso in one sentence?
“As you can tell I’m a person of many words but in one sentence: She was the best, most important person in my school experience and must be the strongest person I’ve ever known.
She became family to me; she wasn’t just a teacher and I’m lucky to have had her in my life.”
____________________________________________________________________________
To honor Ms. Busso’s lasting impact on the Msgr. McClancy High School community, Mr. Savoca has worked to ensure that her legacy is physically and symbolically preserved. One way he envisions this is by formally renaming the art room to Ms. Busso’s Art Room, a fitting tribute to her dedication in creating such a welcoming and inspiring space. Additionally, Mr. Savoca has established the Mrs. Busso Fine Arts Scholarship, awarded annually to a graduating senior who has shown exceptional achievement in the arts.
One of the most meaningful ways her memory is honored in the art room, however, is through a special painting gifted to Mr. Savoca by a former student. “One of the most beautiful gifts I received from a student was a painting of Mrs. Busso.” He recalls, “I had always said I wanted a portrait of her for the art room, and as a graduation gift, Ariana D’Amore ‘23 painted this beautiful, perfect picture of her. That painting will hang over my desk for as long as I’m here because that room, no matter what, is Mrs. Busso’s art room. She did all the work to make that space what it is, and I’m just carrying it on as best as I can.”
Through these efforts, both the physical space and the spirit of Mrs. Busso’s influence and legacy will continue to inspire future generations of students here at Msgr. McClancy Memorial High School.