Donetta Marconi, 63, died suddenly in her office at Strawbridge Elementary School on Monday afternoon. She was remembered as a caring educator who was instrumental to digital learning.
By Matt Skoufalos | April 13, 2021
Haddon Township Schools lost a longtime staff member unexpectedly Monday afternoon, as technology department aide Donetta Marconi died suddenly in her office at Strawbridge Elementary School.
The school nurse attempted to revive Marconi, 63, with CPR, but was ultimately unsuccessful, Superintendent Robert Fisicaro said.
Local first responders were summoned to the scene, and a shelter-in-place order was issued around 3:30 p.m. because some students were in the building for an extended school day, Fisicaro said.
“We didn’t want those kids to be moving while the emergency response occurred,” the superintendent said.
Marconi has been with the district for more than 25 years, and her skills in digital technology were particularly instrumental to the district as it pivoted to remote learning during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Fisicaro said.
“People had strong memories of her being extremely loyal, caring, loving,” he said. “She was a great person.”
In a letter to staff and parents, Fisicaro recalled Marconi as having served the district “with loyalty, passion, and commitment.”
“We will remember Donetta as an intelligent, caring, and dedicated individual who served our schools with a consistent spirit of love and dedication, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her,” he wrote. “Please keep Donetta and her family in your thoughts and prayers.”
District crisis intervention staffers will be available to support students, teachers, and other staff in grieving the loss, which “is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for our entire school community,” Fisicaro wrote.
