The West Haven High School community is mourning the loss of their leader.
The school’s principal, Pam Gardner, passed away from a rare form of cancer. She was 49.
Members of the community tell NBC Connecticut that Gardner was a person who, no matter what, always had her students at West Haven high in the forefront of her mind.
One by one Thursday night, West Haven high students laid flowers in tribute to Gardner, the woman who to them, was much more than just their high school principal.
“She knew how to make you smile and make you laugh and make you feel like you were welcome no matter what,” said senior Jonathan Saier.
Gardner had been principal at West Haven High for nine years, following work in Groton, Old Saybrook and Guilford, all places where she was named teacher of the year. Fitting honors, according to her colleagues.
"She had that mother instinct, where you could go to her. I know the kids could, the teachers could," said Jonathan Capone, coordinator for Physical Education & Athletics for the City of West Haven.
For more than a year, Gardner had battled a cancer that led to stomach tumors. Despite her illness, she was at West Haven High School to welcome students to the new school year. Gardener’s assistant principal says she was always a bright light at this school… and a consummate leader.
"She just always knew the right thing to do. She was always that person that knew the right thing to say, the right thing to do. I aspired to be just like her and I think that’s the best thing I could have done because she was just loved by everyone," she said.
West Haven’s football game Friday night has been canceled in observance of Gardener’s passing.
She leaves behind a husband and two children.
