In Memoriam: Elizabeth Candon (1921-2012)

Elizabeth Candon, the former president of the now-closed Trinity College in Burlington, Vermont, died from pulmonary fibrosis earlier this month. She was 90 years old.

A native of Pittsford, Vermont, she received her elementary education in one-room schoolhouse. After studying at Trinity College in Burlington for one year, she joined the Sisters of Mercy in 1939. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree at Trinity. Later she earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in medieval English language and literature at Fordham University.

After teaching at Catholic K-12 schools, she joined the faculty at Trinity College as a professor of English. She later served as director of admissions and was president of the college from 1966 to 1976. In 1976 she was appointed by the Vermont governor as secretary of the Agency of Human Services. She was the first woman to head a cabinet-level state agency.

She later returned to Trinity College and taught there until her retirement in 2000.