Meghan Milonopoulos, North High School assistant principal, dies after battle with cancer
WORCESTER — Meghan Milonopoulos, the assistant principal at North High School who had been battling stage 4 colon cancer for nearly two years, died Saturday.
The educator, who lived in Holden, is survived by her husband, Taso, and their three children McKenna, 9, Mia, 5, and Mathaios, 2.
In June, Milonopoulos threw out the first pitch at a Worcester Red Sox game, surrounded by her loved ones.
According to her obituary, Milonopoulos loved spending time with her family, exploring and encouraging their passions, and sharing her joys and passions with them.
She enjoyed spending the day on the beach on Cape Cod, racing go-karts and ending the day with ice cream from Sundae School. She also enjoyed watching her children play softball and participate in gymnastics and dancing.
In between her tireless search for treatment, Milonopoulos, who grew up in Southbridge, devoted her time to her family, friends and students, and checking off items on her “to-do” list.
She graduated from Wachusett Regional High School in 2000 and received an undergraduate degree in marketing from Lynchburg College, in Virginia, in 2004.
After a term working as an instructional assistant and then a special education teacher, Milonopoulos discovered a love for teaching.
She went on to accept a full-time teaching job at North High and also earned a graduate degree in special education from Fitchburg State University, as well as a degree in educational leadership from Worcester State University.
Milonopoulos excelled as an educator at North High, where she spent 17 years and was named Teacher of the Year twice. She was special education department head before becoming assistant principal.
Worcester Public School Superintendent Rachel H. Monárrez provided the following statement:
"Everyone in the Worcester Public Schools mourns the immeasurable loss of Meghan Milonopoulos. Her courageous battle against cancer served as an inspiration for us all. Her distinguished career was dedicated to improving the lives of our Worcester Public Schools students and families. We extend our deepest condolences to Meghan’s young children, husband, family, friends, and loved ones during this very difficult time. She will be greatly missed."
Obituary Meghan Milonopoulos
Reflecting on her diagnosis, and the packed schedule she was filling to get every minute she could with her family, Milonopoulos said she “accepted the situation the best I can.
“I can’t say I’ve accepted it, but I’m understanding of it,” she said in an interview with the T&G. “So at least understanding that life can throw you obstacles and play a song that you don’t like, but you have to dance through it. You have to charge through it.”
Visiting hours will be at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden, Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m.
The funeral is Friday at Holden Chapel, 279 Reservoir St., at 10 a.m. There will be a celebration of her life at 2 p.m. Friday at Seven Saws Brewery in Holden.
Donations can be sent to the Milonopoulos’ Children’s Education Fund or the fund that supported bringing care closer to home for Meghan.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: North High Assistant Principal Meghan Milonopoulos dies of cancer
