FALMOUTH — Kathy Condon was a beloved teacher at the Aucocisco School in Cape Elizabeth who dedicated her life to changing her students’ lives and supporting their families.

And she did. One by one.

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Teacher Kathy Condon “always saw the kids for the beauty that’s inside them,” said one parent. Ms. Condon died last week at age 62. Family photo

“Kathy was the embodiment of love,” said Karin Geiger, whose 13-year-old daughter, Taylor, attends the school. “She always saw the kids for the beauty that’s inside them — not for their disability. She saw their potential and brought it out in them. … She taught them that thinking differently was beautiful and that they could achieve their dreams, and they did.”

Ms. Condon died March 30 after a courageous fight against brain cancer. She was 62.

She was a lead teacher at the Aucocisco School, which serves students in grades 3 through 12 with learning challenges. She joined the staff in 2001 as a lead teacher. She worked with students who had a variety of learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. For most of her years there, she taught in Aucocisco’s self-contained elementary classroom.

Ms. Condon was instrumental in creating the school’s Backstage program, a drama-based social program that promotes relationship building and fosters skill development.

Barbara Melnick, director and founder of the Aucocisco School, said Ms. Condon was the creative spark behind the Backstage program. She said students felt safe with her. She said Ms. Condon also used humor to reach her students.

“Kathy had this unconditional love and acceptance for all of the kids she worked with,” Melnick said. “She had this amazing creativity and a gift for figuring out the key to unlock reading for students.”

Ms. Condon was previously a language learning teacher at the Dyer School in South Portland for 15 years. She taught students in grades 3 through 5 who had learning disabilities.

She was remembered by her friends Friday as a happy, positive and creative person who had a sense of adventure and a passion for life.

She leaves a son, Andre Condon of Westbrook, and two grandchildren, Adriana and Karalina Condon.

Polly Campbell, a longtime friend, said Ms. Condon had a passion for painting, drawing and making jewelry. After her brain surgery, she still created art. Campbell said she was a great friend.

“She was the kind of friend you could talk to about anything,” Campbell said. “She was someone I had fun with. … I think we are all missing her. She meant so much to so many people.”

Andre Condon said his mother adopted him from Brazil when he was a young boy. He said she devoted her life to making his a better one.

“I love my mom,” he said. “Everything she did was to better my life and to make sure that I didn’t go through hardships. I have learning disabilities. I couldn’t have asked for a better mother. No matter how difficult it was, she always did what it took to make sure I was safe, happy and healthy.”

Ms. Condon was diagnosed with brain cancer a year ago. After her surgery, she experienced some of the same difficulties that her students faced. Geiger said it made her fully appreciate their challenges, obstacles and hardships.

“She would say, ‘Now I know how they feel. I know what it feels like to be in their bodies,’ ” Geiger said. “She never thought about what the disease was doing to her, but how it could help the students she worked with. … She was an inspiration to know. We are so blessed to have had the opportunity to know her.”

Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at: mcreamer@pressherald.com

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