Friends and colleagues gathered at the Darien Nature Center on June 8 to celebrate the retirement of Ox Ridge Elementary School Principal John Rechi after 26 years at the school. Rechi, who was hired as the school principal as a young man with a great belief in children, created close bonds with countless students, colleagues, and parents. Respected for his hands-on, interactive approach, the gregarious administrator is famous for remembering the names of students current and past, and for genuinely trying to connect and keep up with them.
The respect and admiration felt for Rechi was evident in the turnout for the party: 400 people came out to support him at the tribute.
Three days later, on June 11, the Ox Ridge Elementary held John Rechi Day to further celebrate his career as an educator. Students honored him by sporting white T-shirts with the words “World’s Greatest Principal.” The children also played games and sang songs about him.