Melanie Joy Catteau Class of 1973
1972 and 1973 were years of “Historic Firsts”. Skylab – the first space station was launched. Title IX, guaranteeing girls the same academic and athletic opportunities as their male counterparts, was passed. Shirley Chisolm became the first African American woman to run for President and the FBI began hiring female agents for the first time. 1973 saw the signing of the Paris Peace Accords which ended direct involvement in Vietnam, just as the Watergate scandal was rapidly unfolding. The Supreme Court overruled states’ ban on abortion with Roe vs. Wade. The “Battle of the Sexes” was played and resulted in Billy Jean King defeating Bobby Riggs. And on Freeport Avenue in West Methuen, Massachusetts, a beautiful young woman was about to become the first female graduate of the “Voke”, Greater Lawrence Regional Technical High School.
Melanie Joy Catteau was raised by her parents Ronald and Patricia (Snow) Catteau – both lifelong residents of Methuen. They were typical of their age, marrying right after high school before Ronald went off to serve his country in World War II, leaving behind his bride and joining the Navy. When the war ended they did what their generation did – settled down and started a family. Ronald and Patricia had four children, Ronda, Karen, Melanie and Todd. Patricia was a stay at home mom and Ronald owned the Methuen Monument Company on Broadway.
Melanie was a typical child of the 70’s, says her brother Todd who now resides in Texas, her room was filled with peace signs, beads and the music of Pink Floyd. She was very musical, playing the family piano, guitar and harmonica in a house usually overflowing with friends – she was the life of the party.
When the Voke announced that they were going to start accepting women Melanie didn’t hesitate to apply. “Someone had to break that barrier and it was no surprise that it was her,” Todd said. Melanie transferred from Tenney High School and took her place as the only female in a class of 124 men. She enrolled in Data Processing, served as a leader of the Student Council, was co-captain of the cheerleading squad and played basketball her senior year. Her ambition, she stated in her yearbook caption, was to become a model. Melanie had secured a few paying modeling jobs – but she was also practical and wanted to further her education. She enrolled in classes at Northern Essex Community College after graduating.
“Melanie took great pride in being the first” according to her sisters, Ronda Hall and Karen Belanger, both of whom still live in the area. “She was never afraid and wanted to prove that a woman could do whatever a man could do.” She never shied away from the spotlight. Her Christian faith was very important to Melanie, her brother expressed and said it was very fitting that her middle name was Joy. Her smile and her spirit were infectious.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the first woman graduate from the Greater Lawrence Technical School. Melanie’s spirit is reflected in the young women that eagerly enroll in non-traditional pathways at GLTS. Unfortunately, we’ll never know what else this pioneering young woman would have accomplished in her life. One year after graduation, in 1974, she was involved in a fatal car accident.
“We are so sad she left us so soon, but we hope her courage and determination to be the first female graduate at GLTS can, even after 45 years, be an inspiration to others to pursue their dreams and goals,” said Todd.