Dedicated Longtime Virginia Educator Leaves $1 Million To School District

Even in her death, a beloved Virginia teacher and counselor has found a way to serve the school and students where she once worked.  

Lillian Orlich died in early March at age 95, leaving behind $1 million to the education foundation SPARK, the Prince William County School district’s education foundation. Orlich spent 64 of her 67 years in education at Prince William County Schools, first as a teacher and then as a counselor.  

“We are deeply saddened by Ms. Orlich’s passing, but the footprints she’s left in our hearts and minds can never be erased," Dr. LaTanya D. McDade, Prince William County Superintendent of Schools said in a release.

“Her legacy lives on in the lives of the students and staff she impacted.”  

Orlich, or “Mrs. O” as she was known on campus, began her career at age 22.  She taught English, American and European History before becoming a school counselor 

In 2013, told WUSA that a highlight for her was when students would come in and say, “Ms. Orlich, you taught my grandad!” 

Orlich consistently arrived to work at Osbourn Park High School so early that she was given keys to open up.  

She wanted “to make sure she got all of the paperwork done so she could spend her time when the students were there with the students," Prince William School Board member Lisa Zargarpur told WUSA. 

Orlich’s generous gift came as no surprise to Zargarpur. 

“This is Lillian Orlich,” she said, “Giving and giving and giving.” 

When she retired in 2017 at age 89, Mrs. O created a $2500 scholarship for a graduating senior at Osbourn Park. 

Orlich’s $1 million donation will be used to expand that scholarship and will also be distributed across the foundation’s six focus areas, which include educator preparedness; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education; and social and emotional learning.

“Miss Lillian Orlich’s devotion to this community is unprecedented because she dedicated her life’s work over the course of the last 3 quarters of a century investing in our future leaders,” Melissa Boyle, President of the SPARK Board of Directors said in a release.

“We are so very honored and proud to continue her legacy through this generous gift. This is a rare and an inspirational moment in this school system.”

Per her wishes, Orlich’s funeral was held at the Osbourn Park High School Auditorium that was dedicated to her in 2003 and her obituary included the message, “I am survived by the many lives helped and touched by my teaching, loving and caring."