An elderly woman with white curly hair playing tennis on an outdoor court, swinging her racket toward a yellow tennis ball.

Meet Our Founder, Lucille

Lucille Rader devoted her life to education. Through her commitment to teaching, her belief in young women, and her generosity toward others, she helped shape the lives of countless people, both inside and beyond the classroom. She also found joy in sports and writing, lifelong interests that she sought to share with others.

Lucille’s Life

Small-Town Beginnings

1923

Born Margaret Lucille Keating on May 1st in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, to Agnes Walsh Keating and Edward Keating. The second daughter in a family that would later relocate to Los Angeles, California.

Catholic School Star

1941

Graduated from Los Angeles Catholic Girls High School, Bishop Conaty Memorial (now Bishop Conaty–Our Lady of Loretto High School), completing her education in Catholic schools that shaped her future path.

Taking the Veil

1941

Joined the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a California-based religious community focused on education, taking the religious name Sister Mary Matthew. This marked the beginning of her lifelong dedication to teaching.

PhD in a Habit

Taught in elementary and high schools throughout the Los Angeles diocese while simultaneously pursuing her own education, ultimately earning a PhD in French from Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada—a testament to her belief in lifelong learning.

1940s–1960s

New Life, New Love

1970–1972

When the Immaculate Heart of Mary religious order disbanded in 1970, Lucille continued her teaching career in the Los Angeles Unified School District and Catholic high schools. In 1972, she married Paul Rader, beginning a new chapter of her life.

From Hollywood to France

Taught French and English as a Second Language at Hollywood High and Belmont Adult Schools before moving to the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies, a magnet school. In 1988, returned to teaching, primarily at Immaculate Heart High School, while leading French interest groups on tours of France, volunteering at her parish (Corpus Christi in the Pacific Palisades), playing tennis, attending UCLA classes, and enjoying the arts throughout Los Angeles.

1972–1998

Building Her Legacy

Officially retired at age 75 in 1998, yet remained deeply connected to the students whose lives she had touched. In 2000, founded the Lucille Rader Education Foundation, combining her dedication to quality education, passion for young women's empowerment, and love of team sports.

1998–2015

A Living Legacy

Lucille Rader's impact extends far beyond the classroom. Her dedication to quality education, particularly for young women, and her belief in the character-building power of team sports led her to create something extraordinary.

Black and white photo of an elderly woman with short, curly hair, smiling, wearing a sleeveless patterned dress, leaning forward.

Lucille’s Life in Photos

  • Three women standing outdoors in front of a brick building, lifting their legs in a playful manner. The woman on the left has curly red hair, glasses, and is holding a camera. The woman in the middle has short brown hair and is smiling. The woman on the right has white hair, is wearing a white t-shirt with colorful designs and purple shorts.

    This photo epitomizes Lucille (right), who always found a reason to be have fun

  • Black and white vintage photograph of seven women with curly hair, smiling and posing together outdoors in front of a brick wall.

    Lucille (in the white sweater, eating an apple), surrounded by her classmates at Our Lady of Loretto High School (now Bishop Conaty - Our Lady of Loretto High)

  • Three young women in old-fashioned dark dresses with white collars, wearing tall hats, standing outdoors in front of a stone wall and a tree, smiling and posing for the photograph.

    Lucille (far right) and friends, ready for a musical number

  • A woman dressed as a nun smiling and holding a book, standing in front of steps with other people in the background.

    Sister Mary Matthew (Lucille), greeting parishioners as they enter a church

  • Two women dressed as nuns standing outdoors near a stone wall, plants, and a sign that reads 'Brookside WINE STORE'.

    Sister Mary Matthew (Lucille), with another Immaculate Heart sister

  • A woman with short gray hair smiling at a man with glasses, dark hair, and brown facial hair, outdoors with trees in the background.

    Lucille and Paul Rader, at their wedding

  • A woman and a man smiling and looking at each other, standing in front of a green chalkboard with handwritten notes.

    Lucille and Paul, as newlyweds in her classroom

  • A smiling elderly woman sitting in a chair with a man standing beside her, holding her hand. The man is wearing glasses and a white shirt, and the woman has white hair and is dressed in a blue top with a white apron featuring a red checkered pocket.

    Lucille and Paul Rader, in their home in Pacific Palisades

  • Two elderly women are smiling and joyfully playing together during a social gathering. They are holding hands and appear to be dancing or celebrating in a warmly lit room with a chandelier and other people in the background.

    Lucille and her dearest friend, Genevieve; together, they were the life of the party (many of which were hosted in Lucille's Pacific Palisades home)

  • Seven women sitting and lying on sofas in a living room with wood-paneled walls, smiling and relaxing.

    Lucille (far left), shown sitting on the floor in front of Sandra Arnold. Sandra was in Lucille's very first class at St. Anthony's and would remain in touch with Lucille throughout her life. Sandra helped guide Lucille's care in her final years and was on the first LREF board.

  • Older woman with short white hair standing outdoors with a scenic mountainous valley in the background.

    Lucille, on a hike in France, a country she visited with her French students

  • A young man and an elderly woman smiling in front of a Greyhound bus.

    Lucille and Mateo, a foreign exchange student from Spain, whom she hosted in her home for a year. They stayed in contact with each other long after he returned to Spain.

  • Two women standing on a baseball field, smiling and posing for the photo. One woman has short white hair and glasses, wearing a patterned blouse with pink flowers, and a black jacket. The other woman has shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a black coat and a choker necklace. There are trees and a few other people in the background.

    Lucille, attending a former student's college graduation

  • Three women standing together outdoors, with a river and a cityscape in the background, smiling at the camera.

    Lucille and friends, traveling in Europe

  • An elderly woman with white hair playing tennis on a court.

    Lucille took up tennis later in life, and developed an incredible forehand volley; she could rally with her professional coach, many years her junior

  • Two women stand on a tennis court holding tennis rackets, smiling, with a building, a fence, and blue sky in the background.

    Lucille and her friend Melinda, who helped Lucille with her tennis game; Lucille continued to play tennis into her late 80s

  • A group of mostly older women smiling and posing together outdoors, some wearing Christmas-themed sweaters, during daytime.

    Lucille and the "Lunch Bunch," a collection of former Immaculate Heart nuns who met about once a month; these get-togethers were an integral part of Lucille's life

  • An elderly woman and a man playing an accordion outdoors, both smiling, with trees and parked cars in the background.

    Lucille enjoying a glass of wine, while listening to an accordionist in France

  • An older woman with white hair stands on a rocky beach, smiling at the camera, wearing a bright pink T-shirt, black leggings, and white sneakers with pink accents, with the ocean, rocks, and hillside with trees in the background.

    Lucille, on a beach walk

  • A young man embraces an elderly woman in a room decorated with American flags and religious symbols.

    Lucille and Alvin Lamarre (LREF President), at the rehearsal dinner for his wedding in April of 2002

  • Black and white cat standing on a bathroom sink with yellow striped wallpaper, towel racks, and towels in the background.

    Shayna, Lucille's cat, which she rescued late in her life

  • A young woman and an elderly woman standing together, smiling for the photo. The young woman is wearing a burgundy uniform with a white collar, and the elderly woman has short white hair and is wearing glasses and a dark jacket.

    Lucille and Monica Cruz of Ramona Convent High School; Monica was one of two winners of the 2003 LREF Scholarship

  • An elderly woman with white hair and sunglasses standing next to a young woman with long, wavy blonde hair, both smiling, outdoors with green leafy plants in the background.

    Lucille with 2005 Scholarship Winner, Karey Kowalski from St. Lucy's Priory High School

  • Two women standing hand in hand in a field of orange flowers under a clear blue sky.

    Lucille and Erma, her caregiver, enjoying a photo in a field of poppy blooms in Antelope Valley