Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday expressed grief over the death of her school teacher Catherine Simon, hailing her as a great influence on her life and an inspiration to girl students.
"I was shocked and grieved to learn of the passing away of Catherine Simon, my teacher in Presentation Convent, Church Park, Chennai," she said.
Stating that Catherine dedicated her life to teaching, she said, "I had the good fortune of being her student," from 1958 to 1964.
"She was a great influence on my life and we shared a very special relationship as a teacher and student."
She said her teacher was an inspiration to generations of girl students and her qualities of compassion and firmness honed hundreds of young people to grow up as responsible citizens.
"May her soul rest in peace," she said.
Catherine Simon (89) died of a cardiac arrest in Chennai yesterday afternoon.