In August 1922, South Bend native Antoinette J. Semortier became the first laywoman to earn a Notre Dame bachelor’s degree. Nine years later, she completed a master’s degree. She was active in and served as secretary of the Women’s Club of the Notre Dame Alumni Association, formed in 1927 for the University’s alumnae. (The Women’s Club published at least three directories of its members, in 1928, 1933 and 1935. The organization seems to have faded away by 1940.)

Born in 1895, Semortier was the daughter of immigrant parents from France and Belgium. Orphaned by her late teens, she graduated from South Bend High School in 1914 and started teaching in the public schools. Semortier took some summer classes at Indiana University before enrolling at Notre Dame.

Semortier worked as a teacher for 62 years. She taught mathematics at South Bend Central High School from 1928 to 1965. Her work included helping students prepare for the annual state mathematics contest. In 1937-38, she taught at Montrose Academy in Angus, Scotland, through a teacher exchange program arranged by the American Association of University Women. She was a member and local chapter president of Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional society for women educators, and taught part-time at Saint Mary's College. From 1965 until her retirement in 1977, she taught in Williamsville, N.Y.

Semortier died at age 95 in 1991 in St. Charles, Missouri, and is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Her younger sister, Constance, became a Holy Cross sister. Sister Mary Augustella Semortier earned a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame in 1927 and later was head librarian at Saint Mary’s College.

02/05/2023 JFC