Charles River School Says Goodbye To Beloved Director Of Admissions Mimi Earley After 29 Years

With tears, hugs, and a palpable sense of community, the Charles River School said goodbye to their beloved Director of Admissions Mimi Earley after 29 years.

In the Foster Hall auditorium on a rainy Sunday morning, there were students, parents, alumni, faculty, and family that had come to show their support for Earley.

Head of the Charles River School Cathy Gately said it was Earley’s talent that helped to create a sense of community at the school. “It’s natural for her,” said Gately, to which came a reply from a child in the audience, “Of course!”

 Gately said that when Earley announced her resignation, she said she wanted no party and no speeches. With a smile Gately welcomed three speakers to talk about what Mimi means to them.

Peter Ruscitto knew her for 35 years, first when Earley was a parent in the school and then as a co-worker. 

Ruscitto said they quickly became friends and was even able to claim her children as his own in order for them to receive free tuition for two weeks at a summer camp he was counselor at.

Now retired, Ruscitto said he looks forward to, “sharing funny stories together,” with Earley.

Nicky Dowell, a former student at Charles River School, class of ’92, hailed Earley as one of her true inspirations.

“Nothing in the world would have stood in the way of me being here,” Dowell said. 

Dowell said one of her fondest memories was the early morning breakfasts she shared with Earley after commuting to the school from Boston. The two would share a cinnamon roll and talk of Dowell’s ambitions. 

When choosing schools, Earley drove Dowell to interview at Goucher College in Maryland. “I am who I am because of you,” Dowell said with tears in eyes and a tissue in her hand. 

Mike Earley, an alumnus of the school spoke as well. He said his mother would never have stayed so long just to support a curriculum. “It was always about the people,” he said.  

He recalled a teacher at private school in Westwood telling his mother that her son Matthew needed to get a haircut because he kept being mistaken for a girl.  He said she yanked him out and put him right in the Charles River School. 

“She doesn’t believe anyone anywhere does what the Charles River School does,” he said.  He recalled her favorite poem by Dylan Thomas, “A Poem for October” and said that in her similar  “thirtieth year to heaven,” he discovered that Charles River School is his mother’s “heart’s truth.”

Then with tearful trepidation Earley herself briefly thanked everyone.

“It is an overwhelming turnout,” she said with tissues in hand. “You have been my ultimate joy,” she stated, looking at the students surrounding the podium she said, “You are so lucky to be in a wonderful school like this and I thank you all.” 

She then walked around the podium, began hugging students one by one, but before long she was enveloped by tiny arms.