Mary Ripley '34

As a young woman in the 1930s, Mary Ripley traveled the world. The Khyber Pass. India. China. The Sahara Desert. And she's still at it. Mary Ripley took her sons on safari in Botswana's Okavango Delta. She was in Berlin with her granddaughter when the wall fell. On a recent trip to Bangladesh, Mary was hard at work on the women's and children's issues that have been a central focus of her life.

"I've had a wonderful life," Mary says with a smile in her voice. "And Marlborough School was an important part of that. I don't know if I can find the words to tell you how much it meant to me. I absolutely loved every single minute of my time there."

Having come to Marlborough from Washington State, Mary boarded at the school. "Marlborough was my home and my family. I was surrounded by stimulation and sheer quality of life. When it came time to graduate and my mother asked me what I would like as a gift, I said that I would like to board there for two more years," laughs Mary.

"I've never forgotten the things I learned at Marlborough. My teachers taught me about beautiful art and music and so many other things that have impacted my life ever since. I learned values there that have stuck with me throughout the years."

"I believe that the opportunity for a private school education is a priceless gift. I want to see Marlborough continue to reach for the highest quality in teachers and education. I would like the students there to emerge with an understanding of the diversity and wonderful possibility of life."

"When I decided to set up a charitable trust, I analyzed why and how I wanted to go about it. I realized that I wanted to make a gift that would be a response to my life. I chose Marlborough because I am so tremendously grateful for what the school did for me. Marlborough prepared me for a full life."