Mary M. Oppenhimer

OPPENHIMER, Mary Moylan Thornton, age 82, was known affectionately as Mimi throughout her life. She died peacefully on April 30, 2017 surrounded by her family. She was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1935, daughter of the late Jane Douthat Riddle Thornton and Barbour Newman Thornton. She is survived by her three children: Jane Oppenhimer Wilson and her husband Charles, William Mayo Oppenhimer, Jr., and Alexander Wise Oppenhimer and his wife Laura. In addition, she leaves behind six beloved grandchildren: Hunter, Marshall, and Sam Wilson and Alec, Will, and Barbour Oppenhimer. She also is survived by her sister Tabb Thornton Farinholt, her husband Blair, and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Mimi resided for her last few years at the Williamsburg Landing and was always complimentary of their caring and devoted staff. She spent the majority of her life in Richmond, a city which she dearly loved. There as a youth she attended the Collegiate School for Girls, where she forged lifelong friendships. She continued to meet with her Collegiate friends regularly, right up to the end of her life. From Collegiate she went on to Sweet Briar College – another school that she held in high esteem – graduating Phi Beta Kappa. She spent her junior year abroad studying at St. Andrews in Scotland. Her red St. Andrews gown always hung in her closet; and paintings of the famed buildings and grounds adorned her walls.

In 1970 Mimi began a teaching career at St. Catherine's School in Richmond. While teaching at St. Catherine's and raising her three children, she studied at the University of Richmond receiving a master's degree in literature. Her role as a high school English teacher was a labor of love that lasted 28 years, earned a record number of teacher of the year honors, and positioned her as head of the English department. She was a perfect fit for the job being both a natural anglophile and grammarian. She loved reading and writing (but not arithmetic). Her St. Catherine's friendships also endured throughout her lifetime.

She was prized by hundreds of her students, many of whom can still recite the opening lines of the Canterbury Tales in Middle English; although they probably never do. Another source of enjoyment and devotion was Mimi's garden. She could frequently be found designing, re-designing, planting and uprooting in a constant pursuit of perfection. She was an ardent Democrat and loved engaging in lively political discussions.

Mimi's greatest joy was the time she spent with family and friends. A celebration and remembrance of Mimi's life will be held at St. James's Episcopal Church in Richmond, VA on Friday, May 5, 2017 at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Catherine's School Foundation, 6001 Grove Avenue, Richmond, VA 23226 or on-line at www.st.catherines.org.