Michele Marie
Munnelly, 91
Michele Marie Munnelly, nee Pourtale, died peacefully at Gilchrist Hospice Care in Towson, Maryland on April 18, 2024.
Born and raised in Paris, France Michele studied with Mario Montessori, Marie Montessori's son. She came to the United States in 1958 to be a teacher at The Whitby School in Greenwich, Connecticut, which was the first AMS Montessori School in the United States. At Whitby she met Eugene McLean Munnelly, and they married in 1961.
In 1970, Michele and Gene moved to Salisbury, Maryland when Gene was named as the founding headmaster of the Salisbury School in Salisbury, Maryland. For the next 15 years Gene and Michele, organized, taught and were the central core of the school's establishment, now enlarged and successful for over 50 years.
In 1985 Michele and Gene relocated to Towson, Maryland where Michele volunteered at Child Life at John's Hopkins Children's Center, Head Start sponsored daycare for children with HIV and lastly at Gilchrist Hospice Care.
Michele donated her remains to the Anatomy Board of Maryland to be used for medical research. Contributions in her memory can be made to Glichrist Hospice Care, 11311 McCormick Road, Suite 350 Hunt Valley, Md. 21031
Michele was predeceased by her husband in 2010. She is survived by her daughter, Alexandra Munnelly Chrostowski of Moorestown, N.J.; son in law, Toby Chrostowski; and three grandsons, Griffin McLean, Tanner John and Kade Nicholas; and her sister, Laurence Pourtale, Paris, France; and numerous nieces and nephews.