E. Hoadley Cash, a lifelong Montessori educator with teaching experience around the world, passed away on October 16, 2022, at age 100.

Hoadley Cash was born in Houston, TX, on May 8, 1922. She moved to New York City as a toddler and spent her childhood and adolescence there. Later, in 1942, she graduated from New York University with a degree in chemistry and a plan to become a medical doctor.

A year later, she married Hugh P. Cash who shortly thereafter left for the war. Hoadley began working for the New York Herald Tribune as a copyeditor and the Sperry Gyroscope Firm.

Upon Hugh’s return from the war, he attended law school, rejoined the Air Force, and moved the family to South Carolina and later North Carolina. All together, Hoadley and Hugh would be married for 64 years and their family would grow to include three children (Paul, Brian, and Elvira), four grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

After some time in North Carolina, the Cash’s moved to Wiesbaden, Germany where Hugh was stationed. Their son Paul was enrolled in a Montessori school and Hoadley began to volunteer in the classroom. She would volunteer in his classroom until they returned to the United States in 1952. The exposure to the Montessori Method changed Hoadley’s career path and she told her daughter about having met Dr. Montessori.

For years, Hoadley taught in Montessori schools in various communities based on where her husband was stationed (Texas, Okinawa, and Missouri). Once the family had settled in Connecticut, there was stability for Hoadley to open her own school—The Hoadley School—where she operated several Montessori training workshops and courses. These schools were located in Waterbury (Preschool); Cheshire (Preschool – 8th grade); and Milldale (Preschool – 8th grade).

Throughout her career in education, Hoadley also tutored special needs and gifted students. She spoke and presented at many Montessori workshops, conventions, and schools, and had several teacher training sessions at The Hoadley School before closing the schools in 1990.

She was passionate about reading, gardening, baking, and traveling. While living overseas, she prided herself on linguistics, learning German, Japanese, and Italian. Later in life, she took up learning Chinese calligraphy. She continued to travel, visiting family in Arizona, South Carolina, Tennessee, California, and North Carolina. At age 94 she visited Alaska and at age 99, Yosemite National Park.

Her daughter, Elvira, spoke of her legacy, “my mom was such a Montessori advocate and supporter for any school. My brothers and I and our children/grandchildren are prime examples of what her forward thinking did for our belief in how important early education is.” 

About the Author

Elizabeth Buechele (she/her) is the senior manager of communication and development at the American Montessori Society. She is passionate about equitable education, youth leadership, and storytelling. Contact her at liz@amshq.org.

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The opinions expressed in Montessori Life are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of AMS.