Eileen E. Carpenter Bernstorf passed into eternal life March 5, 2016. Born March 29, 1922 her early years were spent in Butler, Indiana. She was the oldest of four children, with one surviving sister. She began her early education in a two-room country schoolhouse and continued in Butler schools from seventh grade through high school. The only female in the science program at Purdue University at a time when few women went to college, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Textile Chemistry in the early 1940's.
In 1944, Eileen married E. C. (Cran) Bernstorf (deceased). By 1956, they were blessed with four children, Robert C. Bernstorf (deceased), Linda S. Bernstorf, Steven W. Bernstorf, and James R. Bernstorf; 8 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and sister, Elinor Moss. In 1957, they moved to Karachi, Pakistan where Dr. Bernstorf was part of the Indiana University School of Medicine Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center Project and Mrs. Bernstorf taught science at the Trinity Methodist High School for girls.
In 1963, the Bernstorf family returned to the states and settled in Nashville, TN. Dr. Bernstorf accepted a position teaching at Meharry Medical College and Mrs. Bernstorf focused on raising four children. In 1967, Eileen and her neighbor started the first Montessori school in Nashville. Her neighbor moved away and Eileen continued, eventually purchasing the house next door and changing the name to Montessori Centre. She obtained a Master's degree in Montessori education from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio in 1978 and expanded to lower elementary using her home on Granny White Pike.
Her incredible vision for Montessori education in Middle Tennessee led her to purchase 24 acres of farm land in the Brentwood area. She and Dr. Bernstorf purchased the land in 1985 and by 1986 the first classes were in operation. The campus now consists of five buildings with a total of fifty thousand square feet under roof. It is one of the largest, private, accredited, nonprofit Montessori schools in the United States. Montessori Academy is the only school in Middle Tennessee that is accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS) and AdvancEd. These accreditations reflect Eileen's personal focus on academic excellence and high standards in education.
Eileen's impact on education began with her own children. Robert, Steven, and James all obtained doctorate degrees, and Linda obtained a Master's degree plus 2 Montessori credentials. Each of them married spouses with Master's degrees. Her influence on the greater Montessori community extended to the Belmont University Montessori Program (now closed) with Dr. Merrie King, who also started the Ithika Montessori School. She had great influence on Abintra Montessori School, located in West Meade, in its early years. Montessori Academy was the model for the first public Montessori school in Nashville, Hull Jackson Montessori School. Many former teachers received their start in Montessori education from Mrs. Bernstorf and have moved to other schools, including, Terri Sampson, head of Lamplighter Montessori School in Memphis, and Reanna Sarieh, head of Bambini Village in Murfreesboro, TN.
In 2006, Mrs. Eileen Bernstorf was honored by Bank of America as a "Local Hero" for her outstanding contribution to education and to the city of Nashville. In 2010, the State of Tennessee House Joint Resolution #994 honored Mrs. Bernstorf for her lifetime contribution to education on the occasion of her retirement.
Services will be held at Brentwood United Methodist Church, 309 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027 on Monday, March 14, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. with visitation from 1 - 2 P.M. The Family will have a private interment at Christ Church Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Mrs. Bernstorf's life be honored with donations to Montessori Academy that will extend educational benefits for children who are recipients of her life's work. Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, Directors 615-331-1952 Still Family Owned.
Published in Tennessean on Mar. 10, 2016
In 1944, Eileen married E. C. (Cran) Bernstorf (deceased). By 1956, they were blessed with four children, Robert C. Bernstorf (deceased), Linda S. Bernstorf, Steven W. Bernstorf, and James R. Bernstorf; 8 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and sister, Elinor Moss. In 1957, they moved to Karachi, Pakistan where Dr. Bernstorf was part of the Indiana University School of Medicine Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center Project and Mrs. Bernstorf taught science at the Trinity Methodist High School for girls.
In 1963, the Bernstorf family returned to the states and settled in Nashville, TN. Dr. Bernstorf accepted a position teaching at Meharry Medical College and Mrs. Bernstorf focused on raising four children. In 1967, Eileen and her neighbor started the first Montessori school in Nashville. Her neighbor moved away and Eileen continued, eventually purchasing the house next door and changing the name to Montessori Centre. She obtained a Master's degree in Montessori education from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio in 1978 and expanded to lower elementary using her home on Granny White Pike.
Her incredible vision for Montessori education in Middle Tennessee led her to purchase 24 acres of farm land in the Brentwood area. She and Dr. Bernstorf purchased the land in 1985 and by 1986 the first classes were in operation. The campus now consists of five buildings with a total of fifty thousand square feet under roof. It is one of the largest, private, accredited, nonprofit Montessori schools in the United States. Montessori Academy is the only school in Middle Tennessee that is accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS) and AdvancEd. These accreditations reflect Eileen's personal focus on academic excellence and high standards in education.
Eileen's impact on education began with her own children. Robert, Steven, and James all obtained doctorate degrees, and Linda obtained a Master's degree plus 2 Montessori credentials. Each of them married spouses with Master's degrees. Her influence on the greater Montessori community extended to the Belmont University Montessori Program (now closed) with Dr. Merrie King, who also started the Ithika Montessori School. She had great influence on Abintra Montessori School, located in West Meade, in its early years. Montessori Academy was the model for the first public Montessori school in Nashville, Hull Jackson Montessori School. Many former teachers received their start in Montessori education from Mrs. Bernstorf and have moved to other schools, including, Terri Sampson, head of Lamplighter Montessori School in Memphis, and Reanna Sarieh, head of Bambini Village in Murfreesboro, TN.
In 2006, Mrs. Eileen Bernstorf was honored by Bank of America as a "Local Hero" for her outstanding contribution to education and to the city of Nashville. In 2010, the State of Tennessee House Joint Resolution #994 honored Mrs. Bernstorf for her lifetime contribution to education on the occasion of her retirement.
Services will be held at Brentwood United Methodist Church, 309 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027 on Monday, March 14, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. with visitation from 1 - 2 P.M. The Family will have a private interment at Christ Church Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Mrs. Bernstorf's life be honored with donations to Montessori Academy that will extend educational benefits for children who are recipients of her life's work. Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, Directors 615-331-1952 Still Family Owned.
Published in Tennessean on Mar. 10, 2016
Eileen E. Carpenter Bernstorf passed into eternal life March 5, 2016. Born March 29, 1922 her early years were spent in Butler, Indiana. She was the oldest of four children, with one surviving sister. She began her early education in a two-room country schoolhouse and continued in Butler schools from seventh grade through high school. The only female in the science program at Purdue University at a time when few women went to college, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Textile Chemistry in the early 1940's.
In 1944, Eileen married E. C. (Cran) Bernstorf (deceased). By 1956, they were blessed with four children, Robert C. Bernstorf (deceased), Linda S. Bernstorf, Steven W. Bernstorf, and James R. Bernstorf; 8 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and sister, Elinor Moss. In 1957, they moved to Karachi, Pakistan where Dr. Bernstorf was part of the Indiana University School of Medicine Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center Project and Mrs. Bernstorf taught science at the Trinity Methodist High School for girls.
In 1963, the Bernstorf family returned to the states and settled in Nashville, TN. Dr. Bernstorf accepted a position teaching at Meharry Medical College and Mrs. Bernstorf focused on raising four children. In 1967, Eileen and her neighbor started the first Montessori school in Nashville. Her neighbor moved away and Eileen continued, eventually purchasing the house next door and changing the name to Montessori Centre. She obtained a Master's degree in Montessori education from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio in 1978 and expanded to lower elementary using her home on Granny White Pike.
Her incredible vision for Montessori education in Middle Tennessee led her to purchase 24 acres of farm land in the Brentwood area. She and Dr. Bernstorf purchased the land in 1985 and by 1986 the first classes were in operation. The campus now consists of five buildings with a total of fifty thousand square feet under roof. It is one of the largest, private, accredited, nonprofit Montessori schools in the United States. Montessori Academy is the only school in Middle Tennessee that is accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS) and AdvancEd. These accreditations reflect Eileen's personal focus on academic excellence and high standards in education.
Eileen's impact on education began with her own children. Robert, Steven, and James all obtained doctorate degrees, and Linda obtained a Master's degree plus 2 Montessori credentials. Each of them married spouses with Master's degrees. Her influence on the greater Montessori community extended to the Belmont University Montessori Program (now closed) with Dr. Merrie King, who also started the Ithika Montessori School. She had great influence on Abintra Montessori School, located in West Meade, in its early years. Montessori Academy was the model for the first public Montessori school in Nashville, Hull Jackson Montessori School. Many former teachers received their start in Montessori education from Mrs. Bernstorf and have moved to other schools, including, Terri Sampson, head of Lamplighter Montessori School in Memphis, and Reanna Sarieh, head of Bambini Village in Murfreesboro, TN.
In 2006, Mrs. Eileen Bernstorf was honored by Bank of America as a "Local Hero" for her outstanding contribution to education and to the city of Nashville. In 2010, the State of Tennessee House Joint Resolution #994 honored Mrs. Bernstorf for her lifetime contribution to education on the occasion of her retirement.
Services will be held at Brentwood United Methodist Church, 309 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027 on Monday, March 14, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. with visitation from 1 - 2 P.M. The Family will have a private interment at Christ Church Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Mrs. Bernstorf's life be honored with donations to Montessori Academy that will extend educational benefits for children who are recipients of her life's work. Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, Directors 615-331-1952 Still Family Owned.
Published in Tennessean on Mar. 10, 2016
In 1944, Eileen married E. C. (Cran) Bernstorf (deceased). By 1956, they were blessed with four children, Robert C. Bernstorf (deceased), Linda S. Bernstorf, Steven W. Bernstorf, and James R. Bernstorf; 8 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and sister, Elinor Moss. In 1957, they moved to Karachi, Pakistan where Dr. Bernstorf was part of the Indiana University School of Medicine Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center Project and Mrs. Bernstorf taught science at the Trinity Methodist High School for girls.
In 1963, the Bernstorf family returned to the states and settled in Nashville, TN. Dr. Bernstorf accepted a position teaching at Meharry Medical College and Mrs. Bernstorf focused on raising four children. In 1967, Eileen and her neighbor started the first Montessori school in Nashville. Her neighbor moved away and Eileen continued, eventually purchasing the house next door and changing the name to Montessori Centre. She obtained a Master's degree in Montessori education from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio in 1978 and expanded to lower elementary using her home on Granny White Pike.
Her incredible vision for Montessori education in Middle Tennessee led her to purchase 24 acres of farm land in the Brentwood area. She and Dr. Bernstorf purchased the land in 1985 and by 1986 the first classes were in operation. The campus now consists of five buildings with a total of fifty thousand square feet under roof. It is one of the largest, private, accredited, nonprofit Montessori schools in the United States. Montessori Academy is the only school in Middle Tennessee that is accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS) and AdvancEd. These accreditations reflect Eileen's personal focus on academic excellence and high standards in education.
Eileen's impact on education began with her own children. Robert, Steven, and James all obtained doctorate degrees, and Linda obtained a Master's degree plus 2 Montessori credentials. Each of them married spouses with Master's degrees. Her influence on the greater Montessori community extended to the Belmont University Montessori Program (now closed) with Dr. Merrie King, who also started the Ithika Montessori School. She had great influence on Abintra Montessori School, located in West Meade, in its early years. Montessori Academy was the model for the first public Montessori school in Nashville, Hull Jackson Montessori School. Many former teachers received their start in Montessori education from Mrs. Bernstorf and have moved to other schools, including, Terri Sampson, head of Lamplighter Montessori School in Memphis, and Reanna Sarieh, head of Bambini Village in Murfreesboro, TN.
In 2006, Mrs. Eileen Bernstorf was honored by Bank of America as a "Local Hero" for her outstanding contribution to education and to the city of Nashville. In 2010, the State of Tennessee House Joint Resolution #994 honored Mrs. Bernstorf for her lifetime contribution to education on the occasion of her retirement.
Services will be held at Brentwood United Methodist Church, 309 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027 on Monday, March 14, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. with visitation from 1 - 2 P.M. The Family will have a private interment at Christ Church Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Mrs. Bernstorf's life be honored with donations to Montessori Academy that will extend educational benefits for children who are recipients of her life's work. Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, Directors 615-331-1952 Still Family Owned.
Published in Tennessean on Mar. 10, 2016
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