Cloris Nell Pearson, 73, of Ridgefield, CT, passed peacefully in her home on April 3rd surrounded by her family, due to complications of ALS.

Cloris was born in Wadsworth, OH in 1944, the daughter of Clem and Nellie Clifford.   She graduated from Kent State University in 1965 with a B.S. in Education and from Fairfield University in 1989 with an M.A. in Administration and Supervision.

Cloris was predeceased only a few short days by her husband Edwin Pearson, whom she married in 1984.   She is survived by her son Chad Williams and his wife Katie-Ann of Fort Collins, CO;  daughter Melissa Williams of West Hartford, CT;  and stepdaughter Katy Aylward and her husband Drew of Oakton, VA;  grandchildren Hazel and Olive Williams of Fort Collins, CO and stepgrandchildren Hayes, Grayson and Conley Aylward of Oakton, VA.  Cloris is also survived by two sisters, Maxine Zivick of Rittman, OH and Maver Fitch of Wadsworth, OH.   She was predeceased by brother Calmer Clifford.

Cloris' distinguished career started by teaching high school Spanish and eventually transitioned to teaching elementary school as she and her former husband moved about the country.   She moved to CT in 1977 teaching at Schaghicoke Middle School in New Milford.   In 1984 she began teaching English at East Ridge Middle School in Ridgefield, becoming department leader in 1985.   She taught fourth grade at Scotland School from 1989 to 1990 before taking her first administrative position as Assistant Principal at Ridgefield High School.   In 1995 Cloris took her final and most meaningful position as Principal of Branchville School, which she held until her retirement in 2005.   The Branchville position allowed Cloris to showcase her skills as an educational leader, culminating in a meaningful and lasting impact for the Ridgefield School District.

Upon retirement, Cloris began pursuing her philanthropic interests as a member of the Board of Directors at the Ridgefield Library.   She also began recording books for the blind with Connecticut Volunteer Services for the Blind and Handicapped.   Cloris was also a member of the Board of Directors at the Ridgefield Visiting Nurses Association;  a member of the AAUW Danbury branch;  and served as a member of the Ridgefield Scholarship Board.

Cloris enjoyed engaging with her grandchildren, reading to them and with them. Always an educator, she delighted in watching them learn to read and write, and when Hazel and Olive visited from CO she loved taking them to the Ridgefield Library, the other love of her life, to show them off.

Cloris will be missed on this earth by the many who crossed her path, and the impact in the Ridgefield community and beyond will be felt for eternity.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Visiting Nurses Association, 27 Governor St., Ridgefield, Ct. 06877.