Mirich, Pearl

Pearl Mirich, 98, of 1830 Glendale Rd. in Iowa City, died Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009, following a short illness. As per Pearl's wishes her body was cremated and a private family inurnment will be held in Mount Vernon Cemetery. In accordance with her wishes, a memorial service will not be held. Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids is in charge of arrangements.

Pearl was born Dec. 8, 1910, in Mount Vernon, the youngest of the eight children of Pearl Dodge Rumble and Clarence H. Rumble. The family moved to Cedar Rapids in 1917 where she attended old Jackson School, McKinley Junior High and old Washington High School. She graduated from Cornell College in 1933, Phi Beta Kappa, B.A. She taught high school in Prophetstown High School from 1935 to 1940.

She was married to Mark Mirich on June 19, 1937, in Golden, Colo. Her husband died in 1948 and she returned to teaching. From 1949 to 1976, she taught language arts and social studies at Roosevelt Junior High School in Cedar Rapids. She attended summer sessions at the University of Iowa, earning a M.A. in English in 1955. After her retirement from public school teaching she taught English as a second language at Kirkwood Community College, and from 1980 to 1985, was coordinator of the Kirkwood volunteer tutor program for ESL.

While living in Cedar Rapids she was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church. She was active in a number of organizations: College Club, American Federation of Teachers, NOW, The Women's Political Caucus, League of Women Voters, United Nations Association of the USA, ACLU and the Democratic Party. She was a charter member of the Common Cause and Public Citizen.

During the 1960s she joined N.A.A.C.P. and worked with the civil rights movement as a member of the human relations council which preceded the establishment of the official Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission. She was also active in the peace movement and anti-nuclear protests. In 1980, she was one of five women who received plaques “In recognition of contributions to the Linn County Community” on Women's Equality Day.

Survivors include her daughters, Diane Barrett and Carol Sokoloff of Iowa City; three grandchildren, Mark and Steven Barrett and Greta Sokoloff; and six great-grandchildren, Kellen and Claire Barrett of Iowa City, Cameron Barrett of Iowa City and Keegan, Wyatt and Madison Barrett of Northwoods, N.H.

Memorials may be made to UNICEF through the Cedar Rapids or Iowa City United Nations Association (www.unaiowa.org).

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