Quiet and somewhat bashful, Marina Molinaro shed her shyness in the Chicago classrooms where she taught during her 40-year career. “Basically she was a nurturing person and was, in many respects, kind of shy and introverted, but in the classroom she was just the opposite,” said her son Michael. “She enjoyed being with the students, and it really brought a lot of things out of her.” Mrs. Molinaro, 90, formerly of Chicago’s West Rogers Park neighborhood, died of kidney failure, Monday, April 11, in Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. “I think in her day, for women that were educated, teaching was sort of the logical path that they followed and where the opportunities were,” her son said. “She really enjoyed teaching and the nurturing process that many teachers exhibit. She was the one person I knew who loved her job, loved going to work.” Born Marina Indovina, she grew up on the South Side before graduating from the University of Chicago in 1938 with a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages. She began teaching in the Chicago Public Schools after she received her teaching certificate in 1940. Most of her career was spent teaching 6th grade at Kilmer Elementary in Rogers Park. Other survivors include another son, John, and three grandchildren. Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Immaculate Conception Church, 134 W. Arthur St., Elmhurst.
