Announcing the Retirement of Ruth Chen

This fall Head of School Julia de la Torre announced the retirement of Assistant to the Head of School and Associate Head of School Ruth Chen at the end of the school year. Below is her message to the community:

Dear MFS Community Members,

Ruth Chen has been a steady, calm, and welcoming presence in the Head’s Office for years, and after an impressive 34 years of service to Moorestown Friends School, Ruth will retire at the end of this school year. She is the third-longest-serving staff member at MFS.

Back in 1987, Ruth joined the MFS Development Office as the director’s administrative assistant. Her daughters Vicki (‘02) and Sammy (‘12) both started their education at MFS in Prekindergarten and Kindergarten, respectively. Since 2006, Ruth has served as the Assistant to the Head of School and Associate Head of School, where she has provided a professional and steady presence. If you’ve ever visited the Head’s office, you’ve likely encountered Ruth’s warmth and optimism. Much of what Ruth does every day is behind the scenes and less visible to the broader community. There is an incredible breadth to what Ruth does every day, though, from managing events and calendars to supporting the work of the School Committee. Every faculty and staff member knows that Ruth truly holds the school together and does so with little desire for attention or fanfare. When you ask Ruth about her work, she humbly shares that she is just proud to serve the school and to do the best job possible. Ruth’s work ethic and attention to detail are beyond compare, and she raises the bar for everyone around her.

Perhaps more importantly, Ruth offers an empathetic and kind presence to every person who enters the school. She has an unbelievable ability to calm people and engage them with her sense of humor and reassuring demeanor. Always ready with candy from her jar to make the day a bit easier, she is quick to meet people’s needs and anticipate what would make them more comfortable.

Ruth cares deeply for Moorestown Friends School and has always put the needs of the school first. As much as I can’t imagine my daily life without her, I am glad to know that Ruth will be able to put herself and her family first as she transitions into retirement together with her husband, Tony. We are sure that post-pandemic, Ruth will be eager to travel again and spend time with her daughters, both in the United States and abroad.

Please join me in thanking Ruth for her many contributions to the school. She will be greatly missed.

With gratitude,

Julia de la Torre
Head of School