Mario Montessori

A portrait

An extraordinary, simple man

Mario Montessori was a simple man, an innocent man — extremely generous, shy and exuberant, contemplative and active. He loved life passionately and remained young till the day he died. He loved the earth, the sky, the storms and the sea. He loved to ride, to row and to swim. Always impeccably groomed, he liked good clothes; he loved giving extravagant presents; he loved food, music and song.

He was a born teacher. He loved children and especially tiny babies, whom he called “miracle makers,” and with whom he held long conversations — conversations the newborns, staring at his lips, followed with fascination.

“He loved children and especially tiny babies whom he called miracle makers, and with whom he held long conversations, which the newborns, staring at his lips, followed with fascination.” — Marilena Henny–Montessori

A conscious and free choice

His love for his mother and her work

All his many loves were nothing compared to his love for his mother and her work — an all-encompassing love which dominated his whole existence. His dedication was a conscious and free choice. He was almost fifteen when he first knew and lived with her — too late for a subconscious attachment to explain it. He lived for her, with her, but not through her.

The remarkable thing about this man, with no real scholastic or academic background, was the clarity of his total understanding of the workings of her mind. His intuitive intelligence allowed him to keep abreast with her quantum leaps — even sometimes arriving just ahead, enabling her to soar further. Thanks to him, she never suffered the isolation common to genius.

How Mario shaped the movement

Collaborator, organiser, guardian

The pillar of her work

He continued her fight after she died

As the years advanced, their complicity became total. By protecting Maria from practical details, Mario enabled her to concentrate fully on creative work. By his understanding, enthusiasm, and belief in her cosmic vision for the development of mankind, he became a pillar of her work.

When Maria Montessori died in 1952, it was Mario who continued her fight — against all odds, struggles for power, and intrigues — continuing the fight for the child. The child, father of man.

“By his understanding, his enthusiasm and belief in the significance of her cosmic vision for the development of mankind, he became a pillar of her work. He continued her fight after she died.” — Marilena Henny–Montessori

This tribute is drawn from the writings of Marilena Henny–Montessori, daughter of Mario and granddaughter of Dr Maria Montessori.