Ilene Bosch MA’89: Finishing What She Started

This past May, at age 79, Ilene Bosch MA’89 walked across the stage at Fairfield University’s Graduate Commencement ceremony—37 years after earning her master’s degree. It was a celebration she had long regretted missing.

“It closed the door that had never fully closed,” Bosch said. “Yes, I finished my degree. I got my diploma. But there was still a little crack that was open. The door now is closed; I’ve gone the whole way.”

Bosch started her teaching career in Norwalk, Conn., before stepping away to raise her two daughters. Years later, she resumed her career and worked in a variety of roles, including as a tutor for homebound students and a paraprofessional in the Wilton Public Schools.

Realizing she needed an advanced degree to continue growing professionally, Bosch enrolled in what is now known as Fairfield University’s School of Education and Human Development (formerly the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions). She balanced her studies while raising her children and working full-time.

“The thought of going back to school was overwhelming,” she said. “I hadn’t been in school for a long time, and I had a family. But I knew if I wanted to continue teaching, I had to do it.”

Fairfield’s weekend-format courses were helpful. Bosch often attended classes on Friday evenings and throughout the weekend while her husband cared for their daughters at home.

After completing her degree in 1989, Bosch chose to skip Commencement, caught up in the demands of work and family life. “At the time, I told myself it wasn’t that important,” she said. “I had the degree, and that was enough.”

But over the years, she often told her family that not participating in graduation was one of her biggest regrets. This past spring, her daughter Melissa decided to change that. On Mother’s Day, Bosch opened a gift box from her daughter and discovered a cap, gown, and hood for Fairfield’s 2026 Graduate Commencement ceremony.

Without telling her mother, Melissa had contacted Fairfield University, located her records from nearly four decades earlier, and arranged for Bosch to participate in the ceremony.

Along with the regalia, Melissa included a heartfelt letter explaining why she wanted her mother to finally receive the recognition she deserved.

“You have always been the model mom,” she wrote. “Most of the time you prefer to stand in the shadows and let those around you shine. This gift is to let you know that we see you and appreciate all your efforts.”

“I was totally dumbfounded,” Bosch said. “When I read the note and saw the cap and gown, it was a wonderful feeling.”

On Commencement Day, Bosch felt nervous and unsure of what to expect. Those feelings quickly faded once the ceremony began.

“When my name was called, it was overwhelming,” she said. “I was recognized for what I did and the sacrifices I made to accomplish it.”

Perhaps even more meaningful was sharing the experience with her family. Her children and grandchildren attended the ceremony, cheering her on as she crossed the stage. One granddaughter even decorated her graduation cap.

“It was wonderful to have them there,” Bosch said. “Their pride was very evident. It meant so much to me.”

The experience also reinforced a value Bosch has carried throughout her life: the importance of lifelong learning. She credits that mindset to advice she received from her great-grandmother as a child.

“I asked her how she got to be so old,” Bosch shared. “She told me, ‘If you learn something every day, you’ll be as old as I am.’ I’ve never forgotten that.”

Even in retirement, Bosch continues to take classes simply for the joy of learning. For her, education is not confined to a degree program or a career path; it is a lifelong pursuit.

“Learning never ends,” she said. “You’ve never learned enough.”

Looking back now, Bosch hopes her story sends a message to future generations, especially her grandchildren.

“Go for the things in life that you want,” she said. “Never think doors always close. You can always find a little crack and get through it.”

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