Born in Columbus, Ohio, to her mother, Margaret Corcoran Reis, and father, Leo Carl Reis, Mim Paggi was originally to be named Carol Elizabeth Reis, but the order of her given name was swapped by her baptismal priest who considered “Elizabeth” to be more saintly.
Notwithstanding, she was raised in the St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves, Missouri, as “Carol Reis” until she attended the University of Missouri. There, a plethora of “Carols” in her sorority inspired her to adopt her childhood nickname “Mim,” by which she was commonly known for the rest of her life.
Upon her graduation from Mizzou in 1962, she relocated to California to teach elementary school in West Covina and began her 40-plus-year dedicated career in public education. She moved to South Pasadena in early 1963, settling in with four roommates in Raymond Hill, a community of apartments populated by young people.
It was through one of these roommates that Mim met her future husband, Joe. A UCLA graduate and devoted Bruin fan, Joe had tickets for the UCLA vs. USC football game that was postponed a week due to the assassination of President Kennedy.
Fortunately, his planned date was unavailable to attend the rescheduled game, presenting the opportunity to remember and invite Mim, whom he had just met a few weeks earlier.
Following a short courtship and even shorter engagement, they were married in St. Louis in October 1964, and honeymooned in San Francisco and Carmel. While they both continued their full-time occupations, they supported and encouraged each other to earn advanced degrees via evening programs: Joe earned his law degree from Loyola Law School shortly after their marriage, and Mim followed with her master’s degree from USC.
They lived in Glendale, Newport Beach and Montrose; in 1968, they purchased their first home (which turned out to be their “forever” home) in Pasadena, where they raised their two daughters, Mia and Marya, and enjoyed more than 50 years of restoration and remodeling adventures.
Mim started her career in the classroom but ended in the vice principal’s office. She spent the vast majority of her career in LAUSD Adult Education as a devoted teacher and administrator. After retiring, Mim volunteered at the Pasadena Public Library, where she continued to advocate for education at all ages and the joys of learning.
Loved by everyone she met or befriended, Mim was unfailingly sweet, kind and filled with a joy she was eager to share. She was Joe’s loving and forgiving wife, best friend, companion and life partner.
She was an adoring, loving, responsible mother, and “Nonna Mim” to her three grandchildren. She was the world’s greatest mother-in-law to her two incomparable sons-in-law. Mim loved all members of her family unconditionally!
She was preceded in death by her beloved parents and numerous aunts and uncles. She is survived by her husband, Joseph Francis Paggi, Jr.; daughters, Mia (Christian) and Marya (Paul); and three grandchildren, Maren, Maggie, and Emm; her sister, Patti (Edward); and brothers, Robert (Carole), Don (Jane), and Jack (Jan, late); her brother-in-law, John (Deborah); and her niece and eight nephews, and their families.
In honor of Mim, donations can be made to Pasadena Humane. A Requiem Mass will be held on Monday, Aug. 15 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in South Pasadena, followed by a celebration of life at the family home.
God bless Mim and all of us!
May her soul rest in peace
… and may perpetual light shine upon her …
