Mom joins kids at college on an inspirational journey

In a sea of more than 700 black, mortarboard caps during the Camden College of Arts and Sciences commencement, Elizabeth Torrice’s sparkled with the words “Never 2 Late” in large, red and white letters.

The message is good advice, and especially appropriate for the 48-year-old Torrice, who attended Rutgers–Camden at the same time as her three children. When she ascended the steps of the Tweeter Center stage May 17, her personal flock of Scarlet Raptors rose from their seats to cheer for mom and colleague.

“Being on stage and having my children honor me was the most surreal experience of my life, Torrice said. “I have spent many years supporting them in their adventures, so this was very unusual. Many mothers don’t ever have that opportunity, to make such an impact on their children.

Her family’s aspirations had always come before her own. But when her eldest daughter Jennie Murabito-Owens was pursuing a law degree at Rutgers–Camden, she challenged her mom, who had remarried in 1990 to Pasquale Torrice, to take action on her dream of earning a college degree.

 “I convinced her that because I was here it would be okay. But I told her that she had to do it now because I’d be graduating,” said Murabito-Owens, who earned her undergraduate degree in 2003, her law degree in 2006, and will serve as an attorney at Pellettieri, Rabstein & Altman in Princeton this September.

After taking a photography course at Camden County College, Torrice enrolled in the museum studies program at Rutgers–Camden in 2004. Torrice’s return to school then inspired her two youngest children, Liz and Anthony Murabito, to join their mother at Rutgers–Camden. This past spring, Torrice’s final semester, the two children and mom all took a course about human reproduction together.

“I’m sure there are days that they hated I was there, but we supported each other. I see what the kids are going through. I know what it’s like to work. It’s hard,” Torrice said.

Part of being a family meant helping each other during hard times. For daughter Liz, attending class became even more challenging when she developed a medical condition that caused her to pass out suddenly. Born with a heart problem and an inner ear disease, Liz relied on her mother and brother to support her while she was on campus. This family togetherness also benefited them academically.

“We help each other in the classroom and study together at home. I stuck with harder classes because of my family. My mom listens well and takes a lot of notes,” said Liz, a junior psychology major.

Anthony, a sophomore art major, also enjoys having his mom’s support on campus. “If Mom wasn’t here, I’d probably be lost. I owe a lot to her,” he said.

Torrice’s thesis poster presentation on artist Seymour Lipton was truly a family effort. Anthony, an aspiring graphic designer, created a slideshow set to scores by Danny Elfman on his MacBook Pro and offered insight on the poster presentation. Jennie had created a poster for her own undergraduate requirements and knew how to assemble the boards.

“Liz was my motivator. She kept telling me that I could do it,” her mother said.

But her family isn’t alone in recognizing Torrice’s academic abilities. Martin Rosenberg, chair of Camden’s Department of Fine Arts and professor of art history, joined in the praise of Torrice. “What distinguished Elizabeth is her insatiable intellectual curiosity, which leads her to follow up new and exciting insights in her work. She is a model mature, returning student.”

While crossing the stage at graduation and hugging her professors, Torrice could hear “Yeah, Mommy!” coming from the front row. “I turned and saw my three children crying, and behind them, my husband with tears in his eyes and the biggest smile ever … a moment I will cherish forever.”