Emily Louise Mitchell

Niantic - Emily Louise Rounds Mitchell, of Niantic, passed away after a long illness April 18, 2025, a few days after her 87th birthday. Emily was the daughter of Harold Rounds, an engineer, and Ruth Ayers Rounds, a journalist and novelist. She was born in Manhattan, and grew up in Washington Heights. She attended Vassar College, where she majored in French and Italian, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1959.

In her 20s, Emily worked at the United Nations, first as a guide and then in the Treaty Section as a multilingual secretary. She met her future husband George Mitchell while on a weekend trip to New England in the summer of 1963. They were married in 1964 in Pensacola, where George was completing flight training for the Coast Guard. The couple lived in New York for several years before moving to Niantic. There they raised their two children, Cristina, now a doctor living in Providence, and Peter, a lawyer practicing in New York City.

Emily was a brilliant linguist who spoke French, Italian, Greek and Spanish. She completed a master's degree in French literature at Connecticut College in 1972, and taught French and English at schools in the New London area, including Thames Valley Community College. She also worked as an editor for Laurence Urdang, the lexicographer. With Urdang, she collaborated on the Loanwords Dictionary and other projects, and later she worked at the Bureau of Business Practice in Old Lyme. Emily was a founder of the French Circle of Southeastern Connecticut and pioneered the showing of foreign and art films in the area. In her later years, she studied German, and was always an active member of the community, supporting artistic and cultural events in New London County and in her home. She was also the editor of a Greek cookbook; though she was not Greek by birth, she was embraced by the community of her in-laws and even served as president of a Greek organization. She was known as a kind person who was loved by all.

Emily is survived by her husband of 61 years, George; her daughter Cristina and husband Roger Blumberg; her son Peter Mitchell and partner Alexon Dos Santos; and beloved granddaughter Eliana Blumberg; as well as her nieces and nephew.

Calling hours will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 21, at Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand Street, Niantic. Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday morning, April 22, at St. Sophia Orthodox Church, 200 Hempstead Street, New London. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your favorite charity in her name.