Miriam R. Drivas

Miriam Rachael Drivas passed away peacefully at Cayuga Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Ithaca, NY, on March 25, 2025, at the age of 90. Born June 27, 1934, in Malden, MA, Miriam was the daughter of the late Fred and Minerva (Horvitz) Ries.

Miriam earned her bachelor’s degree in teaching from Salem State University and went on to complete her master’s degree in education at Boston University. She was also licensed as a Speech Language Pathologist. For several years, she was a faculty member at Nahant Public Schools in Nahant, MA, where served as the director of special education and speech therapy. Later in her career, Miriam was a special education teacher at St. Catherine of Siena School in Norwood, MA.

Miriam met her husband, the late Marion “Mike” Drivas, while he was serving in the US Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and Miriam was a school teacher on the military base. Following Mike’s retirement from the military, they settled in Massachusetts. Miriam and Mike enjoyed traveling with friends and had a love for cats.

Miriam was preceded in death by her parents and beloved husband. She is survived by her daughter, Samantha A. Brown (Jack) of MA; grandchildren, Jacqueline H. Brown, Allison M. Brown and Harrison L. Brown; brother, Herbert Ries; niece, Julie Ries; nephew, Fred Ries; and cousin, Susan Youngblood.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Miriam’s name may be directed to the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society.

Miriam will be buried next to Mike in a private service at the NYS Veterans Cemetery – Finger Lakes (formerly Sampson Memorial Veterans Cemetery) in Romulus, NY.