Kathleen "Kate" Murray

My sister Kate died suddenly on October 6, 2024, in her Newburyport home. She had fallen in love with Newburyport and became a resident 35 years ago.  In the time that she lived there, she embraced many opportunities to give her all to Newburyport, including work on the Task Force on Open Space, Recreation and Natural resources for two years, the City’s Financial Planning Committee for two years, two terms as Sewer Commissioner and as a Board member on the Anna Jaques Hospital Aid Association for two years.  Kate also gave her all to volunteer service for the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, the Mass Audubon Society Joppa Flats, Anna Jaques Hospital, and Our Neighbors Table.  In 2014, Kate played a role in establishing the Greater Newburyport Village and worked with it up to her death. 

In addition to the energy she gave to all of those endeavors, Kate was brilliant!  She graduated from Boston University in 1978, then went to the Simmons Graduate School of Management and earned an M.B.A. in 1982, with distinction.  In 2001, Simmons honored her with the Phyllis Rappaport Award as Outstanding Alumna in 2001.

In her career, Kate excelled, working for Massachusetts General Hospital from 1970 to 1984, rising from secretary to Registrar and finally Special Assistant to the General Director. She went to Medoff Distributers as Assistant to the President in 1984.  Kate then spent 20 years in the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, 16 of those years as Managing Director.  She then moved on to the Massachusetts State College Building Authority as Chief Financial Officer for six years, finally retiring on 2012. 

Kate leaves behind her sister, Saranne P. Murray and brother-in law Jackson W. Foley. In addition, she leaves her cousins Patricia C. Murray, Elizabeth Hendrickson, Joyce Nielsen, Ellen Moriarty, JoAnn Zerio and Tim Murray. Second cousins are Shannon Hendrickson, Jennifer Vidas, daughter of cousin Maureen who is deceased, Ryan and Tyler Colon, sons of James Murray who is also deceased, David Nielsen, Christine Nielsen (Watrous), Erik Nielsen and Adam Nielsen. Kate also leaves many good friends including those from Simmons -- Faye Farrington, Ellen Lash, Andrea Pokladowski, Leslie Sanderson, Sue Roberts; and from her neighborhood --  Diantha Brown, Mary Gentile, Melanie Hession, Mary Jacobsen and others.

Kate was born and raised in Manchester, Connecticut where she went to East Catholic High School.  Her parents, James and Ruth Murray are long deceased.

We invite Kate's friends to come to a Celebration of Life for Kate at Michael's Harborside from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

Those who wish to honor Kate’s life may donate to any of the charities mentioned above or Rosie’s Place, Simmons (now University) Graduate School of Business, World Food Kitchen, or Habitat for Humanity.

To offer online condolences please visit www.tlcfuneralhome.com. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kathleen "Kate" Murray, please visit our floral store.