Katherine M. Murphy Obituary
Katherine "Kay" Murphy, an adored member of the Rockport community for more than 60 years, died on March 29. She was 94.
Mrs. Murphy served on the town Select Board, the School Committee, and the Recreation Committee, and for many years provided a special brand of encouragement to generations of youngsters as a permanent substitute teacher in the Rockport public schools.
Mrs. Murphy, the mother of seven children, was universally loved in Rockport, where she arrived in 1962 with her husband, the late Boston Globe columnist Jeremiah V. Murphy, and their six children. Another would be born in Rockport.
Mrs. Murphy was relentlessly pleasant to all she encountered, whether in town hall, school hallways, or the tennis court, where she helped organize summer tennis matches for a group of women for decades.
Kay had a smile for everyone, and an ability to bring out the best in those with whom she crossed paths. Blessed with a sunny disposition and incurable optimism, she was a welcome addition to any gathering.
She loved her family, the town of Rockport, and politics, from the local level to the national, her children said.
Mrs. Murphy was a lifelong Democrat, beginning as a little girl when President Franklin D. Roosevelt rallied the country during the Great Depression. She belonged to the Rockport Democratic Town Committee for many years and actively campaigned for a range of candidates, including President Barack Obama, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Congressman Seth Moulton.
Mrs. Murphy's mind was razor sharp. Reading the Boston Globe cover to cover was a daily ritual. She also read the Gloucester Daily Times and the Salem News. Few of life's twists and turns prompted Mrs. Murphy to frown, but a missed delivery of the newspapers was one of them.
Mrs. Murphy avidly followed national politics and was especially interested in the advancement of women into the highest levels of government.
Mrs. Murphy was a great supporter of the Rockport public library. In her later years, the library returned the favor by taking it upon itself to weekly delivery several books, mostly novels, to Mrs. Murphy. She read them all.
As a permanent substitute teacher, Mrs. Murphy tended to give attention to students who were not accustomed to being noticed by teachers. Later, she viewed her years teaching as a privilege: "I got to meet so many kids!"Mrs. Murphy grew up in Ipswich in a household where Polish was spoken. She was a popular student, making friends with virtually all her 50 classmates at Ipswich High School, the class of 1946.
Mrs. Murphy played on the basketball team and performed in student stage productions. She occasionally took the train to Boston to watch Ted Williams play left field at Fenway.
She attended Salem State University (then College), graduating with the class of 1951.
By then, she had met a handsome young Navy vet with twinkling blue eyes from nearby Beverly. They married in 1950 as Jerry began his career as a sports reporter for the Beverly Times.
Jerry and Kay moved on to Hyannis, then Rhode Island, as Mr. Murphy advanced to the Cape Cod Times and Providence Journal. Mrs. Murphy taught fourth grade in the public schools in Rhode Island one year, but soon the couple had four children under age 6.
After Mr. Murphy landed his dream job with the Boston Globe, the couple bought a big old house on Pleasant Street in Rockport. They later added an addition to the house to help accommodate what had grown to be a family of nine. The house on Pleasant Street was the scene of many joyous occasions.
As Mr. Murphy enjoyed great success as a columnist, Mrs. Murphy thrived in Rockport, then a community of less than 5, 000. She was a great supporter of her husband's work; he periodically praised her in print as his "Katherine Mary.".
At one time, there was a Murphy child in seven of the 12 grades in the local schools. Mrs. Murphy attended many sporting events at Rockport High School, almost always the loudest voice shouting encouragement.
Mrs. Murphy was predeceased by two of her sons, Timothy in 2022, and Kean in 1993. She is survived by Jeremiah III (Mary) of Swampscott, Elizabeth ("Betsy") Blodgett (Timothy) of Gloucester, Sean (Deirdre) of Quincy, Kathleen "Kathy" Burley of Gloucester, and Paul (Marybeth) of Rockport; 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
With Kay's encouragement, her son Sean followed in his father's footsteps to become a longtime Boston Globe journalist; her son Paul followed in her footsteps to become a longtime member of the Rockport Select Board; both her daughters Betsy and Kathy became public school teachers; and her oldest, Jerry, is still playing tennis past age 70.
The family extends special thanks to all who provided care for her at her home and at Seacoast Nursing Home.
Visiting hours in the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester will be held on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. in Saint Joachim's Church, Broadway, Rockport. Burial will follow in Beech Grove Cemetery, Rockport.
Donations may be made in Mrs. Murphy's name to the Friends of the Rockport Public Library, 17 School St., Rockport, MA 01966.
