PEABODY — Superintendent Cara Murtagh touched the lives of thousands throughout her time in the Peabody Public Schools and that was on full display Thursday night at City Hall. A wake was held for Murtagh, who died unexpectedly last Thursday at Salem Hospital at the age of 44. Family, friends, colleagues and other community members filed into Wiggin Auditorium by the hundreds to pay their respects.
Groups of staff from several Peabody schools came to mourn the loss of their superintendent, including those from Thomas Carroll Elementary School.
Murtagh taught at the Carroll school and served as an assistant principal and principal before becoming superintendent. Around 50 staff members from the Carroll School had a special way to honor Murtagh with a white carnation boutonniere adorned with blue and green ribbons.
The blue ribbon represented Peabody, while the green one represented the Carroll School, said one Carroll School teacher, Heidi Mason. The flower itself served as a symbol to Murtagh’s love for daisies, which she often incorporated into her outfits.
“We wanted to have a special way to honor her,” said one teacher who didn’t want to give her name.
“She was hands down one of the nicest people you would have ever met,” another added.
That was a common theme with everyone who waited in a line of hundreds, stretching down Church Street and bending around City Hall. Buses were also available to shuttle people to the wake from Higgins Middle School
Many visitors wore pins with the words Peabody Strong and love written on them.
“She was a wonderful leader,” said a friend, Lynn Swensen. “She really was Peabody.”
“One thing that stood out about Cara was that she really took the time to know everybody,” another friend, Laurie Bratt, said. “Whether you were a student, teacher, parent, whatever. Her loss is a real tragedy.”
A group of teachers from the Center School in Peabody stressed that Cara’s death leaves, “a big pair of high-heeled shoes to fill.”
That impact Murtagh had during her life was felt far beyond Peabody. Woburn Superintendent Matthew Crowley, who came to City Hall to pay respects to his colleague, spoke highly of her.
“I had gotten to know (Cara) over the past couple years,” Crowley said. “I know she was deeply committed to the kids and to the schools in this city. And she loved that job. She seemed to always be smiling. She was a passionate and warm person. Like everyone else I’m stunned by her loss, but this is an amazing tribute to her life.”
Murtagh’s funeral service is also being held in Wiggin Auditorium at City Hall Friday at 10 a.m., followed by her burial at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Peabody Public Schools will be closed on Friday and buses will again be available at Higgins School to shuttle visitors to and from City Hall.
