PEABODY — November 2019 was one of the more tragic months in Peabody’s recent history.
It started on Nov. 20 when 13-year-old Jackson Frechette, a Higgins Middle School student, was struck and killed while riding his bicycle across busy Rte. 114 near Walgreens. Seven days later, the entire city was stunned by the sudden, unexpected death of Cara Murtagh, Superintendent of Schools, on Thanksgiving night. Before the weekend had ended, on Nov. 20, Peabody Veterans Memorial High School vice-principal Judith Maniatis died suddenly as well.
“It was a traumatic event for the community,” said Maria Champigny, a school adjustment counselor for Peabody Public Schools. So much so, Champigny said, that Marc Kerble, who stepped in as interim superintendent, felt there should be a living memorial of the three.
“He felt it was important to provide that support form the whole community,” said Champigny. “He asked parents and staff to help promote different healing symbols. Everybody liked the idea of the garden.”
That included Mayor Ted Bettencourt, who proposed the Healing Garden at Brooksby Farm. He said he felt the location at Brooksby would provide a central location and be easily visible.
Then (the COVID-19) pandemic hit, and everything got stalled, including the garden,” Champigny said. “But it was picked up last August or September.”
Champigny says Councilor-at-Large Tom Gould is the person to thank for getting the ball rolling again.
“He went to the community to outline the need,” she said. “That’s how the funding came to be.”
Gould said the funding will come from the Community Preservation Commission, a Massachusetts program that allows municipalities to contribute one quarter of one percent of the property tax revenues for either open space, recreation or housing. The commission voted to contribute $90,000 to the project, “and that’s a significant amount of money to do what we are looking to do,” Gould said. Landscaper Brian Cranney has been hired to lay out the project.
“He has a great reputation for building these kinds of things,” Gould said.
The garden, slated to be dedicated either next month or in June, said Gould, will measure about 50 yards one way and 20 the other, and be nestled in an area between the street and the parking lot. At present time, it is marked off with flags.
There will be engraved bricks surrounding the enclosure, with Champigny and the commission she has working with her — which includes teachers; Heidi Mason and Bradlee Pattan (who once taught Murtagh), Joan Kerble and student Sydney Nagle — are still selling bricks as part of a fundraising drive.
Trees will also be planted in the garden, as well as flowers. Finally, three granite benches will sit along one of the borders, each carrying an epitaph describing Murtagh, Maniatis and Frechette.
Frechette was attempting to cross the road on his bicycle when he was struck and killed by a car driven by a 19-year-old Peabody man.
Murtagh, only 44, had gone to the Peabody-Saugus football game Thanksgiving Day and helped work the crowd with the cheerleaders. She worked in Peabody schools for 23 years, starting as a first-grade teacher at St. John’s School and became superintendent in 2018, overseeing 6,000 students and 1,000 school employees.
“We used to kid that she was ‘high heels’ to the ground,” said Champigny, noting Murtagh always wore them. “She was so involved.”
“She knew every student’s name,” said Gould. “I don’t know how she knew it, but she did. And once she learned your name, she never forgot it.”
Maniatis was a popular special education teacher and “B” House dean. She had been with Peabody schools for 20 years.
“Because she was the vice principal, she was the disciplinarian,” said Champigny. “But once she stepped out of that role, she was a warm and giving person.
“She was especially good to Sydney,” Champigny salad “That’s why Sydney wanted to be on the board.”
Champigny feels the location at Brooksby Farm is entirely appropriate considering who the garden will remember.
“Of course,” she said. “Apples … teachers … what could be more appropriate.”
To pay for a brick in the Healing Garden at Brooksby Farm, contact Maria Champigny at 781-608-0927
