Obituary of Cara E Murtagh

Cara E. Murtagh, 44, of Peabody, died unexpectedly on Friday morning at Salem Hospital. Born in Salem, she was the daughter of Carol (Santangelo) Murtagh of Peabody and the late John M. “Jack” Murtagh.

Cara was a lifelong resident of Peabody and a graduate of Bishop Fenwick High School, class of 1993.  She continued her education at Emanuel College and received her bachelor’s degree in 1997 and later her master’s degree there as well. 

For the past 23 years, Cara has been actively involved with Peabody Public Schools.  Her first teaching job was 1st grade at Saint John’s School in Peabody.  She continued teaching at the Carroll School and continued her ascent as Vice Principal at the Carroll School for seven years, then Principal of the Center School for one year.  She then returned to the Carroll School as Principal for several years, and then was assistant Superintendent of Schools.  For the past 2 years she served as Superintendent of Schools for the city of Peabody.

Cara was a kind, generous and giving person who always put the students first.  She worked tirelessly over the past 23 years, both publicly and privately to ensure that the children’s needs were always met first.  She had numerous accomplishments and achievements over her short career and many of which were unseen by the general public, just the way she would have wanted it to be.  When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed traveling during her time off.  Peabody has lost a tremendous person who worked tirelessly in front of and behind of the scenes to ensure the students received exactly what they needed to ensure their success.  She will be dearly missed.

Cara is survived by her mother, Carol (Santangelo) Murtagh of Peabody, her sister, Kim Murtagh of Peabody, her brother, Sean Murtagh and his wife Colleen of Greenbush, NY and her niece and nephews, Ashley, Michael, and Jack Murtagh. 

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the Wiggin Auditorium at Peabody City Hall, Lowell St, Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.  Her Funeral Service will be held on Friday at 10:00 at the Wiggin Auditorium followed by her burial in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Cedar Grove Ave, Peabody.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Peabody Education Foundation visit www.peabodyedfoundation.org