Published in The Echo, Spring 2023
Joan Murtaugh ʹ61 has fond memories of campus life. Coming here from Ohio in 1957, after a childhood when her family had lived on different military bases, she found an “atmosphere conducive to learning and making friends”. Even as a commuter, friendships formed easily during activities such as stunt night, Monday morning chapel, and special concerts, including the Christmas Concert. As other members of the Class of 1961 have expressed, she too feels a tremendous class spirit.
After graduation she taught for 36 years in the elementary schools of the Framingham School system, including kindergarten, and 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades and “enjoyed them all”. She eventually specialized as a reading teacher at Barbieri School.
At one time, she taught beside her practice teacher Marguerite Marshall ʹ23 at Jonathan Maynard school. She has a deep appreciation forthe education that FSC provided to prepare her for her career.
Joan has many civic interests, having served as a town meeting member, a Framingham History Center docent, and presently assisting and supporting the Adventures in Learning series, co-sponsored by the Framingham Library and the University. She reports that the literature, history, politics, and art lectures given by FSU faculty are very impressive. These topics would be especially interesting to Joan after her extensive travels abroad, visiting North Cape in Russia, the South Pacific Islands, Europe, and the Middle East. At home, her lively Boston terrier is a favorite companion.
Thank you, Joan, for serving as vice-president and president of the IAFSA Executive Board in the past, and continuing your interest in the students of today through the IAFSA scholarships you have funded.