Reverend Helen M. Murgida, Ed.D (Sampson), a beacon of light and compassion, passed away on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, in Newburyport, MA at the age of 80. Helen was born on September 18, 1943 and grew up in Somerville, MA. She graduated from Matignon High School in 1961 and attended Northeastern University where she earned a bachelors and masters degree in Education in 1966 and 1968 respectively.
Helen's profound impact on education and her unwavering commitment to inclusivity began to blossom during her tenure as a teacher at the Cotting School from 1966 to 1971, a school dedicated to serving children with a wide range of disabilities since 1893. In 1969 she and her late husband Dr. Frank Murgida, PhD moved to Georgetown, MA where she and her dear friend and business partner Sandra DeVellis opened the non-profit and inclusionary preschool named Pentucket Workshop in 1972. This remarkable school – ahead of its time and still in operation – broke barriers and championed equal education for all children, irrespective of their physical, financial, or cognitive differences. Concurrently, she also taught early childhood education at Northern Essex Community College for many years.
In 1976, Helen and Frank settled in West Boxford, MA, raising their two beloved sons and became active members of LaSalette Catholic Church in Ipswich, MA. In 1994, Helen and Frank moved to Newburyport, MA where they lived for the remainder of their lives. Driven by love of learning and service, Helen returned to college at the age of 52, earning a second master's degree in special education from Salem State University in 1996. Her passion led her to work in special education in various public and charter schools in the greater Boston area before embarking on her journey to obtain a PhD in Special Education, specializing in autism, from Nova Southeastern University in 2006, at the age of 62.
From 2001 to 2009, Helen served as Head of School at Pathways Academy for autistic children at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA. Simultaneously, she was a liaison with the Massachusetts Department of Education. In 2009, she was hired by the Massachusetts Department of Education in the Office of Special Education Schools where she traveled throughout the state ensuring the physical, emotional, and educational standards of Massachuesetts’ special needs schools. She dutifully served in this role and fought for the children and communities of the Commonwealth until the time of her passing.
Ever the champion for those in need, Helen felt a calling in 2006 to work within her faith community in addition to educating children. Helen's pursuit of spiritual enlightenment led her to The Chaplaincy Institute of Maine, where she studied from 2006 to 2008, ultimately becoming an ordained interfaith minister. In 2015, she became an active member of the First Religious Society of Newburyport (FRS), Unitarian Universalist Church where she served as an Affiliate Minister who was passionately devoted to a ministry of spiritual inclusion and physical and mental accessibility for all.
Even during the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic, she bravely fulfilled her ministry, officiating countless memorial services in person as well as new-born dedications and weddings for the North Shore community which she continued until her final days, all while still working for the Department of Education. Helen also served the city of Newburyport, MA as a FRS representative at city hall ceremonies to lead opening prayers for public meetings such as Juneteenth Celebrations, State of the City, Jeanne Geiger Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence, and other local gatherings. She will be dearly missed by all those who had the good fortune to know her as a family member, friend, co-worker, and spiritual advisor.
Helen's legacy will forever be cherished by her family, friends, colleagues, and those who sought her spiritual guidance. She was predeceased by parents Dr. Joseph Sampson, MD and Helen Vodoklys Sampson and her husband Frank Murgida, all of Somerville, MA. She is survived by her loving sons Matthew and Lucas Murgida and her brother Joseph Sampson Jr., sister-in-law Joyce Sampson, and her niece and nephew Christine and Joseph Sampson III. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Brenda Murgida Taylor and her family, Jeff Taylor, and her nephew and niece Benjamin and Kate Taylor. Helen will also be lovingly missed by her brother-in-law Alan Murgida.
A memorial service honoring Helen's extraordinary life will take place on Saturday April 13, 2024 at First Religious Society of Newburyport Unitarian Universalist Church at 1:00 PM in Newburyport, MA followed by a reception in the church's parish hall. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the 501c3 non-profit preschool Pentucket Workshop Inc. at 161 West Main Street, Georgetown, MA, 01833.
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