Penelope “Penny” Daly, retired Northport High School English teacher, passed away on January 17 at the age of 91. Penny was predeceased by her former husband, Russ Daly, and her son, Chris Daly. She is survived by daughters, Carol Gaughran and Tracy Janes; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Penny was born on July 17, 1934 at a WPA writers’ camp in West Virginia. She was raised in Milford, Connecticut by her parents, Jack Devine, an editor for the Bridgeport Herald, and Dorothy Devine, a travel agent with Barnum Travel, who inspired her lifelong love of education, reading, and travel. Penny attended Lauralton Hall and Milford High School and later earned her BA from the University of Connecticut and her MA from Stony Brook University. 

Penny moved to Northport in 1964 and taught at NHS for twenty years. A dedicated and compassionate educator, Penny cared deeply about her students and consistently challenged them to learn. She was heavily involved with the Northport High School Learning Center and was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. 

Penny’s love of books led her to a second career as an antiquarian bookseller. She founded WellRead Books, selling rare and collectible books online and at book shows throughout the East Coast. She was a proud member of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America and the Long Island Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association. 

Travel was one of Penny’s great joys. She explored the world extensively, often traveling with her children and later grandchildren, sharing with them a deep interest in history, culture, and adventure. 

A celebration of Penny’s life will be held in Northport in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lewis Oliver Farm.

R-UTN members who have memories of Penny they wish to share, can email retirednorthportteachers@gmail.com. Please write Website Memories as the subject, and include your name and former school.

Eileen Murtagh, retired ENMS math teacher, passed away on January 9, at the age of 81. She was predeceased by her husband, Jack. She is survived by her daughter, Kiera Pfaff; sons Brian And Sean; ten grandchildren, sister Maureen LeLaidier and brother John Quirk. 

Eileen made education a priority for her children and grandchildren and saw her teaching vocation as a gift to all who wanted to learn. In retirement she loved to travel, shop, and master complex recipes. She loved many games and was a tough competitor, often outsmarting her opponents in Scrabble, Rummikub, Scrabble, family poker, card games of all types and high stakes 25-cent buy-in Mah Jong.  She loved the Mets and the Islanders and spared herself from being a Jets fan, but her greatest joy was time spent with her ten grandchildren. 

A funeral mass was celebrated on Saturday, January 10, at the Church of Saint Anne, in Garden City. In Eileen’s memory and in lieu of flowers, kindly donate to either the Diabetes Research Institute or the Susan G Komen Organization to end breast cancer.

R-UTN members who have memories of Eileen they wish to share, can email retirednorthportteachers@gmail.com. Please write Website Memories as the subject, and include your name and former school.

Frances Luther, retired instrumental music teacher in the Northport-East Northport schools, passed away December 14, at the age of 86. She is survived by her husband Bob and daughter Michele Kucic; sisters Connie Zimmerlich and Joanne Hawkinson; grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was predecesed by her daughter, Debbie Ferrante.

Frances enjoyed a distinguished 33-year career in public school music education, teaching instrumental music in both the Huntington and Northport School Districts. In her time at Northport schools, she taught band at Northport High School, East Northport Middle School, and Bellerose Avenue Elementary School, retiring in June 1999. Frances was deeply committed to her students and inspired countless young musicians.

Fran’s husband Bob was her college sweetheart, whom she met at Ithaca College through their shared love of music and education — a partnership that remained central throughout her life. Both Fran and Bob played the clarinet, and performed as clarinetist with the Atlantic Winds Band on Long Island.

In addition to her public school teaching, Frances maintained a lifelong dedication to private music instruction, teaching students for more than 60 years, until 2024. In retirement, she remained actively engaged in music and the arts, pursued photography, and competed successfully in the Long Island Bridge League. Last year Fran and Bob moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Visitation will be held on Saturday (12/20) and Sunday (12/21), with visiting hours from 2:00–4:00 PM and 7:00–9:00 PM each day at O.B. Davis Funeral Home in Port Jefferson Station, followed by a Funeral Mass on Monday (12/22) at 9:30 AM at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Setauket.

R-UTN members who have memories of Fran they wish to share, can email retirednorthportteachers@gmail.com. Please write Website Memories as the subject, and include your name and former school.

Sue Steinberg, retired Ocean Avenue teacher, passed away on November 13th. Funeral service were held today, November 17th, at the Gutterman’s Funeral Home in Woodbury, followed by interment at Beth Moses Cemetery.

The family were sitting Shiva at the home of her son, Jordan Steinberg, at 80 Hickman Street in Syosset, today and tomorrow, Tuesday, November 18 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Condolences can be sent to Sue’s husband, Alan Steinberg, 179 Halley Drive, Blue Point, NY 11772.

R-UTN members who have memories of Sue they wish to share, can email retirednorthportteachers@gmail.com. Please write Website Memories as the subject, and include your name and former school.