Catherine McKeon Marzelli

Kay Marzelli was born to Patrick McKeon and Bridget McDonough McKeon, their third daughter, in Boston, Massachusetts. She began her schooling in Boston’s parochial system, but the nuns recognized the potential of the bright little girl and recommended Catherine as a candidate to the prestigious Girls Latin School. She would win a full scholarship and graduate in the top of her class. She then went on to earn a teaching certificate at Boston Teacher’s College.

And so started her teaching career, less a career for Catherine than a vocation. She was a natural teacher. She taught in the Boston Public School System (in some of the worst areas of the city) sending out scores of children imbued with the love of reading and storytelling. They could also do their sums. Oh yes! And spell.

She married A. Richard Marzelli in 1943 and had two daughters Mary Catherine (now Mary Fleming living in London, England) and Jane (now Jane Marzelli Smith living in Boyne City, Michigan). When the family moved to New Jersey, Catherine began teaching again but she was also determined to continue her education. She completed a B.Ed. in 1956, and, after moving to Michigan, an M.Ed and PhD. She then resumed her teaching career at Westchester School, Birmingham, Michigan, continuing her usual performance of sending forth youngsters who loved to read and could spell too.

What a teacher she was! In her trademark vivid A-line dresses (“children like bright colors,” she would say), her beautiful shoes, but mostly with her vivacity and enthusiasm, she held the class in the palm of her hand from the time she entered the classroom until the end of the school day.

She retired to Florida and Cape Cod in 1975 where she lived a happy and rich life with her devoted husband Al, and the five grandchildren who were always visiting. She stayed active throughout her retirement, and continued her love of education. She learned to write and speak Italian-- “such a musical language.” She was very active with Il Circolo, the Italian Cultural Society of Palm Beach.
She is survived by her husband and daughters and her devoted grandchildren: Christopher Fleming of New York, Heather K. Laser & Lia A. Lesner, both Birmingham Michigan, Gordon Smith of Los Angeles, and Courtney Waterman of London, England. She found great joy in her great granddaughter Dilys Waterman, but died on September 29th, before she could meet Patrick Fleming, her newest great grandson.

The Catherine Marzelli Scholarship Fund has been established to continue her lifelong love of education. Memorial contributions may be made in care of the Catherine Marzelli Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 4115, Lantana, FL 33462.