2008 STAFF BIOGRAPHIES

Murray Camp of Nantucket,Inc.

Staff Biographies

2008 Season

Mary T. Murray - Director, a licensed educational psychologist, Mary has been directing Murray Camp for twenty years.  She has over twenty years of experience teaching elementary school and high school.  Mary is the director of latency age clinical activity programs for a child guidance clinic, west of Boston.  Mary's training includes Red Cross Water Safety Instruction (WSI). She directed academic year camps for Harvard University for many years prior to founding the Murray Camp in 1989.

Charles Bruno - A certified Massachusetts school teacher and senior class advisor, Chuck teaches high school in Lexington, MA. He has overseen programs for a children's guidance clinic outside of Boston.  Chuck is a former coach for Newton, Massachusetts Soccer and Little League teams.  He enjoys playing basketball, playing guitar, traveling  and exploring the harbor in his Zodiac.  Chuck and Mary are the parents of two school-age children, both attending the camp.

Laurie Winer - An artist and  full time art teacher in Manhattan, Laurie holds a Master’s Degree in Art Education from Columbia University Teacher’s College. Laurie holds teacher certifications as an Art Educator  for grades K-12 as well as certification as a "Gifted" Art Educator. She has worked extensively in clay.  Her work has been included in numerous group exhibits including the Cork Gallery at Lincoln Center.  When instructing in clay, Laurie develops projects that allow children to respect and utilize their creativity. She is the mother of three, including one of our campers, Seth. Laurie holds a certification to teach yoga from Next Generation Yoga. She will be teaching yoga to our interested campers, this summer.

Denise Murphy – A master’s level clinician and certified Special Education Teacher from the Boston area, Denise is employed during the academic year working with children diagnosed with developmental and emotional disabilities. Denise is the mom of a grown son. She is an artist that enjoys working in all mediums, recently enjoying jewelry making. She enjoys yoga, photography and traveling. 

Silke Plesh - Silke is a native of East Germany. She holds a doctorate degree in Psychology Research. She graduated with a Master's Degree in Counseling from Lesley University this past June. Silke received an award from Harvard University (also this past June) for her work in founding a support group for foreign spouses of Harvard University faculty. Silke resides in Watertown, MA with her husband, who is a structural geologist at Harvard University.

Marcia Hempel – Marcia  is trained in Eurythmics for young children from the Longy School of Music and in singing games from Mary Alice and Peter Amidon. She has been teaching Eurythmics to our youngest campers for several years. Her songs and dances result in delight for all involved. Marcia is the music director at the Unitarian Church on the island.  She is the founder and director  of the Nantucket Women's Chorus. Marcia teaches piano, organ and voice.

Becky Merberg – A student at Hobart College, Becky is from Newton, MA. She is a lifelong Nantucket summer resident that grew up attending Murray camp. Becky has experience working at Murray Camp for the past four summers as well as extensive babysitting. Becky enjoys modern and hip hop dance, fencing, yoga, swimming and art. She is responsible yet easy going, empathic and fun. The campers adore her. Becky could easily direct the camp in my absence.

Gibson Starzynski- A Red Cross certified lifeguard, Gibson is a student at U Conn.. Gibson is a lifelong Nantucket summer resident from Pennsylvania that grew up attending Murray Camp. She  is returning for her forth season as camp staff. Gibson enjoys enjoys all sports and dance. She is the founder of our Hip Hop Dancin' program which delights many of our campers. She is great with the children and they delight in her company.

Chrissie Atchinson - A student at Quinnipiac University from Lexington, MA., Chrissie enjoys theatre, ice skating and horseback riding. Chrissie has experience working at a therapeutic horseback riding program in North Andover, MA. She has extensive experience working with children including at Lexington Best Buddies and Horizon's for Homeless Children in Boston. Her sister Katie (who we will sorely miss this summer) was part of our last season's staff.

Skylar Pinchal - Another former Murray Camper, Skyler is from Houston, Texas. She enjoys skating, music, swimming and yoga. She has taught children's swimming lessons and has extensive experience babysitting.

Katie Duggan- A student at Mount Alvernia School in Newton, Katie is a lifelong Nantucket summer resident from Boston. Katie grew up attending Murray Camp. She is an avid basketball and volleyball player, participating in numerous leagues during this past academic year. Katie also enjoys softball, soccer and traveling. She is very popular with her young campers and enjoys babysitting

Celeste Dufournier - Another former camper from Brussels, Belgiam, Celeste is a Nantucket summer resident that has grown up in Europe. She enjoys clay, swimming and surfing. Celeste has extensive babysitting experience.

Mara Weiner - Mara is a student at Pine Crest Preparatory Academy in Florida. She is a life long Nantucket summer resident.  Mara grew up attending Murray Camp. She enjoys all sports especially  tennis, volleyball and ballet. Her background includes playing on a state volleyball league in Florida. Mara is wonderful with children and enjoys babysitting.

Chloe Coggins - Chloe is a lifelong Nantucket summer resident from Norwell, MA, Chloe has attended and been employed by Murray Camp since she was a toddler, when her mom was one of the camp's sailing instructors. Chloe is a Red Cross certified lifeguard who enjoys all sports and Arts & Crafts. She is magical with children and enjoys babysitting.

Patrick Miller -A high school student from Duxbury, MA,  Patrick is a Red Cross certified lifeguard that grew up attending Murray Camp. Patrick enjoys swimming, surfing, skiing, reading and running. He has a natural ability to play with the campers which the children enjoy thoroughly.

Peter Townsend - A University of Virginia student from Rhode Island, Peter is a Red Cross certified lifeguard that has grown up spending summers on the Island. Peter participated on his school's tennis and cross-country teams, Peter enjoys golf, soccer and ceramics. He is talented at showing by his example, good sportsmanship to the campers.

Carter Miller - A senior high school student from Duxbury, MA, Carter grew up attending Murray Camp. He is a Red Cross certified lifeguard. Carter is an athlete who enjoys baseball, tennis, basketball and snow boarding. He is somehow always smiling and adored by the campers.

Ben Firth- A soon to be coast guard member, Ben is from Jupiter, Florida,  Ben is a Red Cross certified lifeguard returning to Murray Camp for his third season. Ben is a lifelong Nantucket summer resident. He is one of the Murray Camp Lifeguards that received recognition for saving the lives of four people (not campers), drowning off of the Pocomo Point coast last season. Ben enjoys sailing, tennis, soccer, horseback riding and literature.

Ben Merberg- A Brewster Academy student from Newton, MA,  Ben  is a life long Nantucket summer resident that grew up attending Murray Camp.  Ben enjoys most sports, especially Lacrosse as well as fishing, boating and biking. Ben has a wonderful sense of humor and an easy going nature that the campers enjoy.

Emily Arnow - A student at the University of Vermont, Emily is a summer resident from Carlisle, MA. Emily is active with her school's newspaper and is a member ot their snowboard club. She has extensive camp counselor and babysitting experience. She enjoys Arts and Crafts, baseball and softball.

Tess Hooper - A Red Cross certified lifeguard from Wayne, PA, Tess grew up attending Murray Camp with her older brothers who both also attended and later worked at the camp. Tess spent this past school year studying in Spain. She is an athlete that recently graduated high school. Tess is looking forward to a year of travel and volunteer work prior to settling in to college next fall.

In addition to our full-time staff, we also subcontract two lifeguards from the Community Pool, two tennis instructors from the Parks & Recreation Department, and the crew of the sailing vessel "Endeavor".

The Friendship Sloop Endeavor has been offering sailing charters in Nantucket for 24 years.  The Endeavor is a Coast Guard Certified Vessel inspected each spring by the United States Coast Guard.  The crew of the “Endeavor” is required by the Coast Guard to participate in a random drug-testing program.

The route the Endeavor takes is typically out through the jetties and in the Nantucket Sound.  The vessel is no more than three miles from shore at any point in the trip.

Captain James Genthner has been operating the Endeavor in Nantucket for the entire 24 years.  He is a Coast Guard Licensed Captain and has been sailing for 30 years. Himself and his wife Sue reside on the island year round with their two elementary school age children.