2011 STAFF BIOGRAPHIES

Murray Camp of Nantucket,Inc.

Staff Biographies

2011 Season

Mary T. Murray – Co- Director of the camp with her husband Chuck. Mary is a licensed educational psychologist who has been directing Murray Camp for twenty-three years post founding it in 1989. Mary has over twenty-five years of experience teaching elementary 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). Mary directed academic year camps for Harvard University prior to founding the Murray Camp in 1989.

Charles Bruno – Co-Director of the camp, Chuck is a certified Massachusetts school teacher and senior class advisor in Lexington, MA. Chuck has overseen programs for a children's guidance clinic outside of Boston. He is a former coach for Newton, MA soccer, little league and basketball teams which he coached when he and Mary’s children were younger. Chuck enjoys playing basketball, playing guitar and traveling and exploring Nantucket Harbor in his Zodiac.

Laurie Winer Marcus - An artist and full time art teacher in Manhattan, Laurie holds a Master’s Degree in Art Education from Columbia University Teachers College. Laurie holds teacher certifications as an Art Educator for grades K-12 as well as certification as a "Gifted" Art Educator. She has been directing Murray Camp's art program for the past 15 years. Laurie has worked extensively in clay. Her work has been included in numerous group exhibits including the Cork Gallery at Lincoln Center. Laurie will be teaching various mediums to the children this summer providing numerous enriching artistic experiences. She is the mother of three, now young adults, who all grew up attending the camp.

Marcia Hempel - Marcia is our singing and dance teacher for our Junior campers. Marcia is certified to teach Eurhythmics from Harvard’s Longy Music School in Cambridge. Marcia studied children's music and singing games with Mary Alice and Peter Amidon at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford. She currently teaches music at the Lighthouse School, the Nantucket Athenaeum, and the Nantucket Community Music Center. Marcia is the Music Director at the island’s Unitarian Church and founder of their women’s chorus.

Chloe Coggins - Chloe is a Red Cross certified lifeguard from Norwell, MA . Chloe is a lifelong Nantucket summer resident. Chloe is a student at the University of Vermont. Chloe has attended and/or has been employed by Murray Camp since she was a toddler, when her mom was one of the camp's sailing instructors. Chloe is an avid athlete who plays field hockey and lacrosse. Chloe is magical with children and enjoys babysitting.

Michael Dolente, Michael is a lifelong Nantucket summer resident who has grown up attending and working at Murray Camp. Michael is from Devon, PA. He is the oldest of seven boys which qualifies him as quite comfortable with supervising and entertaining children. Michael is an athlete. He is returning from playing in an international squash competition in Germany this past June. Michael is taking a GAP year this fall to teach squash to youth. Michael is delightful with our campers. He can easily be found as he is always smiling!

Alli Kaye, Alli is a Red Cross certified lifeguard from Wayland, MA. Alli is a lifelong Nantucket summer resident who has grown up attending and working at Murray Camp. Alli is a student at the University of Pennsylvania. Alli is returning from spending last month studying and touring in France. She has participated in Tenacity, a program in Boston providing reading enrichment and tennis skills to inner city youth. Alli enjoys children of all ages.

Seamus Bruno,Seamus is a Red Cross certified lifeguard from Newton MA.. Seamus is a student at Newton North High School. Seamus has grown up attending and working at Murray Camp. Seamus is a competitive athlete who plays basketball and soccer at school. He has experience teaching basketball skills to youth at basketball programs. Seamus can frequently be found teaching basketball dribbling skills to the campers. He is easy going and has a great sense of humor with the children.

Mara Weiner, Mara is a Red Cross certified lifeguard from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mara is a student at the University of Miami where she is in Greek Life as a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. She is a life long Nantucket summer resident who has been attending or working at Murray camp since she was five years old. Mara enjoys all sports especially tennis, volleyball and ballet. Mara is wonderful with children and enjoys babysitting.

Emily Heller, Emily is a Red Cross certified lifeguard from Mendham, NJ. Emily is student at Bucknell where she is studying International Politics. Emily is an accomplished tennis player who has served as her team’s captain. Emily has experience running a weekly games and activities program for children of military families, tutoring elementary school students, and babysitting.

Robert Alper, Robert is a Red Cross certified lifeguard from Newton, MA. Robert is a high-school student at Beaver Country Day School in Newton. Robert has grown up attending and working at Murray Camp. Robert has experience babysitting and is very patient and encouraging with young children. Robert especially enjoys avaition and music production. He has his own start up business playing music at summer functions on the island and in the Boston area.

Valerie Eisenson, Valerie is a Red Cross certified lifeguard from Wayland, MA. Valerie is a student at Yale. Valerie’s experience with children includes coaching Wayland’s Junior Warriors swim team, volunteering at a homeless children daycare center, and being an active member of a volunteer group providing activities for children in the Dominican Republic. Valerie enjoys working with children of all ages and loves teaching arts and crafts, swimming, music and dance.

Liam Bruno, Liam is a Red Cross certified lifeguard from Newton, MA. Liam is a high-school student at Newton North High School. Liam has grown up attending and working at Murray Camp. Liam is a competetive athlete who plays basketball and football at school. Liam enjoys teaching swimming and sports to campers. He is very patient and frequently sought out by the campers to play sports games.

Emily Nunes, is a Red Cross certified lifeguard from Boxwood, Connecticut. Emily is a member of the Varsity field hockey, swimming, and lacrosse teams at the Potomac School. Emily has experience babysitting and working at Camp Invention. Emily loves working with children and is eager to teach swimming, crafts and sports.

Brittany Tedford-Riley, is from Newton, MA where she is a student at Newton North High School. Brittany participated in the track and ski teams at school this past year. She is an accomplished horseback rider having competed since an early age. She holds numerous equestrian awards and ratings. Brittany enjoys children and can often be found teaching gimp and bracelet making techniques to the children.

Lauren Goodwin, Lauren is from Winchester, MA. She is a student at Boston University where she is a member of the crew team. This is Lauren's first summer on the island post her sister working at the camp a few years ago telling her many fun stories about her experiences at camp. Lauren's experience includes camp counselor experience as well as interning at the New England Aquarium Children's programs. She enjoys running, yoga and painting.

Korey Mui, Korey is from Newton, MA where he is a student at Newton North High School. Korey is returning for his second summer working at Murray Camp. Korey is a competitive athlete who plays on his school's basketball and volleyball teams. Korey enjoys working with young children and is very patient and encouraging with them.

Kayleigh Miller, Kayleigh is a lifelong Nantucket summer resident who grew up attending Murray Camp. Kayleigh is an amazing athlete who always gave the boys some fierce competition when she was younger, attending camp. Kayleigh participated in golf and soccer this past year at school at Duxbury High School. She is a lot of fun and quite adored by the campers!

Carter Miller, Carter is a Red Cross certified lifeguard from Duxbury, MA who grew up attending and later working at Murray Camp with his two siblings. Carter is a student at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Carter is an impressive athlete in numerous sports including baseball, basketball and lacrosse. Carter is wonderful with children.

Kathryn Petkevich, Kathryn is a Red Cross certiied lifeguard from Bethesda, MD who grew up attending and later working at Murray Camp. Kathryn is a student at Maret School in Washington DC. She is an athlete who plays and coaches competitive volleyball. Kathryn is wonderful wth children. She is sought out by all of the campers frequently.

Farrell Duce, Farrell is a true Nantucket native. Farrell grew up attending Murray Camp with her two siblings. Farrell has an extensive figure skating background. She is currently playing on a Nantucket girls softball team, which her dad coaches. Farrell enjoys entertaining our young campers and can be easily be found with a group of little ones anxiously awaiting their turn to sit with her on bus trips!

Anna Lane, Anna is a former Murray Camper from Saddler River, NJ who attended Murray Camp with her four siblings. Anna is a student at Montclair Kimberly Academy. Anna is an avid swimmer and volleyball player who especially enjoys working with clay. She also enjoys crafts and bracelet making. Anna is frequently sought out by our youngest campers.

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

The Friendship Sloop Endeavor has been offering sailing charters in Nantucket for over 25 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 26 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 school age children.