Murphy Family Spotlight
STA Roots Run Deep
The Murphy Family has a long legacy at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. For the last four decades, they have had a nearly continuous presence at the school. Throughout the 80s, 90s, and late 00’s—until the present day—the Murphys have been all in for STA.
Their commitment to Catholic education runs in the family. In fact, their parents both attended Catholic schools in Queens, NY. Their mother, Eileen, taught at a Catholic elementary school in Long Island before the family settled in Rye in the early 70s. Eileen was fully entrenched in the Catholic school system in New Hampshire—teaching 8th grade Language Arts and Religion at Saint Patrick School in Portsmouth (now Saint Patrick Academy), serving on the first Parent Advisory Board at STA in the late 80s, and serving on the STA School Board in the 90s. Eileen had an unwavering faith that helped her overcome tremendous odds, and she instilled the power of prayer into her children, Erin ’86, Brian ’88, and Shaine ’95.
Erin was the first in her family to attend STA, a school that would shape her life and those around her for decades. After graduating from STA, she attended Tufts University. Following her graduation from Tufts University in 1990, Erin landed a job where she serviced accounts in French-speaking Canada. She soon realized that the most enjoyable part of her job was using her language skills, so she volunteered to teach 8th grade students at St. Patrick’s School, where her mother worked. There, she witnessed her mother’s passion for teaching. This inspired her to return to school to earn her teaching credentials. Erin joined the STA faculty as a French and Spanish teacher in the 90s, overlapping with her sister’s tenure.
Erin has seen many changes during her 26 years of teaching languages at STA. However, the strong sense of community has always remained constant.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with so many beautiful people here over the years. St. Thomas Aquinas attracts faculty and staff who are experts in their respective disciplines and are fully invested in educating the whole person. They are supportive, compassionate people who serve as great role models for our students. They show students the positive impact they can have by being a good person.”
At 25, Eileen Bartlett’s life brimmed with promise. She was following her calling as a Catholic school teacher, about to celebrate her first wedding anniversary, and was seven months pregnant with her first baby. Then, tragedy struck. She was hit by a car while crossing the street, thrown through the air, and sustained life-threatening injuries. At the scene, police doubted she or her baby would survive. Rushed to the hospital, Eileen’s first question after surgery was about her baby. Doctors broke the devastating news: there was no fetal heartbeat. As Eileen’s body healed over the next few days, she prayed fervently for her baby’s life and her own recovery. On the fifth day, doctors found a fetal heartbeat. Two months later, the baby was born. This “miracle baby,” as she was affectionately called by hospital staff, was Erin Murphy ’86 P’19, STA’s World Language Department Chair.
Brian was elected President of his class all four years at STA. He also played golf, tennis, basketball, and baseball. Looking back, he credits involvement in many school activities for shaping his future. “What I associate with Catholic education is a sense of community. STA’s small size makes it so that you can participate in lots of activities. You can contribute to the group and see your impact in action. You’re encouraged to participate and this sets the platform for what you do later in life. There is real value in that.”
Upon graduation in 1988, Brian earned a B.S. from Fairfield University and holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois Chicago-John Marshall Law School. He is now the Chief Legal Officer for a Chicago-based company called PEAK6 InsurTech. Brian formerly served on the STA Alumni Leadership Council. He is a former New Hampshire State Representative, and he currently serves as the Governor’s Appointee on the New Hampshire Judicial Council.
Shaine’s high school years were marked by a deep commitment to community service, including roles in the STA Key Club and as a candy striper at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, a role she continued through college. Her education at STA, particularly the Theology classes, helped foster introspection and critical thinking. These skills and values helped her succeed at Roger Williams University, where she earned a degree in Communications and Marketing. Proud to be a Saint, Shaine attributes her thriving Medical Sales career to the strong foundation built at STA.
A Second Generation of Saints
Erin’s daughter, Kiernan Flanigan ’19, credits STA for preparing her for college and her nursing career at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. The time management skills she gained helped her excel in Simmons College’s demanding nursing program, where she graduated cum laude in 2023 with a BS in Nursing and a minor in Spanish.
During her junior year at STA, Kiernan went on a Winterterm service trip to Peru. There, she practiced Spanish while broadening her cultural awareness. She applies her Spanish skills and cultural sensitivity on her job as a nurse. Kiernan also won the Junior Speech Competition at STA and was notably the first female to win in over 20 years. As unnerving as it was to deliver a speech in front of the entire school, Kiernan gained confidence and poise from the experience. She uses those public speaking skills now to communicate with patients, families, and colleagues.
“Being a STA Saint means helping everyone in our community. A small gesture of kindness can make such a difference. In my work, I deal with the highest level of trauma. I see people who are experiencing the worst moments of their lives. I have learned how important it is to show empathy, to build a trusting rapport, and to take a step back to see their human side.”
Brian’s son, Cade ’24, did not initially plan on continuing the Murphy legacy at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. In fact, he had enrolled at Portsmouth High School after his graduation from Rye Junior High School. However, before the school year started, he changed his mind. His 8th grade year was overshadowed by the Covid-19 pandemic. All of his classes were remote and, over time, he felt like he was missing out on the rigors of his education.
When Portsmouth High School announced they would be remote for his freshman year, Cade realized how much he wanted an environment where he would be challenged to work hard, to grow as a student, and be provided with an education that would help him succeed in life. “It’s easy to drown in the social scene. Going to STA gave me the opportunity to succeed without distractions. People in my classes pushed themselves and it pushed me to work harder.” That hard work paid off. Cade graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 2024.
Cade credits STA for helping him learn time management skills. In addition to excelling in academics, he served as Captain of the Baseball team, and was a member of the Ski team and Basketball team during Freshman year. He also competed in STA’s infamous Quiz Bowl. Cade reflects upon the many ways in which STA helps to push students outside of their comfort zones, particularly with activities like Junior Speeches and Poetry Out Loud, which help students confront the common fear of public speaking. He attends Bucknell University and is enrolled in the Honors Program of Freeman College of Management, majoring in Finance.
Shaine’s son, Bradley, attends Saint Patrick Academy. He was originally enrolled in the Pre-K program as a tribute to Shaine’s mother, whom he never met. They soon fell in love with the school and have never left. Bradley enjoys math and sports. He plays soccer and was recently named Captain of the JV Basketball team. He hopes to join the Murphy legacy at STA in a few years!