Mary Margaret McCaffrey of Wainscott, who served the Wainscott School for 19 years as secretary and district clerk, died on Nov. 18 at Southampton Hospital surrounded by family. She was 56 and had been diagnosed five months ago with metastatic lung cancer.
Mrs. McCaffrey was born June 12, 1963, in Mineola to William F. Becker and the former Margaret Mary Prince. She grew up in Albertson and moved with her family to Ditch Plain in 1974 when her father opened Becker and Christman’s Home Improvement Center. She became an enthusiastic rider of horses, and her father helped organize the annual Deep Hollow Ranch horse show.
Mrs. McCaffrey was the valedictorian of the Montauk School and in 1981 graduated from East Hampton High School as a member of the National Honor Society. She went on to earn a degree in business administration from the State University at Oneonta in 1985.
After college, her love of the beach took her to Charlotte Amalie in the United States Virgin Islands, to spend a year working on a sailboat. A hurricane broke the ship’s mast and ended her season there.
After returning to Montauk, Mrs. McCaffrey began working for Marshall and Sons and waitressed at several local restaurants. It was in Montauk that she met Jay McCaffrey of Wainscott. The two married on July 20, 1991, in Montauk, and they moved to Wainscott to raise their family.
Mrs. McCaffrey joined the Wainscott School District as a secretary in 2000, and later also became its district clerk. She also served as the administrator for JMcC Ltd., her husband’s landscaping business.
She loved traveling, particularly to the Caribbean, and loved country music. She went on many cross-country adventures to see Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chesney perform. Mrs. McCaffrey was also a dedicated New Orleans Saints fan, and was “always willing to give the underdog the chance and follow them through,” her family wrote.
David Eagan, her brother-in-law and the president of the Wainscott School Board, called her “the face and spirit of our district and schoolhouse,” and said the district was grateful for her work.
“We all benefited from her commitment, intelligence, judgment, extraordinary efficiency, kindness, and grace,” Mr. Eagan wrote. “She was loved and respected by all who interacted with our district, particularly the trustees, our staff, and the hundreds of our students and their families whose lives she touched and benefited over the years. . . . We will miss Mary’s smile, concern for others, and kindness most of all.”
In addition to her husband, Mrs. McCaffrey leaves two children, Patrick McCaffrey of Wainscott and New York City, and Shannen McCaffrey of Wainscott. She also leaves three siblings, William Becker of Springs, Eileen Brownlow of Virginia Beach, Va., and Richard Becker of Montauk, and 11 nieces and nephews. Her parents died before her.
Services were at Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton on Friday and at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Saturday, with the Rev. Peter Garry presiding. Mrs. McCaffrey’s ashes were interred at the Wainscott Cemetery. The family has suggested memorial donations to Katy’s Courage, P.O. Box 3251, Sag Harbor 11963.
