Library publicist was well known in her 50-year career

Maurine Donnelly, a former publicist for the Center Moriches Library, as well as an artist, poet, and community volunteer, died in June at age 87. 

Donnelly was recently honored for 50 years of service to the library in 2014 by then-director Nan Peel. According to the library, her work began in 1964 when the building was across the street from King Kullen, which is now the school administration building. She wrote numerous publications referring to the library collection. She used the old-fashioned tools of a typewriter and mimeograph, and it was also the time of card catalogues, which Donnelly updated regularly through her research. 

Donnelly earned her B.A. in English at Carthage College in 1956. She left the Midwest to study library science at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Donnelly completed master’s level library science courses while also married and raising children. In addition to her employment at the Center Moriches library, she was a founding member of the Friends of the Library, and authored several publications on local themes, including “Hurricane of 1938.” She was also a poet, and developed the monthly Poetry Roundtable at the Library, which continues today. Her late husband, C. Gerard Donnelly, was the first full-time director of Center Moriches Library (1964-1990).

“The library board and the staff of the library wish to celebrate her years of service, and to offer their condolences to her devoted readership, family, and friends,” the library wrote in a Facebook post.

Donnelly was also active in local civic groups and was a frequent volunteer in the community. She is survived by daughter, Patrice Donnelly and husband Paul Boben of Columbia, Md.; son, Eric Donnelly, of Center Moriches; stepson, Robert Donnelly and wife, Wendy, of Montclair, N.J.; step-granddaughter, Kathryn Tague (née Donnelly) and husband, Hugh Tague Jr.; two sons, Jeremy Easton and Ian Carroll; and adoptive grandchildren, Yana and Michael. She was preceded in death by her son Stephen, brother Oliver Clifford Anderson Jr., and husband Carroll Gerard. Donnelly is laid to rest at Long Island National Cemetery.