Brenda McNeal died peacefully at home on September 11, after a lengthy illness endured with great fortitude. She was born in Fall River, Mass., the only daughter of Virginia MacDonald and Melvin Kershaw.

She was educated at Boston University for her BA and Fairfield University for her MA. She began her career as an educator in Newtown Public Schools and became special education teacher at Trumbull High School, later becoming the special education coordinator and then the director of pupil services there.

On retirement, she traveled extensively to other countries as part of a volunteer teaching program.

Visionary educator, mother, art lover, music aficionado, student of economics, and crossword solver sans pareil, she was much loved by her family and many friends who will greatly miss her.

Her daughter Meridith, her son Peter, their father Claude, her grandchildren Clara and Colin, three aunts; and her nephews and niece survive her.