It is with profound gratitude and bittersweet hearts that we announce the retirement of one of the Murdock Trust's longest-standing staff members: Marybeth Stewart Goon.
Marybeth has been a cornerstone of the Trust's work since joining as our 11th staff member, when she was hired as Receptionist in 1989 and promoted to Program Assistant within her first year. From there, her dedicated work ethic, steadily deepening expertise, and genuine passion for equipping nonprofits to do their best work carried her forward in ways that are difficult to fully capture.
"We could not be more appreciative of Marybeth's exemplary work and faithful commitment to the Trust for nearly four decades," says John Castles, Trustee. "She has embodied our mission in ways that call to mind Jack Murdock himself — with quiet, humble leadership that draws out the best in others while never seeking the spotlight."
Over the course of her 37 years, Marybeth has assisted in training 25 grants program directors and officers, served alongside 4 executive directors and 7 Trustees, and helped launch our Murdock College Science Research Program and Partners in Science program in the '90s. She played a critical role in implementing three grant management systems, led countless team meetings, processed thousands of grant applications, and attended nonprofit site visits too numerous to count. In recent years, she has been an indispensable presence behind nearly every grant application that has crossed our desks — and has been part of nearly 80% of the Murdock Trust's grantmaking history. Her legacy is nothing short of extraordinary.
"Marybeth is fondly thought of as ‘the mother of grantmaking’ at the Trust,” says Romanita Hairston, CEO. "For decades, she served quietly and faithfully as the heartbeat of our work. Quantifying her contributions is an impossible task. The numbers we do have cannot tell the full story of Marybeth's care for our grant seekers and grantees. Her contributions will be deeply missed, and even more so, I will miss her. We cannot thank her enough for giving her life’s career to the Murdock Trust."
And yet anyone who has worked with Marybeth knows she is the last to seek praise and the first to offer it. She champions others, training peers for their best work and celebrating the work and personal milestones of her colleagues, all with a warm smile and a ready sense of humor. She has delighted us all with tales of her roadtrip adventures, photos of her granddaughter, and deep trove of memories from the Trust’s history.
"When I think of the Murdock Trust, I think of people like my dear friend Marybeth," says Stefanie Narhi, Manager of Trustee Relations. "Her friendship, cheer, and good humor have been a constant not just in my time at the Trust, but in the experience of dozens of staff members who have come to her with questions about a grant, insights about a project, or simply wisdom about life. She has been a true backbone of this organization, and her retirement could not be more deserved. Congratulations, my friend!"
Please join us in offering Marybeth a heartfelt thank you for her 37 remarkable years with the Murdock Trust, and in wishing her every joy in this well-earned next chapter.