Julie ʼ81 and Brad McMurchie

Julie (Sutherland) McMurchie ’81 is a Catlin Gabel alum, who along with her husband Brad, are the parents of three Catlin Gabel graduates, Kate ’11, Grace ’12, and Simon ’15.

Reflecting on her time as a student, Julie shared, “I arrived at Catlin Gabel in 11th grade after attending large public schools. At a time when I needed it, I was astounded by the individual attention given by the teachers, and how they genuinely seemed to want to know me as a student and a person. That individual attention allowed me to engage in the academic and intellectual work at school in a way that I didn’t know was possible.”

Julie and Brad chose Catlin Gabel for their children so that they, too, could benefit from this personalized approach and discover their unique interests. Since graduating, all three children have chosen a career path of helping others. Kate is a public defender, Grace is a kindergarten teacher in a high-needs school, and Simon is just starting law school and imagines a career in public interest law. Their time at Catlin Gabel helped them develop an appreciation for helping others and an intellectual curiosity that led them to their chosen field. The personalized attention they received, combined with the space to explore, make mistakes, and collaborate with others, gave them the tools to know themselves, and know what interests them emotionally and intellectually. They have carried that forward in the years since, and it has led them to where they are today.

Julie and Brad support the Eagles Soar campaign priority of growing the endowment, which was originally founded through the generosity of others, and are establishing a new financial assistance fund to honor their family’s legacy and increase access to a Catlin Gabel education in perpetuity. Brad said, “We wish every child could have the teaching, time, and space that Catlin offers. We give so that Catlin can have kids from many different backgrounds, communities, and cultures within its classrooms. Bringing different families and cultures into that learning environment will send those students forth with more ideas and dynamic solutions to make the world a better place. The Eagles Soar campaign will grow the school’s endowment by $10 million, which will increase financial assistance, ensuring that more students can benefit from a Catlin Gabel education.”

The McMurchie family directs their philanthropy toward education, allowing others the same opportunity that their family had. Brad shared that his uncle, who received a full ride at Whitman College, used to say, “This family has been standing on the shoulders of others for a long time, it’s time for someone else to stand on ours.”