Barbara Joan Murtagh

Barbara Joan Murtagh passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on February 23, 2026, after several weeks of declining health. Her family cannot confirm whether she consciously chose this day in order to enjoy one last National Margarita Day (February 22) or to avoid yet another birthday (February 24). Both are likely true.

Born in Victoria, British Columbia, in 1942, Barb was a loving and supportive daughter and sister. She was especially close to her mother, Thelma Chesman. They were both beautiful, voraciously social, and occasionally mischievous. Barb also had an enduring special relationship with her cherished “baby brother” David (a/k/a “Assy” when she wanted to tease him) and his wife Mary.

Barb was always a proud Canadian. She was the grandniece of L. M. Montgomery, author of the quintessentially Canadian “Anne of Green Gables” novels. As a young girl, Barb skated with the renowned Canadian Olympic champion figure skater Barbara Ann Scott. One of Barb’s last conscious acts was to sing “Oh, Canada” – loudly, at night, in an otherwise quiet nursing facility – after watching a Canadian win a gold medal in this year’s Winter Olympics.

Barb had a lifelong love affair with the ocean. (All other love affairs were considerably shorter.) In 1964, she left Canada to live in Honolulu, Hawaii – just two blocks from Waikiki Beach. While there, she began her career in retail management and fashion buying. In 1965, she met and married Michael Owen Murtagh, a U.S. Coast Guard officer and a man of the sea.

For the next 37 years, she wholeheartedly embraced the life of a military spouse. She actively supported the professional and social lives of the Coast Guard community, through which she made many lifelong friends.

More importantly, across frequent cross-country moves, she dedicated herself to creating a loving home for her sons, Sean and Mark. To her sons’ friends, Barb was the “cool, fun mom.” To her sons, she was the warmest, most devoted parent imaginable. She would drop everything on a moment’s notice and endure whatever hardship necessary to ensure her sons felt loved and supported.

In 2004, shortly after the end of her marriage, she returned to the ocean – this time to Juno Beach, Florida. Thus began over two decades of non-stop fun. Her life was filled with music, dancing, beach time, pool time, boyfriends (always attractive, occasionally disreputable), parties, cute outfits, and a rescue Shih Tzu named Jake. Her family observed all of this with great joy and occasional alarm. Through her zest for life, she nurtured a tight network of fiercely loyal and equally fun friends. She taught all of us how to make life great.

Barb is survived by her sons Sean and Mark Murtagh, brother David Chesman, sister-in-law Mary Richter, daughter-in-law Kirsten Martin, son-in-law Richard Kassner, and lifelong family friend Joan McCausland. The family wishes to acknowledge and thank the staff of the Buckingham’s Choice senior living community who provided expert, compassionate care in Barb’s final months.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League (www.peggyadams.org) or to GO TEAM Therapy Dogs (www.goteamdogs.org).