Marybeth Murphy Cannon

76, Retired Professor of Education at Rhode Island College’s Feinstein School of Human Development and Education, died on February 22nd, 2025 after a long battle with Lewy body disease, surrounded by her loving family.

 Marybeth was a resident of Narragansett, RI. She is survived by her husband, Vincent T. Cannon, Esq., with whom she shared “the best job ever”: raising their three sons. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her three sons, Vincent T. Cannon, Jr., Esq., and his wife, Dr. Claire Jarvis, of San Francisco, CA; Alexander P. Cannon and his wife, Alison Diviney, of Jackson Heights, NY; and Paul J. Cannon and his wife, Christine Newkirk, of San Diego, CA. She also leaves seven grandchildren whom she loved greatly: Cecil, Felix, Thomas, Amyas, Neve, Walter, and Maxwell. Marybeth was the sister of Madeleine Ann Murphy, who predeceased her, and is survived by her two older brothers, Joseph Murphy and his wife, Mary, of Swansea, MA, and Paul Murphy and his wife, Roberta, of St. Paul, MN, as well as many nieces and nephews. 

 Marybeth received her bachelor’s degree from George Washington University, two master’s Degrees from Rhode Island College, and a master’s degree from Harvard University in Human Development and Psychology focused on teaching Reading and Language Arts to Special Needs children. At Rhode Island College she worked with elementary students at the Henry Barnard School, FSHDE teacher candidates, Laboratory School teachers, and in public schools throughout Rhode Island. Professor Cannon believed that her life experience inspired her commitment to kids for whom education “wasn’t working”. She was described as a “true scholar with a teacher’s heart” for her lifelong contributions to the Henry Barnard Laboratory School and was named recipient of the “First Thirty” award by the Alumni Association. She welcomed all her sons’ friends into her home with an open door and an open heart, appreciating and supporting them for who they were.

 Marybeth loved the ocean and spent many summers with family and friends at Narragansett Town Beach. With her husband, she was a life-long, year-round tennis fanatic, playing mixed doubles for more than 30 years and competing in the women’s team USTA league. “My life turned out better than I dared dream due to the love of family and friends.”

 Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 8:45am from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory – SOUTH COUNTY CHAPEL, 1111 Boston Neck Rd, (Rt. 1A) Narragansett followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in St. Mary’s Star of the Sea, 864 Point Judith Road, Narragansett. Interment will take place in Saints Peter and Paul Mausoleum, at St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. VISITING HOURS Monday from 4-7pm.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (lbda.org/donate).