Meredith A. Fahey
June 26, 1947 ~ September 25, 2020
Resided in:
Hamden , CT
Meredith A. Fahey, Hamden CT, died Friday, September 25, 2020, at Yale New Haven Hospital at the age of 73. Meredith was born to Bartley and Marienne Fahey in Stamford, CT, the second of five children, and was lucky to be not only surrounded by her loving immediate family , but also to grow up in close proximity to a large, fun-loving family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and many dear friends.
Meredith graduated from Darien High School and earned a BA degree from the College of Notre Dame, Baltimore, MD. She taught English at Darien High School for several years before leaving to start a career in business. She went on to earn a MBA at NYU Stern School of Business. Meredith worked for several consulting firms before starting her own company, Finnegan Associate, which she managed for 17 years. Meredith retired in September 2018, from her position as Associate Director, Organizational Effectiveness & Staff Development at Yale University and continued consulting in that capacity until her death.
Meredith had a lifelong appreciation of the arts and loved to paint, act, sing and dance. In Hamden she enjoyed performing in amateur productions and singing with several choral groups. She studied painting in Maine and Provincetown, MA, where she spent many summers. She also enjoyed sailing her boat “Grizabella” on Long Island Sound.
Meredith is survived by her wife, Alison Cunningham of Hamden, her sisters Alison Hughes (Robert) and Dale-Beth Zaino (Francis) and her brothers, Michael Fahey (Linda) and Gregory Fahey (Rosalyn). She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and“grands”, two aunts, and many cousins and dear friends.
When regulations permit we hope to gather, family and friends alike, to celebrate Meredith’s life and legacy of joy. If you would like to make a contribution in her memory, please consider making a donation to The Provincetown Art Association and Museum, 460 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657 (paam.org) or to a local charity of your choice. Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, Hamden is in care of the arrangements. To share a condolence with her family, please visit www.beecherandbennett.com.
I was so sad to hear of Meredith’s passing. We sang and laughed together in Another Octave. She lit up a room. She will be missed by many. Sending condolences to Alison and her family.
I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Meredith was funny and kind and so supportive to me. I enjoyed singing with her in chorus. She will be missed. My love and support to her family.
My deepest condolences to Meredith’s dear family. I have only very fond memories of Meredith from the numerous times we worked together at Yale. She was an incredible leader and mentor. I learned a LOT from her. I remember watching her in awe on some projects we worked on, the way she led, drew others out, steered the conversation, noticed the shy ones and urged them to share their thoughts (that was me!) and listened thoughtfully and intently. She made people feel valued. She had good advice. I remember thinking to myself “here is someone to learn from and imitate, remember this.” She had a quick smile and a calming presence. Meredith was nothing short of a genuine, kind, good person. Her loss leaves a hole that can never be filled, and we will truly miss her.
Meredith and I joined the Unitarian Society of New Haven about 15 years ago. Together we worked on the Worship and Stewardship Committees. Most recently she was an important part of the Ministerial Search Committee which brought our new minister to us in August.
As neighbor, intrepid dominos player, and leader in mischief and laughter I miss her and will always hold her close to my heart.
Meredith was one of the kindest persons I had the privilege of meeting through Another Octave. We shared singing together as Altos and she will be missed. My prayers are for her family and especially Alison.
Meredith was always fun to be around. She always appeared to be happy and smiling. I will miss seeing her at Clark’s. She was so good at what she did, and she made everyone feel important and valued. My heart goes out to her wife and family. The earth has lost an amazingly warm soul. ❤️
How I loved spending time with Meredith. On the golf course, on a bike trip, on the water… sailing or canoeing, in a play, singing with the chorus or the choir, playing Choo-Choo with the gang – always fun with lots of laughs….and what a great smile she had. I will miss her a lot.
I am so sorry to hear of Meredith’s passing. I remember meeting her many years ago when she lead a class I took at Yale. Such a talented and warm person! My sympathies to Alison.
Meredith’s laugh, smile, and energy were contagious, and permeated the atmosphere everywhere she went. She was always so much fun! She will be missed by all who knew her.
My deepest condolences to Meredith’s wife and family. Meredith was a bright light who clearly touched many people and made the world a better place.
Meredith Fahey was one of the best friends I ever had. We met at The College of Notre Dame in Baltimore. We were roommates for one of the years we spent at school. She was known for singing GLORIA as well as many other songs in the stairwell of the dorm. She was a ferocious bridge-player. Many of us waited in line in the college smoker to get a seat at her bridge table. Meredith was a bridesmaid at my wedding in 1969 and caught the bouquet. She taught me this: “Do not expect and you won’t be disappointed”.
My condolences to Meredith’s family from someone who knew Meredith early in her career, when she was working in human resources at Pitney Bowes and also in NYC. We played tennis and partied together in the Stamford area. She had a boat named “Duck Sloop”?! Thank you for the beautiful photo as it is pretty much how I remember her. I hope we can get together so I can share memories with you all. Please keep me posted.
I was saddened to hear of Meredith’s passing. I had several opportunities to interact with her over the years at Yale, and held her in the highest regard. I was fortunate to have her as a leader in several classes I attended, as well as be part of a group that she facilitated. She was thoughtful and kind, and had a calming spirit. Just wanted to extend my sympathies to her family. She will be missed by many.
Meredith was a very classy young lady!! Very real!! I was in her high school class in Darien. As I recall, her whole family was a class act in many different ways. I am happy you did well in life Meredith!!
I was so saddened to hear of Meredith’s passing. She was a consummate professional, always willing to offer her knowledge and expertise, with grace and a smile. I learned a lot from her over my years at Yale. We will miss her greatly.
My deepest condolences to Meredith’s family in this very difficult time. Her generosity of time, humour, and kindness will be missed by those of us who were lucky to interact with her.
I offer my heartfelt condolences to Meredith’s wife, family members, and friends. I had the great pleasure to work with Meredith at Yale, where she ran workshops and retreats for our department. Meredith shared her professional expertise with welcome lightheartedness, kindness, and an almost mischievous sense of fun! Meredith was a treasured colleague and I will miss her greatly.
I took several of Meredith’s classes at Yale. She was warm, kind, and a wonderful instructor. My condolences to her loved ones.
My sincere condolences to Meredith’s friends and family. She was an inspiration and mentor to me, and I will miss her. I admired her keen insight, joyful wit, professionalism, passion for her work/developing others, and her open and welcome stance towards all. I am grateful to have met Meredith, and to have learned so much from her. Thank you, Meredith.
I was deeply saddened to hear of Meredith’s passing–and thirty seconds later I was smiling, remembering how, in my senior year at Darien High School, she wouldn’t let me just read and write about Arthur Conan Doyle and his Sherlock Holmes stories for independent study, but pushed me to include his TORTUROUS medieval novels as well. (“When you study an author you study his BODY of work, not just what he wrote to pay the bills.” How we laughed!)
Meredith was dynamic and wicked smart, but also warm and funny and kind, and had a lasting influence on me in wonderful ways. (I became a writer.)
Her brother, Greg, is a favorite classmate of mine from DHS. I send to Greg and all of Meredith’s loved ones my condolences, but also a big smile, a big hug, and a big, “Well done!” to them and to Meredith, for lives so well lived with love. May God bless you all.
Dale Beth, I was very sorry to learn of Meredith’s passing. While I have not seen her in many years, she was always very friendly to me and I remember her fondly. My thoughts are with you.
John
With deep sorrow and condolences. I met Meredith through painting with Beth Ellis. We were part of a group that painted many Monday nights and for a week in June in Ogunquit. We became friends and connected now and then over the years. We played word with friends and chatted that way … She told me she was I’ll this late summer and then faded from our Scrabble games. Today I went looking for my friend and found her obituary. Oh 2020 – you’ve been so hard on so many… Meredith, give Beth my warmest regards…look down on us with your bright kind and mischievous smile. My condolences to those left with the deepest spaces left by her absence. Kerry
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