Roll Call Tribute

Winnifred Gerhardstein Murnin
October 13, 1933 - July 19, 2022

Winn Murnin, Ed.D., died peacefully, of heart failure while resting at home July 19, ending a well-lived, productive and remarkable life of 88 and three-quarter years.

Winnifred Gerhardstein was the youngest of four children and the first one born in a hospital over the river in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. She became a latchkey kid at 9 when her father Fred died and her mother Marguerite went to work as a telephone operator at the VA hospital.

"Winnie" skipped a couple of grades and graduated high school at 15, and sped through college, graduating at 18. Driven as she was, she asserted she was 21 in order to get her first teaching job.

At 20, she married a college friend's brother, Air Force Lt. John Murnin, and began the adventurous life of a military spouse. Assignments took the Murnins to Ohio, Germany, Maryland, Illinois, England and San Antonio, in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Divorce then brought her back to San Antonio, a city she loved.

Along the way, Winn was able to continue her education and thrive throughout her 31-year teaching career. She received a master's degree from the University of Illinois and a doctorate from Texas A&M University.

She was a trailblazing woman in the Northside Independent School District, becoming one of the first two women principals of a middle school. She was principal at Stevenson Middle School after being principal of Leon Valley Elementary and assistant principal at Clark High School.

Her doctorate enabled her to become the first female assistant superintendent at Northside in 1990. She retired four years later and became director of student teaching at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

In 1995 she started a business, Winn Estate Services, to help people with transitions, selling homes and everything in them. After serving hundreds of clients, she retired in 2011.

She never slowed down and kept busy with world-wide travel and volunteering. She was a 25-year volunteer at the Alzheimer's Association, her personal experience helping others deal with the terrible disease that afflicted her second husband, James Morgan. She was also a volunteer at the Northside School Museum.

One of the biggest thrills of her life came in 2006 when the Northside School District, recognizing her many contributions, named an elementary school in her honor. She spent many days at Dr. Winn Murnin Elementary School, welcoming teachers and students to a new school year, and reading to every class.

Eight years ago, Winn and Kathy McKinney founded Possibilities, enlisting friends to contribute monthly to a fund providing grants to assist women who need a little help in bettering themselves, so they can become self-sufficient. So far, Possibilities has helped over 85 women.

Winn was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame last year, finding herself in great company. In June, she signed up to be a HOF mentor at the Young Women's Leadership Academy.

Winn was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, daughter, Wendy, and son-in-law, Lenard Weege, stepson, Raymond Morgan, her parents, sister, Marian and brothers, Dan and Mike.

She is survived by children and stepchildren: Tom (Shirley) Morgan, Chrissie (Dan) Warner, Tina (John) Flores, Brendan (Terri) Murnin, Julie (Bob) Bartlett, Michele Elledge, Pat (Rita) Morgan, Teresa (Bob) Kaschak, Patrick (Irene) Murnin and Sean Morgan and Raymond's widow Dianne, as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, cousins and sisters-in-law, Olga Gerhardstein and Helen (Perry) Nix.

Funeral Mass is Friday, August 12, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 10703 Wurzbach, with a reception following at 8122 Datapoint.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Dr. Winn Murnin Scholarship at the Northside Education Foundation. www.nisd.net/community/nef

You are invited to sign the Guestbook at www.porterloring.com