Debra Lee Covert McGrath
Debra Lee Covert McGrath, 58, passed away Thursday in North Bethesda, Md.
She was the loving wife of Matthew T. McGrath and adoring mother of Lauren Melissa McGrath of Columbia, Md. She leaves behind many cherished friends and associates.
She was the daughter of the late Melvin Leroy Covert and Constance Baker Covert of Butler.
A 1974 honors graduate of Butler High School and a 1976 graduate of Butler County Community College, Debra was active in the community and the arts.
She was a widely respected independent management and personnel consultant for public, private and nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C. She also authored numerous manuals on organizational management, which remain seminal texts for national foundations and major companies.
Her consulting business provided services to the American Association of Medical Colleges, the American Medical Association, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, the Epilepsy Foundation, the Goddard Space Flight Center, the Federal Highway Administration, the Departments of Defense and Education, and the University of Maryland, among many other clients.
She also served as human resources development manager for Cable and Wireless Communications LLC in Arlington, Va., and as the training coordinator for the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., under the direction of librarian Daniel Boorstin.
She earned her bachelor’s degree with honors in English literature and history, as well as her master’s degree in public administration and labor relations at the University of Pittsburgh on a Wolfson Merit Scholarship, graduating with highest honors. Also, immediately after receiving her Bachelor of Arts from Pitt, Ms. McGrath served as the first executive director of the Act 101 Equal Opportunity Program for Pennsylvania, while teaching three courses at Butler County Community College, a reflection of her deep commitment to educational opportunities for disadvantaged students. During that time, she also taught adult reading literacy to individual students in Butler.
During her years in Butler, Debra was a student and assistant instructor at Lee’s School of Dance, accomplished in ballet, tap and jazz. She was a member of the First English Lutheran Church on Main Street, where she was married and where her daughter was baptized. She was also a member of the Trojanettes at Butler High School, and was involved in the theater program. After graduation, she modeled in New York City and Pittsburgh.
In 1982, she married Matthew T. McGrath, son of the late Joseph and Rae M. McGrath, who was an instructor and registrar of Butler County Community College, and moved to the Washington, D.C., area. After establishing her consulting business, she gave birth to Lauren M. McGrath, who currently works at MedStar Health headquarters in Columbia, Md.
Debra was involved in numerous volunteer activities connected with her daughter’s educational advancement at The Holton-Arms School and The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md.
Ms. McGrath passed her love of European travel on to her daughter, Lauren, who studied for her master’s degree at the London School of Economics. Debra also enjoyed spending time at the family’s second home in Venice, Fla.
Due to her background in literature, Debra was a voracious reader and book reviewer, of both fiction and literary works.
McGrath — A memorial service for Debra Lee Covert McGrath, who passed away May 22, 2014, will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Pumphrey Funeral Home, 7557 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, Md.Contributions in Debra's memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
