Park Slope Suffers A Loss: The Mulvaney Family Tragedy
On Saturday, August 15 the Park Slope community suffered a great loss, when three members of the Mulvaney family — Ledell, 61, Donald, 63, and their daughter Katherine (Kat), 31 — were in a car crash while returning from a United Church of Christ event at the Silver Lake Camp and Conference Center in Connecticut. The family was driving southbound on the Taconic State Parkway in Westchester when the crash claimed the lives of Ledell and daughter Kat, as reported by the Yorktown-Somers Patch. Don survived the crash, however, he currently remains hospitalized.
Ledell, Don, and Kat Mulvaney are known as artists, singers, and performers. Ledell was the gospel choir director at Park Slope United Methodist Church, and was recently spotlighted by the International School of Brooklyn in an interview that describes her background: “Fulbright scholar, civil rights activist, jazz singer, Packers fan, and ISB’s performing arts program director extraordinaire. At ISB, she teaches 2nd-7th grade music, heads the drama club, and coaches the band.”
Robert Sekac has known Ledell during the time she has been at the International School of Brooklyn. He served as facilities manager, but has just joined community relations, and says Ledell had a major impact on ISB.
“The school community will remember her boundless energy conducting six grades singing three songs each at the holiday and spring concerts,” he tells us. “I’ll remember our quiet conversations between classes. Non-judgmental, you could talk to Ledell about anything. Those whose offices were near her space will remember music running the gamut from The Rolling Stones to spirituals to Pete Seeger to show tunes. She sang with Pete Seeger, and was able to connect his music to world events in a way that made the music a living testament. This was an amazing teacher, adored by her students.
“Ledell was an outspoken advocate for civil rights, gender equality, marriage equality, and an advocate for her colleagues,” Sekac continues. “But it is her smile we remember most, the voice that berated you for passing her class without saying hello, her tender concern for the concerns of her friends. Ledell and the music she and her students made quickened the pulse of ISB; we were exhilarated listening. The silence in the music room is deafening. We are devastated by her loss.”
Kat had a similar love of music — she spent the summer putting the finishing touches on her new album, as she discussed on Facebook and Instagram.
“Listened to my album in it’s entirety yesterday to prepare for the finishing touches for the mixing and then comes the mastering….Dreams are a series of executed and organized steps,” she wrote on Instagram. “What a process this has been but we are that much closer to getting this baby out there into the world! I can’t wait!”
The Mulvaneys’ other child, filmmaker Devan, was not on the car trip, and he continues to post regularly about his father’s progress. On Friday, August 21, he shared on the Caring Bridge journal that Don’s “arm was cleaned and ‘revamped’ as the nurse said; hopefully, that means he can play the drums faster :)”
On Sunday, August 23, Valerie Tutson — a friend and colleague of the Mulvaney family — wrote the following:
“This day, in the hospital, Don is looking good! He is breathing mostly on his own since early this morning. He has been surrounded by family, and we continue to pray and sing around him. Cathy, the nurse, is taking great care of him! We are so grateful. He is continuing to wean off the sedation, so keep praying, wherever you are.”
She continues to provide updates on Don’s page on the Caring Bridge website.
Pam McAllister has been the musical director at the Park Slope United Methodist Church since 1988 and has worked alongside with Ledell and Don.
“Don and Ledell were our beloved Gospel Choir directors,” she tells us. “Ledell was vivacious and enthusiastic … Don was gentle and jazzy. Both were hugely talented. They expressed their progressive Christian faith through political activism and music. People in communities throughout Brooklyn and Connecticut are reeling with this loss, but the good energy and love radiated by this family of musicians will continue to be felt for a long, long time.”
The entire Mulvaney family, including their son Devan, has worked as teaching artists with the theater company White Bird Productions, a company whose focus is on children of all age levels. Artistic director Kathryn Dickinson described Ledell, Don, and Kat as “prized teaching artists. They are all are incredibly gifted musicians.”
She recalled that Kat would often rehearse during lunch because she was “meticulous and disciplined with the kids.” Kathryn’s own grown daughter Charlotte, “often looked to Kat for encouraging words about becoming an artist.”
Don served as a “guiding light to me,” adds Kathryn. “He always has his antennae out. He’s always giving people good advice.”
A gofundme page has been posted in order to assist Devan with funeral costs for both Ledell and Kat, as well as continued expenses concerning Don’s hospital stay and recovery.
We extend deepest sympathies to all of the family and friends mourning the loss of the Ledell and Kat, and wish Don a full recovery.