Constance A. Dougherty

Constance Antoinette (Musolino) Dougherty, 76 years young, passed away peacefully surrounded by her devoted family at her home in Flemington, NJ, on February 26th, 2022.

Constance was born in Miami, FL, on January 6th, 1946, to Carmine and Constance (nee Longson) Musolino. The family soon moved to Elizabeth, where she spent many of her grade school years before moving to Green Brook, NJ, where she graduated from Dunellen High School in 1963. She attended college at Glassboro State College, now named Rowan University, where she not only earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education, but she also met the love of her life, Edward J. Dougherty. In 1968 Constance and Edward married and began their life together as not only husband and wife but best friends and soon-to-be business partners.

Constance, also well known as Connie and Toni, with her partner in life Edward at her side, launched a 40-year career in education that led her around the world to small towns in Adelaide, Australia, to teaching in South Brunswick, NJ. She had a variety of positions, including mathematics training instructor and elementary school teacher. Her hard work and dedication culminated with the role of Director at the private institution Green Brook Academy. Connie co-founded Green Brook Academy with her husband, educator, and psychologist Dr. Edward Dougherty in 1979. The school provides a therapeutic and safe educational experience for adolescents with emotional and behavioral disabilities throughout NJ. Green Brook Academy is now run by her eldest daughter Colleen Motzel.

If there was one characteristic that truly defined her legacy, it was her love and loyalty to her family. You could often come across impromptu gatherings at Connie’s home pool area or a kitchen full of smiles, laughter, a beautiful homemade Italian meal, and bottles of wine. She believed in the importance of dining together as a family as a way of decompressing for the day. Connie was the example of the superhero mother. Whether it be chaperoning a class trip, teaching CCD class, spending many winter weekends in the ski lodge while her kids were on the slopes, or helping write a school paper late at night, she did it all from a place of love. Her love for education and reading was of utmost importance to her, and she would embrace every opportunity to read to her grandchildren, enjoying each of those precious moments. She loved her children and grandchildren more than anything else in life. They all loved her with the same vigor and passion.

Connie is survived by her beloved husband of 53 years, Dr. Edward Dougherty, their four children, and five grandchildren. Colleen and Robert Motzel, and their two children Army PFC Robert (Robbie) and James. Ted Dougherty and Noriko Ishihara, Katie Dougherty and Chris Boyle and their daughter Arta, and Daniel Dougherty and his daughter Arvaline with Bonnie Dougherty and his son Ulysses (Uly).

A visitation with the family will take place on Friday, March 4, 2022, from 4:00-7:00 PM in the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow, Saturday, March 5, 2022, at 10:00 AM in the Saint Magdalen de Pazzi RC Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ. Everyone is asked to meet directly at the church by 9:45 AM. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hunterdon Hospice, 215 Route 31 South, Flemington, NJ 08822, or to the Hunterdon Healthcare Foundation, 9100 Wescott Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822.

All arrangements and cremation services are under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822.

For further information or to send an online condolence, please visit Constance’s Tribute Wall at www.holcombefisher.com.