June Gorman Munro, age 88 of Smithtown, died on Thursday, July 30, 2015. Born June 22, 1927 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, the only child of Sarah (McCutcheon) and Arthur Gorman, she moved with her family at a young age to the Bronx. She was a member of the Carleton College class of 1949. June loved Carleton (Northfield, Minnesota) and proudly supported the college throughout her life.

While working for the Liberty Mutual Insurance company in New York City she met and married William "Bill" Munro and they lived in Fresh Meadows Queens before moving to Smithtown, Long Island in 1958. There June became a full-time mother and homemaker, raising three children, all of whom survive her and owe her a debt of gratitude that is difficult to fathom; Elizabeth Munro von Keller of Marshall Virginia, Cameron Munro of Wilton Connecticut and Janet Munro Coleman of Midlothian Virginia.

Following Bill’s untimely death in 1972, June returned to the work force to support her family; briefly as a Social Worker for the Suffolk County Department of Social Services and then for the County Probation Department where she became a Supervising Probation Officer and an original officer of the Suffolk County Probation Officers Association. She dedicated her working years to the Probation Department and its officers, retiring at the age of 75. June also earned a Masters degree from CW Post all while raising and providing for her family as a single parent supporting her children financially and intellectually from grade school through High School, on through College, Graduate school, Law school and life. As the matriarch of her extended family, June hosted the annual Christmas gathering in Smithtown through 2013.

June was also proud of and loved her children’s spouses; Arthur von Keller; Joy (Milhaven) Munro and Christopher Coleman and having come to terms with being called ‘Grandma’, she was an extraordinarily attentive, loving and giving grandmother to Sarah Conrad Rodriguez of Front Royal Virginia, William and Alison Munro of Wilton, Connecticut and Jordan, Rachel and Logan Coleman of Midlothian Virginia. June was also ‘Grandma’ in every sense to Travis von Keller Pence of Cleveland, Ohio and Nick von Keller of Los Angeles California.

Although not born a Munro, upon her marriage to Bill, after his death and until her own death, June remained close to Bill’s younger brothers, Alan Munro of Juneau Alaska and David Munro of St. James, New York. She was a beloved Aunt of Ross Munro and Leigh Munro, originally of Smithtown, all of her Munro nieces and nephews of Juneau Alaska, Duncan Munro, Peter Munro, Donald Munro, Carol Munro Scribner, Jean Munro and Meg Munro Day and cherished cousin of Anne Munro Short of Garden City and her children. June also remained close to Bill’s best childhood friend, Thomas V. “Vin” Mallon and his wife, Lillian of St. James; she was an honorary member of the Mallon clan and an adored “Aunt” of Carolyn Mallon Grayson, Susan Mallon Lyon, Robert Mallon and Thomas Mallon originally of St. James, and their children.

Never one to suffer fools gladly, June always spoke her mind and there was rarely a time it wasn’t abundantly clear where she stood on an idea, issue, or individual. Profoundly influenced by a childhood dominated by the Great Depression and World War Two, she was a great admirer of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and supported progressive causes as an unabashed and proud liberal her entire life. Always considerate of those less fortunate and never one to turn her back on those in need, June donated her time and money to numerous organizations dedicated to social justice, the environment and animal welfare. Including, but hardly limited to, the Democratic Party, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Sierra Club and more animal welfare charities than can be named here.

June stood less than five feet tall, but was a towering presence. She was fiercely independent and had many close friends, neighbors and colleagues. June lived in her own home in Smithtown until November 2014 when her children persuaded her to escape the Long Island winters and she moved in with her daughter Beth in Virginia.

In lieu of flowers the family is suggesting a donation to the American Heart Association, the Southern Poverty Law Center, The Sierra Club, or a charity of your choosing, in June’s name is greatly appreciated.

Please feel free to reach out to cmunro@optonline.net with any questions.