Catherine F. Brine, age 77, a lifetime resident of Weymouth, Massachusetts passed away suddenly surrounded by her loving family on February 21, 2026.

Cass (as known by her family) or Cathy (as she was known professionally) was the devoted daughter of the late Joseph M. Leahy Sr. and the late Ruth (Ryan) Leahy. She grew up in Weymouth surrounded by her large Irish family with dozens of aunts, uncles and cousins. She attended Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree and graduated from Regis College in 1970. She began her lifelong career in education as a teacher in the Brockton Public Schools immediately after graduation.

She met her husband Philip Brine at a cherished cousin’s wedding when Phil asked her to dance and they continued dancing together through 55 years of marriage. Cass and Phil went on to raise three daughters who were the center of her world. Cass took pride in raising strong women that will carry on her legacy of generosity and love.She made the decision to pause her career to focus on raising her children until they were all school aged. While she was home with her children she opened a home bakery which was very successful and continued to bake for the rest of her life. She was most famous for her pumpkin and banana bread. Cass made sure to share her love of the holidays with her family and was known as a wonderful host. She loved to travel and enjoyed many vacations with her family and friends.

She returned to teaching in the mid nineties and went on to earn her Master’s of Education Degree. She was laid off from teaching during budget cuts and hired as a graduate instructor after appearing on an episode of “Real Life with Jane Pauley” where she was featured in a segment on inequitable education funding in the United States. She continued graduate work to earn an Administrative license and became an Assistant Principal, Principal and retired from Brockton Public Schools as the Executive Director of Elementary Education. Cass balanced her career in public education, with graduate teaching and raising her family. She founded Catherine Leahy Brine Educational Consultants in 2005 and continued training new teachers and administrators until her death. She was a gifted educator and mentor. Between her public school career and consulting career she impacted thousands of students and hundreds of teachers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

In 2005 Cass welcomed her first grandchild and the most cherished role of her life began, that of a grandmother. She welcomed her five grandchildren into the world and made their lives magical every single day. She was a very involved nana. She loved being teased by Daniel and her family will miss hearing her laugh at his jokes. She took great pride in watching Maggie compete in her sporting events. She taught Abigail to read the summer before she began elementary school and homeschooled Sadie and Thomas during Covid shut downs. She will always be their favorite teacher.

Cass was predeceased by her parents, Joseph M. Leahy Sr, Ruth (Ryan) Leahy, her sister, Judith Leahy and her brother, Joseph M. Leahy Jr. Cass died on the same date as her father’s passing 29 years ago and the day before her mother’s passing 21 years ago. Her family takes comfort in the thought of their reunion. She was also predeceased by her father and mother in law, Arthur and Grace Brine and her brother and sister in law Fred and Joyce Brine.

Cass is survived by her husband of 55 years, Philip A. Brine of Weymouth, her daughter, Maura Weir her husband Patrick Weir and their three children, Abigail, Daniel and Maggie of East Bridgewater, MA, her daughter Sara Brine of Weymouth and Christen Aiello, her husband Thomas Aiello Jr and their children, Sadie and Thomas of Weymouth. She is also survived by her beloved brother Peter J. Leahy and his wife Elaine of Marion, MA, her cherished sister, Anne Trovato and her husband Joseph of Stony Point NY and her much loved sister in law, Joanne Leahy of Weymouth. She is survived by many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews that she loved immensely and dozens of cousins from the Leahy and Ryan families.

Services were private.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Brockton Community Schools, by clicking here. Please reference in memory of Catherine Brine. Your generosity will help support the school district that always remained near and dear to her heart.