Andrea Rosemary Murphy Moar Schenck

Professional Actor Died by accidental drowning on Friday January 13, 2012, at the age of 55 years while on vacation with her husband in Cancun, Mexico. Professional actor (stage name Andrea Moar) on television in New York and Los Angeles (ABC-TV "All My Children," where she played the role of Carrie that consistently generated high "Q ratings"; the series "Rituals"; guest appearance on the "Molten Steele" episode of the "Remington Steele" series). She played the role of "fast blond in the sporty barbeque grill" in the award winning (for comedy) commercial for Kraft Kansas City Barbeque Sauce; appeared in an American Express commercial, and played roles in nearly 60 plays, including "The Women" at Park Square Theater in St. Paul. She remained a member of the Screen Actors Guild based in Los Angeles. Andrea was regarded as a unique, enthusiastic, passionate, caring person and devoted, loyal friend ("I never give up on people") with a generous spirit and a vibrant and engaging personality. She hosted social events with a special flare, including the 20th anniversary party of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center in 1998 that was held outdoors under tents. She had a zest for life and loved animals and birds. (One of her favorite expressions was: "I find children and animals endlessly fascinating to watch"). She was a sports enthusiast, and was an avid tennis player who had won the New Jersey high school state individual championship. She loved swimming in the ocean, was a gifted amateur photographer, and was keenly interested and knowledgeable in jewelry and gemology. She had an impressive talent for interior decorating. She collected snow globes during her extensive travels with her husband. She coauthored a novel with her brother entitled "The Griffon Trilogy: Part I" that was released on July 1, 2001 (Pub-Booklocker). She was truly a modern-day Renaissance woman. Born in Dayton, Ohio, she was raised in Princeton, New Jersey, and was a graduate of Princeton High School, and graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina with a B.A. in English Literature, and studied at the University of Montpelier in France during a Junior Year Abroad program. Married in 2005 to Carlos H. Schenck, M.D., senior staff psychiatrist at Hennepin County Medical Center and Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center, and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota, with whom she traveled extensively to professional meetings and his lectures around the country and the world, and was his self-described "documentarian" through her photographs and videotaping. Andrea, daughter of the late Paul Daniel Murphy, Jr, M.D., a psychiatrist, is survived by her husband Carlos (and Brio, their beloved 4 year-old Tsang Apso, i.e. Tibetan Terrier), her mother Dimitria Sarhanis Murphy, former ballet dancer of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, residing in Edina, MN; her sister Sheila Murphy Moar and husband James Moar, residing in St. Paul, MN, and their two children Amanda and Zachary; her brother Douglas Paul Murphy, M.D., (Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Virginia Commonwealth University), residing in Ivy, VA and his wife Elaine and two children Kali and Max. Andrea was a direct descendant, from her father's side, of Captain James Lawrence, who coined the famous naval battle cry during the War of 1812, "Don't give up the ship!" Andrea had nearly 1,000 Facebook friends and will be dearly missed by many people around the country and the world. A memorial service will be held at 3 PM on Saturday January 21 at the Weisman Art Museum, University of MN. Memorial donations can be directed to the Guthrie Theater (Memo line: "Actor Training Program", with Andrea's name listed).