Mary Kate, 81, of Santa Cruz (formerly of Campbell and Sunnyvale) died at home Tuesday, November 18, 2025. She was surrounded by family, friends and much love in her final months, weeks and days. 

She was born Mary Catherine Rourke on May 13, 1944 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the daughter and fourth child of the late James H. and Margaret (Scully) Rourke.  

Mary Kate graduated from Notre Dame Catholic High School in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1962.  While attending The Ohio State University, Mary Kate married Joseph S. Belichick, had a daughter, Kim, and graduated from college in 1966.  Shortly afterwards, Mary Kate learned that she had lupus, and the prognosis was not good. Regardless, Mary Kate had another daughter, Meg, in 1967, and a son, Joseph, in 1969, after settling with her husband in Youngstown, Ohio.  During this time, Mary Kate also began her professional career by teaching English just like her mother had done in her career.

Mary Kate never let lupus define her and lived a life of faith, family, and friends.  She was a lifelong Catholic who was particularly close with her siblings—her older brothers Jim and Jerry and her older sister Ellen.  After her marriage to Dr. Belichick ended, Mary Kate returned to Connecticut, eventually living in a house on the Housatonic River just a few doors down from her parents in Stratford, Connecticut.  By coincidence, or what some might call divine intervention, a former high school boyfriend, Alfred P. Franci, called Mary Kate’s parents to find her and they said she was right down the street.  Mary Kate and Alfred reunited and married in 1978 and they had a daughter, Sarah Kate, in 1979.  Mary Kate and Alfred hosted family and friends on the river for many years.

In what seemed at the time to be a surprising and potentially risky move to some, Mary Kate and Alfred decided to move to Sunnyvale in 1983.  But with Silicon Valley taking off at the time, Mary Kate and Alfred made the right bet, living their California Dream and raising their family there, with all their adult children still living in the Bay Area.

Although Mary Kate began work as an English teacher, her professional career included a variety of executive positions, working for the Catholic Church, local governments (Santa Clara County and the City of Mountain View), political campaigns, and schools.  Mary Kate was a consummate “people person” who knew how join with others, to lead, and to teach others how to lead.  

After they downsized from Sunnyvale to Campbell in 2002, Mary Kate and Alfred traveled widely to Ireland, Italy, Hawaii, Alaska, and New Zealand. After Alfred’s death in 2008, Mary Kate continued her adventures, traveling alone, with friends, or with groups to England, France, Spain, India, Italy, Panama, and Africa.  In 2016, Mary Kate found a beautiful, little Victorian house in downtown Santa Cruz and she made it her home base to live out her rich life.  Always on the move, Mary Kate filled her days with books, singing, dancing, volunteer work, and the many community groups she loved.  Nothing brought her more joy than being closely involved in the lives of her six grandchildren.  Mary Kate was a longtime and grateful member of her recovery community, where she dedicated herself to supporting others on their journey.

Mary Kate is survived by her children, Kim Belichick of Santa Cruz, Meg Belichick of Half Moon Bay and Mill Valley, Joseph Belichick of Sunnyvale, and Sarah Kate Ball (Franci) of Morgan Hill, brothers Jim and Jerry Rourke of Doylestown, PA and Madison, CT, and grandchildren Max, Stella, Poppy, Katherine, Alice, and Anna.

In the near term, a Mass for the repose of the soul will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Saturday, November 29, 5pm, as well as one on Saturday, December 6, 5pm. A full Funeral Mass and Reception will be held in early 2026 (date TBD) and we will post details here in the coming weeks.

Please sign the guestbook, leave a tribute or a story on this site. 

Arrangements were entrusted to the care of the Benito & Azzaro of Santa Cruz.