Richard H. Murray Obituary
Richard Hines (Rick) Murray, 78, husband of Elizabeth Casey (Liz) Murray, passed away peacefully at home on June 24th, 2024. Rick was born in West Roxbury, MA, on June 19, 1946, the son of the late Thomas O'C Murray, Lt. Commander USN, and Marie Hines Murray.
Rick was a Bostonian through and through. Born to Boston natives, he was educated in middle and high school at Boston Latin and The Newman School. He graduated from Carroll School of Management of Boston College in 1968, and Suffolk University Law School in 1971. He entered the Internal Revenue Service in 1971, from which he retired as a managing attorney in the Estate and Gift Division in 2012. At the IRS Rick was a founding member of the "Old Guys" lunch bunch (attorneys with 25 or more years of service to the agency). He was also a faithful attendee of the annual IRS Golf Tournament.
Rick's favorite sport was ice hockey. He played in his West Roxbury neighborhood until he aged out. At BC he played intramural hockey from whence came the priest that married Rick and Liz, Fr. Bill Carroll a periodic escapee from St. John's Seminary across the street. While at Suffolk Law School, Rick coached the Suffolk undergraduates' hockey team. When the Murrays moved to Gloucester, Skip Bertolino, Bruce LaFlam and Jim Chabot welcomed him to the Boulevard Blazers, a Cape Ann Industrial League team. Coincidentally, when they went house hunting, the Murrays chose a house a block away from the O'Maley Rink.
Rick also enjoyed scuba diving. He plunged into the cold waters off Cape Ann and Cape Cod and the warmer waters of the Caribbean. Rick and his friend Jack Dunphy took their pale Celtic selves to dive in Mexican waters on one occasion which led to serious research of the meaning of "SPF" after they landed. A serious interest in photography- underwater and seaside- came out of these adventures. Boat ownership also arrived on scene. Downhill skiing came to a close when the bright red braces moved from his ski pants to jeans worn taking care of his yard.
In the nineties, oughts and post-retirement two other subjects drew Rick's interest, Boy Scouts and model trains. As the Scoutmaster for Gloucester Troop 56, Rick put his membership through their paces including guiding four of them to attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. As a member of the HUB railroad club, he participated with colleagues in building complex model set ups impressive for their use of technology, history, and artwork. The Hub set up large train displays at various locations including displays at the Museum of Science over the Christmas seasons of 2018 and 2019. The Murrays made trips to other clubs throughout New England, the Midwest and the Canadian Maritimes.
Rick and Liz were married in 1980, and settled in Gloucester, MA. Their sons were born in Gloucester, Matthew in 1983 and Christopher in 1986. Rick is survived by his wife, Liz, and their sons Matthew and Christopher; his brothers Colin Murray (Susan Libby), and Donald Murray (Julie Edgar), and nephews Jason Murray and his daughter Kara and Scott Murray (Krista Clay) and their children Rowan and Cora. Rick was predeceased by his parents, Thomas O'C and Marie Hines Murray.
A Mass for Rick will be celebrated at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church on 142 Prospect Street in Gloucester on Saturday, July 13th, 2024. Arrive early for a 9:00 a.m. visitation followed by a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Reception to follow locally. Interment of remains will follow at a later date.
