Obituary of Monsignor James H. Murray

Msgr. James H. Murray, 83, died on Sat. June 14, 2014 at Franciscan Oaks Health Care Center in Denville, NJ. Monsignor was born and raised in the Little Dublin section of Morristown, NJ and graduated from Bayley High School in 1948. He went to Seton Hall University and graduated with a BA in Philosophy in 1952. He continued his religious education at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, NJ and was ordained a Priest on May 26, 1956 in St. John's Cathedral in Paterson, NJ. He later received his Masters' in Education from Montclair State University in 1971. As a Priest in the Diocese of Paterson his first assignment was as assistant at St. John's Cathedral until becoming Pastor of St. Brendan's RC Church in Clifton from 1966 until 1967. It was at that time that he became Director of Bayley-Ellard High School in Madison, NJ until 1971 when he was named Pastor of St. Mary's RC Church in Denville where he remained until his retirement in 2007. Father Murray received the honor of Monsignor in 1989 by Bishop Frank Rodimer. He had felt a strong commitment to God, his family as well as to his community. While in Denville he helped St. Mary's grow and he helped to start many successful outreach programs. He was active in many community organizations, Denville Lions Club, PRIDE Council, Denville Chamber of Commerce; He was the Chaplin for the Denville Fire Dept., the Denville Police Dept. and for Denville P.B.A. Local #142. He founded the Joey Bella Fund and he had received several awards for his volunteerism. He received Denville Rotary Paul Harris Fellow and St. Clare's Hospital Mini Bowl Award. Msgr. was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of the Lakes Council #3359, Walter J. Barrett Fourth Degree Assembly #0659 Boonton, NJ. Member of the Order of Alhambra Aurora 55 Caravan, in Hasbrouck Hts, NJ. in Paterson, as well as Life Member of the Paterson Girl Scouts Council and he had served as the Diocese Director of Scouting. Monsignor had received the Golden Pirate Award from Seaton Hall University, and he was inducted into the Bayley-Ellard Hall of Fame in 1991. He had been a member of Spring Brook Country Club in Morristown and he had been a member of PHI DELTA KAPPA Fraternity at Montclair State University. He is survived by his four nieces and nephews Ret. Lt. Col. Steven ( Diana) Goodsky-Hertig of Chesapeake, VA, Michael Hertig of Morristown, Margie (Rick) LaMotte of Ludlow, MA and Anne (Charlie) Garrison of Lake Hopatcong, as well as his loving great nieces and great nephews Ian and Jamie, Michael Jr. and Jennifer Hertig, Alissa LaMotte, Jesse, Nikki and Jimmy Garrison. A Liturgy of Christian Burial Mass will be held on Friday June 20, 2014 at 10:00 AM at St. Mary's RC Church Rt. 46 and Myers Ave. Denville, NJ. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 2:00 to 8:00 PM in the Church. Donations are being accepted to St. Mary's Prep, Technology Dept. 100 Route 46 Denville, NJ 07834. Arrangements are being handled by Norman Dean Home for Services Denville, NJ www.normandean.com. Please share a memory of Monsignor by lighting a candle on our web page.