Philip Foster Murray

Philip Foster Murray, M.D., 95 years of age and a resident of the Peninsula for over 60 years, died on Thursday, 22 December 2016. Phil was born 29 July 1921 in Larchmont, New York to Douglas Murray and Margaret Barbour Murray. He graduated from George Washington High School in Alexandria, Virginia. Upon completion of his bachelor's degree, medical school, and internship at the University of Virginia, he served in the U.S. Army in Japan and Korea. After leaving the Army, he completed a dermatology residency at Buffalo General Hospital, Buffalo, New York, where he met his wife, Elizabeth. As a Board Certified dermatologist, he was in private practice in Hampton from 1955 to 1976, in addition to being on staff at the Hampton Veterans Administration Hospital. He was also a lecturer of dermatology at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond and was an assistant professor of dermatology at Eastern Virginia Medical School. After retirement, Phil became very interested in complementary medicine and coordinated the class, "Approaches to Better Health", at Christopher Newport University's Lifelong Learning Society. He was instrumental in establishing the Peninsula Peace Education Center and was a member of Physicians for Social Responsibility. Phil is survived by his wife of 65 years, Elizabeth, and his children, Pamela Davis and husband James Michael Davis, of Midlothian, Virginia and Patricia Colonna and husband Dr. David Colonna of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and four grandchildren, Todd Davis, Ross Davis, Elizabeth Colonna, and Ann Colonna. He is also survived by his sister, Patricia Murray Clifton, of Berkley, California, and her children. Phil loved music, playing the piano even in the last weeks of his life. He had an inquisitive mind, a gentle sense of humor, and a generous spirit.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.