Robert George Murray

Bobby was born and raised in North Arlington, NJ. He loved playing baseball with his dad, Vince, and his brother, Vince. He was always proud of hitting multiple “dingers” into the Passaic River during his Little League career. He was a sharp student as well--he earned especially high marks in first grade, when his mother, Virginia, was his teacher.

Bob crossed the Hudson to attend Xavier High School. He always described the experience-- commuting to the City alone at age 14; and learning from the Jesuit brothers--as formative. He went on to study at Seton Hall University. There, he was a signature voice on WSOU Radio, providing play-by-play for the Pirate basketball team he never stopped believing in.

It was at Seton Hall that he met the love of his life: our mother, Ronnie. They were married for 46 years. Bob summarized their marriage in some of his last words to our mother, while suffering an aortic dissection on August 5th: “We had a good time together, didn’t we, Ronnie?”

Bob and Ronnie became “Mom and Dad” in 1980 when Brian was born. They moved from Newark to Toms River and had two more kids, Sean and Katie. Dad worked hard to provide for our family. He commuted hours to Newark each day so that we could grow up in a place with lots of space to play.

And, wow, did Dad ever play with us. He absolutely loved playing anything and everything with us--basketball, in-water-basketball, wiffleball, baseball, football, golf, mini-golf, tennis, ping pong, bumper pool, air hockey, street hockey, stick hockey, catch, swimming, bodysurfing and boogie boarding. He was a great athlete, sportsman, coach and competitor to the three of us kids... ...then, later, to our own kids. In 2012, Bob, our Dad, became Pop. Pop put in the heart, patience and time to earn rich relationships with Abby and Kyle in New Jersey. He regularly flew (and once drove!) cross-country to get Thao hooked on word puzzles and throw Khoi’s first backyard batting practice in California. As Pop, Bob was at his softest, his most loving--his best.

Bob is survived by his wife Ronnie; his children and their spouses--Brian and Megan Murray, Sean Murray and Mai Bui-Duy, and Katie and Jon Godbout; his four grandchildren--Abby, Kyle, Thao and Khoi; and his siblings, Betty Ann Blajda and Vincent Murray.

We are stunned by the loss of our Dad, and we will miss him for the rest of our lives.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the charity of your choice. Services will be held at Saint Joseph’s Church, 685 Hooper Ave, Toms River NJ, on September 6th at 10:30am with a gathering beginning at 10am in the vestibule of the church.