Murray, Reverand John E

Murray was born in Brooklyn in 1918, graduated from Manhattan College in 1941 and a year later enlisted in the Army Air Force (the forerunner of the Air Force). He served as a meteorologist and was the commanding officer of the Weather Squadron based in Hawaii. Here he was involved in plotting air routes for Army pilots and was also involved in the testing of the atomic bombs which were eventually dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

After the war, he obtained a doctorate in psychology from Fordham University and in the early 1960s he began studying for the priesthood at Catholic University of America in Washington D. C. He was ordained in 1967 and served the Diocese of Rockville Centre for 38 years. He was very well like by the parishioners in the parishes he served in: East Northport, Bethpage, and New Hyde Park, and headed the priest personnel office for six years.

We cannot neglect to acknowledge the Father Murray was an accomplished pianist and often played for parish musicals. He was very modest about his many talents. (Taken from his obituary in NEWSDAY)