Obituary of John Van Alen Murray

John Van Alen Murray, better known to friends, loved ones, and colleagues as “Van,” passed away peacefully on March 16 at Stamford Hospital following an extended and courageous battle with cancer. He was 57-years-old. Mr. Murray, an avid lover of golf and the beach was renowned for his magnetic personality, infectious laugh and sheer appreciation for life. A gifted raconteur, he livened any gathering with his endless stories and innate sense of humor. He was a devoted friend, father and husband who earned the love and admiration of all who knew him. He was born in Manhattan on July 26, 1952 to Jeanne Beatty Murray and Emmet Van Alen Murray, both deceased. After moving to Connecticut as a child, he attended Greenwich Country Day School. He went on to graduate from The Taft School in 1970, Brown University in 1974 and the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1977. At the time of his death, Mr. Murray was a partner in the firm Diserio, Martin, O’Connor and Castiglioni and prior to that, in the firm Jacques, Murray and Moger. Mr. Murray enjoyed a wide circle of friends, many of whom were his clients. He divided his time between Connecticut, his family’s summer residence in Quogue, New York and his extensive travel destinations. He was a member of the Wee Burn Country Club in Darien, National Golf Links of America in Southampton, the Quogue Field Club and Quogue Beach Club, and the Newport Reading Room. Mr. Murray is survived by his wife Susan Gray, son Alexander Emmet Murray, daughter Francesca Drexel Murray, stepchildren Katharine and Christopher Gray, brother Chester Murray, sister-in-law Christy Murray and nephews Carl and Chester Murray. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 27 at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Darien, located at 14 Brookside Road. A summer memorial will be held in Quogue in July. The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Darien EMS – Post 53 and the Cancer Research Institute. The contact information is as follows: Darien EMS – Post 53, P.O. Box 2066, Darien, CT 06820; Post53.org; 203-655-8980 Cancer Research Institute, 55 Broadway, Suite 1802, New York, NY 10006; cancerresearch.org; 800-992-2623 Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820