Murray, James D.

James (Jim) D. Murray passed away peacefully on March 4, 2024. Jim is predeceased by his parents Herbert and Mildred (Becker), brother Frank, and brother-in-law James Godette. He is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, Louise; children Bill (Jennifer), Bob (Marnie), sister Phyllis Godette, sister-in-law Emily Osgood; 7 grandchildren, Sam, Maggie, Max, Noah, Cole, Parker, and Piper, and many nieces.

Jim was born in 1938 in Rochester, NY where he lived his entire life.  Jim’s grandparents immigrated from Ireland, and Jim also has maternal ancestors that include two Mayflower passengers, and several who fought in the Revolutionary War and Civil War. 

His extensive memoirs confirm that the depression was a continuing problem in the early1940s, but recovery was not far away as the result of Germany’s expanding invasion of Europe.  Jim’s father operated “Murray’s Atlantic Service”, a one-bay garage and gas station proving to be a difficult business to run due to the war-time rationing of gasoline and the shortage of tires and batteries, and because many cars belonging to soldiers were either placed in storage or simply not being driven. 

Jim looked up to his big-brother Frank (who passed away in 2013) and was a caring big brother to his little sister Phyllis.  In his memoirs, Jim recalls tending to the family’s coal fired furnace, neighborhood games playing Cowboys and Indians, hide and seek, and listening to comedy, cowboy and mystery programs on the radio, as well as going to the West End Theatre for a 16 cent price of admission.  

Summers were occupied with playing pennies, marbles, riding bikes, roller skating, stilt walking, baseball, finding snakes at Scottsville Road Stone Quary, and playing “Mumbley Peg” involving skillfully throwing a jackknife into the ground.  Hot days were spent at the Genesee Valley Park pool and swimming in the Genesee River and Barge Canal.   During winter, ice skating at Genesee Valley was a popular activity.  Jim also notes that he and Frank once rode in the back of their father’s Studebaker rumble seat and were well prepared with their own collection of snowballs to counterattack against the surprised offenders who dared to throw a snowball first.   

Jim and Frank started a Coca-Cola vending business at the age of 9 or 10, selling soda at a 5 cent mark-up to baseball spectators at Genesee Valley Park.  Jim spent many weekends and several summers working at Dersam Farm (owned by his Uncle George and Aunt Doris Kelly Dersam) in Dale, New York.  Jim thoroughly enjoyed dairy and farming life, learning to ride a horse, hay, drive a tractor, milk dairy cows, and spread manure, downwind of course. 

Jim’s served as President of his 8th grade and 12th grade classes, as well as President of the XX fraternity.  He was a member of the Rochester Inter-High School Choir.  During his college years at the University of Rochester, Jim served as president of Sigma Chi Fraternity, and entered the ROTC during the years 1957-1961.  At the U of R, Jim received an A in his first business accounting course and found his calling.  

Upon graduation from the U of R with his accounting degree, Jim’s active duty in the Navy officially began in July of 1961, when he enrolled in the Navy’s Military Sea Transportation Service cryptography school in Newport RI, and then completed Division Officer training at the Brooklyn Army Terminal.   Thereafter, Jim was assigned as Division Officer on the troop transport ship USNS Gen-Maurice Rose TAP126, and served on her for two years ultimately becoming Executive Officer.  He oversaw 30 enlisted personnel and served as Cryptography Officer and Communications Officer.  He also served as the ship’s store supervisor, balancing cash and inventories.  At this time, there was a large build up of American troops in West Germany to counter Russian activity in East Germany, including the building of the Berlin Wall.  This resulted in troop ships being filled to capacity to deliver soldiers to Europe.  Jim’s duties brought him to several Mediterranean ports, Bremerhaven Germany, and Southampton England and totaled 24 round trips, or 48 Atlantic Ocean crossings, totaling over 163,000 miles.   Jim was honorably discharged in 1963 with the rank of LTJG, earning the National Defense Service Medal.   

Upon his return stateside, Jim accepted an accounting position with Ernst & Ernst (subsequently known as Ernst & Young), obtained his CPA, and became partner in 1977.  Thereafter, Jim turned down several career fortifying “opportunities” in Providence, Cincinnati, and Pittsburg because they would have been too disruptive for Louise, Bill and Bob, and Jim enjoyed being near his brother, sister and Louise’s parents and his sister-in-law.  He left E&Y and set up his own accounting firm continuing his career and along the way became President of the Rochester Chapter of the NYSS of CPAs, a member of the National Board of Directors of the National Accounting Association, Faculty of the NYS Society’s Foundation for Accounting Education, and was recognized as Western NY’s outstanding accountant by the regional SBA office.  He served as Treasurer of the William Warfield Scholarship Fund, logged over 50 years of service with the Egypt Volunteer Fire Department where he served as its President, and was a Trustee, Deacon, and Elder of the Frist Presbyterian Church of Pittsford.  Jim was most proud of serving as a trustee of the Golisano Foundation. 

Jim was wholly invested in and involved with the lives of his wife, his children, his daughters-in-law, and his grandchildren, giving generously of his time and establishing an annual Murray and Family Cape Cod Vacation tradition, that started in 1999 and that has continued for 24 consecutive summers.  He was a devoted family man. He enjoyed nothing more than going to his grandchildren’s baseball, softball and hockey games, swim meets, Boy Scout events, piano recitals, and orchestra performances.  His favorite pastime was going to the car races with his sons, grandchildren, and friends.  He also enjoyed going to an occasional Red Wings and Amerks game.  Jim was a history buff and family vacations always involved stopping at historical locations.

Jim was our rock, always knowing the right thing to do, always doing the right thing, and always making sure we did the right thing.  No one has better loved, served, and cared for his family.  He will be deeply missed, but we also know he is not gone.  His last gift to us was a most joyful, beaming, wise, omniscient smile, assuring us that he is with God, that all is well, and that he will lovingly continue to watch over all of us until we all meet again.

Calling Hours Friday March 15, 2024 4-6PM at the Richard H. Keenan Funeral Home (Egypt Location) 7501 Pittsford Palmyra Road, Fairport.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to CurePSP, 325 Hudson Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10013.