Obituary-Brother Declan Murray, fms

(21 October 1932 — 15 February 2011)

Mass of Christian Burial
18 February 2011
Our Lady of Mercy Church
Forest Hills, NY

31 Oct 1932    Born Philadelphia PA to Kathleen (McCafferty) & William Murray

1947    Juniorate, Ammendale

1950 - 1952    St Joseph Novitiate Tyngsboro MA

1951    Received Religious Habit

1952    Professed First Vows

1952-53 Provincial House, Esopus NY (maintenance)

1954    Marian College, Poughkeepsie NY BA Education

1954-55    Central Catholic HS Lawrence MA(teacher)

1955-61    St Helena now Msgr Scanlon HS, Bronx NY

1957    Profession of Perpetual Vows, Esopus, NY

1961-62    Christopher Columbus HS, Miami, FL (teacher)

1964    Fordham University, Bronx NY (MA Theology)

1962-75 St. Helena HS, Bronx, NY (teacher/director)

1970 Profession Vow of Stability St. Helena HS, Bronx, NY

1969-76    Marist Provincial Office Provincial council

1976-2009 Archbishop Molloy HS, Briarwood, NY (teacher)

2009-11    Chamapagnat Hall, Bronx NY (retired)

Died    St Patrick's Home, Bronx NY

Vince Poisella writes:

I am saddened to hear of Declan's death.

I was a student at St. Helena's in the mid-fifties when I first knew him. Over the years he became the unofficial but steadfast representative at practically every high school reunion held there. When Jane and I were looking for a site for our wedding in June 1970, being unsettled and not having a parish, we arranged to have the event at the Brothers' chapel on the Bronx campus. Walking into the chapel before the event, I surprised him in his quiet act of kindness. Being the superior of the house at the time, he took it upon himself to mop the floor of the chapel and tidy it up a bit for our ceremony, and he didn't think anything of it: Marist humility, simplicity, and modesty in action. Over the years I would see him irregularly. He would greet me with that twinkle in his eye, a silly little chuckle over something said, and a big smile. I saw him last at the Marist picnic at the Mount, hardly recognizing him but for the inimitable rasp in his voice and the telltale sparkle in his eye. May he rest in peace.

Obituary published in Catholic New York, 24 February 2011

Brother Murray, 78, Taught in the Bronx

Brother Declan Murray, F.M.S., who taught at St. Helena/Msgr. Scanlan High School in the Bronx, died Feb. 15 at St. Patrick's Home in the Bronx. He was 78.
He taught at St. Helena/Msgr. Scanlan from 1955 to 1975, except for one year, 1961-62, that he spent at a high school in Miami. From 1975 until his retirement in 2009, he taught at Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens. Early in his religious life he taught for a year in Lawrence, Mass.
He served in administration as a member of the Marist Brothers' provincial council of the Province of Esopus.
Born in Philadelphia, he entered the Marist Brothers' novitiate at Tyngsboro, MA in 1950 and professed final vows in 1957. He held a bachelor's degree in education from Marian (now Marist) College and a master's degree in theology from Fordham University.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 18 at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Forest Hills, Queens. Burial took place Feb. 19 at the Marist Brothers' Cemetery in Esopus.

Source: Original Marists All Site

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