Obituary of Peter Gordon Murray

The death of Peter Gordon Murray of Mollins Drive, Saint John West, husband of Jean (Melvin) Murray, occurred on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 at the Saint John Regional Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Saint John September 11, 1944, son of Phyllis (Silliphant) Murray and the late Gordon Murray, Peter was a life-long resident of this City. He attended Saint John Vocational School and had been employed with the Recreation Department of the City of Saint John before joining Moosehead Breweries where he was employed for many years. Peter was an investment counselor with his own firm, Peter Murray and Associates. He was also engaged with Manulife Financial. A member of St. George's Anglican Church, he served as a councilor with the City of Saint John. He was a well-known Saint John and New Brunswick sportsman and was inducted into the Saint John Sports Hall of Fame three times: on May 12, 1993, May 10, 1995 and in May of 1997. From the time he first burst upon the local sporting scene as a Little League baseball player in 1953, “Big” Peter Murray has been a dominant figure in Saint John sports, as a participant and as a leader. He shone in many sports, but excelled in five that took him to national competition time and time again. As a Little Leaguer, he displayed amazing talent, ending his days in this program with a batting average of .759. At sixteen, he was regarded as one of the hottest baseball prospects in New Brunswick and was offered a try-out with the Boston Red Sox System. He shunned this offer to stay home and at seventeen turned to senior baseball with the Saint John St. Peter's Saints, and went along with them as they marched to the Maritime Championship. In 1964 and 1965 he served with the Saints as player-coach and won the League batting title with an average of .447. In 1969 he was a member of the New Brunswick Canada Games Baseball Team, which was to be his first taste of national sporting competition. As a softball player, he starred with the Saint John Alpines and went with them to the national championship tournaments in 1971, 1972 and 1973 at Quebec, Halifax and Edmonton. Over a four-year period he won 50 trophies and ribbons while participating in track and field, again experiencing national-level competition at the Canadian Legion Canadian Championships. He was a giant in high school football, once kicking a 50-yard field goal. As a basketball player, he went with the Lancaster Assumption All-Stars to the Canadian Juvenile Championships in 1963; at tennis, he was in on three provincial mixed-doubles titles, and as a curler, he skipped his championship New Brunswick team at the brier in 1978 and to more national events, skipping a mixed team in 1980 and 1982. Peter also experienced more national competition as coach of the Saint John Alpines Softball Team and Lancaster Senior Little League Baseball Team in 1980. He also had given great organizational talents to serve in executive positions with Thistle-St. Andrews Curling Club, the 1985 Canada Summer Games, the Saint John hosting of the Canadian Softball Tournament, the New Brunswick Amateur Hockey Association, the first C.F.L. Exhibition Game ever played in Saint John, was a member of the Selection Committee of the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame and served as a former President of the Lancaster Kiwanis Club and was an honourary member of the Saint John Firefighters, Local 771. He is survived by his wife, Jean and mother, Phyllis, one son, Scott and his wife Jennifer, and their children Hayley, Ashley and Julia; one daughter, Shari and her husband Marc and their children, Emma, Madeline and Kelty; one brother, Michael and his wife Joan; one sister, Margot and her husband Terry King, all of Saint John; his mother-in-law Maisie Melvin and several nephews and nieces. Predeceased by his father, Gordon, father-in-law Kenneth Melvin, and brother-in-law Douglas Melvin. Resting at Brenan's Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, N.B. (506-634-7424). Visiting on Friday from 7-9 p.m., Saturday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., and Sunday 2-4 p.m. (only). Memorial service will be celebrated at St. George's Anglican Church (corner of Duke and Watson Streets) Saint John West, on Monday, February 16 at 1:00 p.m., Rt. Rev. George C. Lemmon and Rev. John Fraser officiating. Remembrances may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick or to the charity of the donor's choice.