Dr. Robert Murray
Died: February 18, 2022 | Place: London, Ontairo
Obituary
MURRAY, Dr. Robert George Everitt…
1919-2022
February 18, 2022
Peacefully after a full and productive life of honoured devotion to science and family at the age of 102. Survived by his family from his first marriage (with Doris Marchand): daughter Alice Rae of Montreal West, QC; son, Peter (Dianne) Murray of Markham, ON; sister Susan King of Pointe Claire, QC; daughter-in-law Daisy Romero; grandchildren Ian (Alison), Paul (Gaétane) and Robin Rae, Andrew, Ryan and Tommy Murray, and great-grandchildren Amelia and Clara Rae. Predeceased by his first wife of 40 years, Doris Marchand, and second wife of 28 years, Marion Luney, and by his son Thomas Murray. Also survived by his dear friend and companion of recent years, Virginia Hannay of London, ON.
A lifelong microbiologist, he was known especially for his research on bacterial structure and pathology, and for his leadership nationally and internationally in scientific societies and as editor of the major scientific journals in his field in Canada, the USA, and the UK, as founder of the Canadian Journal of Microbiology and first President of the Canadian Society, and as Editor and Chair of Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology.
Having also studied in medical sciences at Cambridge University, England, he obtained his MD at McGill University, interning at Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal. Following a period of service as Captain RCAMC in 1944-45 he obtained a teaching appointment in Bacteriology and Immunology in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario. He spent his entire career there, serving as Professor until his retirement in 1984. As Head of that Department from 1949 to 1974, he established electron microscopy there in 1954 and built an international reputation for bacterial research. He was also for many years (from 1948-1966) Chief of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory in Victoria Hospital, London, and long into his post-retirement years continued to be active as Professor Emeritus.
Numerous honours came his way, including Officer of the Order of Canada, honourary DSc degrees from the Universities of Western Ontario, Guelph, Victoria and McGill, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Active in the International Union of Microbiological Societies, he was past-President of both the Canadian and American Societies of Microbiology, and elected an Honourary Member of each of them, and of the Society for Applied Microbiology in the UK and the Canadian Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Fondly remembered by family, colleagues, former students and friends.
In the face of the exceptional challenges of the last two years, we extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the kindness and care provided by the Richmond Woods’ staff, and by Home Instead, especially Lorette and David, and by the St Elizabeth palliative care team.
Special thanks also to Marilynne McNeil and Paul Panabaker for invaluable dedication to ensuring the best possible comfort and care on behalf of his second wife Marion (Luney) Murray (deceased 2013) and with special appreciation to Virginia for the loving care, comfort and company that enriched the last few years of his life.
A Celebration of his Life will be held on Thursday, May 19th, 2022, at the Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre, 551 Windermere Road, London. Visit with family and friends from 4:30 to 7:30 PM. A Ceremony at 5:30 PM.
If desired, a contribution may be made to the RGE Murray Graduate Scholarship Fund in Microbiology and Immunology at Western University, or to a chosen charity. Arrangements entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184 and online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com
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Rose and I send our condolences to the Murray family and remember Bob’s impact on our Department, University and City.
So many wonderful memories shared with this man! He’s been a part of my life for just over 40 years. He was my boss and from then on one of my dearest friends. So blessed to have had him in my life for such a long time??
My sincere condolences to the Murray family on Bob’s passing. And to his many friends who will miss his unique approach to leadership and decision-making, emphasizing solutions which used logic and empathy. Having interacted with Bob during his term as Dean of Science at Western I experienced his wisdom first hand and was educated by it. The simple logic he brought to questions can perhaps be glimpsed by his assessment of the wave of building construction on academic campuses across the country, including at Western. He observed that research and teaching spaces should be built separately since they grow at different rates. Rarely executed but obvious. I enjoyed many delightful lunches with Bob in his later years, each of them illuminating issues of concern and covering a wide spectrum of happenings. Fondly remembered. He will be missed.
I was a young student in Microbiology and Immunology in the 70’s. It was and remains an incredible department with the solid foundation set by Dr. Murray. In addition to his research in bacterial structure, he enjoyed teaching students that were eager to learn. As an expert and pioneer in bacterial structure and taxonomy, he provided us with history and vignettes that made his classes so valuable and conversations with him so enjoyable. It is hard to put into words my deep appreciation for Dr. Murray. We were all so lucky to have him with us for so long.
I have had the honour of being in the presence of Dr. Murray at the University of Western Ontario and learning a lot about Microbiology from him. He was a very kind person and made me feel very welcome to this new country as I had recently immigrated to Canada at that time. He will be missed.
My sincere condolences on your loss. Dr. Murray was a brilliant person and a mentor to so many of us. He will be sorry missed.
It was nice to celebrate his 100th birthday. He wasn’t one for sentiment but it felt like I and others wanted to hug him and say thanks for his wisdom, his honesty and stewardship of rigorous scientific integrity. His love of Scotland shone through in the hand-written notes he sent me. Will be hard to see his like again. Rest in Peace.
My heartfelt condolences to the Murray family. Dr. Murray was an icon of our department and a legend of his field. His presence and insightful questions in our departmental seminar series were always inspirational to many of us, trainees and principal investigators alike. We were very fortunate to know and work with Dr. Murray. He will be dearly missed.
Bob and I were part of a group of Western Faculty dating from the days of President D.C. Williams. There was always lively conversation at the University Club when it ws thriving, and in more recent years as retirees we continued to meet as the Williams Group. While his hearing had its ups and downs, I was able to chat with him on the phone a few days before he died. He will be missed by all of us in the Williams Group.
It breaks my heart to lose our beloved mentor and colleague Professor Murray. He will remain in our hearts.
Please accept my sincere condolences. Yong
It is with sadness I had found about Bob passing. It would be unconceivable to realise he will no longer be around. Since my arrivalk to Canada in 1988, me and my family have Bob as an integral member of our extended family of friends and colleagues from Western. I treasure many moments talking to him and receiving advise as well as sharing amusing anecdotes. I am proud I had the chance to meet him and to interact with him over my 24 years at Western. Bob Murray has been a notable man, kind and passionate about microbiology, science at large and university and academic life. A true example for many generations to come. Thank you Bob Murray for the gift of your friendship: It will remain a treasure for me in what remains of my path.
I had the honour and privilege of knowing Bob for the past 20 years and feel blessed to have enjoyed his inquisitive nature, dry wit and warm personality. He lived life well, with dignity and to the fullest. I will miss him dearly. My thoughts and prayers to Virginia, Alice and the rest of Bob’s family. May God Bless each of you.
Dr. Murray was our neighbour on Lombardo Avenue for two years. Both he and Marion made us very welcome and shared many gardening tips. In our second year Dr. Murray put together a basket of easy-to-grow plants for our young son who has since grown up to become a keen gardener. One of our favourite neighbours.
It was a sense of deep sadness, but also of a fond memory of Dr. Murray, — learning that he had passed away. I had known him for decades, mostly through Bob’s connection to our department of Biophysics and his life-long friendship with our chair — Alan Burton. But more recently, I visited Bob to ask for his recollections of knowing Burton over the years, since both were colleagues from the early years at Western. Bob did send me an e-mail but it needed sorting, — so I visited him at his retirement home in north London, with a Tim Horton’s. We were writing a second edition of Burton’s career at Western, and what was missing was the personal recollections of people who still remembered Alan Burton. Bob was very gracious, — and with his deep resonant voice, chatted about their friendship from the 1940s. I took notes, and nudged his memory back in time. When handing him last year, his personal copy about Burton, I knew then, that having his message was precious. I remember him, fondly.
Bob’s death marks an end of an era for our book group “The Murray”. Along with other of Celia Wight’s friends we gathered with Bob and Marian to form a book Club some years back. Bob was delightful and we enjoyed and counted on his thoughtful insights. My husband T.R. Balakrishnan had known Bob through university connections, and so we shared some lovely meals together over the years. Bala joins me in sending condolences to Bob’s family and to Virginia his capable and trusted companion of recent years. A gracious friend of fine mind , her will be missed.
His was a life well lived. I had Dr. Murray as a professor when I was an undergrad at Western. He was an excellent scientist and an inspiring teacher. Condolences to his family. Godspeed, Dr. Murray.
I was saddened to hear of Mr. Murray’s passing. I very much enjoyed his calm nature and kind presence. He was a good man with a good heart. It was nice to hear the stories he would share on our outdoor sitting times. He is greatly missed here at the retirement home. May his family find peace in all the memories you shared together.
Bob welcomed me warmly to UWO when I interviewed for a position in 1978 and has continued to offer his strong moral support ever since. He was a loving and lovable colleague. His contributions to the university and to world microbiology are endless.
Dr. Robert G.E. Murray’s official obituary ably describes his illustrious professional career and rich personal life. In contrast, my submission is a private recollection of Bob Murray as a friend, mentor and as a historical subject. These diverse features found special expression during the three years I worked with Bob in preparing the book “The Meaning of Life: The Scientific and Social Experiences of Everitt and Robert Murray” (Champlain Society, 2008).
Three memories emerge from this experience. First, there was our shared concerns about the misuse of science, and the specific threat of biological warfare. For Bob this latter subject had special meaning since his father volunteered to coordinate Canada’s biodefence program during the Second World War and early Cold war, at considerable professional and personal cost. Second, our research sessions for “The Meaning of Life” were intellectually challenging, given that I received a crash course in the basic principles of bacteriology/microbiology from a master of this discipline. Equally memorable was Bob’s great sense of fun, punctuated by his hearty laugh. Finally, the Avery/Murray bond was reinforced by our annual exchange of birthday greetings, since we were both born on 19 May. This communication lasted until the COVID 19 pandemic, when this terrible disease prevented direct communication.
My condolences to Bob’s son Peter Murray (Markham) and daughter Alice Rae (Montreal): we met at the Schulich Centre during the 2008 book launch of “The Meaning of Life.”
Donald H. Avery Professor Emeritus, Department of History Western University
Deepest condolences at the loss of such an amazing man. My fondest memories of Dr. Murray were of the interesting questions that he would always ask at seminars, and of the the few lucky times that he came out for a social visit over a beer with the grad students when we hosted a visiting speaker for IIRF.
I was extremely saddened to hear of Dr. Murray’s passing. He was passionate about the education of the students. Even in his 90’s, I remember and quite astounded when he would walk through the office doors to get his mail and attend the student seminars every Monday. He is truly missed by us all. My condolences to his family. RIP Dr. Murray, you were one of a kind