In Memoriam: 'Bobby' Murray III, 46, NHS Football Captain and Advocate

Robert Thomas Murray III (Bobby), of Newtown passed away January 7, 2014 at Bethel Healthcare Center after a long and courageous battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). He was born on June 17th, 1968 in Providence, RI to his beloved parents Robert Thomas Murray, Jr. and the late Isabelle MacKenzie Murray.

Bobby was an avid sport fan playing Little League baseball and Pop Warner football which became his love. He was captain of the Newtown High School football team in 1985 earning the Newtown Bee Defensive MVP Award, went on to a post graduate year at Trinity Pawling Prep being captain of the football team as well as earning their MVP award and finishing his football career at Washington & Jefferson College who came in 2nd place nationally for NCAA Division 3, in 1987. Later in life he dedicated his time to coaching Pop Warner football in Newtown and worked in various sales jobs including Boar’s Head and Red Bull until he retired in 2008.

After being diagnosed with ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease in 2005, Bobby went on to volunteer in various clinical trials at the Lou Gehrig Foundation at Columbian Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, developed an ALS Support Group at Bethel Healthcare and was the President of the Patient Advocacy and President of Resident Council at Bethel Healthcare. Bob was also was an active participant on the staff interviewing panels at Bethel Healthcare. He also went on to receive various awards for his determination and heroic behavior while battling this disease which included the Spirit of Planetree, Caregiver of the Year Award in 2009 at Bethel Healthcare and the 2012 7th annual Hope and Dreams, Robin Arnold Humanitarian Award presented by the National MDA for all of his hard work and dedication to increasing awareness and fighting for a cure by supporting such charities as ALS Family Charitable Foundation, Voices for Joanie, ALS Association, and Augie’s Quest. He was determined to make a difference in ALS even when doing so meant being courageous, determined and strong.

Other than his father, Bobby is survived by his sister Lee Murray Moore and her husband Doug of Westford, MA and his sister, Kerry Murray of Stamford, CT; nieces Abby and Lindsey Moore; nephews Matthew Moore and Daniel Murray Fonck; several aunts and uncles as well as numerous cousins and friends and the compassionate caregivers at Bethel Healthcare

Funeral services will be held on Saturday January 11th at 12:30 p.m. in St. Rose of Lima, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown, with a Mass of Christian Burial. Friends may call Friday 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. in the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown. In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations to be made to the following charities in Bobby’s memory, Jesse Lewis Choose Love Foundation, www.jesselewischooselove.org, P.O. Box 605, Newtown, CT, 06470, or Bethel Healthcare Center Resident Council, 13 Parklawn Drive, Bethel, CT, 06801, or Voices for Joanie, voicesforjoanie.org, 5 Glenwood Road, New Milford, CT, 06776.

Obituary courtesy of Honan Funeral Home.