By JUDY RATTNER
"He was a fireman's fireman," said Rockville Centre Fire Department Chief Mike Lapkowski, Matt Murray's nephew. "He was everybody's 'Uncle Matt' because that's just the type of person he was. He was very, very dedicated, 62 years in the fire department. He always liked to take the young guys under his wing and show them the correct way to do things."
His brother, former Mayor Gene Murray, said Matt always volunteered to do everything and that he was someone the department could always rely on. He was well-known for directing traffic during calls, regardless of weather or road conditions.
"No matter where it was, he was out there," said Gene Murray. "On Sunrise Highway or any major street, he'd be right out there. That, they're going to miss."
Gene Murray said they were laughing at the funeral parlor, asking 'where's his broom?"' because his brother was known for always sweeping the front of his home and the front of his neighbors' homes as well. Gene Murray also said his brother was an avid Yankees fan, and would entertain his fellow firefighters while watching games at the firehouse.
Long involved with the Volunteer Fire Police Association, Murray was said to have never missed a meeting, active in the organization until just a few months ago. He served as president of the Nassau County Volunteer Fire Police Association from 1979 to 1980 and as the president of the New York State Volunteer Fire Police Association from 1989 to 1991.
Lapkowski added that his uncle was captain of the Hook and Ladder company and had initially joined the Eureka Hook and Ladder and Bucket Co # 1 in October 1940. He served in the army from 1942-1945, surviving the Battle of Britain and driving tanks in Europe, before resuming his long association with the village fire department when he came home.
Born on Oct. 24, 1919, in Hollis, Queens and raised in Rockville Centre, Murray attended St. Agnes Elementary School and graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola in 1939. Murray had his own floor-waxing business and worked as a clerk for the Nassau County Courts. He retired in 1976. At night, Murray also worked as a cashier at Roosevelt Raceway for 20 years, before it closed.
Other notable positions in Matt Murray's long career as a firefighter who served on numerous company and department committees, included stints as Eureka's 2nd lieutenant from 1961-1962; as 1st lieutenant from 1962-1963 and as captain from 1963-1964.
He also served as Rockville Centre's chief fire inspector from 1961 to 1967. In 1964 Murray transferred to Defender Hose Co. # 1. From 1987-1988 he was president of the Nassau County Holy Name Society. The Rockville Centre department honored him in 1997, designating him an honorary chief of the department, and in in 2001 he was named New York State Fire Policeman of the year.
Murray also served a usher at St. Agnes Cathedral. In 2001 he received the Mayor's Community Service Award for the many hours he donated to the village.
Murray leaves behind his wife, Wanda, and daughters Josie Howard of Rockville Centre, Madeleine Schwamm of Ocala, Fla. and Virginia Magioncalda of Selden; two sons, James Murray of Oceanside and Matthew Murray Jr., of Freeport; three sisters, Sr. Mary Louise Murray and Rose Marie Ryan, both of Rockville Centre and Ann Walsh of Colonie; four brothers, Morgan and Eugene, both of Rockville Centre, Arthur of Cincinnati, and Paul of Lake Worth, Fla; as well as 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Mildred, brothers William, John, Thomas and Edward and sister Madeleine Shelley.
Murray lay in repose at Macken Mortuary on April 1 and 2. A funeral Mass was held on April 3 at 10 a.m. in St. Agnes Cathedral, after which the fire department honored him with a ladder tribute and a procession past his old firehouse. He was buried at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury. His family has announced that an annual scholarship has been established at South Side High School in his honor, for any student who wishes to attend vocational or trade school upon graduation. Anyone wishing to donate can send a check payable to: The Matthew T. Murray Sr. Scholarship Fund c/o John V. Murray, 21 Catherine Street, Lynbrook, NY 11563.
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