Joseph Brendan Murray

Joseph Brendan Murray, passed away peacefully at his home on March 2, 2026, at the age of 93.  

Born in Dublin, Ireland on March 22, 1932, he spent the early years of his life in the Irish countryside, of Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, before immigrating to the United States.   Shortly after arrival in the United States, he was drafted to serve in the United States Army from 1957-1958.  Originally a resident of New York City, he ultimately moved to Ramsey, New Jersey, where he lived for the remainder of his life.

He founded Newport Painting and Decorating, in Manhattan, where he worked on numerous high-profile projects including the New York Public Library, the Javits Center, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. He was a lifetime champion of causes impacting the Irish and Irish-American communities, and was honored with the Annie Moore Award from the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform in 2014.  He also served as President of The Association of Master Painters and Decorators of New York, Inc., from 1995-1997.

He will always be remembered as a bold and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He possessed all the great hallmarks of a true Irishman –  wit, humor, but above all, a love for his family. His passions included golf, and he was a longtime member of the Ramsey Golf and Country Club, where he served as President from 1988 - 1988. He was particularly proud of his service in rebuilding the club after a devastating fire in 1986. He also spent many years enjoying the warm weather of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he was a member of both Fort Lauderdale Country Club and Coral Ridge Country Club. His greatest passion, which transcended three generations, was playing practical jokes on his daughter, his grandsons, and, most recently, his great-granddaughters. 

He leaves behind a loving family, including the love of his life, his wife of 69 years Kathleen (nee Carroll) his daughter Janet Calhoun (nee Murray) and her husband Walter, his grandchildren Brendan Quiñones, Ryan Quiñones and his wife Jennifer (nee Mastrangelo), and his great-granddaughters Isabella and Amelia Quiñones. He also leaves behind loving family members in both the United States and Ireland. He truly lived the American Dream.

The family will be having a private Celebration of Life in his honor.

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