Joseph Murray
New London — Joseph T. Murray, M.D., of New London, died Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017.
He was born on Oct. 30, 1924, to Helen G. O’Rourke and Thomas J. Murray. On May 31, 1947, he was united in marriage to Barbara “Petey” Connor. She died on Feb. 23, 2009.
Dr. Murray graduated from the former Bulkeley School in 1942, where he was president of his class, center on the state championship football team and captain of the baseball team.
He attended Fordham University and graduated from New York University School of Medicine. He interned at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. Residencies followed at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, Chicago Lying-In and St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Md.
Dr. Murray practiced OB-GYN in New London for 43 years, including serving as chairman of the OB-GYN service at L+M Hospital. In addition, he served many years on the state committees to study maternal morbidity and mortality. He was a diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a member of the AMA, Connecticut State and New London County Medical Societies, and the American College of OB-GYN.
In 1951, Dr. Murray entered the U.S. Navy and was instrumental in opening the first maternity unit at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton. Prior to that time, mothers were rushed by ambulance to Quonset Point, R.I., to deliver their babies. He later served as a medical officer for Destroyer Division 342 out of Newport, R.I., where he claims to have learned the true meaning of PMS. Dr. Murray served many years as vice president of the New London National Little League and president of the Serra Club, a men’s organization dedicated to fostering vocations to the religious life. He was a member of American Legion Post 9.
In addition to his parents, and his wife of nearly 62 years, Dr. Murray was predeceased by a brother, Thomas J. Murray Jr., and his sisters, Ellen Entzminger and Elizabeth Gilsey.
He is survived by his children, J. Thomas Murray Jr. and his wife, Sharon, of Niantic, John Allison Murray and his wife, Lee Ann, of Florida, Ann Corcoran and her husband, Donald, of Uncasville, and Nancy Woodmansee and her husband, Paul, of New Hampshire.
Poppie will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Joseph Batiano, Jennifer Murray Mullett, Michael, Brian, and Timothy Corcoran, Sean Murray, and Matthew and Kelly Woodmansee; and four great-granddaughters, Emma and Riley Mullett, Alijandra Batiano and Savannah Corcoran; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Donations in memory of Dr. Murray can be made to Department of OB-GYN at L+M Hospital, 365 Montauk Ave. New London CT 06320, or St. Joseph School Endowment Fund, 16 Squire St., New London, CT 06320.
Calling hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19, at the Thomas Neilan Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, at St. Joseph Church, New London. Interment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Jefferson Avenue, New London.
To share a memory, or to send the family an online condolence, please visit www. neilanfuneralhome.com.