Murray OFM Cap., Fr. Cyprian

The Capuchin Franciscan friars of the Province of St. Mary mourn the death of their brother Fr. Cyprian Harvey Murray, O.F.M. Cap. who died on April 9, 2015 in Ringwood, NJ at the age of 76.

John Harvey Murray, the only child of John and Frances Harvey-Murray was born on December 13, 1938 in New Rochelle, New York. He attended Jefferson Elementary School in New Rochelle [1943-44]; Blessed Sacrament School, also in New Rochelle [1944-48] and St. Augustine School in Larchmont, NY [1948-52]. He attended Archbishop Stepinac High School, White Plains, NY [1952-1956] and following graduation St. Mary's College in St. Mary, KY from 1956-57 where he studied Latin.

John Murray entered the Capuchin Franciscans at St. Lawrence Friary, Milton, MA in 1957 where he received the religious name Cyprian. He received his BA at St. Anthony College, Hudson, NH in 1961 and pronounced perpetual vows at Mary Immaculate Friary, Garrison, NY in 1961. He attended Capuchin Theological Seminary, Garrison, NY [1961-1965] and was ordained to the priesthood at Sacred Heart Church, Yonkers, NY on November 28, 1964.

In preparation for his future ministry as a teacher, Fr. Cyprian studied Latin and Greek at the Catholic University of America [1963-1967] during the summer months. He served as teacher and prefect at St. Mary Seminary, Garrison, NY from 1967-1974.

Fr. Cyprian was an active member of the Society of American Magicians, the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the Magic Circle of London.

Fr. Cyprian ministered as a parochial vicar at St. Pius X Church, Middletown, CT [1974-1978] and director of St. Francis Retreat House, Garrison, NY [1978-79]. For the next 25 years [1980-2005], Fr. Cyprian was an avid preacher and offered retreats and days of recollections to many parochial communities in the New York-New England area.

In 2005 Fr. Cyprian joined the fraternity of Sacred Heart and later St. Clare Friary, 110 Shonnard Place, Yonkers, NY, the senior friar community where he resided until his death.

Fr. Cyprian was survived by his cousin Frank O'Rourke and his family of Eastchester, NY as well as several friends in the Middletown, CT area. A wake service will be held at Holy Name Friary, Ringwood, NY on Saturday, April 11, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. Viewing will be held at St. Clare Friary, Yonkers, NY on Sunday, April 12, 2015 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. & 7:00-9:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church, Yonkers, NY on Monday, April 13, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. followed by interment at the Province of St. Mary Cemetery, Yonkers, NY and light refreshments at Sacred Heart Friary.

In lieu of flowers, donation will be gladly accepted for the continued care of the senior friars at St. Clare Friary, 110 Shonnard Place, Yonkers, NY 10703.

Whalen & Ball Funeral Home

168 Park Ave.

Yonkers, N.Y. 10703

(914)965-5488

www.whalenandballfh.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Journal News on Apr. 11, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Cyprian Murray

12 Entries

Paul Critelli

April 5, 2025

Cyp - We can just hear your "special comments" upon the situation facing our country and the world. No one was as sharp and as perceptive as you were when it came to seeing the whole picture - no one was as fearless as you in calling truth to power - no one could say it all with a blend of humor that we miss whenever we think of you. Thank you for all you shared with us. Paul & Peggy

Paul Critelli

April 5, 2022

Cyp, I know - if at all possible - were you still with us you would have found a way to help the bravest and most freedom-loving people in the world today. I can easily see you doing various things to help our Brothers and Sisters in Ukraine. We who were so fortunate to know you and love you will always be better people for our good luck. Paul and Peggy

Paul Critelli

April 5, 2020

Cyp, you could have helped us all during this time of worldwide anxiety and fear of the unknown. Your humor and your compassion is needed - those of us who love you are trying to stand in the shadow of a Brother we miss so much. Thank you for knowing us.

Lisa Menna

May 7, 2015

CYP AND THE BABE- 1988 Austria Magic Lecture tour. The best party of my life. I know. Me too.

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Jo-Anne Wrang Foley

April 28, 2015

Cyprian has been a dear and cherished friend since I was a teenager growing up in Middletown. I was fortunate to be his magicIan's assistant for 5 years. I was hoping he'd be able to marry my daughter next fall, but God has called him home. I will miss him terribly.

Stephanie Lesick-Hernandez

April 19, 2015

Thank you, Fr. Cyprian, for you kind, gentle and understanding nature. I will always treasure our conversation after my father passed, and enjoyed seeing you when you came back for a visit, now and then, to St. Pius X. I will miss you.

Steve Johnson

April 15, 2015

Around 1980 Denny Haney tipped me off that Cyp was living in Garrison so I contacted and invited him to attend our Assembly meetings in Poughkeepsie (S.A.M. #35). Not only did he attend, but he joined our Assembly!

After the first public performance of my new juggling routine at the Assembly banquet in 1983, Fr. Cyprian came up to me and said: "The magic was good - but the juggling was GREAT! Be sure to keep that part in your show." His words inspired me to put more emphasis on the "variety" part of my show. ~Steve Johnson

Lee Kaspari

April 14, 2015

Fr. Cyprian or Harvey as we called him back then was a classmate at Archbishop Stepinac H.S. in White Plains, N.Y. I remember him being emphatic about not wanting to be a diocesan priest but a Capuchin so he could preach and give retreats. So he did as we celebrate our our Golden Jubilee. Although I resigned the priesthood to marry and have a family, we remained life long friends. May he rest in peace.

Paul Critelli

April 12, 2015

Father Cyp was a light and a joy to all those who were blessed to meet, know, work, and enjoy life with him. He was so accomplished in so many areas, but he could never even come close to being pretentious, narcissistic, or unkind. It is our task now to bring some of his humor, his insight, his wisdom, and his humanity to others. It is time to rest now, Cyp, Thank you for making our lives brighter and joyful. Love, Paul and Peggy

Philip Matlin

April 11, 2015

There are no words to write about a man who has been part of my life for 35 years. All I can say is how good a man he was in everything he did. Evy and I will miss him terribly. RIP my friend

Rev. Michael and Lori Douglass

April 11, 2015

Fr. Cyprian will always be a treasured part of our family in a history spanning some 40 years or more. We shared a love of Christ, a love of people, and a love of the art of magic as entertainment. We join his fellow Friars and the S.A.M. in mourning his departure from us, but also celebrate his homegoing, and the anticipated affirmation, "well done, my good and faithful servant."

Rich Dooley

April 11, 2015

Having known Cyp for 40+ years, he got me into magic long ago when I was in my early teens in Middletown and was a true taskmaster when it came to learning close up magic. He married my wife and I, baptized all 3 kids, sat with us during my daughter's surgery, gave the homily at my Dad's funeral. He was truly a family member. He was a Renaissance man with diverse interests, and the world's best listener. While we are very sad today, I know his lifetime of service to people on earth and God above has led him to peace and paradise.

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