Jeffrey Murray

My condolences and sympathy to the children, grandchildren, and friends of Janet and Jeff Murray. They were fine and gentle family people. They were concerned with municipal affairs and the needs of others; they made things better there. The community, and myself, are improved by their efforts. One of their children in college told me how important they were to them and how they admired them.

Pearl Street Revisited. As a guest in their home they gave me hospitality unconditionally. My inhibition held my gratitude back from them. Still they made me welcome again. I gifted them a travel photo of their young adult child. They displayed it. Already on a wall there, a large black and white photo portrait of themselves in that home. Now, decades later, I imagine the house with those exhibited portraits. I released my gratitude here with the conclusion of someone else´s poem.

Where my friends´ portraits hang and look thereon;
Ireland´s history in their lineaments trace;
Think where man´s glory most begins and ends
And say my glory was I had such friends.

The first image I keep of Jeff is way out in an abandoned airport where we were having fun with a bunch of friends as teen-agers. As the others where playing with dangerous souvenirs of WWII, we where deeply interested by a very simple blue flower, a « scabieuse » in french, wondering what she was doing there all alone. I loved his way of looking at the world and I admired his first paintings, full of sincerity and truth. His master was Cézanne at that time and you could see it.
Years after, he and Janet helped me with their great hospitality, inspiring so much confidence, in spite of my divorce, to find house, good food, school for the children, work, without any pressure or superiority. Their « art de vivre » was so powerfull.
And years after, Ann as a teen-ager came to study in Paris, she lived a while with us and I could see how important she was to her father, building a bridge of love for the family, from Cambridge to Paris and return.
Jeff was an artist, he did a wonderfull work between France and the States. I am sure it will be an eternal solid ground for ever.

Jeff Murray,
"A mighty oak has, indeed, fallen."
For weeks since his passing , I´ve been thinking what can I say about Jeff.
He had so many wonderful traits, which I saw over the few years I had known him.
To me in short, Jeff was the kindest, in so many ways, man I have ever met!
Love you and miss you Jeff.

Morgan Daly (Fellow member of Martin´s possy.)

The first time I met Jeff was in 1959. =Willy Zuber, my then boyfriend and later husband introduced us while Jeff was pushing his bike along one of the Boston/Cambridge bridges. Our first conversation was about watermelon. Jeff and Willy didn't like them. I loved them. Jeff and Janet were so much a part of our lives even most of ours was spent in Paris. I did want to say that I am in such admiration of the Murray children, spouses and grandchildren. Martha Zuber

My heart is hurting to hear that Jeff has died and I send love to the fortunate people he loved. Jeff was the most authentic of human beings. I always felt deeply respected and cared for when I was with him and Janet. The world would be kinder and safter if their way of living was the norm. Jeff had a super twinkle in his eye and when he put his big hands on your face for a kiss, it was good and deep medicine, that went to your core I feel so grateful to have known this creative, engaged, worldly and so local man and how I wish I believed in an after life where we could meet again.

Jeff Murray was warm, gentle and caring with a wonderful smile. He and Janet were the heartiest of welcomers when I visited their home on Pearl Street many years ago. Dear Ruth and Jake and Anne and families, I am so sad to hear this news. Condolences to you and to the Murray clan in the US and France.

His warmth and kindness!

Jeff was somewhat my second father. We both shared our love for the art of painting and I cherishly can look daily at 5 of his masterpieces all in my livingroom in Paris. I chose my apt 32 years ago because it reminded me of his house with Janet on Pearl Street and that reassured me, hence I was making the right choice. I loved all my stays over the years in Central square, and Janet and Jeff's visits in France and our numerous phone calls about some painting exhibit or artist we would both care for. Both Janet and Jeff will always stay alive and close to my thoughts with huge tenderness. They both through their mariage, political and social involvment will embody a truthfull example, and guide in so many ways.
Natacha Zuber

I can not say I knew him well, having only met him a few times at events,
I knew his wife and daughter Ann better from my teaching days at The Morse School, but I was always impressed with his dedication to issues we shared.
He was a GOOD MAN.

I remember visiting Jeff and Janet in their house -- it was tiny, but they lived there in harmony with their children -- when I was married to Louis Kampf. We went there and sat and talked, I'm not sure about what in particular. We were activists, just as Jeff and Janet were. We were of course involved in the antiwar movement; I was very active in the women's movement; later Louie and I as well as Jeff were active in supporting Palestinian human rights. I know they visited us in our house, which was literally right down the street in Cambridgeport. No specific moment comes to mind -- just a recollection of their deep humanity, humor, and warmth. They were extraordinary people whose lives stand as testimonies to kindness and resistance in a bleak era.