Murray, J. Michael NOKOMIS, Fla. John Michael "Mike" Murray, 81, passed into eternal life on December 27, 2019, at home in Florida with his wife Patty at his side, caring for him. His death was sudden, yet not unexpected, as he had been fighting metastatic lung cancer for over five years. Michael was born in Brooklyn on August 13, 1938, to William J. and Kathleen Rogers Murray, the eldest of their six children. The family moved from New York City to Albany in 1947, and Mike attended Vincentian Institute before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1956, a few months shy of his high school graduation. Thus, began Michael's "unorthodox" self-directed education! In military service he was trained as a draftsman/graphics specialist, serving in Libya (1956-57) and stateside with a systems evaluation squadron (1958) until his weakening vision offered the opportunity to receive specialized training in computer operations and maintenance and eventually programming and trouble-shooting radar installations (Washington State, 1959-62). Mike received an honorable discharge from the Air Force in September 1962. His U.S.A.F. training led him to work as a tech rep for an electronics firm in Connecticut, supporting contracts they had with the Air Force. He entered New York State service as a computer programmer in 1964. Mike's career with New York State was highlighted by a steady rise in the computer field and progressively more responsible technical and administrative assignments with six state agencies. Eventually this led to his appointment as director of Management Information Services for the State Teachers Retirement System in 1971, and later as assistant commissioner of MIS Operations for the New York State Dept. of Social Services. Even without "formal" higher education, Mike was an autodidact and regularly took in-service and night courses to augment his knowledge and background, including a series of graduate courses in the Evening Graduate Program in Public Administration jointly sponsored by The Maxwell School of Syracuse University and NYU's Graduate School of Public Administration. Mike also took several courses and earned a graduate certificate in managerial accounting and finance from the School of Industrial Administration at Union College. Eventually he enrolled in Empire State College and completed the requirements for a Bachelor of Science in data processing and finally a Master of Public Administration by the spring of 1978. From his first course for college credit in the Air Force to finally completing his education to the master's level, these efforts took more than 20 years - and almost entirely at night after work! Having earned those educational credentials Mike sought new worlds to conquer and in 1979, was appointed director of the New Jersey Human Services Data Center. Four years later he took on directing Management Information Services for the Washington, D.C. Metro Transit Authority. It was while in D.C. that Mike began teaching as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland Graduate School in College Park, really enjoying this new role and opening his eyes to another world and adventure that brought him back to his birthplace of Brooklyn. In the fall of 1989, he accepted the position of assistant vice president for Information Technology & Systems at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York and was later professor (with the title change to "Asst. V.P. and Professor") before retiring in 1995. But life was not just computers and careers for Mike and his bride. From the start of their marriage, they loved creating hospitable homes in which to welcome, entertain and relax with family and friends. Michael designed and "supervised" the construction of three of their beautiful homes, the last of which was their spacious, contemporary home in Nokomis where they enjoyed 20 happy years of retirement together. Mike and Pat were renowned as gracious hosts, lively entertainers and at least one of them an excellent cook! In retirement, Mike and Pat indulged their great passion for travel, primarily by cruise ship, to fabulous destinations all over the globe. Memorable excursions include sailing from Hong Kong to South Africa on the QE2 in 2000; traveling to the southern tip of South America and on to Antarctica; scuba diving in many locations in the Caribbean as well as on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Michael's favorite travel adventure, by far, was their trip to Australia and New Zealand. Their ship docked in Sydney harbor, right across from the Opera House, and from there they experienced many memorable highlights - including Kruger National Park, home to the "Tasmanian Devil," and the Hunter Valley wine country, where they sampled some of the best wines they ever tasted. Other trip highlights include the incredible sights in Egypt and North Africa - the pyramids, camel-riding, cruising down the Nile... visiting the temple of Angkor Wat and riding elephants in Cambodia, a precarious rickshaw ride in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, as well as visiting many landmarks in Europe on numerous occasions. In over 20 years of cruising Mike and Pat logged more than 600 days at sea, crossing the equator more than ten times (on board), and got invited to be part of the "shake-down" cruise, Christening Ceremony and Maiden Voyage of Radisson's Voyager in the Mediterranean Sea. Michael's life was truly an adventure of his making, with his true love Patty at his side every step of the way! Michael loved visiting his and Pat's family in the many cities where they reside, often inviting family to join them for lunch or cocktails on board the ships when they were in port, whether in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Vancouver... they loved traveling "home" to Albany at Thanksgiving, as well, to celebrate with Pat's extended family who embraced Michael as a beloved member. Michael was especially close to Pat's cousins, the Lasch family: Meg, Mark, Susan, Karen, Kathleen, Christopher, Beth, Michael and Terry. Michael was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Kathy Murray Weidling, in 2011, and his brother-in-law Larry Fagan in 2018. He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Pat Nally Murray; and by his siblings, Anne Murray Fagan, Peter J. Murray, SJ, Kevin Weidling, Ellen Murray Thornton and her husband Greg, and Bill Murray. Michael is also survived by his nephews and nieces and their families: Jim and Kelly Fagan, Tim and Karen Fagan, Kate and Paul Taylor, Mary Fagan Martinez, Anne and Mark Ardiel, and Patrick Fagan; Mark and Sandy Weidling, Brian and Suzie Weidling, Chris and Andrea Weidling; Sarah and Jake Solomon, Matt and Hannah Thornton, and Amy Thornton. A funeral Mass for Michael will be celebrated by his brother, Reverend Peter Murray, SJ, in St. Henry's Church, 39 Old Route 66, Averill Park, on Friday, August 13, at 11 a.m. Interment in St. Henry's Cemetery will follow. Contributions in Michael's memory may be made to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, 3001 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa, FL, 33614. Please send in honor of five-year-old Liam K., a cancer patient whose grandmother is a dear friend and neighbor of Pat and Mike's.