John Murray Sr.

Murray, John Sr.
WATERVLIET - John Frederick Murray Sr. of Watervliet, N.Y., formerly of Cobleskill, N.Y., passed away peacefully on February 15, 2026, with his loving family at his side. He was a resident of Schoharie County for 90 years.
John was born on September 16, 1930, to the late Lena (Linster) and Miles Murray of Mineral Springs, NY. John was also predeceased by his brother, Thomas Murray Sr. John was a graduate of Cobleskill Central School, Class of 1948, where he was captain of the basketball and soccer teams. During his high school years, he began a 32-year association with Howe Caverns, Inc. where he began as a tour guide, then the ticket office and later a member and Vice President of the Board of Directors. John considered his time at Howe Caverns as one of the greatest experiences of his life.
John earned a B.S. in education at Cortland State Teachers College, in 1952. He began his distinguished 35-year career as an educator as a 6th and 7th grade teacher at Schoharie Central School. At SCS he coached JV basketball, Varsity soccer and Varsity track. John went on to earn a M.S. degree in Business Administration from SUNY Albany and later became the Assistant Principal for Business Affairs and Clerk of the Board of Education at SCS. John went on to become School Business Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Education for his alma mater, Cobleskill Central School. He then became Superintendent of Cobleskill Central School where he served 12 years before his retirement, in 1987. John also served as an Interim Superintendent at Middleburgh and Sharon Springs Central Schools after his formal retirement.
During John's 35 years as an area educator, he had many professional affiliations and service experiences. He was a member of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, Adirondack Educators "Think Tank," President: Schoharie Central School Teachers Association, President: Schoharie County Teachers Association, President and Executive Board Member of the Capital District School Development Association, Member: NYS School Business Officials, Member: Capital District Chapter School Business Officials, Member: NYS Commissioner of Education's Advisory Committee for School Transportation, Member: Superintendent of Schools to NYS Commissioner's Advisory Committee for School Business Administration, President of Tri Valley Interscholastic Athletic League, Chairperson of the Schoharie County Administrators Organization, and Member: BOCES District Superintendent's Cabinet.
John loved Schoharie County and was a firm believer in giving back to his community. He served as member, president and director of Kiwanis Club of Schoharie and Rotary Club of Cobleskill, Chairman of Schoharie County Red Cross, president and director of the Schoharie County Community Hospital, director of Cobleskill Cemetery Association, director of the Old Stone Fort, director and life member of the Cobleskill Agriculture Society, grandstand announcer at the Cobleskill Sunshine Fair, original member of the Cobleskill Junior Chamber of Commerce, member of the board of directors of Howe Caverns, Inc., member of the Regional Board of Directors of Key Bank, member, secretary and board of directors of the Mineral Springs United Methodist Church, a 60 plus year member and board of directors of the Cobleskill Golf and Country Club where he spent many enjoyable hours on the links playing with lifelong friends. In 2024, he was honored as the Silver Bulldog of the year by the Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School Education Foundation.
Throughout John's many commitments, he and his wife, Mary, were faithfully present at every family gathering. They showed up with warmth, pride, and steady love to every graduation, sports game, celebration, and milestone. John and Mary delighted in vacationing with their children and their families whenever possible. Christmas Eve was especially treasured, with their home in Cobleskill filled with children, grandchildren, laughter, and the joyful noise of a growing family gathered together.
John was predeceased by his cherished wife of 71 years, Mary (Murray) Murray, in December 2025. He is survived by his four devoted children, Denise (Phil) Tracy, John F. (Kelly) Murray Jr., Marilyn (Gary) Mittleman, and Paul (Kelley) Murray. He was the proud "Papa" to twelve grandchildren, Daniel Tracy, Mark (Kriss) Tracy, Andrew (Allie) Tracy, Jack (Lauren) Murray, Michael (LeeAnn) Murray, MaryKate (Ryan) Geary, Caitlin O'Haire, Caroline Mittleman, Matthew Mittleman, Erin Murray, Ryan Murray and Kiersten Murray; and three great-grandchildren, John M. Murray, Brendan Murray and Mac Murray.
A special thank you to John's caregivers, Colleen, Jodi and Debra and the nurses at Community Hospice for their kindness and compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to honor John's memory can be made to the Cobleskill-Richmondville Education Foundation, Attn.: Gayle Westervelt, 155 Washington Ave., Cobleskill, N.Y. 12043. A private service will be held for the family at their convenience. Funeral services are entrusted to Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, Cobleskill, N.Y. Burial will take place at Cobleskill Rural Cemetery in the spring.