November 4, 1933 - June 6, 2014 Carl Murray (AKA "The Duke") was born in Calif. on Nov.4, 1933, son of Florence Mathewson Murray and Carl Harold Murray, Sr., early Idaho pioneer families. He passed away from cancer with his wife by his side on Jun. 6, 2014. Carl attended The Midland School, graduating with honors, and the United States Naval Academy (sang in the Annapolis choir, played on the tennis team, and racked up lots of demerits for "talking in the ranks"), graduating with a degree in engineering. After military service, he won a Hughes Fellowship, graduating with highest honors, with an MBA degree from UCLA Anderson School of Business. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and Beta Gamma Sigma, academic honor society. Capt. Murray, Air Force pilot, served on Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands during the United States' Atomic Test Series "Operation Hardtack", later stationed in Japan, spending off duty hours teaching English to Japanese students and was honored by a grateful Japan for his courageous rescue work during Typhoon Vera. After returning to the US, he served as a General's Aide-de-Camp and was awarded an honorary membership in Order of The Daedalians, pioneer pilots society. After his military career, Carl joined Hughes Aircraft Co. as engineer/program manager and developed FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared). Carl later joined Lear Siegler Inc. as an acquisitions analyst and Corporate Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions. After retiring from LSI, he formed The Fortis Group, Inc., independent advisory firm. He spent his "golden years" involved in angel venture capital and a member of Tech Coast Angels of So. Calif. Carl was a past Director on the boards of four companies and was the current President of Stockmen II. As a young man, he was a member of The Harvard Business School Bachelors and President of the Wicket and Cricket Bachelor's Club. Later, he devoted significant time and energy to philanthropic work, serving his community and his country in many capacities. He was a past Director of the Bel-Air Association, a Trustee of the Stevenson School and The Children's Bureau, a founding member of The Parents' Council of The California Institute of the Arts, a member of the Presidents' Circle and the Robert Means Thompson Society of Annapolis, and former regional Chairman of United Way. In addition, he was a benefactor of St. John's Health Center, The John Wayne Cancer Institute, The Jonsson Cancer Center, The UCLA Neuro-Brain Trauma Center and The Midland School, among many others. At the time of his death, he was President of the Veteran's Park Conservancy, a cause which touched his heart deeply. Carl married his soul mate, Victoria Bennett Murray in 1965 and their romance lasted for over 49 years, traveling the world together to exotic lands and experiencing all that life had to offer. They lived in Bel Air for 47 years where they raised their two daughters, Cameron and Erin. He was the best of husbands and fathers, his "Three Murray Girls" adoring him beyond measure, and he was the best of men: a classic gentleman, loyal friend, patriot, a man of unfailing integrity and gravitas and yet a young-at-heart optimist whose good humor, charm and joie de vivre made him so much fun to live with. He was a knower of clouds, stars and the moon and he could play the ukulele and sing sea shanties. The things that made him the happiest were fly fishing, skiing, flying, good food and wine, retrievers, cooking, his garden, sharing books, barking at the moon with his 3 girls, days on the beach at Bel Air Bay Club (35 years), a Latin beat for dancing, staying up late and best of all, playing golf with his buddies at Los Angeles Country Club (48 years) and sitting on "the smart porch" with his pals debating the last best shot. Carl loved his country and cherished his family and friends. He lived, with honor, a very generous, productive and fulfilling life. He is survived by his wife, daughters, many cousins, lots of really special golf buddies and a lifetime of wonderful friends. They will miss the dimple in his cheek, the twinkle of his eye, the warmth of his smile and all of his little daily acts of kindness. He touched our hearts profoundly and will linger in our memories forever. He lived always with a sense of gratitude and near the end he said, "It's been a great ride and a grand adventure and I was the luckiest guy in the world". Carl was buried with military honors at Forest Lawn in Glendale, California. For information about Memorial Services, please call: (818) 473-5075, or email your name and contact # to: c.murraymemorial@gmail.com In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to: Saint John's Health Center Foundation, 2121 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica 90404, or Veterans' Park Conservancy, 11661 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 204, L.A. 90049. Thank you.
