Dr. Thomas E. Murray

Dr. Thomas “Tom” E. Murray, 56, of Elizabethtown, passed away on Thursday, November 19, 2020, at the Hershey Medical Center following a brief battle with cancer.  He was born Wednesday, April 1, 1964, to the late Eugene and Mary Murray in Warwick, New York.

Tom grew up in Greenwood Lake, NY and attended St. John’s School and John S. Burke Catholic High School in Goshen, New York.  He received his BS in Biology from Holy Cross College, in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1986.  He received an MS in 1990 and a PhD in 1994 from the University of Connecticut, specializing in limnology, the study of the science of lakes, streams and wetlands.

In 1994, he moved to Elizabethtown, PA, where he joined the faculty at Elizabethtown College as an Assistant Professor.  He served as an Associate Professor from 1998-2005 and became a full professor in 2005.  He was the Chairman of the Department of Biology from 2004-2010.

While at the college, he met the love of his life, Debi Humphreys who worked in admissions.  They married on May 27, 2000.  He lost Debi to cancer four years ago.

Tom is survived by his two children, Grace and Bryan, as well as two sisters, Barbara (Derek) McSherry and Eileen (Hugh) Grinolds.  Also surviving is a brother-in-law, Andy Humphreys (Danielle Martinez), his mother and father-in-law, Gael and Bill Humphreys, a nephew, Michael Grinolds, as well as numerous cousins.

Services will be at the convenience of the family.  Private burial will take place in Mount Tunnel Cemetery, Elizabethtown.  Arrangements have been entrusted with the Miller-Finkenbinder Funeral Home & Crematory, 130 North Market Street, Elizabethtown, PA  17022, 717-367-1543.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to “Grace and Bryan Murray Education Donation Fund”, c/o Gael Humphreys, 905 Adams Way, West Chester, PA  19382.

Condolences and memories may be shared at: www.FinkenbinderFamily.com

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