The Murray Family: Generations dating back to a Mercy Hospital beginning

Francis X. Murray, Mayor of Rockville Centre for 15 years, estimates that nearly 100 members of the Murray family have been born at Mercy Hospital. He can date it back to his grandparents, William J. and Josephine Murray, who had 13 children, the last four of whom were born at Mercy Hospital. His parents, Eugene J. and Mary Lou Murray, had eight children; Fran and his wife Barbara have five children; and even three of their grandchildren all have born at Mercy. “And that’s just one side of the family!” he jokes.

The Mercy connection also deepened through his father’s oldest sister, who took her vows and entered the Nursing Sisters of the Congregation of the Infant Jesus (CIJ) founding order. She served as head nurse at Mercy Hospital and taught nursing at neighboring Molloy University. In 1978, Murray’s third daughter Susan was born with a cramped intestine, and the doctors at Mercy saved her life. From that day on, he promised to always support and raise money for Mercy Hospital—and he’s never stopped.

“Mercy Hospital continues to be a big part of our community, consistently providing tremendous service and care to our residents,” says Murray. “The hospital and its staff have always been very special to me, and so I continue to stay very involved.” Over the years, Mayor Murray has served as the president of the Mercy Hospital Foundation, president of the Friends of Mercy and a member of Mercy’s Board of Trustees.