Edward J. Murray
Edward J. Murray, supervisor of transportation and grounds from 1991 to 1998, died
Feb. 22, 2006, at home. He was 69.
Born April 12, 1936, in Troy, Ed was the son of William P. and Gertrude O鈥機onnor Murray.
He was a graduate of Catholic Central High School and the State University of New
York College at Cobleskill, where he earned a degree in agronomy.
An experienced landscape gardener, Ed owned and operated several local nursery and
landscape businesses, including the Cloverleaf Nurseries in Menands, which he founded
in 1962 and which did commercial and residential landscaping; and Brookside Nursery,
which he founded in 1975 in Ballston Spa and built into a thriving business before
passing ownership to his two sons in 1989.
Bored with retirement, Ed joined the Skidmore staff in 1991 and set about to transform
the campus with colorful gardens near the entrances to buildings, numerous stamp-sized
planted areas in surprising locations, and a revived Case Green, which had endured
significant pedestrian and construction traffic. That project was especially challenging
because of the soil compaction and the need to correct the green鈥檚 pH balance. The
project included enlarging walkways to improve access for people with disabilities,
developing a better drainage system, and seeding with hardy grasses.
Murray and his crew worked on other campus sites to improve their appearance. These
included South Park, the athletic fields, and numerous small gardens throughout the
campus. He also was instrumental in working on the Victorian garden behind the Surrey.
Murray and his crew cleared brush and undergrowth from the area, planted roses, and
restored and enhanced a pond first built there in 1911.
While landscape matters were a priority, there were not Ed鈥檚 only Skidmore responsibility.
He also oversaw the maintenance of the College鈥檚 roads and parking lots. Jessie Oliver,
a member of the grounds staff for 30 years, recalled Ed鈥檚 tenacity and willingness
to do things the old-fashioned way. Said Jessie, 鈥淭he harder the landscape problem,
the more Ed loved to work to try and solve it. He grew everything from seed, and loved
the chance to make things grow.鈥� Oliver said that Ed took special pride in having
both a tomato plant and a rose bush named after him. 鈥淗e was a great boss鈥攁nd was
good at letting workers figure out ways to get the job done. He was just an all-around
nice guy.鈥�
Christopher Gregory 鈥�94, a stonemason who got his start while working for Ed during
the summer at Skidmore, was grateful that 鈥淓d took me under his wing.鈥� Added Gregory,
鈥淓d gave me opportunities to work on campus projects鈥攖he stone walls and the bridge
at the southern edge of campus鈥攁nd was a mentor to me. He transformed the campus
through the physical manifestation of his work and by mentoring students and staff.
But beyond the campus landscape, Ed鈥檚 legacy is the men and women who have skills
and a passion for growing things and for working with their hands, because they worked
with him.鈥�
In 1998 the College honored Ed by naming the area south of Haupt Pond Murray Park.
The park鈥檚 centerpiece is the handcrafted footbridge built by Gregory.
Ed is survived by his wife of 46 years, Margaret (McLaughlin) Murray of Saratoga Springs;
daughters Colleen Murray of Saratoga Springs and Heather (David) Azzolino of Atlanta,
Ga.; sons Ian (Tracy) of Schuylerville and Bruce (Kelly) of Stillwater; seven grandchildren;
two brothers and two sisters; and many nieces and nephews.