FPS Mourns the Passing of James Joseph Murray

This week we mourn the passing of James Joseph Murray. “Our favorite leprechaun” – that is how Jimmy would identify himself whenever he called the FPS office. While he is well known for his accomplishments including starting the Ronald McDonald House Philadelphia and as the General Manager of the Philadelphia Eagles, Jim was also a quiet philanthropic supporter of so many small Philadelphia area nonprofits. For Pete’s Sake is proud to be one of them.

His relationship with FPS started back in 2000 when he met one of the first FPS patients, Bob Coleman, at my family bakery, Maryanne Pastry Shoppe, in his treasured shore town of Sea Isle City. He and Bob struck up a conversation at the coffee counter – and for those that knew Jim, conversation was a gift. From that interaction Jim became a guiding force behind the growth of FPS; he was a Board Member, a mentor, an amazing coach in growing nonprofits and the best cheerleader for our mission of respite!

On a personal level, Jim’s words solidified my decision to leave my job as a tax attorney and jump feet first into growing a nonprofit envisioned by my late husband Pete prior to his untimely passing at the age of 30 from testicular cancer. One Friday afternoon, not long after I returned to work after Pete’s death, Jim called to ask, “how are you and FPS going?”

I told Jim that frankly, I didn’t know what God was calling me to do. His words in reply are forever etched in my mind. “Marci”, he said, “there are a lot of tax attorneys in the world, but only one of you”. That afternoon, I resigned my position and have not looked back as FPS has grown to support thousands of patients, caregivers and their loved ones.

Jim brought faith and fun into what he was doing in his volunteer work. He always said life was an audible, and God was the guiding force of making the play a success! He was a role model for philanthropy and for family. The love he shared for Dianne and the bright smile he always had when talking about his children and grandchildren radiated love.

In his obituary, his family writes, “may we all in our lives give space for miracles to grow.” Jim was a miracle for me, for so many FPS families and for each one of us that gets to hold this angel in our hearts forever. And yes, he is and always will be our favorite leprechaun.

Marci

P.S. In true leprechaun style Jim also assured my parents that me leaving my job wasn’t a result of a nervous breakdown and that I’d be using my seven years of evening law school and post-law masters in tax in my new role. He was right.