John V.A. Van" Murray, part time resident of Quogue, dies"

John Van Alen Murray of Darien. Connecticut, and Quogue died on March 16 in Stamford, Connecticut, following a year-long battle with cancer.

Born July 26, 1952, in Greenwich, Connecticut, Van, as he was known to friends and family, was the older of two sons born to Emmet Van Alen Murray and Jeanne (née Beatty) Murray and started summering in Quogue with his family in 1958. After graduating from Greenwich Country Day School in 1967, he graduated from the Taft School in 1970 and Brown University in 1974.

After graduating from the University of Connecticut Law School in 1977, he worked for 20 years for the Connecticut law firm of Jacques, Murray and Moger, where he was a partner. He was later of counsel to the firm of Deserio, Martin, O’Connor and Castiglioni for some 15 years before being named a partner in January of 2010.

A member of the Quogue Beach Club, he enjoyed golfing as a member of the Wee Burn Country Club in Darien, the National Golf Links of America in Southampton, and the Quogue Field Club. He also enjoyed a number of trips to Scotland to play golf with friends on courses where the game was first developed.

Survivors this week recalled his deep love for the ocean beach, and for any and all time spent in Quogue.

He is survived by his wife, Susan, of Darien; a son, Alexander of New York and Quogue; a daughter, Francesca of Exuma, Bahamas; two stepchildren, Christopher and Katharine; his brother, Chester and his wife Christy Anne Murray of New Canaan, Connecticut, and Quogue; and two nephews, Carl and Chester Murray. His previous marriage to Francesca Hersloff ended in divorce.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, at the First Congregational Church of Darien, 14 Brookside Road, Darien, Connecticut. Another memorial will be held in July at the Church of the Atonement in Quogue, at a date and time to be announced.