Joseph W. Murray

Joseph W. Murray, retired Deputy Chief of the Paterson Fire Dept., age 74, of Wayne, passed Tuesday, August 24, 2021.

He was born to the late Joseph P and Agnes Murray of Paterson.  He was raised at 69 Maryland Avenue in Paterson and graduated from Eastside High School in 1964 where he played baseball.  After high school, he attended the University of Oklahoma and pursued his passion for baseball with the Sooners.

When Joe was 24 years old in 1971, he began his career with the Paterson Fire Department and worked as a firefighter for Ladder 3 on Lafayette Street.  He became a Captain in 1989 and served briefly with Engine 7 before returning to Ladder 3. In 1998 he was promoted to Battalion Chief and served in Battalion 1 and Battalion 3. In 2005, Joe was promoted to Deputy Chief and served as the Tour Commander of Tour 4 before retiring on July 1, 2010. He was also the founding President and a member of the Passaic County Police and Fire Emerald Society.

Joe will be remembered for his quick one-liners, passion for politics, generous nature,  and unbridled enthusiasm for sports especially the Dodgers.  His love for the Brooklyn team happened serendipitously when Joe was a young boy.  His father took him and his brother Andy to buy NY Yankee jackets but they didn’t have Joe’s size so he got a Dodgers jacket instead and a Dodgers fan was born.  He enjoyed watching sports, reading, listening to music, late night shopping on the internet, posting on Facebook, driving  flashy cars and collecting hats and watches.

Joe was the loving husband of Susan Sturgis; devoted father of Shannon Murray-Corsale of Jupiter, FL, Ryan Murray (Elizabeth) of Midland Park, Allison Murray of Wayne, and Jenny Sturgis of Van Nuys, CA; cherished grandfather of Seana Ann Corsale, John Michael Corsale, Evan Joseph Tagliareni, Emariah Faith Sturgis, Owen Joseph Murray, Ian James Murray, and Dylan Charles Murray; dear brother of Andrew Murray of Paterson; loving Uncle to Bryan Murray (Michelle), John Murray (Erin) , Danielle Murray, and Drew Murray; great uncle to Aidan Murray, Colin Murray,Skyler Murray, and Payton Murray. He is also survived by his former wife and mother of his children Carol Murray (nee Liberty) of Port Saint Lucie, Florida.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306 would be greatly appreciated. To donate please call 718 987 1931 so the family can be properly informed that you donated in Joe’s memory.