Melvin Fredric Murray

Melvin F. Murray peacefully passed away August 11 with his family by his side after a brief illness. Red was born September 29, 1934 in Concord NH, the son of Henry and Ruth (Robinson) Murray. He resided in Concord until his retirement from Concord Group Insurance as Senior Special Investigator for Maine, NH, and VT after 42 years of service. He then spent his retirement years living on Squam Lake, a place he loved and treasured.

Red ran cross country for Concord High School and was on the state champion team in 1948, 49, 50 and 51. As a teenager, he started officiating basketball games at the local YMCA, which developed into a lifelong passion for the sport of basketball. Red traveled all over the state reffing games, blowing his whistle in nearly every high school gym in the state. Between the years of 1966 and 1989, Red officiated 125 NHIAA tournament games including 25 final games. Red was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009, and the NHIAA Hall of Fame in 2011.

Red was an avid hunter and fisherman. He cherished his time hunting big bucks with good friends in Rangely Maine and owned a camp on the SW Maramachi New Brunswick seeking Atlantic Salmon.

Red was a member of Blazing Star Lodge #11 for 54 years. He also was a member a Bektash Shrine, marching in the drum corp.

Red is survived by his wife Cynthia (Dow) Murray, married 55 years, his son Dennis Murray and Katherine Adams, his daughter Debra and husband Daniel Hart and step children Hanna and Delia.

He is predeceased by his father Henry, mother Ruth, brothers Henry jr and James, and sister Margorie. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, PO box 173, Holderness NH 03245, an organization Red loved.

Bennetts Funeral Home is handling all arrangements.

A celebration of Red's life will take place on Monday August 21 at Alan's of Boscawen Restaurant, located on rt 3 in Boscawen, from 2-4 pm

Arrangements are entrusted to the Bennett Funeral Home of Concord.