Spotlight
No Greater Love: Bob Murray ’64
In the fall of 1960, a quiet, unassuming
and genial youngster from Our Lady
of Mercy Grammar School in the
Bronx walked up Old Elm Road to the
front steps of an ivy-covered Hughes
Hall, then the home of Fordham Prep.
He would be entering the freshman
class. Older brother, Jim, was already
an accomplished Prep upperclass-
man. Young Bobby Murray would
quietly make his own mark at the
Prep—as a playmaking guard on the
freshman basketball team, as a class
officer, and by serving as a four-year
member of the Sodality and Sanctu-
ary Society. Admired and liked by
classmates, Bob never called
attention to himself. He was someone
who kept his own counsel and who
also knew how to enjoy rambunctious
acting out —primarily as an observer.
After graduation, he remained on Rose Hill. At Fordham
College he prepared himself meticulously for the next
phase of his education: to earn an MBA at Harvard
Business School. During the decade 1965-75, America’s
involvement in the war in Vietnam and the question of
military service vs. personal preferences weighed heavily
on the thoughts and plans of every young American male.
Bob Murray faced this dilemma squarely. While at
Harvard he made a consequential decision to enlist in the
Army. With characteristic commitment, he excelled in
both Ranger and Airborne training. His lifelong friend, Art
Centonze, recalls a conversation they had prior to Bob’s
departure for Vietnam (November 6, 1969): “We discussed
the pros and cons of the country's involvement in
Vietnam, as many young people did at the time. Bob said
two things that still stick in my mind after all this time.
One was that he wanted to be as prepared as possible.
The other was that he thought he could make a
difference.”
While serving in Vietnam with the noted Americal (23rd)
Infantry Division, Bob was awarded two Bronze Stars for
heroism during two separate combat actions (May 1970.)
His leadership resulted in a promotion to Staff Sergeant.
On June 7, 1970, he and his squad were on patrol near the
village of Hiep Duc (south central coastal region). They
had been tasked with locating and eliminating an enemy
mortar position which had been threatening friendly
forces. When the squad’s point man inadvertently tripped
a booby-trapped grenade, Sergeant Murray threw himself
onto the grenade to protect the men he was leading. He
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absorbed the full impact of the explosion and was killed.
He was only twenty-three years old. For his extraordinary
valor and self-sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded
our country’s highest military recognition —the Medal of
Honor.
“We Need To Do Something Special”
This spring a group from the Class of 1964 sought to
establish The Robert C. Murray Award in his memory. In
order to get the award well started, twenty-one members
of the class—Art Centonze, Mike Cesa, Jerry Crowley, Jim
DiMarzo, Rich DiMarzo, Joe Dirr, Mike Formoso, Ed A.
Hagan, Brian Heller, Lee Higdon, John Malone, Bob
Maloney, Pat McInerney, Tom Monahan, Bob O’Donnell,
Jerry O’Gorman, Andy Paterno, Bill Perry, Chuck Slivinski,
Ralph Stubbs and Bob Zachariesiewicz—presented a
detailed proposal to Prep President, Father Christopher
Devron, SJ. Impressed by the passion of Murray’s
supporters to create a lasting legacy for their classmate,
Father Devron approved their submission. The new award
will be presented to a graduating senior who best
exemplifies and reflects Murray’s characteristics—devotion
to country, courage, love for neighbor, and sacrifice.