Gilmur Roderick Murray

Gil Murray was my best friend for more than 50 years. I miss him dearly, and the world has lost some warmth and brightness. As Hamlet said of his father: "He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again." I can’t hope to describe all of his energy and variety, but I want to add my tribute to those of the other people who loved him.
I met Gil early in our first week at the University of Chicago at an orientation event in our dorm. He wore a sleeveless, tattered sweater and had painted his arm pits yellow in some misguided celebration. He was big, boisterous and willing to play a buffoon. But he was not a buffoon. I soon learned that he was smart, funny, engaging and full of life, and we had become good friends by the end of that week.

We went through all of the phases of life together: college, moving to California, law school, legal careers, marriages and other partners, and parenthood and grandparenthood. We shared a passion for justice, a scorn for hypocrisy and a love for laughing and making others laugh. We had different strengths and weaknesses, but we always supported and appreciated each other. Other people remember our many arguments, but we never spoke a truly harsh word to each other about who we were.
Gil was a contrarian in the best sense of the word. Although we agreed on most of the important things, he always had a different take on the world. He loved to argue that Trump was better than the Bushes (although that got harder and harder), that the NY Times was deliberately deceitful and that the world was full of scoundrels. But most of all, he loved to fight for the underdog. He found his calling as a plaintiff class action lawyer, attacking banks and other big corporations to the end, even after he had mostly “retired.” It is poetic justice that he won an important victory in his last case just before he died.
He loved his family even more than he loved arguing. He was a steady, supportive rock for so many people. And he was so proud of his children and grandchildren. The older we got, the more our conversations focused on the people that we had helped bring into this world.
Death came too quickly for Gil for him and all of us who loved him. It is still hard to believe that I will never talk or laugh with him again. But his survivors need to cling to his memory and be reminded to embrace life the way he did.
Rest in peace, Gil. I loved you and will keep you in my heart forever.

This is such a sad time for all of us. What a shock to hear about Gil’s stroke and to grasp the reality that he is gone.

I don’t believe in pre-ordained events but I’m still trying to understand why we chose to visit California just two months ago and Linda and Rick just happened to be in California the week he collapsed. Probably just coincidences. In any event, he picked us up at the airport and made sure that you along with his grandchildren visited with us. He looked vibrant – not unhealthy at all.

My memories of Gil - I remember a sweet baby and young boy who sat on my lap until he was ten years old – he just got too big - I loved being his aunt.

I remember his visits to Cincinnati – how sentimental he was – he always took the ferry across the river from the airport to Delhi where he grew up – he stopped at Skyline before he went anywhere else.

I remember his visits with Nancy and you – he would come to Cincinnati to show us his babies and travel down memory lane with his family. He was so proud of his family. We loved those visits.

I remember how he chose to stay at our house when he was in Cincinnati – I loved that – he would laugh at my dumb jokes – his face was so expressive and you can see that in all the photos that were posted on line.

I remember his later visits – how he visited Glen Oaks Drive – always stayed in touch with Danny Larsen, his childhood friend – his beloved college friends – and so many more that I don’t even know about. He was a sensitive, handsome, extra-smart, compassionate human being, qualities which were reflected in the law suits he chose to pursue and the charities he supported.

I’m sorry he’s gone – what a loss for so many - I’m glad his death was swift and painless – and I am very grateful that God blessed our family with Gilmur Roderick Murray.

We met Gil in July 2019 when we arrived from Australia to meet our then future daughter-in-law Cate's family in preparation for Cate's and Adam's wedding in Oct 2019. Gil was almost a larger-than-life character who welcomed us so warmly, and invited us to stay a few days with him at Sea Ranch with Laurie, Cate and Adam. Gil was big, intelligent, generous, competitive, deep, contemplative and literary, His generosity was demonstrated on each of our subsequent visits, welcoming us to his home multiple times, introducing us to his siblings, and last Christmas loaning us his car for our family to use. We were delighted to be joint Grandparents with Gil and Nancy to 2 of his darling little ones - Elliana and Natalie.

Gil will be greatly missed by his now extended family in Australia. We already miss you mate. Wish we could have known you much longer.

I met Gil in the Woodward Court dormitory of the University of Chicago. Gil, Chip, Pete, Nancy, Laurie and myself became good friends . We. did all sorts of fun and crazy stuff. He was always smiling and being witty. He had a humble very compassionate side. He and Chip could get into debates over any issue. He was very smart. He loved his Oakland (now Las Vegas Raiders)!

My heart goes out to his family, knowing they lost a really wonderful father, husband and friend. May God bring some comfort during this time of grief and mourning. Gil was taken away from us too early and too quickly.

If any of you are down in San Diego, please email me and we will get together. love, Pedro (aka Peter).

I met Gil in 2001. We were both in our forties, refugees from large law firms, united by the shared belief that we had to do something more meaningful with our law degrees than the big law firms could offer. We worked together on half a dozen cases over nearly three decades, all calculated to force banks, insurance companies, and other unscrupulous actors to stop stealing money they never earned - and to pay it back. I learned an enormous amount about the law and life in general from Gil, and came to love him like a brother. I know that I will constantly be asking myself what Gil would have to say about this or that legal strategy or tactic so long as I keep practicing law. I will miss him for the rest of my life.