Murray, G.E. 1945–2008

(G. Edward Murray, Gerald Edward Murray, Jr.)

OBITUARY NOTICE—

See index for CA sketch: Born December 17, 1945, in Buffalo, NY; died June 23, 2008, in Chicago, IL. Educator, artist, publicist, executive, speechwriter, songwriter, and poet. Murray was a man of many talents, but he was above all an award-winning poet. His poetry was widely anthologized and published in dozens of literary magazines. He also taught literature classes at Northeastern University and directed the poetry program at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, both in Massachusetts. Murray promoted the work of other poets and contributed book reviews to Chicago newspapers. He wrote articles for national magazines, including the Saturday Review and the Nation, and poetry for magazines like the Hudson Review and Parnassus. Murray earned his living with words. On the practical side, he worked as a speechwriter and public relations specialist. He was a vice president of Burson-Marsteller Public Relations in Chicago in the 1970s and a founder of the Murray Communications Group in 1994. On the personal side, Murray composed song lyrics for jazz recording artists and devoted serious attention to his paintings and drawings, which have been exhibited in the Chicago area. Murray's poetry collections include A Mile Called Timothy (1972), Gasoline Dreams (1978), Repairs (1979), Waking the Blind Dog (1992), and Arts of a Cold Sun: Poems (2003). He reportedly wrote an autobiography as well, Visions and Voices, which was unpublished at the time of his death.

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Chicago Tribune, June 25, 2008, sec. 2, p. 9.