Daniel W. Murray

Daniel W. Murray, 66, longtime resident of Milford, NH died unexpectedly on February 7, 2021 at Concord Hospital, Concord, NH. Dan was known for his ever positive, glass half full attitude, his commitment to community, and his ability to make friends with people from all walks of life. He was born in Lowell, MA on January 13, 1955, a son of the late James J. and Margaret (Hurley) Murray. He graduated from Milford Area Senior High School, Class of 1973. Dan enlisted in the United States Navy in 1975 and was honorably discharged in 1979 with the rank of Sonar Technician Surface. After serving in the Navy, Dan earned his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Fitchburg State University. Although he left accounting to work as a self-employed painting contractor, he continued to do part time tax preparation and, for many years, he was a part time physical education teacher at Pine Hill Waldorf School in Wilton. Basketball was Dan's passion. As a junior at MASH (Milford Area Senior High), he was proud to have been instrumental in helping the Spartans win the 1972 State Championship, coached by Maurice "Moe" Facques, who was also Dan's coaching inspiration and lifelong friend. Dan began coaching basketball, as a JV Coach, in the 1980-81 season, at Wilton-Lyndeborough Co-op, alongside Varsity Coach Denny Claire, who became one of his dearest friends. Dan later took over the varsity role, where his influence upon his players continued to stretch well beyond the basketball season. Dan was proud of the decades-long friendships that he maintained with countless former WLC players. In 2007, when his children were young, Dan made the decision to leave Wilton and return to the Milford Spartans, as Varsity Boys Coach. He was inducted March 26, 2008 into the NHICA Coaching Hall of Fame. His 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 teams won back to back Class I championships. Although he had committed to being a lifelong bachelor, fate had other plans for him; the family, that he had never dreamed of having, became the greatest gift of his life. He was tremendously devoted to and protective of his loving wife, Jennifer (Bellew) Murray, with whom he would have celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary on May 24th. His twin sons, Daniel Robert Murray and Michael Patrick Murray, filled his heart with pride and his soul with joy. Besides his wife and sons, family members include two brothers, Michael Murray and his wife, Mary of Lincoln, MA, and Thomas Murray of Hood River, OR; two sisters, Maureen Murray and Patricia Murray, both of Mattapoisett, MA; nieces, Amana and Beth; nephews, James and Aidan; four sisters-in-law and three brothers-in-law, Cheryl Bellew, Diane and John "Sonny" Beaulieu, Patricia and Mike Wisniewski, Shelley Lyon and Doug Lyon; many nieces and nephews; and the Claire family of Wilton, NH, Denny and Nancy Lee, their children and grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, James Murray and his coach, mentor and friend Maurice "Moe" Facques. The family would like to thank Michelle Momenee, MSN, APRN and the staff at Elliot Wound Care Center, Manchester, NH; Christopher Gentchos, MD and the Staff at Concord Orthopaedics, Concord NH; Nurse Kim Swift and the many fine nurses from Home Health and Hospice, Merrimack, NH and the staff of Concord Hospital, Concord, NH for their exceptional care. A public walk through will be held on Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 from 4:00-7:00pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. Due to COVID and with respect to everyone’s safety, masks and social distancing will be required for attendance. We are asking people to walk through and pay their respects, but please do not stay inside the funeral home as to allow others an opportunity to walk through. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 26th from 12:00-5:00 pm at the American Legion Pavilion, 593 Fitchburg Road, Greenville, NH, with the memorial service scheduled to start promptly at 12:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the SHARE Outreach, Inc., 1 Columbus Avenue, Milford, NH 03055.