Obituary of Christopher Killmurray After a courageous battle with brain cancer, Christopher J Killmurray died on April 8, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Killmurray was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey on December 28, 1962. He grew up in Sewaren, Woodbridge, New Jersey, where his parents, Francis and Marilyn Jarvis Killmurray still reside.
Mr. Killmurray received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Rutgers University and graduated from Rutgers Camden School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree in 1987. Mr. Killmurray was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1987. He was also admitted to practice in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, and the United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Mr. Killmurray was a partner with the law firm of Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas, LLP in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He concentrated his practice in civil litigation, handling files state-wide with an emphasis on the defense of public entities and their employees. In addition, Mr. Killmurray has represented municipalities as well as individual Officers, Directors, and elected Officials before the State and Federal Courts in matters involving the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, Americans with Disabilities Act, whistle-blower claims, and civil rights violations.
Mr. Killmurray litigated claims made against Municipal Police Departments for constitutional violations, including alleged excessive use of force, false arrest, inadequate protection, and failure to properly train and supervise police officers. He was a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Middle County Bar Association, the Trial Lawyers Association of Middle County, the New Brunswick Bar Association, the New Jersey Defense Association and the Defense Research Institute. He has also served as a lecturer for the Institute for Continuing Legal Education and Lorman Educational Services.
He was the 2016 recipient of the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award from the Middle County Bar Association and the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law. He was a longtime member of the Woodbridge Irish-American Association. In that he was everyone’s favorite Irish person, he was also awarded the Irish Lawyer of the Year and 2011 Irish Person of the Year by the Central Jersey Police Emerald Society.
In the same year he was named to the Irish Legal 100 list, a national list that afforded him the chance to visit the Irish ambassador in Washington DC. As mayor, Chris Killmurray always strove to try his best for those around him and help them reach their potential. He was first elected as a Councilman in 2003, serving as councilman and then Deputy Mayor until his appointment as Mayor to finish Mayor Gambatese’s term.
He was then elected Mayor later that year. He fully embraced his role as public servant to South Brunswick, active in the community by serving on the South Brunswick Township Public Library Board, the Recreation Advisory Board, the South Brunswick Family YMCA Board, and the Flame of Charity Foundation for the Diocese of Metuchen. He served as the co-Chair of the Annual Flame of Charity Foundation Fundraising Dinner.
He was a member of the St. Cecilia Knights of Columbus, Council No. 7046 as well as the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Monsignor Crean Division No. 1 in Hamilton, New Jersey.
Mr. Killmurray was an active member of St. Cecilia’s Parish in Monmouth Junction and a past volunteer CCD teacher. Mr. Killmurray was also active in local scouting through his sons’ participation in Cub Scout Pack 108 and later Boy Scout Troop 888, as an assistant leader in both units. He was a Pro Bono Legal Counsel for the Central Jersey Boy Scouts, Joyce Kilmer District and volunteered as a Merit Badge instructor.
He was honored with the Good Scout Award from the Central New Jersey Council of Boy Scouts of America in 2004. While not the most avid outdoorsman, after a decade of camping he earned the noble moniker of “The Great Outdoorsman” and learned how to delegate putting up his own tent. He was an avid fan of all the heartbreak teams, the Mets, the Giants, and the Knicks (with a brief and unsavory period of time as a Cowboys fan in his youth).
Mr. Killmurray loved to support South Brunswick sports, particularly Viking Football from PAL to the High School Varsity team. Mr. Killmurray always regretted never finding the few people responsible for setting off fireworks during the 2012 Group IV semi-final playoff game and denies any rumors that he was responsible for such a fond memory. He is survived by his wife of twenty-four years, Karen Naughton Killmurray and their four children, Conor (23), Anna Rose (20), Bridget (18) and Patrick (15).
He is also survived by his brothers, Kevin Killmurray and his wife Kathleen Cavanaugh, Thomas Killmurray and his wife Amy Boyer as well as his niece and nephews, Erin and Alex Yaney, Declan, Jomar and J.D. Killmurray and his grandnephew, Cameron Yaney. He is also survived by his large and loving extended family. He will always be in our hearts as his legacy lives on in the many lives he has touched during his time with us.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated, 10:00 am on Thursday, April 12, 2018, St. Cecilia’s Church 10 Kingston Lane, Monmouth Junction. Burial will follow in the Holy Cross Burial Park. Calling hours will be on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 from 3-7 pm at St. Cecilia’s Church.
In lieu of sending flowers please donate to the South Brunswick Public Library or South Brunswick Food Pantry, and just have a beer and relax. “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal”.
Arrangements are under the direction of the M.J. Murphy Funeral Home, Monmouth Junction.
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