A young attorney taken far too soon

Brian Murray, an associate with Angelini, Ori & Abate, LLC, died early this morning, succumbing after a long and valiant struggle with cancer.

This is a recent photo.

It's not how I remember him at all.

I best remember Brian Murray (Immaculate Conception School Class of 1999) sitting next to my son, John (ditto), on the far end of the bench at IC basketball and volleyball games. They were good enough to make the team, but not quite good enough to see a lot of playing time. In those days, before cell phones were routinely placed in the hands of junior high students, they could only joke about ordering a pizza for delivery to the bench during a game. No pizza was ever actually ordered, but it was a great running gag.

Years passed. So I didn't immediately make the connection between the kid who used to ride the lonesome pines with my son and the young man who greeted me as "Mr. Leyhane" one day on a Daley Center elevator.

Isn't this true for most people? We accept, however grudgingly, that our kids grow up, finish school, get jobs -- but, because we don't see them regularly, we think of our kids' friends as unchanged and unchanging. That day in the elevator, young Mr. Murray gave me the thumbnail sketch of his life's journey after Notre Dame High School (now Notre Dame College Prep) where he and my son John had been football teammates. Brian Murray, ND Class of '03, was now a brother attorney. And did I feel old.

I feel much, much older today.

Joe Ori, of Angelini, Ori & Abate, LLC, said that Murray "was a true trial lawyer, unfazed and fearless in his pursuit of justice." In an email statement this morning, Ori noted how Murray had been recognized four times by Illinois Super Lawyers Magazine as a "Rising Star" under the age of 40. Murray worked "tenaciously," Ori said, "but with integrity and honor, achieving significant results for victims of catastrophic injury and wrongful death."

Ori added,"'Mur' was equally unfazed while he courageously fought his disease for over two years, working in the office and litigating in court almost every day until his final days. He was highly respected by his opponents, and beloved by his colleagues."

Murray was also serving as Notre Dame College Prep's Alumni Board at the time of his passing. Ralph Elwart, Notre Dame College Prep President, said Murray's service on the board "came naturally to him. It was a perfect marriage of his love for Notre Dame and his innate ability to lead and inspire others. Brian exemplified what it means to be a Don, both in his personal and professional life. He was the kind of person who could just say the word and a bandwagon of life-long friends would show up in support. During his more than five years on our board in various roles, Brian was generous with his time and energy, even through difficult health struggles that would have, and very understandably so, sidelined most anyone else."

Ori said Murray was "irreplaceable -- and he will be missed forever." Elwart added, "We are all better people for having known Brian Murray. His death leaves us saddened, but also encouraged and strengthened by the example of his life, by his commitment to family, friends and Notre Dame, and by his faith."

Elwart noted that, before Murray's illness took its final, fatal turn, Murray had been selected as one of six honorees for induction into ND's Hall of Honor. The ceremony will take place next month; Murray had been notified of the pending honor. "We are grateful," Elwart said, "that we were able to reach out to Brian in recent weeks to let him know of this honor and to share with him how highly regarded and appreciated he was in the ND community."