Who We Are

We are very saddened to announce the passing of our longtime friend and former board member, Thomas J. Murrin, who died on Monday, February 6 at his home in McCandless with his wife, Dee, and their eight children at his side. He was 82 years old.

Mr. Murrin was guided by a strong Catholic faith and was active in several parish communities. He became involved with Holy Family Institute shortly after our organization experienced a devastating fire in 1984, and he was a key player in helping to raise funds needed for the rebuilding effort. In 2000, he joined the Holy Family Institute for Learning Abilities Board of Trustees, with a focus on working to help children overcome learning disabilities. In 2002, the board became Holy Family Learning and Mr. Murrin was appointed chairman, serving a total of nine years. Sister Linda Yankoski remembers Mr. Murrin with fondness, recalling that no matter where he was dining, he always made it a point to acknowledge and thank every restaurant server he encountered. We are incredibly grateful for his friendship and longtime dedication to our organization and the children and families we serve.

Born in New York City, Mr. Murrin worked as an elevator operator as a teenager before attending Fordham University on a football scholarship. Mr. Murrin had a long and noteworthy career as president of Westinghouse’s energy and advanced technology group, and after retirement, he was nominated by President George H.W. Bush to serve as deputy commerce secretary. Additionally, he was named dean of the business school at Duquesne University, where he had served as chairman of the board. He served on numerous other boards and organizations, including the Allegheny County Airport Authority and Mercy Hospital.

Mr. Murrin is survived by his wife, Dee, who he married in 1951, and eight children, twelve grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

His full obituary may be found here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12034/1207818-122-0.stm#ixzz1mHPvgKni