Thomas "Tom" Wilson Murray, beloved Dad (or "Big T") to Christopher and Suzannah, and known as "Tom" or "Big Tom" to his grandchildren Dylan, Conor, and Annie, passed away on May 31, 2026, in Parkville, Maryland, at the age of 87.

Tom was born in Ventura, California, to Kitty and Wilson Murray while his father was stationed there during World War II. After the war, the family returned to Baltimore, where Tom grew up as the oldest of four boys: Tommy, Bobby, Ricky, and Lee.

He attended Friends School, graduating in 1956 after earning eight varsity letters in football, basketball, and lacrosse, serving as captain of the lacrosse team. Summers were spent in Sherwood Forest on the Severn River, a place that remained close to his heart throughout his life and where the Murray family continues to gather today.

Tom went on to attend Johns Hopkins University, where he played varsity lacrosse and "famously" scored four goals in a quarter against Washington and Lee, a feat he always maintained was a record. Following a brief stint in the Coast Guard, he graduated from Hopkins in 1962 and began working for an oil company in West Virginia.

He later returned to Baltimore to take over the family business, The Beverage Journal of Maryland, eventually joined by his brother Lee. Along the way, he published The Towson Times and made a run for the Maryland House of Delegates in 1970, earning a profile in Baltimore Magazine before returning full-time to the Beverage Journal. He retired from the business in 2009.

Retirement, however, did not last long. In 2015, at age 77, Tom joined his son Chris at Mid-Atlantic Properties in Towson, where he worked at the front desk. Despite the fact that he could no longer hear who was on the other end of the phone when it rang, he became a beloved fixture in the office. Wayne Gioioso Jr., President of Mid-Atlantic Properties, recalled that Tom "was the calmest, nicest person I ever met and held the company together from his post at the front desk."

An avid reader and athlete, Tom devoured everything from spy thrillers to historical nonfiction and had a particular fascination with Russian history. He was a longtime member of the Racquet Club of Roland Park and a dedicated squash player for many years, forming friendships through the club that lasted a lifetime. He was also a passionate Baltimore sports fan who faithfully followed the old Baltimore Colts, the Ravens, the Orioles, and University of Maryland basketball. He faithfully completed The New York Times crossword puzzle and could often be found listening to Scottish bagpipe music.

Tom loved to travel and visited six of the world's seven continents. At age 78, he moved to New Orleans to live with his daughter Suzannah, her husband James, and his granddaughter Dylan. He treasured taking Dylan to feed the ducks and enjoy beignets in City Park. Several years later, at age 85, he joined them again when they relocated to Sydney, Australia, before eventually returning home to Maryland.

Wherever he went, Tom made friends easily. He had a dry sense of humor, a kind heart, and an easygoing way of putting people at ease. He was a devoted father and grandfather who taught his children how to crab on the Severn River, appreciate lazy summer days on the beaches of the Outer Banks, and play lacrosse and golf. He rarely missed a game and took great pride in cheering on Christopher and Suzannah and, later, watching Dylan, Conor, and Annie grow up and pursue their own passions.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Kitty and Wilson Murray, and his brothers Bobby and Ricky. He is survived by his brother Lee; his son, Christopher Murray, and daughter-in-law, Cara; his daughter, Suzannah Murray, and son-in-law, James; and his beloved grandchildren Dylan, Conor, and Annie.

More than anything, Tom will be remembered for his warmth, curiosity, wit, and the steady presence he brought to the lives of those around him. He leaves behind a family who loved him deeply and who will miss him tremendously.