[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 55 (Friday, March 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                             [[Page E679]]

                      TRIBUTE TO THE MURRAY HOUSE

                                 ______


                        HON. WILLIAM J. MARTINI

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 1995
  Mr. MARTINI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize 
a truly outstanding organization in the Eighth Congressional District 
of New Jersey, and the very special family who have done so much to 
support it over the years.
  On February 19, 1995, I was honored to attend the annual dinner-dance 
on behalf of the Murray House, a facility in Passaic County, NJ, which 
provides for the needs of the developmentally disabled.
  Murray House was the first group home in the State of New Jersey. It 
was created through the love and dedication of the family of Jimmy 
Murray of Passaic County. Jimmy, the first of five children of Kit and 
Jim Murray, was born a healthy baby. But during his first year, he 
suffered a fever that left him with brain damage.
  As is so often the case, it was an unfortunate circumstance that has 
resulted in so much good for the people of northern New Jersey. Through 
Jimmy's situation, the Murray family came to know Monsignor John B. 
Wehrlen, who to this day is still fondly called Father Jack. Inspired 
by the need to create a new ministry to address the needs of families 
with disabled children, Father Jack founded the Department of Persons 
with Disabilities within the Diocese of Paterson.
  It was through this relationship that Murray House came to be. Father 
Jack wanted to find a home, instead of an institution, for disabled 
adults whose parents had passed away or had no family to care for them. 
In 1970, he found his home--a 150-year-old diocese building on Main 
Street in Paterson.
  It was with the help and efforts of special people like the Murray 
family that Father Jack was able to transform a once-vacant building 
into a home that could nurture and serve the needs of those with 
disabilities. With the help of others in the community, including 
churches, civic organizations and students, New Jersey's first group 
home was opened. It was named ``Murray House,'' after Jimmy Murray.
  Since then, Jimmy's brother, Dennis M. Murray, and other members of 
the Murray family, have dedicated their lives to helping others by 
raising much-needed funds for the Department for Persons with 
Disabilities, which operates Murray House and more than a half-dozen 
other group homes, supervised apartments, and vocational programs for 
the disabled of north Jersey.
  I recently had the pleasure of meeting the Murray family and several 
hundred of their supporters. This family is a shining example of how a 
few committed and caring people can change the lives of hundreds or 
thousands. Their selfless dedication and concern for persons with 
disabilities is remarkable, and reminds us all that there are lessons 
about love and compassion we can each learn from the tireless efforts 
of our friends and neighbors.


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