SOUTH BRUNSWICK – The South Brunswick Public Library could soon be known as the Christopher J. Killmurray Building, named after a former mayor who had a deep passion for the library.
“Our good friend Christopher Killmurray was a champion of the library. It really was one of his primary cares in public life,” Mayor Charles Carley said during the Nov. 10 Township Council meeting.
“It’s a great tribute to him and I thank everyone for going out of their way and pushing this along,” Councilwoman Jo Hochman said.
The motion will be put to a vote during the Nov. 24 council meeting.
Killmurray was appointed mayor in April 2017 after the passing of Mayor Frank Gambatese the month prior. Killmurray was initially elected to the council in 2003 and he began his fourth term on the council in 2015.
Less than a year after being named mayor, Killmurray passed away on April 8, 2018. He had been battling brain cancer, according to information provided by the M.J. Murphy Funeral Home in the Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick.
He served on the South Brunswick Public Library Board, the Recreation Advisory Board, the South Brunswick Family YMCA Board, and the Flame of Charity Foundation for the Diocese of Metuchen.
Killmurray 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.
He was an active member of St. Cecilia’s Parish in Monmouth Junction and a past volunteer CCD teacher, according to his obituary.
He was also a longtime member of the Woodbridge Irish-American Association, and was a member of VFW Post 9111 in Kendall Park Men’s Auxiliary.
He was active in local scouting through his sons’ participation in Cub Scout Pack 108 and Boy Scout Troop 888, as an assistant leader in both units, according to his obituary.
He served as pro bono legal counsel for the Central Jersey Boy Scouts – Joyce Kilmer District, according to the township.
He was honored with the Good Scout Award from the Central New Jersey Council of Boy Scouts of America in 2004, according to his obituary.
Killmurray was a graduate of Rutgers University Camden School of Law and was a partner in the law firm of Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas in the firm’s Employment and Civil Rights Litigation Section, handling cases statewide with an emphasis on defense of public entities and their employees.
His work defending matters filed against police officers and police departments earned him the distinction of Irishman of the Year by the Central Jersey Police Emerald Society in 2011, according to the statement.
Killmurray was selected by the Middlesex County Bar Association, and the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law, as a recipient of the 2016 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award.