J. Murray Goff ’71

A vibrant, entertaining personality in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla., Murray died Oct. 3, 2020, after a long battle with cancer.

He was a standout swimmer and student leader at Paxon High School in Jacksonville before Princeton. His Southern enthusiasm was shaped by a maturing campus experience. Murray helped steal the Nassau Hall clapper freshman year. He majored in politics, was on the swim team, ate at Cottage, and roomed with Jeff Stewart, Faber, and Huffstutler in Joline senior year.

Murray turned away from a budding political career after firsthand viewing of its seedier aspects. He enthusiastically embraced a career in real-estate brokerage and development but left that field after an economy-induced downslide in the mid-’80s. Murray then turned to his lifelong love of musical performance, which became his professional career. Audiences around Jacksonville embraced his style at country clubs and other venues. He also did motivational speaking.

Murray’s first marriage produced his two beloved daughters and later nine grandchildren. He married the love of his life, Michele Akra, in 1994. The class extends its condolences to Michele, daughters Hillary and Shelby, his grandchildren, and many other friends and family.