Murrays increase their Seton Hall University gift to $7 million

Mary Ann Pfaff Murray and Patrick M. Murray

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Seton Hall University alumnus and board chairperson emeritus Patrick M. Murray and his wife Mary Ann Pfaff Murray announced they are adding $2 million to their recent gift of $5 million to Seton Hall University, for a total gift of $7 million toward the university’s strategic initiatives. The Murrays’ philanthropy has supported a wide range of university priorities, such as need-based and merit-based scholarships, a faculty position, athletics programming, and capital projects outlined in the university’s campus vision. Their latest gift will support the upcoming construction of a new basketball practice facility on campus, which is in the initial planning stage.

“Pat and Mary Ann show us what can happen when you combine loyalty, vision and action,” university President Joseph E. Nyre said. “Pat entered Seton Hall as a first-generation college student, worked hard and achieved extraordinary professional success. He and Mary Ann have come back to help the next generation by investing in students, faculty, academics, athletics and facilities. We are tremendously grateful for their investment in the future of Seton Hall and our students.”

Over the years, the Murrays’ giving has permeated nearly every corner of the university. They established the endowed Patrick M. and Mary Ann Pfaff Murray Scholarships, which have enabled hundreds of students to enroll at the university and finish their degrees. With more than 32 percent of the latest incoming freshman class coming from families with an average household income of $40,000 or less, Seton Hall considers its No. 1 priority to be growing endowed scholarships for these students.

“Providing funds to support our neediest students has the greatest impact on our Catholic mission and our student outcomes,” Senior Vice President of Enrollment Management Alyssa McCloud said. “Supporting need-based scholarships ensures that the most vulnerable students are given the academic and financial support they need to ensure they can graduate from Seton Hall. We are grateful to the Murrays for helping us fulfill this mission.”

Because of the Murrays’ generous support of Seton Hall athletics, Pat Murray was inducted into the department’s Hall of Fame in 2020. Since the Big East realignment in 2013, Seton Hall has captured nine conference championships across five different sports: men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s golf, men’s swimming and diving, and men’s soccer. The men’s basketball team made four NCAA Tournament appearances between 2016 and 2019, won the 2020 Big East regular season championship and was ranked top-10 in the nation before their fifth-straight NCAA bid was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pat and Mary Ann’s generous gift toward athletics has given us momentum as we push forward with the creation of our new basketball practice facility, an exciting and much-needed capital project we have been planning for several years,” Director of Athletics and Recreation Bryan Felt said. “Thank you to Pat and Mary Ann for helping us continue to transform the student-athlete experience here at Seton Hall. A gift to Pirate Blue not only benefits athletics; it lifts the profile of the university and enhances the Seton Hall experience for every student in our community.”

Like many Setonians, Murray was the first in his family to attend college. After earning his accounting degree from Seton Hall, he served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1966. After his military service, he relied on Seton Hall’s career-services office to help him find an accounting position. He worked his way up through several corporations, finally serving as chairperson of the board and chief executive officer at Dresser, an energy infrastructure and oilfield products and services company. He retired in 2007.

“I hope that our giving will stand as an impetus to other alumni and friends of this great university,” Pat Murray said. “Mary Ann and I realize that Seton Hall has many strengths and many needs, and we want to make a difference to as many students as possible.”