Obituary: Brian C. Murray, 45; Fairfield Native

From Spear-Miller Funeral Home

Brian Christopher Murray, 45, of Santa Rosa Beach, FL, passed away on May 2, 2018 in Destin, FL. He was born in Fairfield, CT on June 1, 1972 to Mary O’Sullivan Murray O’Shea and the late Thomas Murray. He is a graduate of Fairfield College Preparatory School, 1990 and Johnson & Wales University, Providence RI, 1994. On April 21, 2006 he married Monique Roussel in Key Largo, FL.

Brian was a passionate and talented chef, receiving many awards over his impressive career which began at Cobb’s Mill Inn, Weston, CT, followed by the Four Seasons Ocean Grand, West Palm Beach Florida. Brian had a 12-year career learning and working with Chef Emeril Lagasse. He was Executive Chef in Atlanta. In 2007 Brian became Executive Chef of Watercolor Inn and Resort in Santa Rosa Beach, FL and in 2015 Brian and his family proudly opened their own restaurant DIG Eatery in Miramar Beach, FL.

Brian was a member of the James Beard Foundation and received numerous awards throughout his career including the AAA Diamond Award, the Conde Nast Traveler’s Platinum Club, Travel and Leisure 500 World’s Best Hotels and Resorts, Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence. Brian made appearances with Emeril on both the Food Channel and the Cooking Channel.

He was predeceased by his beloved father Thomas Murray and step-father Timothy O’Shea.

Brian is remembered with love by his mother Mary, his two children Marian Camille Murray and Thomas O’Sullivan Murray, their mother Monique Roussel, his sister Carol Murray Collins, brother-in-law Chris Collins, a niece, Nora Collins; and nephews Ryan and Jack Collins, and many beloved extended family in Ireland and England as well as many friends and colleagues in the restaurant industry.

Friends may greet the family Friday, May 18, 2018 from 4-7 p.m. in the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1719 Post Road, Fairfield. Interment will follow in St. Thomas Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers friends may consider a donation to the Monique Roussel Murray Children’s Trust, P.O. Box 7971, Metairie, LA 70010 or The American Cancer Society, 38 Richards Ave., Norwalk, CT 06854.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Spear-Miller Funeral Home here.