In Memoriam: Bruce E. Murtha

Bruce E. Murtha

Born: February 17, 1930
Died: February 06, 2012 (81 years)

Services:  Friday, Feb. 10 at 1pm. Burial with military honors in Granby Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 1:30 at the funeral home.

Bruce E. Murtha, sailor, aviator, engineer, cowboy, fisherman, entrepreneur, passed from this life on February 6, 2012. He was born in Hartford, Conn. on Feb. 17, 1930, to Kathleen and Matthew Murtha.

Right after high school, Bud proudly joined the Navy in 1948. The Navy offered him a college education, and he graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1954. He then rejoined the Navy, serving as a jet pilot until 1962.

He worked for Colt Industries as a foreign armament specialist, meeting with presidents and prime ministers across Europe and South America, and for the Atomic Energy Commission out of Combustion Engineering where he headed the team that designed the country’s first nuclear power plant in Idaho Falls. It was also at the AEC that he developed over 20 patents related to nuclear products.

Next, Bud formed Highland Construction Company and built post offices for the federal government, HUD properties, office buildings and the East Hartford Racquet Club. He finished his career as president of Highland Management Company, a property management entity.

Bud loved Granby and its spirit of volunteerism from the moment he set foot in the town in the 70s. He dove right in, first participating on the Planning and Zoning sub-committee that studied farm animal zoning regulations. He also served on two Plan of Conservation and Development sub-committees.

He served on the board of Holcomb Farm starting in 2001, elected as vice-president in charge of facilities and grounds from 2004 – 2008. He was appointed to the town’s Economic Development Commission in 1990, serving as its chairman from 2004. During this time, he was also the chairman of the municipal complex building committee from July 1998 – March 2002, renovating the police station and town hall and constructing the Board of Education and Senior/Youth Center buildings.

Bud leaves his wife Shirley, and from his former marriage, son Steven Murtha of Wethersfield, daughters Mary Murtha Dudley (Don) of Pomfret, Susan Murtha of Branford and Cindy Tanny (Craig) of Weston, Mass., and eight grandchildren (Juliet, Simon, Gabe, Claire, Grace, Travis, Brandon and Fin.) Also missing his company is his dear Labrador, Jack.

His wit and wisdom were a source of comfort and joy to all who knew him. He lived his life with integrity and compassion and fostered those qualities in many others. His passing leaves an empty space in many lives, including those of his business partners Larry and Shep and his special friends Al, Tom, Craig, Jim, John, Mike, Put and Whitey.

He was predeceased by his daughter Beth and his sister Doris.

Burial with military honors will be held on Friday at 1 p.m. in Granby Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 1:30 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bud’s memory may be sent to the Granby Land Trust, P.O. Box 23, Granby, CT 06035 or Holcomb Farm, 113 Simsbury Road, West Granby, CT 06090. Please visit us at www.carmonfuneralhome.com for online condolences.