Rockville Centre ex-mayor celebrates birthday at village hall named for him

An energetic Eugene Murray chatted, signed autographs and posed with many of his admirers Monday morning at the village hall named for him in a celebration of his 90th birthday.

Murray served as Rockville Centre mayor from 1987 to 2007 and was a former trustee and fire chief. He is still active with the department.

Most of the hundreds of people who attended the event or dropped by had worked with him in some capacity over the years.

He was introduced to the group by his son, Francis X. Murray, the current mayor.

Eugene Murray's purpose was "to serve others, to marry the love of his life, Mary Lou, raise a family . . . [and make] a huge difference in his beloved community," his son said.

Monday's event was organized by Mary Rohrs, Eugene Murray's executive assistant during his tenure as mayor, who now works for his son.

Among attendees was Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy, who said he had met Eugene Murray several times and worked closely with his son in the Nassau County Village Officials Association.

"Our two villages have some things in common, especially the operation of village-owned municipal power plants. So I'm here out of respect to both of them," Kennedy said of the Murrays.

Others attending included Jeffrey Greenfield, chairman of the Nassau County Planning Commission who lives in Rockville Centre, and Barbara Donno, mayor of Plandome Manor and president of the county village association.