Norm Murray remembered at LICs

The right corner of the Hofstra press box has, for years, been known as Norm Murray Corner, replete with a street sign that hangs from a pillar bearing those exact words in gold on a blue background – the Hofstra school colors.

Murray , the long-time voice of Hofstra football and lacrosse, Nassau Community College football and lacrosse, Nassau high school playoff football and lacrosse and other events at other venues for more than four decades, passed away in June at age 87.

He was lovingly honored before every Nassau playoff game at Shuart Stadium this season, including both Long Island Championship games on Friday.

Steve Bongiovi, a retired Seaford teacher who now sits in Norm’s “corner” and has taken Murray’s place, read a touching tribute to Norm that he wrote for the game program before each playoff game. “It’s not only a privilege but a responsibility to be here,” Bongiovi said, “because of the standard of excellence that Norm set.”

Before Friday night’s Class II final between Carey and Riverhead, the final football game at Shuart Stadium this season, Murray’s son Terence, the timekeeper for the Carey-Riverhead game, was saluted in the press box with a standing ovation after Bongiovi’s tribute was read to the crowd.