Leader was an ‘icon’ in community

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — Chevy Chase Canyon lost a stalwart advocate Wednesday, leaving behind a political void at a time when the neighborhood faces numerous unresolved issues.

Dick Murray, the longtime president of the influential Chevy Chase Estates Assn., was taken off life support Wednesday after a protracted battle with cancer, his wife said Friday.

Known for his snow white hair and gentlemanly, and yet sometimes scathing, addresses to the City Council on behalf of the city’s hillside neighborhoods, Murray leaves a void at City Hall at a time when residents are still grappling with the possible closure of the Chevy Chase Branch Library and continued protests over reduced fire engine staffing at their local station.

Larry Varnes, who will assume leadership of the association after serving as co-president since September, acknowledged that Murray’s absence would no doubt affect the organization, “but that does not change the focus of the homeowners association.”

As the association settled into a new batch of leadership this week, a City Council election forum planned for March 11 at the club took on added significance for residents who would likely be looking for any hint of sympathy to their causes.

“These are the years of priorities, and it will be interesting to watch the candidates take positions,” Varnes said. “We will be very interested in the terms of their stated positions, in terms of protecting the quality of life [here].”

In the absence of what some at City Hall described as an “icon” of neighborhood leadership, the homeowners association would have little time to formulate their platform as the City Council gears up for a slew of tough budget decisions.

“The passing of this great man, a lion in the support of his neighborhood and canyon issues, places four-square in the public arena, once again, the future of hillside development, the fate of the country club, traffic issues, the Chevy Chase library, [design review] concerns and many other quality of life issues to which Dick devoted himself tirelessly over the years,” Mayor John Drayman said.

Even on issues that put Murray squarely at odds with the City Council, “he was a worthy adversary,” Councilman Dave Weaver said.

Born in Cambridge, Mass., on Aug. 2, 1925, Murray had a storied military career, surviving the World War II battle at Normandy and Battle of the Bulge as an infantryman.

After receiving two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star, he went on to graduate from George Washington Law School before entering a long career as a bank executive.

Despite his achievements, “the best thing he ever did was be born Irish,” his wife, Sheila, said.

Murray was known for being proud of his Irish heritage, Sheila Murray said, and an upcoming wake for friends and family at the nearby country club would be more of a celebration than anything else — green beer and all.

“He wanted a party when he died,” she said.

In the wake of the “USS Dick Murray,” association members vowed to maintain his memory through continued vigilance over the Chevy Chase Country Club and its golf course, which over the years has been met with stiff neighborhood resistance at the mere mention of redevelopment.

Country club members were in the process Friday of shoring up support to buy out owner Jong Lee, said a club administrator who declined to be identified because he was not yet authorized to speak on the plan.

If the deal were to go through, a new member-owned country club would bring added insurance to the neighborhood that the operation was there for the long haul, residents said.

Even if it didn’t, the City Council has remained absolute in its opposition to rezoning the land for residential development.

“Obviously, the canyon would be adamantly opposed to a rezoning of that property for anything other than a country club,” Varnes said.

Lee could not be reached for comment Friday.

 JASON WELLS covers City Hall. He may be reached at (818) 637-3235 or by e-mail at jason.wells@latimes.com.