Michael Brian Murray, 49, died November 7, 2022 in San Diego, CA.

Michael was gregarious, hilarious, creative, handsome, adventurous, entertaining, a bright light, and a magnet for bringing friends together. 

He was a masterful magician and balloon artist. In high school he was ASB president of Mt. Carmel High School’s 3,000-student high school in 1991 and was an intern at the San Diego mayor’s office. His business, Magic By Michael, was named San Diego’s Small Business of the month in July 1991.

Michael was commissioned as a Navy Officer by his father in 1995 through Villanova University Navy ROTC and served eight years, following a tradition of military service on both sides of his family. After leaving the Navy, things didn’t come together for him as he’d hoped.

In 2012 he was clinically diagnosed by the VA hospital in Seattle with bipolar 2 and schizoaffective disorder. He returned to San Diego in 2016, and over the last six years, his mental illness worsened.

Despite numerous treatment and veteran supportive housing options offered by the San Diego VA and others, he spent the last two years living on the streets, beaches, and in homeless shelters.

Michael was named one of PATH’s (People Assisting The Homeless) Persons of the Month for August 2022 in the downtown homeless shelter where he was living. 

We’ve been grieving for many years now, losing the Michael we knew to mental illness.

His parents have shown an unconditional love for their son through dark, trying, stress-filled times. Michael always had a family who loved him, even when he couldn’t grasp that. His soul is finally at peace.

We’d like to thank and commend incredible public servants in the Veterans Administration, the social services system, the justice system, and the non-profit sector (PATH and NAMI-National Alliance on Mental Illness) for the work they do and the compassion they display for people in desperate situations. They work tirelessly to help individuals like my brother and families like ours.

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