RIA mourns the passing of MAREP founder and former board member
March 5, 2019
The founder of Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program (MAREP) and former RIA board member Kenneth “Ken” Murray, died on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at the age of 94.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a true gentleman and extend our condolences to the family,” says Ron Schlegel, Chairman of the Board and RIA Founder. “I have known Ken for over 30 years and have been inspired by his unwavering commitment to Alzheimer awareness, healthy aging and making a difference so that others can live well and fully as they age.”
Murray founded MAREP in 1993 after his experience as a care partner for his first wife Helen inspired him to support a research and education initiative that improves the quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. In fall 2018, Murray helped move MAREP from its first home in the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the University of Waterloo to its current home at the RIA.
With Murray’s guidance, MAREP has been a pioneer in looking beyond finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and other related dementias and looking instead at promoting social change, equality, and empowerment. This spectacular legacy lives on at RIA.
He was a member of the RIA Board of Directors from 2007 to 2016 and offered wise counsel and leadership on a number of initiatives related to fundraising, business development and communication.
Beyond MAREP and the RIA, Murray was a strong community leader. He served on the board of governors of the University of Guelph, his alma mater, and was the first president of the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation. He was also the founder and chair of the Homewood Foundation and a 33-year member of the board of directors of Homewood Corporation, serving as chair of the board from 1987 to 2000. He was a member of the Order of Canada and he and his wife, Marilyn, were honoured as “Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year” in 2014.
You can read about Murray’s many other accomplishments in his obituary, here:
https://memorials.gilbertmacintyreandson.com/kenneth-murray/3766304/index.php