Malik Murray Obituary

Murray, Malik Todd

September 16, 1974 - April 19, 2025

Malik Todd Murray, 50, was a lifelong learner, athlete, financier, activist, mentor, role model, and faith-based philanthropic giver. More importantly, he fulfilled each of those functions with the utmost dignity, humility, and class. Born in Chicago on September 16, 1974, Malik is the firstborn child of Cook County Circuit Court Judge Leonard Murray and the late Linda Diane Gray Murray, who served as assistant principal at Hyde Park Academy prior to her retirement in 2011. Before becoming an administrator, Linda was a multi-decade, award winning history, sociology, and psychology teacher.

Malik was raised in Chicago's South Shore area and attended St. Philip Neri Elementary School, where he was an altar boy and a straight-A student. With his father as his first coach, Malik began his hoopster ambitions at the South Shore YMCA Youth Basketball Program, starting in their popcorn league. In the summer before seventh grade, Malik's father learned of a summer basketball camp hosted by St. Ignatius College Prep to help recruit student athletes to join the Wolfpack. As salutatorian of his elementary school graduating class, combined with his stellar basketball skills, Malik earned his place in the St. Ignatius Class of 1992.

St. Ignatius College Prep was known primarily for its academic rigor. However, in 1992, 6-foot 8-inch Malik led the school's first boys' basketball team to win a Regional Championship in twenty years. That same year, he was also named to the Chicago All Area Team, was awarded the Chicago Catholic League Player of the Year, was recognized three times as the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Week and was the Chicago Tribune's Athlete of the Week.

Malik's work ethic and excellence, both academically and athletically, led to a four-year athletic scholarship to play basketball at DePaul University for then head coach Joey Meyer. While at DePaul, Malik was a 4-year letter winner and became the seventh man on his Division 1 Blue Demons team. Balancing athletics with academics, Malik accepted a life changing internship at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. After graduating from DePaul's Driehaus College of Business, Malik accepted a position with First Chicago Futures (later named Bank One Brokerage), where he worked for eight years, eventually serving as lead broker on the European shift for its international exchange traded products group. While working at the bank, he enrolled in DePaul's Kellstadt Graduate School of Business to pursue his MBA in finance, which he received in 2004.

In December 2004, with a freshly minted MBA in hand, Malik joined Ariel Investments. He served in several roles as he climbed the corporate ladder to his most recent position--Senior Vice President, Head of Business Development, Institutional Marketing. Throughout his career, Malik was committed to giving back. He served on the boards of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, DePaul University, and St. Ignatius College Prep, establishing scholarships and funds to support diversity and inclusion. He also held leadership roles with the National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP) and served on the school board of Ariel Community Academy.

While maintaining his finance career, he never quite gave up his itch to play pro basketball. So, he chose the next best thing. He became a referee for the G League (the NBA development league) during his free time. He was also an avid golfer and loved to travel.

At the young age of 50, Malik Todd Murray passed away due to a sudden illness on April 19, 2025. Malik was preceded in death by his mother, Linda Diane Gray Murray. He leaves to mourn and continue the legacy of a life well-lived: his longtime partner, Elizabeth; his father, Leonard; his sisters, Kai and Nubia (Brian) Davis; his brother, Kamau (Jennifer); his Aunts Elaine and Norwatha; his Uncle Luther, his cousins, his mentee Tamera; and a host of other family, and friends that have become family. Malik was especially close to and proud of his nieces, Zarah, Zanea, and Brooke; and his nephews, Ramik, Kenneth, Grant, and Nnamdi.

Malik's memorial services will be held Friday, May 2nd – Saturday, May 3rd. Visit www.MalikMurrayMemorial.com for more details.

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