Charles Murray McQuaid, of Jacksonville, Florida and Spruce Point, Boothbay Harbor, passed away at his home in Jacksonville on March 19, 2025, at the age of 97. Born on Feb. 28, 1928, in Jacksonville, he was the son of William Ravenel McQuaid and Henrietta Murray McQuaid. His maternal grandfather, Charlie Murray, was a noted vaudeville comedian and Hollywood movie actor in the early to mid-1900s. 

Murray received a bachelor of mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1949 and did post-graduate studies at the University of Florida School of Business. 

After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as an engineer in the Ordinance Corps at the Red River Arsenal in Texarkana, Texas, he began his professional career as a banking executive, working forboth the Barnett National Bank and the Sun Bank of Florida. 

On April 28, 1956, Murray married Elise Bancroft McQuaid, daughter of Winthrop and Anna Bancroft of Jacksonville and Spruce Point, to whom he was married for 66 years. 

Murray was an avid sportsman and competitor. He learned to sail at age six in the Saint Johns River in Jacksonville, and boatingremained a life-long passion. He was also an accomplished carpenter, boatbuilder, flyfisherman and marksman with pistol and rifle. His greatest pleasure, though, was sailing his Friendship sloop—theAnna B—and his Etchells—the Waltzing Matilda--in the summertime waters of Boothbay Harbor.  

A keen participant in the Friendship Sloop Races held both in Friendship and Boothbay Harbor during the 1970s to the 1990s,Murray’s fervor and racing skills were not quite matched by his family crew. However, he overcame their shortcomings to place respectably throughout his sailing career. He was a risk-taking tactician, always looking for that puff of wind that would give him an extra lift towards the next mark. Family and friendslined the boom and the high side while Murray manned the helm with a keen eye out for archrivalsTannis, Eastward and Phoenix, whose captains he held ingreat respect. 

Murray was predeceased by his beloved wife, Elise.

He is honored by his son David McQuaid (Dorota) of Warsaw, Poland; daughters Matilda McQuaid (Craig) of Brooklyn, New York; Anna McQuaid of Bogart, Georgia; and Patricia McQuaid (Antony) of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; as well as grandchildren Benjamin Grisel, Elise Grisel, Alex Konyk, Jack Konyk, Matylda McQuaid, Matthew McQuaid, Ravenel Rieck and Hiraani Rieck. 

No service will be held; however, remembrancesmay be made to the Maine Maritime Museum or the charity of one’s choice.