Wilfrid Laurier University mourns the passing of Associate Professor Josephine McMurray

July 30, 2025

Wilfrid Laurier University mourns the passing of Associate Professor Josephine McMurray (MBA ’03), a valued faculty member in the Business Technology Management program at the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. Josephine passed away on July 28, 2025. She was 67 years old.

A dedicated educator, scholar and community leader, Josephine’s contributions to the Laurier community were profound and far-reaching. She served the university with distinction for 13 years, including as faculty lead for the Lazaridis School’s CaseIT case competition team. A passionate researcher, Josephine’s work focused on the intersection of technology, health and aging, including the impacts of technology in the healthcare sector and how technology can contribute to healthy aging.

“Josephine’s commitment to student development and experiential learning left a lasting impact on her colleagues and the many students she mentored,” said Lazaridis School of Business and Economics Dean Kyle Murray. “Beyond her scholarly achievements, Josephine was a tireless advocate for student success. Her mentorship inspired countless students to pursue excellence and her enthusiasm for experiential learning left a lasting legacy in our classrooms and beyond. Josephine’s warmth, intellect and unwavering commitment to both research and teaching will be profoundly missed.”

Josephine earned an MBA from Laurier in 2003, a PhD in Public Health and Health Systems from the University of Waterloo in 2013 and held a Certificate in University Teaching.

Beyond the classroom, Josephine was an advocate for health system improvement through her community service, serving on the boards of regional health organizations including Grand River Hospital, Cambridge Memorial Hospital and Hospice Waterloo Region. Josephine also played a national role in aging and health research as a long-time contributor to the AGE-WELL network, an organization focused on developing technologies and services for healthy aging.

Among her career accolades, Josephine received the Outstanding Reviewer Award from the Academy of Management’s Healthcare Management Division in 2015 and Laurier’s Donald F. Morgenson Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence in 2019.

Josephine is survived by her husband David McMurray, a longtime vice-president of student affairs at Laurier; her children Amy Robinson (Alex Allin), Daniel Robinson (Susie) and Samuel Robinson (Judith Brunton); and six grandchildren. She is also missed by siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews in Australia and New Zealand.

Details of a celebration of Josephine’s life will be shared in the coming weeks. Donations to The Working Centre, OVC Pet Trust, Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, Egale Canada, Innisfree House, Equal Voice Foundation, or your favourite worthy organization in Josephine’s memory would be appreciated by the family and can be arranged through Erb & Good Family Funeral Home.

Read Josephine’s obituary published by Erb & Good Family Funeral Home.

As Laurier mourns the loss of Josephine, the university extends heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, colleagues and students. Laurier reminds the university community that support services are available to students and faculty and staff.