Roll Call Tribute

Christopher Michael Murzin
August 03, 1967 - February 11, 2021

Obituary of Christopher Michael Murzin
Christopher “Chris” Michael Murzin’s zest for life and love of family, community, work, and God do not come to an end with his untimely death on February 11, 2021. Christ worked through Chris in all his good deeds. He was a beloved husband to Christina; a devoted father of Jack, Caroline, and Dutch; a caring son to his parents Rita and Bob Murzin; and a loyal brother to Bobby and Mike. His brother, Nick, preceded Chris in death.

Although Chris was born in the Detroit area, he got to Texas as fast as he could, moving to Tyler at a young age and ultimately graduating from Arlington High School in 1985. Deciding to attend A&M University as soon as he heard his first “Howdy,” he loved all that being an Aggie entailed. Given that he never met a stranger, it is no surprise Chris was the life-of-the-party who built quality friendships while at A&M. Chris connected with anyone and everyone he met—so much so that he was known to invite loads of “new friends” to toga parties when he would be on his route as an A&M campus bus driver. He graduated in 1989 with a BBA in marketing and as an active member of Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity, as well as an Aggie football fanatic. Later, Chris earned an MBA from University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.

However, it was on a snowy night in El Paso, Texas where Chris’s life changed forever. On January 10, 1992, he met the love of his life, Christina, at Pistolero’s Bar. After a whirlwind romance, they married on April 24, 1993. From the moment he looked into “those sparkling green eyes,” Chris devoted himself unconditionally to Christina. His incredibly thoughtful nature aimed to make life easier, more fun, and truly adventurous for the kids and her. Whether it was holding hands, dressing in matching Christmas pajamas, road-tripping with the family, or enjoying a choice cabernet, Chris epitomized an exuberant and kind personality throughout his almost 28-year marriage to Christina.

Ultimately, Chris’s altruistic nature carried over into his career. He was the consummate salesman and chose the medical device arena because he wanted to help others. Remembering that his work was always for the benefit of the patient, he remained committed to building and sustaining relationships with the doctors he served. Chris was a highly respected professional and expert in his field, working at companies such as Schering-Plough, Thoratec and AtriCure, Inc. His efforts and focus produced top accolades: Rookie of the Year, Representative of the Year, two President’s Cups and the prestigious Tom Burnett, Jr. Award for achievement in sales over his career. Although Chris took great pride in knowing his vocation made a difference in people’s lives, his silly side couldn’t resist saying, “I’m not a doctor; I just play one on TV.”

This type of light-heartedness (and tendency to save a buck) also translated into his side hustles as the family mechanic, plumber, landscaper and pool boy. His innate curiosity led him to “just YouTube it” in order to fix anything. When the 2002 Yukon XL needed work, Chris figured it out. When the washing machine required repairing or the dishwasher needed replacing, Chris leveraged his inquisitive nature to fix the problems. With unparalleled confidence, he was even known to belt out Zac Brown Band’s “Toes in the Sand” when he worked in the yard despite his inability to carry a tune. Juxtaposed with Chris’s handyman persona was a man who appreciated bold and colorful fashion—from outrageously fun socks to a well-curated bowtie collection.

Ultimately, Chris Murzin’s top priority has always been his family. Chris wanted to instill a sense of adventure in his children, beckoning them to dream big. On his way to work trips, he would drop the kids at school in time to catch an 8:30 a.m. flight out of Love Field, giving him precious morning minutes with his family. Chris became a staple in the front row of Caroline’s basketball games, usually yelling “Go, Mo!” and reviewing film with his favorite daughter. He cherished time with her—whenever he could get it. Chris could also be found in the front yard, throwing a football or baseball with Dutch, making him feel happy, safe, and comforted—especially with big hugs. His love of sports carried over to all his children. He took Jack on bike rides around the neighborhood and supported him in his role as the Manager of the HPHS varsity basketball team. Importantly, he was an advocate for Jack and others like him with disabilities. In this capacity, Chris began a personal quest to increase accessibility and inclusion for all. With creative fundraising, Chris helped rebuild Coffee Park as the city’s first barrier-free park, for which he was awarded UP’s Citizen of the Year Award in 2008. Passionate about accessibility throughout the city, Chris and Christina’s activism for inclusion of those with disabilities will leave a lasting impact. Chris aimed to serve not only his family, but his community as a whole. Importantly, he accomplished such feats with charm, wit, levity, and compassion.

While Chris broke barriers for those with special needs, his unconditional love for all his children propels a legacy of selflessness that will play forward in their lives. Always a pillar in the community, he was a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church, leaving behind lessons of loving Jesus Christ and others unconditionally.

Services will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. at Highland Park United Methodist Church, with a reception to follow. It will also be available via live stream: https://online.brushfire.com/hpumc/funeral/. Feel free to channel Chris and his legendary smile by wearing a favorite bowtie, crazy socks and colorful attire. In lieu of flowers, please support the Murzin children education fund: https://gofund.me/8e983463.


© 2021 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED