A beloved employee and “great friend and coworker” at O’Hara’s Public House died June 27, the Lexington bar and restaurant announced. Now, the community around the restaurant is rallying to take care of his family.

Lorenzo Murray, 20, was assistant kitchen manager at O’Hara’s. Often referred to as Mari and Renzo by friends and family, Murray worked for the Irish pub and eatery for four years, having worked his way up to his assistant manager position.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the three children Murray leaves behind and any expenses accrued from the funeral. So far a little more than $5,000 has been raised toward a goal of $15,000. 

Neither the fundraising page nor Murray’s obituary note how he died.

According to the GoFundMe, Murray “was a very loving young man” who “was so selfless [and] loved to cook, play video games and go fishing. Lorenzo was a very determined man and he worked his way up for four years at his job at O’Hara’s Public House.”

“Lorenzo loved his family and friends, his children meant everything to him,” the page continues. “So we want to make sure that his kids will have everything that they need for his sake. We are grateful for anything that you would be willing to donate everything is a blessing for the children.”

O’Hara’s owner Matt O’Hara paid tribute to Murray on the restaurant’s Facebook page, announcing that the restaurant would delay opening until 4 p.m. Saturday, July 8, to host a private reception for family and friends  following Murray's visitation.

 “Lorenzo was just as cool as he could have been,” O’Hara writes. “He never came undone. He just rolled up his sleeves and pressed on until the work was completed. And then he would lead his coworkers in the significant task of breaking down and preparing the place for the next day.  Always with the very best attitude and the most endearing smile.

“Lorenzo had it tough. But you’d never know if you didn’t pry it out of him. He had a vision for his life that was so much bigger than his circumstances. He was committed to the hard work of bettering himself and providing for his kids. I was always so proud of Lorenzo and the way he met the challenges that life would throw his way.”