Active in Franklin Township, Murray Rothblatt, 74, passed away Monday at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer with his loving family surrounding him. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Harry and Esther Rothblatt and moved to the Somerset section of Franklin in 1964. He served in the Army during the Korean War. Mr. Rothblatt retired three years ago after working over 50 years in the garment industry in New York City. He was a lifetime member of Temple Beth El in Somerset, where he was director of security and a member of the Men's Club. An avid animal lover, he devoted much of his time and energy to protecting animals as a lieutenant in the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He was also a member of the Second Chance for Animals Emergency Response Team. He also served as N.J. Deputy Conservation Officer for the Division of Fish and Wildlife for 24 years and was a New Jersey hunting safety instructor, as well as a New Jersey certified firearms instructor. Mr. Rothblatt was also actively involved in his community as a Franklin Township special police officer. He retired in 2003 as deputy chief after almost 40 years on the force. Mr. Rothblatt was also the Franklin Township civil defense director from 1964 to 1972 and the Franklin Township Department of Emergency Management director from 1972 to 2002. He was also a member of the International Association of Police Chiefs. Mr. Rothblatt was also a member of the Franklin Township Human Relations Commission. He was recently honored by the Marconi Foundation with a lifetime achievement award for his service to Franklin Township. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Judy (Fishman); his son, Steven Rothblatt; his sister, Florence Lerner; his brother-in-law, Jerry Fishman, and many nieces and nephews. Please consider memorial donations to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 7000, El Segundo, Calif. 90245, or N.J. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1119 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, N.J. 08901.