Obituary of Thomas F. Murphy, Sr.

Thomas Murphy, Sr

Tom Murphy, 85, of Randolph NJ passed away in the loving embrace of his family – most especially his wife Kathie of 59 years.  Along with Kathie, he is survived by his four children and their spouses, Suzanne (Kevin) of Dedham MA, Laura (Ron) of Mendham NJ, Megan (Patrick) of Phoenixville PA and Tom Jr (Sarah) of Needham MA.  In addition to his children, Tom is survived by nine grandchildren as well as his younger siblings Paul (Safety Harbor, FL) and Marie (Montreal, QC).

Tom lived a full life, starting out in a lively family of four children in Queens, NY where his love of baseball took root, supporting his childhood hero Mickey Mantle.  The product of a successful marriage of industrious parents Frank and Mary, Tom spent his formative years sweeping floors and cleaning spills at Harvey’s Bun ‘n Burger, the local hamburger stand of choice among discerning residents of Douglaston, NY.

Surviving the fervent knuckle-rapping discipline of his local Catholic school, this pompadour-wearing, turnstile-jumping rebel vaulted his way from the boroughs of New York to Philadelphia, where he graduated (perhaps just barely, and certainly without honors) from Villanova University.  His years as a student were his final in which he served without distinction – as his next steps in life were characterized by his bravery, devotion and excellence.

Tom proudly served his nation as a United States Marine Corps lieutenant, traveling to Southeast Asia upon his graduation from Villanova in 1961.  It was at Villanova where he first encountered the fetching Kathleen Farlie, formerly of Short Hills, NJ.  This destined duo kept things casual until Tom’s return from Vietnam as a Captain in 1966.  They were married that December, with first-born Suzanne arriving in the fall.

Progressing through professional stints with the USMC and Legg-Mason in Washington, DC, and Manhattan, Tom evolved as a professional into an award-winning salesman for IBM – winning the coveted Golden Eagle award and treating beleaguered Kathie (four children by then) to an award trip to Acapulco.

A devoted champion of frugality - steadfast in his practicality and ever-resistant to costly conveniences - Tom exemplified his worldview with his trademark phrase “Waste not, want not!”.  Never subject to the trappings of vanity, he took great pride in eschewing the status symbols of the various eras he lived through – best symbolized by his hallmark adoption of plastic “drop-in” inserts to his eyeglasses to shield him from the summer sun’s intrusive UV rays.

In his later years, having retired from both IBM and his latter professional days as a realtor in suburban NJ (where his green Cadillac with “CALLTOM” plates was often seen on the prowl), Tom was a steadfast presence in his children and grandchildren’s lives.  Whether as a chauffeur to his grandchildren, a consistent attendee at sun-drenched poolside afternoons at his daughter Laura’s Mendham home, or frequent visitor of both suburban Boston and Philadelphia where his other children had settled, Tom spread wisdom and laughter where he traveled.  Though perhaps not economical in his discourse – his loquacious nature precluded brevity - all who knew him understood themselves to be in the presence of a man who enjoyed his life, his family, and the occasional cold beer.

He will be forever remembered, forever loved and forever missed.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 19, from 4 to 7 PM at the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Road, Mendham. A Memorial Mass will take place on Friday, February 20, at 10:30 AM at Resurrection Parish, 651 Millbrook Ave, Randolph, followed by inurnment at St. Rose of Lima Mausoleum in Short Hills.