Richard J. Murphy

Richard J. Murphy
April 18, 1931 ~  November 15, 2023 (age 92)

“To a good man, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy”
- Matthew Henry

Richard “Murph” “Dick” Murphy, beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle, passed away peacefully at his Syracuse, NY home surrounded by his family. Known for his booming voice and laughter, he lived in Glen Rock and Ridgewood for more than 40 years with his wife, Mary Lou, who passed away in 2021.

He is survived by his sister, Joan Lawlor; his six children: Kathleen (Richard), Liz (Kevin), Peter (Lynda), John (Barbara), Richard Jr. “Chip” (Susan), and Matthew (Jamie); his sister-in-law, Anne Hare (Bill); his 17 grandchildren: Savaria, Rich, Sarah, Lauren, Jake, Matthew, Marilyn, Ryan, Chipper, Caitlin, Nick, Patrick, Lizzie, Molly, Emma, Caroline, Peter; his great-grandson, Leo; and his two nieces, Katherine and Julia.

He was born in Binghamton, NY, in 1931 and attended St. Bonaventure University on a ROTC Army scholarship. He married Mary Lou Sager immediately after his graduation in 1953. He had a deep love of his alma mater and served on the University’s Board of Trustees for many years.

After graduation, “Murph” and Mary Lou moved to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he served as a US Army Field Artillery Officer. He was then assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, with the 508th Combat Infantry Regiment as a Forward Observer. He provided training and instruction on field artillery calls of fire. While the rest of his Army class was deployed to Korea, “Murph” was asked to stay behind to train the next class of lieutenants. Until his death, he could remember and repeat all the coordinates of his artillery call.

In 1967, he went to work for Hoffman La Roche, a global pharmaceutical company, which led to a move to Northern New Jersey. His work with Hoffman La Roche spanned over 35 years, including three years leading the construction of a new plant in Puerto Rico. He held several other leadership roles at Roche, including VP, Diagnostics and President, Chemical Division.

“Murph” had a lifelong love for golf (he began playing at age 11) and was a member emeritus at the Ridgewood Country Club.

The family will receive their relatives and friends on Friday, November 24, between 6-8 pm at Feeney Funeral Home, 232 Franklin Ave, Ridgewood, NJ. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, November 25, at 9:30 am at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 1 Passaic Street, Ridgewood, NJ. Interment will follow at Maryrest Cemetery & Mausoleum, 770 Darlington Avenue, Mahwah, NJ 07430.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you please consider a gift to St. Bonaventure University. Give a tribute gift in honor of Richard J. Murphy ‘53 online here at www.sbu.edu/donate and select “The Bonaventure Fund”. Or Venmo your gift to @BonasGiving and include his name and “The Bonaventure Fund” in the "What's It For?" section. Or mail a check to St. Bonaventure University Office of Advancement, Richard J. Murphy ‘53 Memorial Gift, P.O. Box 2519, St. Bonaventure, NY 14778.