Chicago Fire Department Chief Dies Participating in High School Aquatic Event

CHICAGO, IL -- A high-ranking Chicago Fire Department official died of an apparent heart attack this weekend while attending a high school sporting with his 16-year-old son at Mt. Carmel High School. CFD said 56-year-old, CFD OFI Chief Michael V. Murphy died of a massive heart attack participating in an aquatic event.

Murphy was a deputy district chief and commander for the Office of Fire Investigations for the Chicago Fire Department, and loyal Chicago firefighter for over 20 years. Achieving the rank of deputy district chief, he was named the commanding fire marshal in February 2015. In this role, Murphy was charged with determining the cause and origin of structural and vehicular fires in Chicago.

He is also credited as the catalyst for a newly passed city ordinance that requires victims of vehicular fires to report such fires to fire and police investigators before filing insurance claims. The new law has been credited for reducing fraudulent insurance claims, CFD said in a written statement.

Prior to joining the Chicago Fire Department, Murphy was the former Cross Country and Track Catholic League Coach of the Year, and taught physics at St. Rita High School.

Murphy leaves his wife Sarah (Stanley) of 31 years; his children Clare, John and William, his mother, Rosemarie, and siblings Karen, Mark (Julia), and Daniel (Danielle), and his siblings-in-law, Bobbe (Gene) Rupnik, Judy (Thomas) Odom, Tom (Chris), Susan, Tony, Tim and Joe (Sarah) and many friends. He was also an uncle and great uncle.

Visitation is set for 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 11 at St. Barnabas Church, 101st Street and Longwood Drive in Chicago, with the funeral Mass planned for 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 12.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Chief Murphy’s name are requested to IFSA Burn Camp, 426 W. Northwest Highway Mount Prospect, IL 60056.