Obituary: Stephen W. Murphy, Alumni Interviewer for the College of the Holy Cross

Obituary from Campbell Funeral Home.

Resident of Beverly, formerly of Chelsea, Mass., Stephen Wilfred Murphy died peacefully, Friday, February 13, 2015 at the Hunt Nursing Home in Danvers. Born in New York City, he was the son of the Gordon D. and Adelaide Murphy, both deceased. Steve grew up in Ridgewood NJ and came to Massachusetts to attend the College of the Holy Cross.

Upon graduation in 1967, Steve enlisted in the Marines. He completed Basic Training and Officer’s Training at Quantico VA followed by intensive training in the Thai language at the Foreign Service Institute. Steve served in Vietnam as part of the 3rd Marine Division in the 9th Motor Transport Battalion, which was known as “The Work Horse of the Pacific”. He was awarded the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm and frame and honorably discharged in 1970 with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He served in the Marine Corps Reserve Forces until 1974.

Steve worked for several decades as a seafood importer and broker, starting his career by working with his father at Gordon D. Murphy Inc. (later Maripac International, the Mitsui US subsidiary) in Saddle Brook NJ. For about two decades starting in 1980, he continued his career in Seattle, working as a sales manager for several large seafood importers. While in Seattle, Steve was an active volunteer for the Winter Homeless Shelter and St. James Cathedral Church. On both the east and west coasts, he was a devoted alumni interviewer for Holy Cross.

Middle-born in a family of five, Steve was the traveling diplomat, bridging different generations and branches of the family tree. Once you were a friend of Steve, you remained so for life. Whether you met him in childhood, high school, college or the military, Steve vigilantly remembered birthdays and was at the ready to travel for a milestone event or just a good time.

He is survived by two brothers, George and his wife Anne of Portsmouth RI and Robert and his wife Patricia of Beverly; nephews and nieces, including Gordon, Grace, Cliff, Daniel, Kevin, Conor, Ian and Rosalind; and ten great-nephews and nieces. He is predeceased by his older brothers Gordon, Jr. and James.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Church 111 New Balch St, Beverly, on Wednesday, February 25, at 11 AM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours will be Wednesday morning from 9:00 - 10:30 AM prior to the Funeral Mass. Burial will be on Thursday, February 26, at 1:00 PM with Military Honors in the Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery in Winchendon, MA. In Lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to in Steve’s name to the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA. (holycross.edu) or Harborlight Community Partners, Beverly, MA. (harborlightcp.org). Information, directions, condolences at www.campbell.com.