Chief Thomas M. Murphy

Chief Thomas M. Murphy, 73, a longtime resident of Carbondale and a recent resident of Forest City, died Wednesday at the home of his daughter after a courageous battle with lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His wife, the former Helen Nolan, died in 2004. The couple were married for 43 years.

Born in Carbondale, he was the son of the late James E. and Romaine Dugan Murphy. He was a member of St. Rose of Lima Church, Carbondale. He was a 1952 graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School, Carbondale, where he was an outstanding sportsman in football and baseball. He served as a staff sergeant in the Air Force from 1953 to 1957 and was stationed at Alaskan Air Command, Fairbanks, Alaska, and with Military Air Transport Services at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Chief Murphy joined the Carbondale Police Department in 1960 as a full-time special policeman. In 1961, he was appointed to the police force as a regular officer, and in 1975, he was appointed to the rank of sergeant. In 1989, he was sworn in as chief of police for the city of Carbondale. In November 1993, he retried after serving 33 years with the department.

He was a member of American Legion Post 221, Carbondale; Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 63 and the Chief of Police Association of Lackawanna County. Chief Murphy was a lifelong member of Columbia Hose Company 5; was a third- degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 329 and the Ancient Order of Hibernians and its golf league, all of Carbondale. He was a past member of the Twilight Golf League and was a volunteer for 23 years with Catholic Social Services in Carbondale.

He was an avid New York Yankees and Notre Dame football fan. He also enjoyed doing his morning crossword puzzle. Known to many as "Pa Murphy," he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, especially his three grandchildren. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle and a friend to many. He will be greatly missed by those who knew him.

The family wishes to express its gratitude to Dr. Matthew Haley and staff, the staffs of Home Health Care Professionals and Hospice, the Forest City Nursing Center and Cottage Hose Ambulance Corps, and all family and friends for all the care and support they have given over the past two years.

Surviving are a daughter, Kathy Murphy Kernoschak and fiance, Dave Pelick, Forest City; three grandchildren, Tom Kernoschak, a student at Shippensburg University; and Brett and Alissa Pelick, both of Forest City; a brother, James E. Murphy and wife, Ann, Clinton, Md.; two sisters, Rosemarie Pryle and husband, Bill, Carbondale; and Frances McGlone and husband, John, Manassas, Va.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by a sister, Betty Ann Moran.

The funeral will be Saturday from the Brennan and Brennan Funeral Home Inc., 55 Lincoln Ave., Carbondale, with Mass at 11 a.m. in St. Rose of Lima Church, to be celebrated by Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn, pastor. Interment, Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Finch Hill.

Friends may call today, 4 to 7 p.m.