George F. Murphy, Sr.

George F. Murphy, Sr.--83, long-time resident of Somerville and Gardner and lately of Chicago passed away peacefully in Chicago on March 3, 2013 after a long illness.

George was born in Somerville in 1929, son of the late Daniel C. and Anna (Kelleher) Murphy. George was one of four children and is survived by his sisters Rosemary (Murphy) Gannon and Cornelia Wyldestarr. He was preceded in death by his brother Daniel. On May 7, 196O, he married the late Mary Ellen (Sliney) Murphy at St. Clement Church in Somerville.

George graduated from St. Clement High School in 1948. During high school, George worked for the Boston Red Sox and Braves as an usher and rose to Assistant to the Traveling Secretary for the Red Sox. He remained a passionate lifelong Red Sox fan. He left the Red Sox to serve in the Navy during the Korean conflict and attended Northeastern University on the GI Bill. Upon graduation, George worked as a manager for GTE Sylvania. He left industry and joined the Business Department at Mount Wachusett Community College and served on the faculty from the mid 1960's into the 1970's. He left the Mount to join the faculty at Fitchburg State College where he founded and chaired the Business Administration Department for most of the next 20 years. George retired in 1997. He was an active member of Sacred Heart Parish in Gardner for over 35 years and served on advisory boards within the parish and the Worcester Diocese. George loved nature, travel and history and combined those interests in epic family camping trips in the '70's and '80's. George was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

He is survived by sons George "Geof' of Plattsburgh, NY; Michael (Barbara Tsantinis) of Worcester, MA; and Patrick (Elizabeth Durkin) of Chicago, IL; daughters Marybeth Hay (Craig) of Whitinsville, MA; and Moira Dargis (Ryan) of Chicago, IL. He was the loving grandfather to Conor, Eoin, Sheila, Jonas, Oscar, Ellen, Anna, Amelia and Brigitta. He leaves many nieces and nephews and countless friends.

The funeral procession will be held from George L. Doherty Funeral Home, 855 Broadway in Somerville Monday morning, March 11, 2013, at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Clement Church, 71 Warner Street, Medford at 10 o'clock. Relatives and friends are invited. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, March 10, from 2-6 p.m. Interment will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in George's memory to any of the following: Rainbow Hospice Ark, 1601 N. Western Avenue, Park Ridge IL 60058; One Million Trees in One Day, INFF, Manch Estate, Ballineen, Cork, Republic of Ireland; The Mary Ellen Murphy Fund c/o The Skin Cancer Foundation, 149 Madison Avenue, Suite 901 New York, New York 10016.