John Patrick Murphy

I did not always agree with John, but I had the utmost respect for him and his actions. He helped me at several points when he was the chair of my division at UNT. it is sad that his lifestyle was cut short. He had so much more to contribute. I offer my condolences to his family. He is already very much much missed by his former colleagues. Best wishes to his family, Margaret Notley

I met John when he was 17 during his one year at Johns Hopkins U, when he heard me in the piano practice rooms. We had maybe a dozen piano and sax jam sessions. (I was four years older than John, but he was the far superior musician.) He returned to Baltimore a few years later as the featured player in a top-notch jazz quartet touring the East Coast. He initially seemed to me to have such an exciting life, but John hated touring because it meant time away from his family. I'm...

I grew up with John and have a lot of respect and admiration for him so it was a shock to learn of his passing from a mutual friend. I am a violinist and a lot of good memories of the music times that the gang had back then, and other things. All of the things on his message board are correct about John. It was just a few years ago when he was visiting Catonsville that we had a great visit on my porch. Same ole murph. I am very sad that he went so soon. And I hope Genene is doing well.

I am an old high school friend of John's. Other than exchanging holiday cards and one or two emails since high school, I had largely lost touch with John. That was clearly to my disadvantage. John apparently remained the same multi-talented, kind, thoughtful, hard working and beloved person he was in high school. I read his obituary with a mixture of sadness for his passing and admiration for all that he achieved in his life, not the least of which was being a great father and husband. I am...

My profound condolences to John's family and friends for their loss. His death is also a loss to his profession. I knew him as a fellow ethnomusicologist who studies Brazilian music and will miss his friendly, insightful, and collegial conversations at the professional meetings were we used to meet and reading the additional works he would no doubt have written.

My profound condolences to John's family. We had neighboring offices in Chilton Hall while we were graduate assistants at UNT during the mid '80s. I recall that everyone who knew him had profound respect for John. Years later when I came to Columbia University, I again heard of his great work and collegiality. I also researched music of Brazil and when I learned of our mutual interests, I corresponded with John in 2015. Ele foi bem simpatico pra tudo mundo. Grande abraços a familia.

So sorry to hear about John. He was part of a group of music friends at Catonsville High School. I didn´t keep up after he left Hopkins. Sounds as if his reputation for being kind and thoughtful carried on throughout his life. Condolences to his family.

John was one of the kindest, sanest people I ever knew. His view of the world was large and inclusive. I am honored to have known John along with Genene, Jack, Peter & Gillian.