John F. Murphy Sr.

LUDLOW - On Nov. 19, 2011, John Francis "Murph" Murphy Sr., age 88, passed away at his home, surrounded by family. John was genuinely part of the fabric of Ludlow, Vermont. He was born on Lamere Avenue on February 22, 1923, baptized in the Church of Annunciation and attended school there. As a young man, John worked building local roads and bridges until going to work for General Electric for 28 years. But, most famously, he served the people of Ludlow and the state of Vermont as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives for 30 years, receiving his constituents' support through 15 consecutive elections.

John had many great loves. He loved to hunt, going to his deer camp with friends and family for more than 50 years. He loved to fish, even tying his own flies. But mostly he loved his church, his community and his family.

You could say John's marriage to Florabel was a match made in heaven. He saw her in church and asked her friend, Lucille Bowker, to introduce them after second Mass. Lucille did, and that was the beginning of a love story lasting over 60 years. They were blessed with a wonderful son, John Jr.

The contributions John made to his community and the state of Vermont are almost too numerous to mention. Countless summer weekends, he could be spotted in downtown Ludlow wearing his signature paper bag chef's hat and cooking his famous barbecued chicken in support of local charities and community groups. As a founding member of the Ludlow chapter of the Knights of Columbus, John helped promote many causes and scholarships. John was instrumental in establishing Camp Plymouth State Park. Camp Plymouth, owned by the Boy Scouts since 1927, was considered prime real estate on Echo Lake in Plymouth, Vermont.

When the Scouts decided to sell the property, it could easily have been purchased for development. John was determined to preserve this beautiful and historic site for the use of all Vermonters. With the assistance of the Ottauquechee Land Trust, the property was conveyed to the state of Vermont and Camp Plymouth State Park was opened to the public in 1989. After retiring from the House of Representatives, John was appointed by the governor as a consumer advocate on the Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board; John took his role very seriously, remaining an active board member until his death at the age of 88.

When talking about John, one thing you hear over and over is that he was a good man who worked tirelessly for the average Vermonter. He was smart and kind-hearted. Even those who disagreed with him liked and respected him. Perhaps nothing illustrates that fact more than his long and cherished friendship with former Speaker of the House Ralph Wright. John butted heads with Ralph, perhaps more than anyone else in Montpelier. But Ralph had the following to say about his friend, John:

"If you asked anyone ‘Who is Mr. Labor?' the answer would be John Murphy. John literally kept the union cause alive for three decades in Vermont. He worked tirelessly for fair wages and justice for Vermont's working men and women. For more than 20 years, John was the general, in the General and Military Affairs Committee. It didn't matter who the speaker was, Democrat or Republican, Murph was the named chairman.

"No one could better read the pulse of the floor of the house than John Murphy. He understood people, their desires and their motives. That was one of the reasons he seldom lost a fight on the floor. If he sent a bill out of his committee, it most often ended up on the governor's desk.

"But John wasn't a ‘pushy politician.' He believed people had a right to different opinions and gave advice only when one was receptive to listening. His nature was to deal with people as adults and not be overbearing. Sometimes he appeared to speak in parables and often, quite some time might pass before one would realize the true meaning and wisdom of an earlier conversation.

"John had political partners everywhere. Many legislators had the political know-how to move their bill through the House, but struggled to find a partner to facilitate its passage through the Senate. Murphy was always planning ahead. When the time came for action on a bill in the Senate, he had it all wired, sometimes months earlier and often with smooth bipartisan cooperation -- other times in not so pretty a manner.

"Murph didn't drink or smoke and was early to bed and early to rise, but he was always a candidate for that person one would most like to have at dinner (or as he would say ‘supper'). Everyone liked John Murphy, friend and foe alike. Perhaps his most telling characteristic, simply put, ‘He was a good man who cared a whole lot about others less fortunate than he.'"

John was predeceased by his father and mother, Thomas Murphy and Fern (Balch) Murphy; and two brothers, Harry "Buddy" Murphy and Thomas Murphy. He is survived by his beloved wife, Florabel; son John Jr. and his wife Wanda, all of Ludlow; three sisters, Mary Kalinen of Chester, Ann Lawson of Ludlow and Helen Wheeler and her husband John of Claremont, California; a granddaughter, Angela Murphy, a grandson, John Jennings, a great-grandson, Matthew Murphy, and three great granddaughters, Kiki, Felecia and Haley Jennings.

Calling hours will be held from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22, at the Church of Annunciation Parish Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Church of Annunciation at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday the 23rd. The Rev. Romanus Igweonu, pastor, and the Rev. William Beaudin, former pastor, will concelebrate the Mass. The graveside committal service and burial will follow in the family lot in Pleasant View Cemetery in Ludlow.

The Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home of Brandon has been entrusted with the arrangements.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to one of the following: The John Murphy Memorial Fund, this fund will be used to support candidates who wish to further the cause of labor, checks should be made payable to The John Murphy Memorial Fund and mailed to Vermont Democratic Party, PO Box 1220, Montpelier, VT 05602; or Springfield Adult Day Activities Fund, 266 River St., Springfield, VT 05156.