THOMAS MURPHY

I am so shocked to have just found out the news about Tom. I will always remember being together with our close circle of friends and hanging out in Tom's backyard garage. Those were the greatest of times with all our friends. I learned alot about cars for sure! We shared good times going to Fitzwillie's and cruising to Jimmies as well. I always admired Tom's perfection of computers, building his cars and even his sense of humor. I will never forget the home cooked meals his mom would make and then playing cards after in the kitchen. Those were the best of times and I will never forget the memories. Though time has passed, and on to separate ways, you will always be close in my heart, may you rest in peace, forever friends, Nancy S.

I have known Tom since we were lab partners at Michal Whalen JHS in Hamden. We shared a love of cars and spent countless nights in his garage tinkering, building or just sitting around shooting the breeze with Norm, Obie, Dave and Nancy, Dave and Jenny, Jake, and many others in a gang of gearheads that centered on Tom. I will always remember the group of us at the original Jimmies of Savin Rock the night it closed in May of 1974 with Tom and his black 32 Ford roadster. As our friend Mark once said it was our American Graffiti.
What always amazed me the most about Tom was his intellect and mechanical aptitude; he would develop an interest in something and then on his own learn all he could on the subject. Over the years besides his passion for cars, he built from scratch a computer back in the day when you couldn't buy an Apple or PC, then he decided it would be nice to build a laser to cut a hole through a 1 inch board and the move on to something else. He wanted an aquarium, but nothing that simple, so he built the reef tank which you can see on this Facebook page. His latest project; a particle accelerator with a Van de Graaff generator.
But above all he was a friend and a kind heart, through the years we might drift off and not see or talk to each other for months but when we would get back together it was like only a day had passed. We are both only children and through the years I grew to think of him as the brother I never had. In December of 1983 he was best man for Eileen and I at our wedding, and 9 years later I was proud to return the honor at his.
Over the years many of us have drifted off geography from that garage in Hamden so I ask please take a moment to pass this message on to others who Tom touched, and ask them to remember him and perhaps use this forum to post a thought, a memory or an old photo.
Murf you will be missed - Thomas Peter Murphy - March 11, 1956 to December 25, 2016.
Phil & Eileen Rapuanoyour friends, in our hearts forever

Tom was a really good guy and wonderful neighbor. May he rest in eternal peace with his mom, Rosie.

Rose Massari

To the relatives and friends of Tom,

I will always remember Tommy as the intensely bright young man that I had the pleasure of getting to know, during our years at Bankputer. I believe that everyone who got to know him him, enjoyed his company, as equally as they marveled at his talent. He will be greatly missed. May he rest in eternal peace.

You have my deepest sympathy.

To the Realives and Friends of Tom:

I'm very sorry for his loss and my sincere condolences.

I knew Tom in those hazy, mazy crazy Bankputer Days. That was an intense and fun time in our lives and I still look back fondly upon a terrific group of people that shared and cared. Tom was a brilliant young guy and one that I always expected great things from. He was bright, curious, had many interests and a very outgoing and engaging personality.

There should have been reunions along the way where we relived some of those memories...

May Tom rest in peace.

To the relatives of TOM,
Tom was my former neighbor since his childhood. Always a very nice person. We shared the liking of cars. He would stop on his way home and chat about our vehicles. He had a great mom too. I know he will be missed. May he rest in peace.
Carmen Sacchetti
South Carolina

My Dear Friend Tommy I hope you read my Christmas card and knew how often I thought of you. You have always been in my heart and I'm so sad you are gone so young. I pray you rest in peace and I know Rosie already has you in her arms. My condolences to all the family and Phil and Eileen. Living in Chicago keeps me from being there in person to say goodbye but saying goodbye is not what I want to do.
Love, Susan