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Cecil J. Murphy

FUNERAL HOME

Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries

5100 Pontchartrain Blvd.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Cecil Murphy Obituary

MURPHY Cecil J. Murphy Jr., Sergeant Major of Marines, USMC (Retired) died Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at Touro Infirmary. He was 82 years of age. Sgt. Major Murphy was born in New Orleans. He graduated from Jesuit High School, and received a bachelor's degree in political administration from Upper Iowa University. He retired from the Marine Corps after serving 31 years and is a veteran of Korea and Vietnam. He had served 24 years with the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana as a Deputy Clerk. He received commendation for valor from Korea and Vietnam along with the Korean medal w/3 campaign stars, the Vietnam medal w/6 campaign stars and 13 other medals and awards. He was bestowed with the Order of the Rising Sun Gold & Silver Rays by the Emperor of Japan in 2009. He was a LIFE MEMBER of the Marine Corps Association, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Marine Division Associations, American Legion Post, Okinawa, VFW Post 8973. He was a member of Marine Corps League, Fleet Reserve Association, Secretary St. Alphonsus Pastoral council, Past President St. Alphonsus Credit Union, A member of Men of Manresa (Jesuit), Ancient Order of Hiberians, St. Pat's Irish Channel March Club, Past Secretary Asian Pacific American Society, Past President Japan Club of New Orleans, Past President Kokusai International Toastmasters. Beloved husband of Kiku Murphy. Father of Patrick J. Murphy. Father in law of Sayuri. Son of the late Cecil J. Murphy Sr. and Barbara Lillian Curry Murphy. Brother of Bernadette Murphy, Patricia Garvey, James G. Murphy, William J.N. Murphy and the late Barbara Rizzo, Marie Nelson and Kathleen I. Garvey. Grandfather of Patrick Ryuma and Michael Ryusei. Relatives and friend of the family also parishioners of St. Alphonsus Parish, members of U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, Men of Manresa (Jesuit), Blue Jay Alumni, Fleet Reserve Association, American Legion, and VFW Post 8973. The Paul E. Boyd Marine Corps League, Asian Pacific American Society, Japan Club of New Orleans, Ancient Order of Hiberians, and St. Pat's Irish Channel Marching Club are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial in the Chapel of LAKE LAWN METAIRIE FUNERAL HOME, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum. To view and sign the family guestbook, please visit lakelawnmetairie.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Times-Picayune from Sep. 28 to Sep. 29, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Cecil Murphy

18 Entries

Lance Harwell

September 22, 2021

Never forgotten

Michael Dunn

October 2, 2013

What a good man!
Our hearts are with you.

Archie Keyser

October 2, 2013

To Know him was to love him. Cecil will be missed by many. Our condolences to the Murphy family. In loving memory.

Archie, Sanae, Kaori, and Hana Keyser

Hiroko Kusuda

October 2, 2013

Please accept my deepest sympathies. Cecil was my dear friend and I miss him dearly.

Kathleen OBrien

October 1, 2013

To: Kay, Patrick and Family
CJ always had a smile and something kind to say to everyone he met. Such a lovely man. May he rest in peace.

Patsy and Kathleen O'Brien
(Teddy's Family)

Janice Judy

October 1, 2013

Old Soldiers never die, they just fade away. God Speed.

sofjan lamid

September 30, 2013

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

CAPT Mike Turner, SC, USN (Ret)

September 30, 2013

It was real pleasure to know SGM Murphy and to see the huge contribution he made to Japanese/American relation through the number of groups he worked with. He will be missed by us...

Joe Kaiser

September 30, 2013

I remember CJ with fondest of memories as a fellow classmate Jesuit '49. There was always a smile and a kind word. He will be fondly remember and greatly missed.

James Murphy

September 30, 2013

Wow! What a life, what a man. They don't make them like that anymore. Special condolences to cousin Pat and aunt Kay from the Murphy's (James, Judy, Marie and Matthew).

Cecil and Kiku at the NO Bar Assoc. Liberty Award ceremony.

Lance Harwell

September 30, 2013

When we think of a U.S. Marine, a sergeant-major and a drill sergeant, it conjures a certain image in your mind, doesn't it? High and tight, squared away and no-nonsense. Well, Sergeant Major Murphy was all of that. But there was far more to him than that. I knew him a quiet, determined man, with no interest in the spotlight, but with a great interest in helping his fellow man.

He was at once John Wayne and Mother Theresa. John Wayne because he was a man's man, Mother Theresa because he believed in selfless, anonymous service.

He was at once both Mahatma Ghandi and Ronald Reagan. He was at the same time contemplative and sensitive and a hard driving patriot. He was a man who lived his principles every day.

But what many do not realize is the debt that everyone in the local Asian-American community owes to Cecil. He was very clearly a supporter and booster of the Japan Club and the Japan Society. He was very outwardly a friend and supporter of the Vietnamese community. But many of the other local communities do not realize the work that Mr. Murphy did for them behind the scenes. He was integral to the continued existence of the Asian/Pacific American Society (APAS). Without Cecil, there would be no APAS. He believed in and worked toward a single unified voice for Asian-Americans in New Orleans.

Cecil's gift to us is what he left behind - the lesson's we learned from him and the gifts he gave us. Everyone who reads this probably has a gift or two that Cecil left with us. For me, it was the lessons he taught me:

Lesson 1: Unwavering discipline. Focus gets the job done.
Lesson 2: A smile goes further than a shout
Lesson 3: (And this is the big one) How to love – with actions, not with words.

Cecil showed his love to you in the way he treated you and in his daily devotion and service to you. Not in his words, but in his deeds. What a great gift.

We love and miss you, Cecil.

Ramona Ramos

September 29, 2013

I will always be grateful that Cecil was my secretary, and that he served so may, before and after me. He was truly the back bone for APAS. I will always remember those Irish eyes that were always smiling. My heart goes out to his family. Kiku, Cecil is in my prayers, and you and your son. I will always will remember him. Take some comfort knowing he was loved by many!

Stanley Hamidjaja

September 29, 2013

We will miss you tremendously. Your contribution to the existence and survival of ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN SOCIETY (APAS) is above and beyond any measure any person can make. You were the pillars of APAS for so many years. You were the glue that bound so many Asian communities together. You were also the example for all of us to follow. You left a legacy of kindness, caring and joy to those who knows you and loves you. May you rest in peace.

George Hindes

September 29, 2013

Cecil - Will miss your big smile as Ray and I picked you up each Thursday for our weekly coffee at the Morning Call. From one Sgt Major to another God Bless and Semper Fi. You will be missed.

September 29, 2013

Your smiles and your hugs will be greatly missed. Tina Owen & family

francis comeaux

September 29, 2013

A great great soldier for all societies!
From BonJour Video Productions...

John Judy

September 29, 2013

We will miss you, rest in peace, and know you were one of the best men ever to serve God and country. It was an honor to serve with you.

Daniel Manning

September 28, 2013

We are tremendously saddened by the news of CJ's passing, he is in our prayers and will always be remembered as a class act, caring and compassionate man. Rest in peace CJ.

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