Marie Singer Murphy

MURPHY, MARIE SINGER Marie Murphy Singer, born Marie Patricia Murphy on St. Patrick's Day, 17 March 1952, died on 4 October, 2005 after a three year battle with ovarian cancer. Over the years she counseled and provided a safe haven and loving care for many friends. She was generous in both her time and energy but most of all she loved and was loved by her extended family. She grew up in Worcester, MA where her mother and brothers still live. Marie attended Our Ladies of the Angels Elementary School and St. Peter's High School. She was a graduate of The New England College in Arundel, Sussex, England with a BS in Sociology & Psychology, received her teaching credential from Pt. Loma Nazarene and her Masters in Middle School Education from SDSU. As a child she organized the Daredevils, a group of children who ran through the nearby woods performing feats of daring. Later she frightened many passengers by always putting the pedal to the metal, which induced her oldest brother to suggest that driving doesn't have to be an adventure! It seemed to have no effect. She was called Mother Marie at an early age for her sage advice and continued to counsel friends throughout her life. Her father called her "Brezzy Rezzy" for the way she entered and left a room, seemingly without a care in the world. She was a high school cheerleader and would practice the cheers with all the neighborhood children. From the age of three Marie's parents rented a cottage every August at Drake's Island, Maine. Children she met there and grew up with have remained life long friends. Marie loved the ocean and as a teenager came in third in a Maine womens surfing contest. At her college in England she helped organize rock and folk concerts and sometimes introduced the performers including BB King whose offer to party with her after the show was - regrettably - declined. Traveling was one of her many passions. In 1972 she was in Israel during the Yom Kippur War working on an independent study of kibbutz life. She traveled all over Europe, loved the Caribbean and Mexico, and sojourned to Ireland to connect with her grandparents' roots. After working in Boston for the Architect's Collaborative, she bought a car from her grandfather for one dollar and drove across the country by herself in 1975. She slept in her car instead of spending the money her father had given her for motels. Before becoming a teacher Marie worked in the business office of Scripps Hospital and was the business manager for Howard Anderson Architects in Del Mar. She had a 17 year love affair with all her students at Zamorano Fine Arts Academy in southeast San Diego. She would play classical music to sooth her students and Reggae, Folk or Rock when the occasion called for it. Marie's love of music, her love of life, her vibrant personality, her radiant smile, her easy sense of humor, and her interest in and concern for acquaintances and friends, made an indelible impression on everyone she met. She was passionate, visually aware, adventuresome, loyal, generous, caring, strong willed and fiercely independent. She was a voracious reader of newspapers and was knowledgeable about human, local and world events. Marie is survived by her mother Theresa Murphy, brothers Lawrence, William, Mark and Brian Murphy, husband David Raphael Singer, step-sons Gidon & Nathanael Singer, daughter-in-laws Christine Gage and Stacy Kramer, step-grandchildren Taylor, Corten & Elory Singer, and nephews Colin and Barrett Wilson Murphy, Curtis and Andrew Murphy, Greg Murphy, Jack and Vincent Murphy and nieces Molly Wilson Murphy, Janlyn Murphy and Nora Murphy. Donations can be made in Marie's name to: The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 14 Pennsylvania Plaza, Suite 1400, New York, New York 10122 - (800-873-9569). Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com