Richard A. Murphy

1944 - 2022

BORN

1944

DIED

2022

About

College of the Holy Cross

Richard Murphy Memoriam

In memory of Richard A. Murphy.

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

Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Mar. 27, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Murphy

5 Entries

Peg O´Malley McKay

July 30, 2024

Please allow me to add my condolences to you, Elaine, and to your family on your loss. I am another one of those former students whose life he touched. He was a breath of fresh air in our high school experience. I doubt there is one among us who doesn´t remember him fondly. All of us girls were so jealous of you when he announced you and he were getting married. He was part of my inspiration to become a teacher. May your precious memories bring you peace and joy.

Anil Walji

January 12, 2023

Hello Elaine,

I hope this email finds you - you may not remember me but my name is Anil and I just learned that Rich passed away on March 24, 2022. Please accept my heartfelt condolences on his passing.

Just to give you a gentle reminder, Rich hired me into the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology in 1987, a year after he took on Chairmanship of the Department. I had just arrived with my family from Kenya and was eager for work.

Rich hiring me opened the door for me to what has turned out to be an amazing academic career in Human Anatomy, Medical Education and Scientific and Clinical research. My career in academia here at the University of Alberta, for which Rich was, without question, the springboard, culminated in providing me the opportunity to become Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, Associate Chair of Anatomy and Cell Biology and ultimately Director of the Division of Anatomy in the Department of Surgery - all this was made possible because Rich believed in me when I showed up in his office as a walk-on, having just emigrated here from Kenya.

For the short time he was Chairman of the Department, Rich was my boss, my colleague, my friend and my mentor. I admired him greatly and looked up to him, and learned a great deal from him - especially about leadership in a large and complex Faculty, as well as how to become an effective teacher at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels.

I used to attend all of his lectures in gross anatomy in the Snell Auditorium and sat mesmerised watching Rich unfold his magic in front of a class of over 180 equally captivated medical and dental students! He was simply the very best at what he did, both in teaching and research, as well as in leadership!

I will miss this great man dearly. Please accept, again, my heartfelt condolences on his passing and please convey my deepest sympathies to your entire family..

I would love to hear from you whenever you are comfortable communicating, Elaine, during what must obviously be a very difficult time for you and the family.

I pray that God rest his soul in eternal peace, and grant the family courage and strength for your great loss.

Take care Elaine.

Kindest regards,

Anil

Bonita Ward

November 20, 2022

Mr Murphy was the best teacher I ever had. There are things I still remember to this day that he taught me in biology. At St Thomas Aquinas High School we all had a crush on him. He was funny witty and male. May you RIP Mr. Murphy. I will never forget you.

Maureen Atkins

July 4, 2022

Mr. Murphy was the best teacher St. Thomas Aquinas High School ever hired....not only was he a "heart throb" he brought chemistry and biology to life for all his students. There is not one of us among the 67 graduates of the Class of 1970 who could not recite to this day, that Gregor Mendel was the "father of genetics". I will never forget the time he forgot to collect all the picture money from his home room students. Sr. Evalina called him out of the classroom to scold him for the omission. The whole class heard her yelling at him even though the door was closed. When he returned to the classroom he sheepishly turned to the class and said, "Do you think she´ll call my mother?" It was hysterical. He had great rapport with each and every one of us. I can only imagine what an awesome husband, father and grandfather he must have been. In 1986 I was at the then Stop and Shop in Needham at the register. Somehow either I recognized him or he recognized me and we had a brief exchange of Mr Murphy and Miss McCarthy. I lived on Lindbergh and he lived on Lexington. Never saw Mr. Murphy again but followed the Sean Ellis exoneration in the Boston Globe. Mr. Murphy left a great legacy to so many people-his sense of humor and his ability to impart scientific knowledge to a diverse group of students was unparalleled. I am sorry for your loss. I hope in time your grief will be lessened as it is replaced by wonderful memories of a wonderful man. May he Rest In Peace having left this world a better place. With sincere sympathy to all who loved him, Maureen McCarthy Atkins

Dottie Downes Foley

April 4, 2022

Rich will always be remembered as one of my favorite childhood friends. I got to renew our friendship when we were planning our 50th High School Reunion. I send my condolences to his lovely wife Elaine and their family.

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