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Celebrating the life of
Bernard Joseph Murphy, Jr.
May 04, 1939 - October 27, 2021
To view a livestream of the Mass, please click the link below.
gather.app/remember/bernard-ed-murphy-jr
Bernard J. Murphy, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, with his wife and daughter at his side.
Bernard was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on May 4, 1939, the only son of Bernard and Ellie Jane (McGuinness) Murphy. He attended St. Mary’s Grammar School and High School, where he excelled in sports. After graduation he attended Stone Business College for one semester before joining the army in the fall of 1958. He served with the 24th Engineers out of Furth Bay, Germany for two years, receiving an honorable discharge in December of 1961, in order to join the Eastern Province Dominicans as a religious brother the following fall.
As Brother Edmund Murphy, O.P., he served God’s people first at the House of Studies in Washington, D.C. where he continued his theological and art studies at Catholic University and the Corcoran School of the Arts. During his 18 years of religious life, he was a member of the vocation team out of St. Vincent’s Priory in New York City, Director of the Saint Joseph residence Center at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and part of the retreat team at St. Stephen’s Priory in Dover, Massachusetts. His final assignment was in Nashville, TN, where he was Director of Dismas House, a transitional home for ex-offenders.
In the spring of 1978, Bernard was dispensed from his vows as a Dominican brother but continued to serve people. He started working with the Boys Club in Nashville in the spring of 1979. This led to an opening with the Boys Club of Greater New Orleans. The summer of 1980, found him working as the Unit Director of the Boys Club in Slidell, LA. During his tenure as unit director, working with local government officials and business leaders, he moved the club’s operations out of what was once a Boy Scout meeting lodge to a new facility on donated land in Possum Hollow Park. Upon completion of this project, he focused his attention on the development of new club locations on the Northshore area around Lake Ponchartrain, ending his career as, what was now the Boys and Girls club of New Orleans, Director of Development.
Bernard, his wife Katie, and daughter, Cristin made their home on a 17-acre farm in Poplarville, MS. He was an active member of Saint Joseph Parish where he served as an usher and Eucharistic minister. In September of 2017 he and Katie relocated to Savannah, GA to be close to their daughter and her family.
Bernard cared for people, especially those in need. He loved music, playing his guitar, theatre, reading and Irish poetry. When asked why he put so much of himself into everything he did, he responded, “I always try to leave a place better than I found it.”
In addition to his wife Katie, who only called him Ed, Bernard leaves behind his daughter, Cristin Margerison (Johnnie) of Savannah; grandchildren Mia, Max, and Alexa; sister, Catherine Rose Daly of Cheshire, CT; nieces, a nephew, and numerous cousins.
A Mass will be celebrated at Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic Church on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you consider a donation in Bernard’s memory to one of his favorite charities: the St. Joseph’s Indian School, P.O. Box 300, Chamberlain, SD 57325-9919, the Nature Conservancy, or the Arbor Foundation.
Our sincere condolences to Cathy and family for the loss of a man who lived a full and giving life.
- Bob & Maureen Preuss, Cheshire, Ct
We express our condolences to Katie, Christin and the family members for the loss of Bernard. A great and loving man. Love, Rita, Miguel and Miguel James Corzo
- The Corzo Family, Hamden, CT
A candle has been lit!
May you find comfort Catherine Daly in the light of the Lord. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Rita Corzo
- Rita Corzo , Hamden, Ct
Mr. Ed was one of the kindest people I know. His love and excitement for the small things inspired me to always live life to the fullest! Along with many of our STJ family, he was one of my many “parents” growing up! I will miss the joy in his laughter and all of the “tidbits of advice on life” he would frequently give me! I’m so sorry Mrs. Katie and Cristin (and family). I know you will all miss him terribly. I know you will find comfort and joy in the ways he will always be with you and the reminders that will show up…I pray he and Dad are rejoicing together and will continue to watch over us! Love you all so much!
- Jill Munsch, Bush, LA
Ed was a good religious man, husband and father.
- Theodore H. George, Sr., OP, New Orleans, Louisiana
I'm so late to this, and for that I apologize. I grew up at Slidell Boys Club in the '80s. Best birthday gift my parents ever gave me. I left the area immediately after high school, but I have fond memories of Murph, as we called him, and I remember his daughter at the club when it was in that old rickety building before relocating. Looking back, I'm not sure how he did it. There were lots of kids and when I got high school age I still was an active member. That club was my home when my parents were working and not home yet. I did my homework there, played games, took trips to places like Chattanooga, Tenn., and there's a distinct difference in friends who stuck with that club and others who strayed and ended up in trouble trying to be grown before they were ready. Murph always welcomed me. Always talked with me. I never knew about his background and reading this obit is full of thing I didn't know. I was too young to ask them. Didn't appreciate him enough. I wish I could've seen him one last time while he was living to tell him, "You did great. I wish we could've given you what you gave us." Such a good, patient and kind man. Condolences all.
- J. Michael Whitehead, Sarasota, FL
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Islands Chapel
912-898-0900
- Memorial Funeral Mass
- 11:00 a.m. on Sat, December 11, 2021
- St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church
-
7020 Concord Road (map)
SAVANNAH GA 31410 - 912-897-5156