Kenneth "Murph" Murphy

On December 30th, 2022, Kenneth H. Murphy, of Reading, passed away after a brief illness.  He was 76 years old.  Ken is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Patricia (OIiver) Murphy, his son, Craig Murphy and his wife, Mandy, of Lynn, and his daughter, Corin Gigler and her husband, Allen, of Reading.   Ken cherished his role of Grandpa to his two grandsons, Cameron and Wyatt Gigler.

Born in Chelsea to James and Eleanor Regis Murphy, Ken, also known as “Murf,” graduated from Chelsea High School where he excelled in baseball and basketball.  He played in the Chelsea Fast Pitch Softball League from high school through the late 1970’s.  Ken was a Counter-Intelligence Agent in the U.S. Army from 1968-1971, and subsequently worked for the Board of Health in Chelsea.  Ken graduated from the University of Utah with a B.S. in Sociology in 1979. 

Ken was a charter member of the Winnisimmet Club in Chelsea and participated in the many charitable events they sponsored.  Ken was proud to be a mail carrier for the town of Melrose for over 30 years as well as working at the Soldiers Home in Chelsea after his retirement.   He also enjoyed coaching the Chelsea Girls Varsity Basketball team.  He was an avid fan of all Boston sports teams, especially the Celtics and Red Sox. He especially enjoyed supporting his children at all their sporting events such as watching Craig wrestle and Corin play basketball.  Later in life, he never missed Cameron play soccer or one of Wyatt’s baseball games.

Ken is also survived by his sister-in-law, Elaine Cacciapuoti and her husband, Domenic, his niece, Debra Cacciapuoti and nephew, Domenic Cacciapuoti Jr.  He will be missed by best friends, Bob and Linda Gallant of CA as well as many childhood and longtime friends. 

Family and friends are cordially invited to visitation at the Cota Funeral Home, 335 Park St., North Reading, (Corner of Park St. and Rt. 28 at the Reading Line) on Friday, January 6th, 2023 from 10am to 11am.

A Memorial Service will be celebrated immediately following the visitation at the funeral home at 11:00am.

Burial will take place in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody with Military Honors.  

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ken’s memory to The Jimmy Fund at danafarber.jimmyfund.org  or the American Cancer Society at donate3cancr.org.

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