Robert I. Murphy

Robert I. Murphy “Bob” of North Andover, Massachusetts, died peacefully on the morning of December 21, 2021, at age 86.  Beloved husband of 60 years to Geraldine “Gerry” (O’Brien) Murphy.  Loving father of Susan Lawrence and her husband William of Medford, Lisa Murphy and her husband Charles Lyons of Everett, Catherine Murphy and her wife Jennifer Leahy of Everett.  Devoted brother to Thomas Murphy and his wife Nancy of East Hampstead, New Hampshire.  Also, many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews here and in Ireland.

Bob was born in Boston on February 9, 1935, a son of the late Thomas J. Murphy and Ann (O’Neill) and was raised in Charlestown on Baldwin Street.  He grew up with his boyhood friend Huey, his brother Thomas “Joe”, and his cousins.  As a child, Bob loved swimming in the Mystic River, ice skating, and playing stickball and football.  He had a very close relationship with his Uncle Mike O’Neill who lovingly treated him like a son.  Bob attended Christopher Columbus High School in the North End and graduated in 1953.  After high school, he briefly attended Boston College before joining the army and serving honorably in South Korea.

Upon returning from South Korea, Bob attended and graduated from Bentley College and earned a degree in accounting.  In 1961, Bob met and married Geraldine O’Brien and they had three daughters.  He was an avid reader of books (partial to military history and religion), loved PBS programs, BC football, gambling in casinos, Nantasket Beach, fried clams from The Lobster Pound, a good cigar, and a cold glass of Sam Adams.  He very happily spent the last ten years of his life traveling the world with his wife, Gerry.  They visited 22 countries in ten years - Jerusalem was Bob’s favorite.  He was an animal lover (cats always chose him first and snuggled for hours) and had a voracious sweet tooth that could only be satiated by copious amounts of strawberry ice cream and hard candy. 

Most importantly, Bob was a good person with a big heart and a great father.  His family always knew that he loved them deeply and unconditionally.  His last words were, “Tell everyone that I love them.”  Bob has now passed over to a heavenly shore and he will live forever in God’s light.

I Am Standing Upon The Seashore by Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone"

Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

And that is dying...

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