MURPHY JR, LEO C., 84, of 91 Haverhill Avenue, Wickford, RI 02852 died June 25, 2008 at South County Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Madeline (Silva) Murphy for 59 years. Born in Pawtucket, RI, son of the late Leo C. & Margaret (Mueller) Murphy Sr. He was the devoted father of Leo C. III & his wife Marianita of Warwick, Kevin I. & his wife Martha, of Narragansett, Bradford J. & his wife Rose, of Dublin, OH, Karen D., of Canton, MA and Justin I. C. & his wife Jennifer, of Menlo Park, CA. He was the loving grandfather of Melissa, Patrick, Leonita, Justina, Anthony, Dylan, Teagan, Lisa Lewis, Charli Moore, Irene Moore and three great-grandchildren. He leaves one sister, Lorraine Purnell of Salem, OR.
He was a graduate of Saint Augustine High School, San Diego, CA class of 1942. He entered the Coast Guard in 1942 and became a Naval Officer and Aviator during World War II, flying assignments with antisubmarine bomber squadrons. He served from 1942 to 1950 in active duty and then on reserve until 1958.
His strong desire for knowledge led him to a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College, a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University, and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Rhode Island.
He worked in the computer industry for 20 years, spending time internationally. He was a founding member of the Rhode Island Lobstermen's Association and owned and fished on the Lucy & Margaret. He then went into teaching in higher education, working at Castleton State College in Vermont, Salve Regina University, University of Rhode Island, Saint Mary's College in California, and Providence College.
His funeral was held in St. Andrew Church on Block Island and he was laid to rest in the Island Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to either the Ellen Ball O'Brien Scholarship Fund, c/o the Block Island School, PO Box 1890, Block Island, RI 02807 or the Kristian Plymesser Scholarship Fund, c/o Lori Fuka, Washington Trust Bank, Narragansett, RI 02882.