George A. Murphy, 1923-2015

The Hon. George A. Murphy, of Seaford, was very much like the giraffe he created for a storybook for his children. In Murphy’s story, Jimmy the giraffe — who raised telephone wires to help people during a storm — used his God-given talents to help others. Murphy, a man of vision and integrity, also used his God-given talents — keen intelligence, love of family, devoted public servant — to make a better world. On Aug. 11, Murphy died after a brief illness. He was 92.

“The giraffe is paramount to our family,” daughter Maureen Murphy said. “My father wrote many stories but this one really sticks out.” The giraffe, the tallest animal in the world, can see far and has the ability to reach things that seem unreachable to others. The giraffe also symbolizes a life that is both grounded and expansive. One could say the same of Murphy.

During his lifetime, Murphy was a New York Supreme Court justice for 19 years, a Hempstead town councilman, a New York state senator and state assemblyman. He was a founding member and past commander of the Edwin J. Welch American Legion post in Seaford and a past commander of the Nassau County American Legion. Murphy was a member of the Knights of Columbus Memorare Council, the Nassau County Bar Association, Catholic Lawyers Guild, the Elks, and Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was also a member of Nassau AHRC Advisory Committee and the Nassau Theodore Roosevelt Boy Scout Council.

But that is only part of the story — the public story. He was also a devoted husband and father of 10 children, a loving brother and a mentor to many of his children’s friends.

Murphy was born on March 16, 1923, in Brooklyn, was raised in Merrick, attended Mepham High School and lived in Freeport briefly before settling in Seaford. He went to St. John’s University and like many young men of his generation, he served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. “He is one of the few men who served in both the European and Pacific theaters,” Maureen said. “He was very proud of his service to his country, but never spoke about it. He had a strong belief in God and country,” she added. Three of Murphy’s children followed in their father’s footsteps and served in the military.

“Everyone knew him and he was well respected,” said William Harms, commander of the Seaford American Legion. “We are both former commanders of the Nassau County American Legion, and he was known by many from Nassau, Suffolk and Queens. He was a fine man. He will be sorely missed.”

After the war, Murphy went to St. John’s School of Law and in 1949 walked into a building in Manhattan where he had applied for a job as an attorney. There, at the reception desk, he met his future wife, Teresa, who was working as a legal secretary.

“My mother tells us that she went home that night and told her parents she met the man she was going to marry. It was love at first sight,” Maureen said.

They were married on July 3, 1952, and moved to Seaford where they lived for 63 years. Murphy began practicing law as a family lawyer in an office on Merrick Road, Maureen said. By 1963, Murphy had a flourishing practice and was a Town of Hempstead councilman.

“George did it all — World War II veteran, leading legislator in Hempstead and Albany, and distinguished Supreme Court justice,” said Congressman Peter King, of Seaford. “George Murphy’s death marks the end of an era in Seaford.”

“As a councilman, he fought the Public Service Authority on water rate hikes,” said Mary Schroder, Murphy’s daughter. “I recall how there was a memo pad by the telephone. We were all instructed to answer the telephone, take the name and address of anyone who called with a problem. He’d follow up. I remember him making sure each and every street was plowed during a storm. He was truly a public servant.”

Sometimes he’d take his children to a town concert where he would welcome everyone. “He’d make us sit at the back, and be quiet. ‘Know your place,’ he’d tells us,” Mary said. “He was very humble.”

In 1971, he become a state senator and a state assemblyman two years later. Then, in 1978, he was elected to the Supreme Court of Nassau County, re-elected in 1992 and retired in 1998.

“I would go to court and listen to him,” Maureen said. “He was so soft-spoken and he’d speak [to the defendants] as if speaking to us.”

Murphy was as wise as Solomon. “My Dad would sit at the head of the table and we all fought to sit next to him” Maureen recalled. “We usually had Dixie Cups for dessert but sometimes there would be a box of Ring Dings. There are 12 in a box so that meant there would be two left over. He’d say ‘think of a number’ and the one who guessed it got the [extra] Ring Ding,” Maureen said. “My sister asked if he ever cheated and he was appalled. He would never cheat.”

In retirement, Murphy loved to go on cruises with his wife, fish and spend time with family and friends. He had an artistic side besides a fine legal mind and enjoyed painting and writing. “He had a wonderful sense of humor and wrote the Family Gazette. He loved his own jokes — called them knee-slappers,” Maureen said.

“And he had a beatific smile and beautiful hazel green eyes,” added Mary. “He was always happy.”

Murphy attended daily masses at St. William the Abbot Church and on the Sunday before his death he received three blessings, Maureen said. He was surrounded by his nine children, some of their spouses and grandchildren.

“My mother was holding his hand when he died. He was ready and at peace,” Mary said.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons Michael and his wife Patti, Timothy and his wife Colette, the Hon. Terence P. and his wife Tracy, James and his wife Diane, Paul and his wife Vicky, and Christopher; daughters Mary Schroeder and her husband Richard, Dr. Maureen Murphy and her husband Albert Brandel, and Marjorie Consiglio and her husband Joseph, as well as his brother, Joseph Murphy, and 20 grandchildren, Brian, Alyson, Lindsay, Christopher, Mallory, Brendan, Sharon, Maggie, Lauren, Melissa, Patrick, Olivia, Jennifer, Matthew, Timothy, Michael, Kevin, Joseph, Mackenzie and Jack. He was predeceased by his daughter, Margaret Ann.