Obituary of Gerard Robert Murphy

Gerard Robert Murphy, known as Rod to all his friends and family, died peacefully in his sleep Sunday, November 15, 2015 in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Born April 20, 1927 in Rahway, New Jersey to Peter J. Murphy and Kathryn (Ryan) Murphy, he attended Central High School in Newark, New Jersey. Murphy served his country faithfully and well in World War II as a Merchant Marine seaman operating in the North Atlantic and later as a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific. Murphy was in London on VE Day and off the coast of Japan on VJ Day; he also served as a radio operator at Pearl Harbor. After World War II ended, he began a lengthy career in the transportation industry by working for the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Fifty years ago Murphy came to Detroit, Michigan as a transportation and freight specialist in shipping logistics, working with the Transportation Club of Detroit to pave the way for today's supply chain management practices. Murphy is survived by his sister Joan Flaherty (Arthur) of West Orange, New Jersey and his five children: Maureen (Ivan), Rod (Kathleen), Shawn Ann (Greg), Colleen (David) and Erin (Jeff). The joys of his life were his grandchildren: Devan (LiAn), Brian (Kasia), and Shane; Cara (Giuseppe), Neil (Sorcha) and Tomas (Lauren); Dan; Brock, Benjamin; Jeffrey (Jenny), Madeline, and Hannah. His final, vivid dream included all seven of his cherished great-grandchildren: Roan, Laurel, Stanislavsky, Valentino, Angelica, Johnny, and Jessica. Murphy's wife Irene Louise (O'Connor) went before him in death on February 25, 1989. Murphy was given the gift of sobriety by the men and women of Alcoholics Anonymous and his family wishes to thank them publicly at the hour of his death. He was served graciously by Our Lady of Sorrows Parish during his last illness, and loved beyond measure by the staff at Farmington Hills Inn, his final residence. Those wishing to honor the memory of Murphy are asked to make a contribution either to the Poor Clares in Saginaw, MIchigan (St. Clare Monastery / 4875 Shattuck Road / Saginaw, MI 48603) or to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen (Development Office / 1820 Mount Elliott Street / Detroit, MI 48207).