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 It is with great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our
classmate, Pat Murphy, on 24 October 2022 in Rochester, NY.
Pat is survived by his wife, Willa; their daughter Loreen; son Bryan and his
wife Patricia; granddaughters Megan and Bonnie Anderson; and grandson Sean
Murphy. He was predeceased by their son, Patrick James.
Visitation will be from 4-7 PM, November 11, 2022 at Phillips Memorial Home, 64
Andrews Street, Massena, NY 13662.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 AM, November 12, 2022 at St. Lawrence
Church, 5472 Willard Street, Louisville, NY 13662. Burial will follow in the
parish cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to Willa at 85 West Hatfield Street, Massena, NY
13662-2510.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Pat’s memory may be sent to Massena Rescue
Squad, 371 E. Orvis Street. Massena, NY 13662.
Well done, Pat. Be thou at peace.
Remembrances:
Class Memorial Pages\K-1 Pat Murphy.pdf
Obituaries:
Patrick J. Murphy, LTC US Army Retired, passed away on October 24, 2022 at
Rochester Regional Hospital, with his family by his side. Arrangements are under
the care and guidance of the Phillips Memorial Home, 64 Andrews St. Massena, NY.
Patrick was the son of Oral and Mamie Murphy and was born on June 24, 1939, and
grew up on Ames St. in Massena. He attended St. Mary’s School and graduated from
Massena High School. He was voted MVP his Jr. and Sr. year in football, track
and wrestling. Patrick was a US Military Academy graduate in 1961. While at West
Point he lettered in wrestling, the match was televised, nationwide, on Wide
World of Sports, where he secured victory over NAVY.
His roommate at West Point was George Joulwan, Four Star General and NATO Forces
Commander during The Bosnian Conflict.
George gifted Pat his book “Watchman at The Gates”, George was General Haig’s
aide at The White House during “Watergate”. The forward was written by Tom
Brokaw, “A Good read” !!
In the book, he talks of West Point and an amazing prank that Pat performed.
After graduation from West Point in June of 1961, he was commissioned a 2nd
Lieutenant in the US Army.
On July 1, 1961 Pat married Willa, wife of 61 years, after she was serving a
three year enlistment in the US Army, for the GI Bill benefits to later attend
college.
They were introduced at church, after Mass by friends in 1960. They fell in love
by phone and were married at Sacred Heart Church in Highland Falls, NY by the
late Msgr. Joseph Moody, a World War II Naval Chaplain.
Pat was first trained at Ft. Benning, GA, where he completed Ranger School and
paratroop training. While at Ft. Lewis, WA, Pat was encouraged to switch from
infantry to intelligence while serving in Germany Pat did and eventually moved
to military Intelligence.
Pat served two tours in Vietnam, several months in Cambodia with the Embassy
after a grenade was thrown into the compound, while staff was on break out
playing volleyball in the yard, killing and injuring those there. Pat was then
assigned in Turkey, to the NATO Headquarters, and later to Washington DC. Pat
never worked at the Pentagon, but performed security inspections there.
Pat retired from the Army in June of 1981. Worked for a company that enhanced
TECH security, contracting with the military and federal government. Returned to
Massena in 1986 with a business plan for bed and breakfast that would cater to
sportsmen. The property he purchased was found to be too old and not in code for
his business plan. It had a bar and rooms that could be rented long term. Two
elderly men lived there at time of purchase.
Pat became a bartender and dart player. He was encouraged to run for County
Legislator, but lost. Pat didn’t register to vote until he retired from the
Army. He believed military should be a-political. He closed the bar in 1996.
Worked with others planning and developing business in the area until serious
health issues developed. Pas was recognized as an Agent Orange Veteran.
Survived by his wife Willa of 61 years, daughter Loreen, and son Byran (Trish);
a brother Tim (Patti) Murphy, of Poughkeepsie, NY; granddaughters, Megan and
Bonnie Anderson, Charlottesville, VA, a grandson Sean Magnus Murphy, student at
Xavier College Cincinnati, OH.
Special cousins, big sister and true sister Loreen (Spaulding) School. Sisters
of Notre Dame and her brother Tom (Angie) Spaulding of Saratoga, NY. In addition
to his parents Oral and Mamie Murphy, Pat was predeceased by a brother Bill and
sister Cyndee and son Patrick J. Murphy.
Calling hours for Pat will be held on Veterans Day, November 11, 2022 at the
Phillips Memorial Home, Massena from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held 10:00 AM at St. Lawrence Church,
Louisville, NY. Burial to follow in the parish cemetery.
Donations in lieu of flowers, may be made in Pat’s memory to The Massena Rescue
Squad, they responded to Lifeline Calls for need to be lifted from the floor.
Where this time?? When they arrived at the home, bedroom, dining area, but
please not the bathroom again!! Massena Rescue Squad, 371 E. Orvis St. Massena,
NY 13662; Trinity School; 188 Main St. Massena, NY 13662, the Police Activities
League; 30 Bayley Road, Massena, NY 13662, Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club; P.O.
Box 490, Akwesasne, NY 13655.
Assembly/Taps
Memorial Article:
Patrick J. Murphy 1961
Cullum No. 23740-1961 | October
24, 2022 | Died in Rochester,
NY
Interred in St. Lawrence Church
Cemetery, Louisville, NY.
Irish eyes were smiling in Massena, NY on
June 24, 1939. It was the day that Oral and Albina’s son, Patrick
James “Pat” Murphy, was born. Pat grew up and attended high school in
Massena. He was a good student and an outstanding athlete. He was a two-time
MVP in football and undefeated in both wrestling and football. He also
competed in track and even held the record for the 440-yard dash for more
than 20 years, before the event changed to the 400-meter.
Pat was selected as a qualified alternate
and entered West Point on July 2, 1957 with the Class of 1961. After Beast
Barracks, Pat was assigned to Company K-1, described in the Howitzer as
“a new type of plebe…like the rest of ’61, but yet different; for, they were
destined to be—the happy, go-lucky gang of the ‘Kappa Uno Fraternity’” with
a motto of “…Not Obnoxiously Eager.” His Howitzer bio noted how well Pat fit
K-1. “[Pat] brought…a sparkling personality and a readiness for fun that
brightened and enlivened K Company for four years.”
Pat initially roomed with George Joulwan
and Mike Ekman. George was the Army Football Team’s center, while Mike and
Pat wrestled. Pat was known for working out in a rubber shirt in the heated
sinks to maintain his weight eligibility. He earned his numerals, and a
Major “A” on USMA’s Wrestling Team.
Cadet life is serious, but cadets are
still college kids. During Pat’s plebe year, the Corps marched to Trophy
Point, going past the horse-mounted statue of George Washington. The horse’s
red testicles stood out and became the talk of the Corps. Irate, TACs sought
the perpetrators but were unsuccessful that year, as well as during yearling
and cow years, when the prank was repeated. It was planned and executed with
op-order precision—equal to MacArthur’s hoisting the revile cannon onto the
cadet barracks’ roof. Senior year, all company commanders were notified that
a Commandant’s Board would result in confinement beyond graduation. It
wasn’t related to the prank, but it was a word to the wise. The prank didn’t
repeat.
Before Pat entered West Point, Willa G.
Davis, residing in Indiana, was joining the U.S. Army to become a dental
technician with an assignment at the United States Military Academy. Her
actions set their paths to cross in the Army hospital, where they were
introduced. They dated while Pat was a cadet.
Describing his career in the 1961 50th
Reunion Book, Pat wrote, “My story begins with my marriage to SP4 Willa
Davis on 1 July 1961. Graduation was followed by Fort Benning for Basic,
Ranger and Airborne. Then off cross-country to Fort Lewis for assignment to
E Troop 1/12/4th Infantry. James, our oldest son, was born in the Puyallup
Washington Hospital while I scrambled over Snoqualmie Pass from Yakima to
get there.”
Continuing to summarize his career, Pat
noted his return to MI branch with an assignment to Germany for
counter-intelligence service with the 7th MI Company. On the way, their
daughter, Loreen, was born. He described his duties as a stint of
interviews, surveillances, and agent meetings in small “Gasthauses.” He and
Willa also travelled Germany, buying statuettes and paintings. While there,
their second son, Bryan Kelly, was born.
In 1966, Pat was notified to be in
Vietnam on May 1. Leaving family behind, he began his first tour in Vietnam.
After Vietnam, he described a blur of assignments that included advanced
schooling; serving as a TAC in the Office of Military Instruction;
additional tours in Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangkok, an assignment in Izmir,
Turkey (a favorite assignment, along with West Point!); completion of a
master’s degree from the University of Arkansas; attendance at the Armed
Forces Staff College; and assignments to DC in the Pentagon and Arlington
Hall until he retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1981 with awards of the
Legion of Merit, three Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army
Commendation Medal, airborne wings, and the Ranger Tab.
While in DC, Pat and his brother, Tim,
also a Vietnam veteran, visited the Vietnam Memorial together. Tim captured
their visit in song, which received nationwide play. After briefly working
for a DC Beltway Corporation, Pat and family moved to Massena and bought a
hotel, bar and restaurant, which they named the “Celtic Inn.” After 10 years
of managing the inn, he became a business consultant to the Mohawk Indian
Tribe, helping them grow their construction and tobacco industries.
Pat ultimately retired with Willa at
their home located along the Raquette River in Massena, sandwiched between
the VFW and Spring’s Park. There, Pat enjoyed fishing, painting, watching
baseball, listening to concerts in the park, and writing stories. He also
hosted multiple gatherings, sharing stories and humor with friends and
family for the many years they lived there.
Some routine medical exams revealed that
Pat had been exposed to Agent Orange during his tours in Vietnam, which
created blood and heart problems that impacted his health in the later years
of his life.
Pat passed away on October 24, 2022 in
Rochester, NY and was buried in St. Lawrence Church Parish Cemetery,
Louisville, NY.
“And when our course is run, May it be
said, ‘Well Done! Be Thou at Peace!’”
—
Pat, Willa, and Bryan Murphy; George Joulwan and Bill Tyler
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