BRIAN JOSEPH MURPHY
1949 - 2009
Brian Joseph Murphy was born in St. John’s Newfoundland Nov. 4th, 1949.
He thrived in the loving home of Mary and Joseph Murphy of Quidi Vidi Road,
shared with four sisters Doreen, Gwendolyn, Sheila, and Joan. From early
childhood, Brian (aka Murph) was the kid to whom everyone would gravitate.
He could bring a smile to everyone’s face, whether on the ice rink playing
hockey, serving 6am Mass as an altar boy at St. Joseph ’s across from their
home, fishing off the docks in St. John’s with his father, or playing
records with his friends. Brian attended Gonzaga H.S. but completed grade
12 at Brother Rice in order to extend his ice time. He received his BSc.
and MSc. degrees in biology from Memorial University of Newfoundland. While
at MUN, Brian became chairman of their entertainment committee. This is the
professional way of saying Brian attained a minor degree in Rock n’ Roll.
He brought bands to town including Alice Cooper, Captain Beefheart and the
Magic Band, The Strawbs and many others. Brian left the Rock, reluctantly
to start a PhD program at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver in
1975. During his time there, he spent three months in the Antarctic
gathering data which became the backbone of his career. He was granted his
first post-doctorate program at Stanford University School of Medicine and
moved to sunny California in 1980. In 1984 his second post doc. fellowship
was granted at SRI International. Brian stayed on at SRI in the lab
sciences division and dedicated his life to cancer research (and Halloween
parties). In 1997, Brian married Juli Kennedy of Redwood City to the surprise
of most of North America . Brian and Juli were blessed with a son, Quinn, in
2002 and a daughter, Hope, in 2004. Brian was a very involved Dad.
He continued to generate smiles on the faces of everyone around him only
now his days were spent balancing his research, helping at school, or growing
a beautiful garden at his home. Brian died suddenly June 22nd 2009. Although
he was taken from us too early, we know our precious Brian Joseph, Murph,
and Daddy, is now chairman of the gardens and music committees in heaven.
We love you and miss you terribly.
Services to celebrate Brian’s life will be held Wednesday, July 1 at 10:00 am at
St. Pius Church, 1100 Woodside Rd. , Redwood City . A memorial in NFLD is planned
for August 22nd. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Quinn and
Hope Murphy Trust Fund c/o Stanford Federal Credit Union, Attn: Barbara Maciel,
525 University Ave., Ste. 21, Palo Alto , CA 94301.
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