Thomas “Tom” E. Murphy, Jr., a longtime resident of Putnam Valley, New York, passed away on March 28, 2026, following a brief illness, with his beloved family by his side.
Born in 1944 in Brooklyn, New York, Tom grew up in the Ridgewood and Glendale neighborhoods of Queens. He graduated from the prestigious Brooklyn Technical High School in 1962. During his junior year, Tom met the love of his life, Claire – a bond that would define the rest of his life. Together, they shared 58 wonderful years of marriage, building a loving home and raising their close-knit family.
A devoted family man, Tom always placed his loved ones above all else. He was a firm and guiding presence to his children – Thomas “Tommy”, Beth Ann, and Kathleen “Kat” – while also serving as their steadfast protector, confidant, and friend. Tom’s playfulness and sense of humor were never far behind; Kat fondly remembers his jokester antics.
Tom was a passionate motorcycle enthusiast and generously volunteered his time and talents at the Motorcyclepedia Museum in Newburgh, New York, where he served as the archivist of its extensive collection. He shared his love of motorcycles with Tommy and Kat, who will forever cherish the memories of rides they took together on their Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Tom proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps and continued that spirit of service for many years as a leader in the Marines’ Toys for Tots program in Westchester County, helping bring joy to countless children and families during the holiday season. Professionally, he built a successful career as a senior systems programmer with AT&T and Avon. Known for his sharp analytical mind and problem solving abilities, he carried those skills into his home workshop; Tommy fondly remembers Tom’s ability to break things down to fix them completely, always 100%.
Tom retired early to focus on what mattered most to him – his family – and treasured the time he spent helping to raise his grandchildren, who brought him immense pride and joy.
Tom was predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Dolores Murphy.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Claire Murphy; his son, Thomas E. Murphy III, and his wife, Brie V. Murphy; his daughters, Beth Ann Goodwin and Kathleen Claire Murphy; his cherished grandchildren, Troy, Brett, Thomas, and twins Aubrie and Evelyn; and his bonus granddaughter, Libbie.
He is also survived by his brother, Paul (Betsy) Murphy; his sisters, Margaret Scrobola and Alice Murphy; and his nephews, Christopher (Theresa) Murphy, Robert (Fiona Morahan) Murphy, and Adam and Michael Scrobola.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Tom’s memory to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation https://t2t.org/ or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/
