Maurice J. “Bud” Murphy, 89, died peacefully in Rye, N.Y. on April 2, 2020. He lived a long and full life before succumbing to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
The son of Maurice and Irene (O’Hara) Murphy, he grew up in New York City and graduated from Regis High School in 1948. He attended the University of Notre Dame on a Naval ROTC scholarship and graduated in 1952. After serving as an officer in the United States Navy, he went on to earn a law degree from Columbia University and a Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University.
It was at Notre Dame that he met the love of his life, Irene “Bunny” Fay. They had eight children. His family was everything to him. “He served as a role model and steadying influence, passing on his love of history and music to us,” said his children.
During a long career as an international tax lawyer, Mr. Murphy worked for several major corporations before retiring from EDS in 1996. In his work he travelled around the globe, often with his wife later in his career. He so relished the intricacies of tax law that, following his retirement, he served as chairman of the Institute for Research of the Economics of Taxation for several years.
Despite a heavy travel schedule, he found time to serve on several school boards and parish councils, as well as establishing and supplying a hospital in Central America. He was a Knight of Malta.
The Murphy family is grateful to the staff at The Osborn Hope Center and The Pavilion for the care they provided to Bud and the support they provided to Irene over the last few years.
In addition to his wife Irene, Mr. Murphy is survived by his children, Mary Stenger, James (Patricia) Murphy, Eileen Murphy (Gene Whyte), Robert (Amy) Murphy, Catherine (Daryl) Salamone, and Julia Murphy; 16 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sons Michael and Quentin.
A private burial took place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in early April. A memorial Mass will be scheduled at a future date. Donations in Bud Murphy’s memory may be made to the Thomas More Society or Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
