Shrewsbury – Daniel O. Murphy, a longtime Shrewsbury resident, passed away Friday, Feb. 7, 214 at the Vibra Hospital in Leicester with his family by his side. He was 90.
On Feb. 23, 1923, Daniel was born in Manchester, N.H., one of nine children to William F. and Adora (Svenson) Murphy. He grew up in Holden and was a graduate of Holden High School, class of 1941. He went on to study engineering at both Worcester State College and Northeastern University. He and his late wife were residents of Shrewsbury since 1953 and spent winters at their home in Punta Gorda, Fla.
Having lost his father at an early age, Daniel and his siblings worked to help their mother establish and operate The Adora Restaurant in Northborough for many years. This experience, along with many others, helped him become the hardworking and charitable man he was known to be.
He was a machinist who worked for both Olson Manufacturing and Jamesbury Corp. before starting his own business, Newton Manufacturing, which he and his wife operated up until the late 1980s. While working at Olson, Daniel met the love of his life, the late Dorothy (St. Francis) Murphy, whom he married in 1951. They enjoyed 49 years together. They enjoyed traveling to their winter home for many years, as well as camping with family at Horseneck Beach, Westport.
Outside of work, He was an avid golfer and even has a hole-in-one as one of his cherished moments on the course. When not on the course, he enjoyed anything outdoors, but mostly hunting, gardening and fishing at his home on Newton Pond in Shrewsbury. He was a member of the First Congregational Church.
In heaven, Daniel joins his wife, Dorothy, who died in 1999; his parents, William and Adora; brothers William, Floyd, and Bruce Murphy; sisters Gloria Hill and Nancy Maplebeck; and a daughter-in-law, Susan Murphy. He leaves his children, Daniel W. Murphy of Worcester, Richard G. Murphy and his wife Dianne of Oxford, and Cynthia J. Murphy of Shrewsbury and her soulmate John K. Gonsalves; a brother Robert Murphy and his wife Linda of Northborough; two sisters, Adora Jeanotte and her husband Warren of Shrewsbury and Fay Kelley of Northborough; seven grandchildren, who affectionately called him Grandfather, Michael Pannone and his wife Veronica, Eric Pannone, Daniel Murphy and his wife Erica, and Kathryn, Mark, Kyle and Ryan Murphy; a great-granddaughter, Ella Murphy; and many nieces and nephews. He will also be missed by his two very dear pets, his dog Daphne and cat Sunshine.
Family and friends will honor and remember Daniel's life by gathering for calling hours Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 5 – 8 p.m., at Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors – The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury, and again Thursday, Feb. 13, where his funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Reverend Lynne Dolan will officiate. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery.
Honor Daniel's memory with a contribution to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016.
