Lawrence Perry Murphy, 83, passed away in his sleep Sept. 5 at Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport. Born in Utica, N.Y. on Jan. 18, 1928, Larry was the third child of Edward and Margaret Murphy.
Larry attended Brown University and graduated from the University of Connecticut. He spent many summers throughout his college and early adult life as a camp counselor at Medomak Camp in Washington. A career educator in English and English Literature, Larry also coached football and tennis, was an athletics director and dramatics coach, teaching at the Moses Brown School in Providence, R.I., the Fay School in Southborough, Mass. and Lincoln Academy in Newcastle. His career in education spanned 38 years.
Besides his family, Larry’s loves included his church, the Universalist Church of Rockland, bird watching, canoeing, hiking, gardening, travel and watching the New England Patriots. Some of his fondest memories were numerous canoe trips with his wife on the lakes, streams and rivers of Mid-Coast Maine, his bird watching trips to Hog Island in Muscongus Bay, his home and gardens in North Waldoboro and his reconnections with students he taught and helped develop over four decades of teaching in New England.
Larry was predeceased by a brother, David Murphy, and sister, Margaret “Peggy” Coe.
Larry leaves behind his wife of 52 years, Jean Smith Murphy; son, Marshall Murphy; daughter, Pamela Wallace; grandchildren, Leslie and Elise Wallace and Emma and Elliott Murphy; and five nieces and nephews.
Service celebrating Larry’s life 11 a.m., Sat., Sept. 17 at the First Universalist Church, 345 Broadway in Rockland.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the First Universalist Church, 345 Broadway, Rockland, ME 04841 or the Humane Society of Knox County, PO Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841.
