Thomas O. Murphy

Thomas O. Murphy, 85, of Torrington, CT, passed away Friday, January 18, 2019, at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.  He was the beloved husband of Doris (Marinelli) Murphy for 58 years.

Tom was born December 20, 1933, in Torrington, CT, the son of the late Stephen J. and Mary (Mannion) Murphy.  He served his country with the US Army.  A self-made man, Tom started his career as a draftsman and put himself through college, graduating with honors from the University of Hartford School of Engineering where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree.

Tom was a lifelong Torringtonian and was active in town.   He was a member of the Torrington Elks Lodge #372.  A lifelong communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church, he was past President of the St. Francis Home-School Association.  He was a real history buff, with encyclopedic knowledge of the US Civil War and World War II.  One of Tom’s great loves was golf.  He learned the game at age 16 and played for almost 70 years.  Many of his friends will remember the many years he dedicated to running the Quota League at the Eastwood Country Club.

Tom’s true life’s work was his family.  He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle.  In addition to his wife Doris, he is survived by two sons, Kevin S. Murphy and his wife Erica of Westfield, NJ, Timothy Murphy of Torrington; one daughter, Lynne Murphy and her husband Paul Bacon of Newton, MA; two sisters, Ann Chinatti of Torrington, Eileen Hebert and her husband Terry, of Easton, MD; three grandchildren, Julia and Owen Murphy, and Eleanor Bacon; brothers-in law James Marinelli and his wife Loretta of Torrington, Frank Marinelli and his wife Sharon of Harwinton, as well as several nieces and nephews.  Tom was predeceased by his sister Maureen Leichner and his brother-in-law John Marinelli, Jr.

Blessed with the wit of the Irish, Tom was known for his unique humor.  He will be sorely missed by his adoring family, and his many friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 28, 2019, at 12:30 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church (St. John Paul the Great  Parish), 160 Main St., Torrington, CT.  Relatives and friends are asked to meet directly at St. Francis of Assisi Church.  Burial will follow at St. Francis New Cemetery with full military honors accorded.  Calling hours will be held on Sunday, January 27, 2019, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Cook Funeral Home, 82 Litchfield St., Torrington.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60611 or to the Torrington Historical Society, (www.torringtonhistoricalsociety.org) Condolences may be sent to the Murphy family by visiting www.cookfuneralhomect.com