Surprise Party for Retired Banker John Murphy

EAST GREENWICH, RI — More than 400 guests gathered on Monday, Dec. 19 at Warwick Country Club to celebrate the accomplished life and career of John Murphy.

His career spanned politics, real estate, finance, philanthropy, and banking. Most recently, he was founder and chairman of Home Loan Investment Bank.

Among family, current and former employees, and long-time friends from his childhood in the Fox Point section of Providence, Mr. Murphy was recognized by a host of notables including Lt. Governor Dan McKee; General Treasurer Seth Magaziner; Senator Sheldon Whitehouse; Congressman Jim Langevin; Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza; basketball legend Joe Hassett; former chief executive officer of Gilbane, Paul Choquette; former CEO of Cardi Construction, Steve Cardi; President of Washington Trust, Ned Handy; former CEO of Bank Rhode Island, Merrill Sherman; President and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, Neil Steinberg; former Chief of the R.I. Supreme Court Frank Williams; Supreme Court Judge Maureen McKenna Goldberg; and Chief of the Providence Police Department, Hugh Clements.

“The intention of the event was to give my father a wonderful retirement send off,” said Brian Murphy, President and Chairman, Home Loan. “We are so grateful that so many of his long-time friends, colleagues, business associates and former employees took time out of their lives to show my father how much he impacted their lives through his career in business, philanthropy and community initiatives. We are humbled by the outpouring of love and support.”

Since the 1960s, John Murphy has navigated a highly successful career in financial services, real estate, insurance, and mortgage banking. In the 1970s, Mr. Murphy founded J.M. Murphy Realty, which still owns and manages commercial properties in the Greater Providence area. He later incorporated Home Loan Investment Bank and also chartered Northern National Life Insurance Company, as well as Home Title Guaranty Company. In 1991, Mr. Murphy was named as finance industry “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Inc. Magazine.

Prior to founding Home Loan, Mr. Murphy served four terms on the Providence City Council, including serving as Council President. Over the span of 40 years, Mr. Murphy has served on numerous corporate boards, business councils and charitable organizations, including the following: chairperson of the major gifts committee of St. Joseph's Hospital, Providence, RI; the board of directors of RISE (Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education); board member and board chairperson of the Rev. E. Naomi Craig Scholarship Fund for low-income Providence youth; and the Leadership Committee for Rhode Island Hospital's construction of the Louise Wilcox ALS Neuromuscular Center.

Mr. Murphy also founded and serves as board chairperson for both the Major Jeremiah P. Murphy Scholarship Foundation, which annually awards college scholarships to the children of sworn Providence police officers, as well as the Dr. Kenneth Walker Scholarship Foundation, which offers academic scholarships for minorities from Providence, RI who attend Providence College. In addition, Mr. Murphy currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Rhode Island Foundation and the Fogarty Foundation.

Courtesy Photo Caption: Murphy Family: back row: Dan, leftmost, and Kristi Murphy, of East Greenwich; Amy and Brian Murphy with daughter, of Cowesett; Jay and Melissa Murphy, of East Greenwich; Kevin and Kate Murphy, of Cowesett; middle row: John, Amelia, Grace, Jeremiah, William, and Jack Murphy; front (seated) Mary Grace, Sam, and Katie Murphy.

Courtesy Photo Caption: U.S. Cong. James Langevin, (D-RI), left, and John Murphy