John Murphy Passes Away on December 12, 2019

Most loved husband of Judi (nee Anderson). Proud father of Jay, Chris, Todd, Steve, and Noel.

Born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, the youngest of eight children, John attended local schools, and graduated from Cornell University, with a major in business & economics and a minor in architecture. He was an executive at Ford, Lincoln, Stran Steel, Xerox, Blackhawk Mfg. Co., Applied Power, Rexnord, and Liturgical Publications prior to starting his own marketing firm. He specialized in marketing (not the same as sales), mergers and acquisitions, new product development, and company culture. His career took the family from Detroit to Rochester, NY, to Milwaukee, to Boston, back to Detroit, and back to Milwaukee where he started Murphy Associates.

John founded Murphy Associates, well-known regional marketing strategy and public relations firm in SE Wisconsin. Active in Sales & Marketing Executives, Independent Business Association of Wisconsin (IBAW), Cornell Club of Wisconsin, and West Allis, Wauwatosa, Waukesha Chambers, he found his cultural home at the Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce, where he was a member for 25+ years. He was a board member at Elmbrook Humane Society and Metropolitan Speakers Group as well as a chamber ambassador. John taught new business planning at the Cornell and Harvard Business Schools, and Wayne State University. He also taught marketing, product planning, and business planning at Marquette University, UW-Milwaukee, Cardinal Stritch, MSOE, and WCTC. He considered teaching a privilege.

Making furniture was a passion. Specializing in mahogany and walnut woods, John designed and made most of the furniture in his and Judi’s homes. From dining room and kitchen tables, sideboards, lowboys, the living room desk (the top of which was made from his own father's desk top), knife boxes, bookcases, coffee tables, Judi's personal desk (a wedding present), the living room bar, to a four-poster bed, his talent and quality were exceptional. He also designed the homes they built in Boston & Brookfield, and remodeled their home in Whitefish Bay, where they first lived when they returned to Milwaukee.

John is survived by his wife and best-ever friend, Judi, and his sons Noel, Steve, and Todd, nieces and nephews, and many good friends of long-standing. He was preceded in death by sons Jay and Chris, his parents, and his seven brothers and sisters.

As generous as he was in life, John selflessly donated his body to the Medical College of Wisconsin for research. Although the last eighteen years of his life were filled with serious and complex medical issues, he never complained. At John’s request, there will be no funeral or memorial service.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Ascension at Home Hospice and Warren RN, Lisa CNA, Heidi MSW, and Michelle RN, who lovingly and gently cared for John, and Judi. Lisa CNA became like a family member.

Honoring John's wishes, in place of flowers or anything else, a memorial fund is being established in John’s memory to provide pro bono marketing services to fledgling entrepreneurs, whom he loved. Checks may be made payable to Judi with memo line “Help Them Fly.” Small and not-so-small contributions are welcome. He cared about small business people just as he cared about all of us. This is the best way to remember John.