Alvin Murphy

Alvin L. “Al” Murphy passed away on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at the age of 77. Survived by his beloved wife, Gail Gelpi Murphy and four daughters: Angelle M. Partlow (Dave) of Issaquah, Washington, Alice M. Hatfield (Bobby) of Houston, Texas, Emily M. Brown (Jim) of Metairie and Claire Murphy-Ernst (Mike) of New Orleans. Also survived by eleven grandchildren: Nicholas, Jacob and Maggie Partlow, Robert (Emily), Grace, Celeste and Thomas Hatfield, John Paul, Andrew and Mark Brown and Max Ernst. He is also survived by two brothers: Donald L. Murphy (Glenda) of Baton Rouge, LA and Robert F. Murphy (Brenda) of Bristol, Virginia. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 49 years, Celeste Ferry Murphy, his parents, James J. and Marie Adele Perret Murphy, Sr. and by a brother, James J. Murphy, Jr.

He was a graduate of Jesuit High School (1952) and Loyola University (1956-1967). He served in the United States Army (1956-1958) achieving the rank of first lieutenant. Upon his discharge, he began his teaching career at De La Salle High School. Nine years later he became the first layman to be appointed to an administrative position in the New Orleans-Santa Fe Province schools of the Christian Brothers. In 1972 he became the Assistant Superintendent for the Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Two years later he became the Associate Superintendent. In 1983 he became the principal of Archbishop Chapelle High School and six years later he became the first president of an Archdiocesan High School in New Orleans Archdiocese. He retired in 1997. Included in his numerous awards, he was selected Educator of the Year in 1994 by the Louisiana Library Association, selected to Who’s Who in America (1993-1996), received the National Catholic Education Association President’s award for outstanding leadership in Catholic Education (1981-1997), selected to the International Who’s Who in Education (1986-1995), and under his leadership, Archbishop Chapelle High School became the only school in the Archdiocese to be named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence three times (1987, 1991, and 1996) by the United States Department of Education.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond and concelebrants Father Mark Raphael and Father Harry Buglar. at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 105 Bonnabel Blvd., Metairie on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 1:00 pm. Visitation at the church is from 11:00 am until the service. Burial service will be private for the immediate family. The family would like to give a special thank you to Guardian Angel Hospice for taking care of Al at the end of his life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Murphy’s name to the scholarship fund of Jesuit High School, 4133 Banks St., New Orleans, LA or Archbishop Chapelle High School, 8800 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, LA or De La Salle High School, 5300 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA.

To view and sign the guest book, visit www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com.