John Joseph Murphy

It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of John J. Murphy on Saturday, June 22, 2024 in Kettering, Ohio. He is survived by his wife of over 40 years, Maureen Murphy (née Cassidy); his 4 daughters: Genevieve Murphy, Kelly Marie Murphy (Neil Arsenty), Kimberly Murphy, and Colleen Murphy (Greg Tyzzer); his 3 grandchildren: Asher Tyzzer, Lydia Tyzzer, and Owen Murphy Arsenty; his brother William Murphy; his sister Nora Colangelo (née Murphy); along with many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Catherine Murphy (née Reilly) and John J. Murphy, and his sister, Patricia Hasselbacher (née Murphy).

John was born in Queens, New York on December 2, 1949, where he resided until 1987 when he, his wife, and 2 oldest daughters moved to Dayton, Ohio. He worked for EDS for over 35 years, then went on to work at the Montgomery County Board of Elections for 8 years, until he retired in 2015.

John will be remembered for his devotion to his family and community, his friendly and outgoing nature, his love of music, and his many, many hats. A proud father to 4 girls, his daughters will most fondly remember him for their weekly outings to the local library, their visits to the climbing park, his record player that spun music from Bob Dylan, John Coltrane, and the Wolfe Tones, their endless games of cards and Monopoly, rooting for the NY Mets, NY Knicks, NY Giants, and Notre Dame football together, and allowing them to bust his chops with a smile on his face.

John strongly believed that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect and was passionate about fighting to improve the lives of others. For many years, John wrote a weekly column highlighting important political issues for the Kettering Oakwood Times, served as a precinct captain for the Montgomery County Democratic Party, and chaired the South Dayton Democratic Club. He worked on numerous political campaigns for candidates who shared his values at the city, county, state, and federal levels. Whether he was collecting signatures, stuffing envelopes, delivering yard signs, or attending rallies, John showed up with enthusiasm and a willingness to lend a helping hand. The Montgomery County Democratic Party twice recognized him for his activism, once in 2011 and again in April 2024 with a lifetime achievement award.

A visitation for John will be held Monday, July 1, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Tobias Funeral Home - Far Hills Chapel, 5471 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, Ohio 45429. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, July 1, 2024 from 5:00 PM- 8:00 PM at Eudora Brewing Company, 3022 Wilmington Pike, Dayton, OH 45429.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in John’s name to St. Vincent DePaul Dayton 124 W. Apple St. Dayton, OH 45402 https://stvincentdayton.org/how-to-donate/memorial/