John Thomas Murphy Jr., D.D.S.

John Thomas Murphy, Jr., D.D.S., of Metairie, died at the age of 84 on October 3, 2022, after a long struggle with cancer. ‘Jack,’ as he was known to family and friends, was born in New Orleans. He attended St Catherine of Sienna. He was a graduate of Jesuit High School (Class ‘55) where he lettered in football and track. He was on the 1953 State Championship football team and scored the winning extra point in the championship game. He was also awarded the N.O. Quarterback Club Trophy in recognition of being the best student athlete on the 1953 team. He earned All City honors as fullback the following season.

Jack received a scholarship to Georgetown University and later graduated from Georgetown University School of Dentistry in 1962. Jack married Sondra A. Polizzi in 1957 and began a family while still in college. Following graduation, he served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force performing an Internship at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base before serving 2 years at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. In 1965 he moved his family to Metairie where he practiced family dentistry for years prior to graduating from the LSU School of Allied Health in 1991 with a degree in Medical Technology, before retiring in 2006.

Jack had a keen sense of humor, especially amused by the ironic. He enjoyed music and watching sports. In retirement he spent time birdwatching, observing the ingenuity of the squirrels as they devised new methods of robbing his bird feeder, and watching planes take off over the Lakefront.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John Thomas Murphy, Sr., and Hermine Clerc Murphy; his brother, Guy Murphy; and his grandson, Zachary Maier. John is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sondra Polizzi Murphy; his sons, Terrance Murphy (Susan) and Robert Murphy; his daughter, Kathleen Maier (Tim); his grandchildren, Danielle Hill (Ben), Grace Murphy, Jack Murphy, Kayleigh Gillies (David), and Meghan Maier; his great-grandchildren, Ivy Myren, Nico Myren, Zyleigh Myren, and Audrey Gillies; and his brother, Dennis Murphy (Connie); his sister-in-laws Grace D’Aquin and Karen Murphy; his nieces and nephews, Michael D’Aquin, Mark D’Aquin (Becky), Suzanne Pettus (Michael), Heather Murphy Jessee (Wade), Shani Murphy, Denise Mara, Patrick Murphy, and Kimberly Murphy.

The family would like to give special thanks to the physicians that cared for Jack at Ochsner Hospital and to the attendees from Notre Dame Hospice for their loving care and concern for Jack throughout his illness.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a funeral mass held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124 on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at Noon. A visitation will begin at 10:00am until Noon when mass begins. Interment will follow in Metairie Cemetery.

To view and sign the guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.