John Thomas Murphy

Former Staten Islander, John T. Murphy, 88, of Pine Beach N. J., a career Photoengraver and lifelong Antique Restorer passed on to glory surrounded by his family at Tallwoods Care Center, Bayville, N.J. on Monday.

John was born in Grasmere, Staten Island in 1928. He was a Navy Veteran who served on the USS Douglas L. Howard DE-138 in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. John married the love of his life, Alice M. Donnelly, the girl next-door of West Raleigh Ave in West Brighton, SI, NYC in 1950. John and Alice were blessed with 6 children, 15 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. He was Photoengraver who worked for the Daily News, New York City; Intaglio Corp. of Monroe N.J.; and the Nashua Corporation of New Hampshire. John was an artisan and craftsman who loved to work with his hands and never found something broken that he didn’t want to fix. He loved to restore old antique furniture and convert ships blocks into lamps. John shared this love alongside his wife with Pastfinders, an antique consortium for over 20 years.

John’s wife, Alice M. Murphy (nee Donnelly) preceded him in death in 1997 after 47 years of marriage. John T. Murphy, Jr. his eldest son, a New York City ESO, NYPD, preceded him in 2001.

He is survived by daughter Theresa Murphy of Toms River N.J. and her son Danny Artale of Brooklyn, NYC, and her daughter Alison Rider of Woodbridge , Connecticut and one great granddaughter; by grandson John T. (JT) Murphy III of Pennsylvania, and one great granddaughter; granddaughter Katie Murphy of Staten Island, NYC; by son Michael J. Murphy, MCPO, USN (ret) of Port Hueneme, CA., his sons; Patrick Murphy and 5 great grandchildren of Rancho Cucamonga, CA.; Raymond Murphy and 3 great grandchildren of Virginia Beach, VA,; Robert Murphy and one great grandson of Camarillo, CA; and daughter Veronica Hicks and 6 great grandchildren of Port Hueneme, CA.; by daughter Veronica Murphy of Beachwood N.J. and her daughter Greta Neidhardt, of Beachwood N.J., and her son Beau Neidhardt of Philadelphia, PA.; by daughter Margaret (Peggy) Murphy of Bayville N.J. and her sons Steven Nickerson of Ocean Grove, N. J.; Michael Nickerson of Seaside Park N.J., and her daughters, Jacquelyn Nickerson of St Petersburg, FL., Samantha Nickerson of Bayville N.J., and by daughter Annmarie Murphy of Bayville, N.J. and her daughter Melanie Guest of Waretown, N.J and 2 great grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, Feb. 8, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Barnabas Church, 33 Woodland Rd., Bayville. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Manahawkin.