James P Murphy

James “Jim” Patrick Murphy, 92, of Middlesex Borough, New Jersey, passed away October 27, 2023.  Born in Long Island City, New York, Jim grew up in the Woodside section of Queens. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and later from Polytech Institute in Brooklyn with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. After serving as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, he went on to a long and successful career as a civilian engineer for the U.S. Department of Defense, specializing in communications electronics. He last worked at Picatinny Arsenal and retired after 33 years of government service.

Jim had a brilliant mind and a warm and generous heart. He was proud of his Irish heritage and fluent in Gaelic, having studied the language in both Ireland and at Brookdale Community College. He traveled to Ireland 11 times, where he still has many cousins in the County Mayo area. Jim had a beautiful voice, and enjoyed singing Irish ballads and folk songs in both English and Gaelic at Irish Festivals through the years. Jim was a member of the American Irish Association of Central New Jersey and was honored as their Irish Man of the Year in 2023. Jim was an active member of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians, American Legion, and a long-time member of Our Lady of Mount Virgin Church and choir.

Jim was a caring husband, brother, uncle, and friend, who enjoyed spending time around the table with his family and regaling them with songs and stories of Ireland, science, history, electronics and growing up in Queens. Jim was an avid reader and a Giants fan. Jim’s twinkling eyes, smile, wit and wisdom will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Son of the late Patrick and Mary Ann (nee Gibbons) Murphy; Jim was predeceased by his wife, Lois J. Murphy, his sister, Eileen Fogarty, and his brother, Thomas Murphy. Jim is survived by his sister, Mary Patricia Carey, sister Julene Giordano and her husband, Michael Giordano, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Friends may visit the family on Friday, November 3 from 4:00-7:00pm at the Sheenan Funeral Home in Dunellen. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 4 at 10:00am at Our Lady of Mt. Virgin Church in Middlesex. Entombment will follow at Holmdel Cemetery in Holmdel.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James P Murphy, please visit our floral store.