Rev. John Murphy, 87; dedicated life to giving

The large man with the big smile and sharp wit spent his life giving to others.

The Rev. John J. Murphy, who until the last year of his life delivered food and clothes to soup kitchens and homeless shelters throughout the South Shore, died of cancer March 24 at a hospital in Brockton. He was 87.

At 6-foot-4 and more than 200 pounds, the brawny priest stood out, but friends and colleagues said his spirit was even bigger.

"He was a giant of a man," said Bob Hannon, a spokesman for the Congregation of Holy Cross in Easton. "He was one of those people who could do anything."

Born in Cambridge, Father Murphy grew up in Watertown. He graduated from Boston College High School and received a degree in education from Boston College.

In 1942, he entered Our Lady of Holy Cross Seminary in Easton and was ordained in 1949. Over the next decade, the Family Rosary in Albany, N.Y., sent him to promote family prayer in Europe and Asia.

He later became the provincial steward of the Province Editor Review in Bridgeport, Conn., and Easton. Other jobs over the years included serving as director of fund-raising at Holy Cross Seminary in Easton, administrator and pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Easton, and chaplain at the Cardinal Cushing Hospital in Brockton from 1980 to 1994.

From 1995 until this year, Father Murphy held "elder status" at My Brother's Keeper ministry in Easton.

Last year, the ministry dedicated to Father Murphy a 1,500-pound sculpture of Jesus washing the feet of Peter, his apostle. The quote on the plaque describes him as: "A family priest and a true servant of god. He dedicated his life to lightening the burdens and raising the spirits of others."

James Orcutt, president of My Brother's Keeper, which provides furniture and food to needy people in about 40 towns on the South Shore, described Father Murphy as "never happier than when he had an opportunity to help somebody. His whole life was lived to help other people."

In recent years, Father Murphy joined two friends every Tuesday morning in a truck, delivering tons of food, everything from raspberries to turnips.

In an essay he wrote two years ago, which he titled "Marketing for the Lord," he described the trio making the deliveries: "The three men never know whom they are helping and those who receive the results of their labor will never know who obtained it for them. That's what Our Lord called `true Charity.' "

"He was the consummate pastor," said the Rev. John Phalen, president of the Holy Cross Family Ministries in North Easton. "Everyone looked up to him." The Rev. James Preskenis, a vicar provincial for the Holy Cross Fathers and Brothers Community Eastern Province in Bridgeport, Conn., said: "He loved people and he was at his best when he was helping others."

Father Murphy leaves nine nephews and a niece.

His funeral will be held today at 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Church in South Easton. Burial will be at Holy Cross Fathers and Brothers Community Cemetery in Easton.