John Murphy Jr., 80; ex-judge had many roles in Winthrop

As a Winthrop town moderator, John L. Murphy Jr. was instrumental in moving the municipality forward. He helped build a new high school and expand the local hospital, those who worked closely with him said. He also was known for his integrity as a lawyer and Massachusetts Superior Court judge.

"He was always a very fair individual," said David Hubbard , who was on the Winthrop Advisory Committee when Mr. Murphy served as town moderator and sat with him on the board of trustees for Winthrop Hospital. "I found working with him to be very inspirational. He was a person that really cared and was involved in so many facets of the town."

Mr. Murphy died from a stroke Thursday at the North Shore Medical Center Union Hospital in Lynn. He was 80 .

Mr. Murphy exuded a quiet confidence, earning the respect of many, said his son Michael of Swampscott.

"He was a guy who shunned the spotlight, even though some people might try to shine it on him," his son said. "People always mention how much respect they had for my father."

Robert Crowley , a lawyer who practiced with Mr. Murphy for about 15 years, said colleagues admired Mr. Murphy's extensive knowledge of the law and the way he managed trials. "He knew how a trial should be conducted, and he handled every case the same way," Crowley said. "He was well prepared, whether it was a trial that would last a day or weeks."

Mr. Murphy was born in Arlington. He entered the Navy after graduating from Arlington High School in 1944 and served aboard the USS Attu in the Pacific during World War II. After being discharged in 1946, he joined the reserves, ultimately completing 42 years of service.

Mr. Murphy graduated from Boston College in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in economics, and from its law school in 1953 with a jurist doctorate. He worked with his father at their State Street firm, Murphy & Murphy, focusing mainly on real estate law.

During the development of the Massachusetts Turnpike, Mr. Murphy worked for the state to secure property rights and acquire houses where the roadway would be built.

He married Mary "Sis" Regan of Winthrop in 1951, and the couple had 10 children. Although he was committed to his career and his work in Winthrop, Mr. Murphy made sure he had dinner with his family every day at 6 p.m., his son said.

"It just amazed me how my dad always found the time for us," he said. "He was at dinner with us every night. He was at our sporting events. He'd be doing work around the house and showing us the best way to do chores."

Mr. Murphy spent many summers sailing with his children. He was a former commodore of the Cottage Park Yacht Club in Winthrop.

"He always knew where we were because we were usually with him sailing or, in the winters, skiing," his son said.

Appointed a Massachusetts Superior Court judge by Governor Edward J. King in 1982 , Mr. Murphy later was responsible for overseeing judicial assignments and relieving court backlog as a Suffolk County regional administrative justice.

"He loved what he did," Michael Murphy said.

When Mr. Murphy addressed the day's potential jurors, he asked who had notes from employers saying they were indispensable and could not complete jury duty. When the hands went up, Mr. Murphy told them they would not be getting out of jury duty, but they should save those notes for when it was time to ask for a raise.

Mr. Murphy also served as president of Winthrop Hospital, which closed in 1994, and as town moderator from 1967 to 1982. He was chairman of the school's building committee during the construction of Winthrop High School in 1965.

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Murphy leaves three other sons, John L. III of Winthrop; Paul T. of Marblehead; and Edmund J. of Newport Beach, Calif.; daughters Elaine K. Marks, Kathleen A. Costonis, and Ellen M., all of Winthrop; Mary M. Raymond of North Reading; Janet M. of West Peabody; and Susan J. Pronco of Wakefield; three sisters, Catherine Cullen of Belmont; Irene of Burlington; and Pauline Driscoll of Center Ossipee, N.H.; a brother, Thomas of Center Ossipee; and 18 grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. today in St. John the Evangelist Church in Winthrop. Burial will follow in Winthrop Cemetery.