Obituary of Hubert Thomas Murphy

Hubert T. Murphy IPSWICH—Hubert Thomas Murphy, 95, died unexpectedly on Monday February 25, 2013 at Beverly Hospital. He is survived by his wife Isabelle (Richards) Pound Murphy of Ipswich, with whom he shared 10 years of marriage; by his first wife Joan (Whalen) Edwards and their three daughters, Sara J. McReynolds & her husband Larry of Beverly, Janet H. Murphy of Arlington, VA, and Lauren J. Murphy & her partner Joseph Silvestro of Waltham; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Gordon & her husband William of Irvine, CA, Andrew McReynolds of Burbank, CA, Claire Routh & her husband Robert of Washington, D.C., and Justin Silvestro of Waltham, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death his siblings Harriette Noonan of Peabody, Elinor Murphy of Sarasota, FL, Helen Daly of Hull, and William Henry Murphy of Brighton, and his niece Elinor (Noonan) Bishop of Sarasota, FL. Born in Swampscott on November 27, 1917, he was the first son of the late William Henry and Harriett (Carr) Murphy. He grew up in Swampscott then his family moved to Brighton. He graduated from Boston Latin School, Class of 1935. He then graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1939, with a degree in electrical engineering. Mr. Murphy entered the U.S. Navy during World War II. During the war he served on the USS Detroit and USS Zane in the Atlantic, and was Executive Officer of the submarine USS Greenling and Captain of the submarine USS Snapper in the Pacific. The Greenling was one of the most outstanding submarines in the Pacific area during the war, having participated in action from the Solomon Islands to the shores of the Japanese Empire. He was awarded a Bronze Star and a Gold Star in place of a second Bronze Star for his service in the Pacific. At the end of the war he brought back a captured U-Boat to the United States from England. He remained in the Navy until 1948, working at the Naval Underwater Sound Laboratory in New London, CT. He retired with rank of Captain. He moved back up to Beverly and worked in his family business, and later was President of the Carr Leather Company of Peabody & Salem. He later worked in executive positions as a Supervisor on the Polaris Missile Project. He worked with GTE on ground stations for satellite communications in South American and Africa. He retired from GTE in 1982. Hubert enjoyed winters in Pensacola, FL, was a member of the Submarine Veterans of World War II, a member of the Leather Manufacturers Association, of Salem Country Club, and enjoyed many hobbies including golf and tennis. Following cremation, relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather for a visitation on Monday March 4, 2013 from 10 – 11:30 in the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, followed by a Funeral Service at 11:30 AM in the funeral home. Urn burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Lynn.