Thomas E. Murphy

On Sunday, January 31, 2021, Thomas E. Murphy, 79, of Beechview passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family after a long and courageous battle with cancer.  Beloved and devoted husband of 54 years to Barbara A. (Nowak) Murphy.  Loving father of Shawn P. (the late Kimberly) Murphy, Holly (J. Eric) Peters and Colleen (John) Geyer.  Proud grandfather of Jack, Shamus, Noah, Kaitlyn, Remington, Addison and Avalon.  Brother of Dennis Murphy and the late David, Patricia and James Murphy.  Son of the late Joseph and Mary “Love” (Gatens) Murphy.  Caring uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Tom was an Army veteran who worked as a union printer for the Pittsburgh Press and Post-Gazette.  He was well known and respected in the community, a regular at St. Catherine’s Church and active in his children’s activities.  Tom and Barb enjoyed long car rides, trips and eating lunch out. Tom was incredibly inspiring and had a can do anything attitude.  If you had an opportunity to converse with him, you instantly liked him.  He was a great story teller and each story had a moral or lesson to be learned from it.  Tom had a love for avian creatures and was a member of the South Hills Racing Pigeon Club.  His prize winning flock was known as Murphy, Son & Daughters.

He was the dearest husband to Barb and the most loving dad and grandfather that a kid could have.  Every day he would tell his family how much he loved them.  Tom leaves behind a legacy of positivity and the will to fight until the end as he so bravely did.  He was constantly told by the medical community that he was defying the odds and was an amazing patient.  His spirit is now soaring on eagle’s wings and like his birds will find his way home.

Tom’s family is grateful for all the love, support and prayers from family, friends and neighbors.  As well as thanking the staff at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center (Bethel Park) and Gateway Hospice.

Friends received Wednesday 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. only at BRUSCO-NAPIER FUNERAL SERVICE, LTD., 2201 Bensonia Ave., Pgh, PA 15216. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 11 a.m. in St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish—St. Catherine of Siena Church, 1810 Belasco Ave., Pgh, PA 15216. Interment private. The funeral home is following all CDC and PA State guidelines.

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