"Ellen, I am sad to hear of your father's passing. I remember him quite well from Stamford and he inspired me to travel and have a business career. Victoria, I am sad for you, too. You and your mother were at my wedding in Rye NY in 1984 but you were quite young and may not remember it. I live in California now. "
In loving memory of
Thomas P. Murphy
January 6, 2009
Thomas Paul Murphy, 81, former Shenandoah resident and alumnus passed away on Tuesday, January 6, 2009, at his home in La Jolla, California following a bout with cancer.
Thomas Paul Murphy, Tom, was known for his wonderfully active, bright mind. He was intellectually adventurous, curious, and nimble. (A lifelong Republican, he voted for Obama in November.)
He hailed from a small town in Iowa, raised as the only child of a widow. He graduated high school at age 16, then went to the University of Iowa to major in journalism. While there he launched a company that printed school calendars, with ads in the margins. He sold it upon graduating, and headed to New York City to work in the advertising industry.
He later went to Harvard Business School, graduating in 1953, and soon after authoring the book "A Business of Your Own". He told his mother he wanted to know how to start a thriving business, so he figured he might as well write a book on the topic. He then immersed himself in business journalism (he covered unions as an editor for Fortune and later wrote a column on venture capital investing and entrepreneurship
for Forbes).
Some of his fondest memories were from his years working closely with the chairman of IBM Worldtrade, Arthur K. Watson. When Watson became the Ambassador to France, Tom went with him as a Deputy Chief of Mission. Not content to simply wine and dine, he took up a fight against the so-called "French Connection" whereby heroine flowed from Turkey to be processed in Marseille, France and shipped to the U.S. He knew he was making headway busting the heroine processing facilities,and hence the flow of drugs, when his Mercedes was sabotaged (twice)and his apartment ransacked (twice).
He returned to New York, where he co-founded The Venture Capital Fund of America (which to date has raised $740 million), and pioneered a form of private equity investing called secondary venture
capital. To create a networking spot for other investors, he founded the Connecticut Venture Capital Group. Other similar forums were later
created around the country.
He moved to La Jolla in 1983 and soon after devoted himself to philanthropy. He served on the board of the San Diego Foundation from 1994-2001. While there, he founded, chaired, and financially supported the Committee on Social Outcomes, which brought together experts on social issues to discuss ways of creating positive change in the
community. He was a generous donor to educational causes and sponsored several scholarships at The Bishop's School in La Jolla.
His curiosity knew no bounds. For his 81st birthday, he asked for (and received) an iPhone.
The Thomas Murphy Fund at the San Diego Foundation is dedicated to research on social change. To make a donation,the contact there is
chairman Bob Kelly, 619-814-1327. The address is 2508 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106. Checks can be made out to the Thomas Murphy Fund.
Those left to cherish his memory include his daughters, Ellen Freeman and her husband Robert of Corte Madera, California and Victoria Barret and her husband Philippe of San Francisco, California; three grandchildren, Benjamin Cortney, Claire Cortney and Evangeline Freeman; aunt, Marnie Shaum of Tarkio, Missouri; cousins, Blaine Shaum of Beverly Hills, California and Paul Shaum of New York, New York; other relatives include James P. and Marlene B. Plaster of Lakeside, AZ and Pat Ciocetti of Phoenix, AZ; many business acquaintances and a host of friends.
Tributes
"Saddened about Tom's passing. What a life he'd lived! Interesting would be an understatement.My grandmother Estelle Archie and myself saw Doris Murphy in Phoenix and she was so proud of Tom and you kids and appreciated his attentions greatly.Doris phoned grandmother and it was LOUD of course. Tom asked my mother "cousin" Louise Archie Tinley to pay tribute at his big birthday bash in LaJolla and I remember meeting Vicki then. His generosity in hosting the Iowans on his yacht was a thrill for me. He was so proud of you kids and we looked forward to his annual Christmas letter. Obama ROCKS! Tom and my late mother no doubt are up there cheering today Jan. 20 his inauguration! "
"Years ago an anual Shenandoah picnic was started by Tiz Thomas, Claire Russel and others. This continued over the years but in recent years Tom Murphy hosted a harbor cruise and catered lunch on his yatch named VICTORIA after one of his daughters. This was a delightful experience for everyone and a chance to catch up with one another and visit with Tom. We are all grateful to him for sharing his beautiful yacht with his fellow Shenandoahn's. It was good he attended the All Years reunion this past September '08. We share the sorrow of his passing with family and friends. Tom will be missed by all who knew him."