I am going to miss Dr. Bill Murphy, four weeks ago he sounded as robust as he did 40 years ago, while still accepting that his time was limited.
Our family arrived in Germantown, Tennessee in June 1977, right next door to the Murphy's. I can't remember the details but I know we were greeted almost immediately by Bill and Judy and welcomed into the neighborhood. Bill was always the "perfect neighbor" and would do anything to help our family get settled. And when we had to leave our home three years later, it was a comfort that Bill was watching out for the house while it was rented, suffered through a broken water pipe in the winter of 1980-81, and sold in early 1981.
In the short three years as neighbors we developed a deep friendship and spent many evenings celebrating holidays and family events in the company of the Murphy's; Bill, Judy, Jamar, and Shawn. Bill was a gracious host, quite talkative, and as we learned, deeply respected in the medical community. He hosted many colleagues that visited him from time to time in Germantown.
Bill took immense pleasure in sharing stories about his travels, to learn and teach in his field. We could tell he loved his work, his travels and making contributions to colleagues and to the science.
And he was a generous and helpful neighbor, never too busy to come over and roll up his sleeves to help if I needed assistance with something.
Shawn, Jamar and families, please accept our deepest condolences and sympathy for your loss, We are saddened by your loss and sorry we cannot be there during this difficult time.
Don and Colette