Death date: Aug 27, 2021
Dr. William M. Murphy, age 78, passed away peacefully at home in Gainesville, Florida after a prolonged battle with cancer. Born in Des Moines, IA, he was educated at Drake University and Harvard Medical School, served in the U.S. Read Obituary
My condolences to Dr Murphy’s family. I started my residency in pathology along with Denise Clark and worked closely with him and he was kind to give his knowledge to my Osteopathic College conferences in Orlando His lectures and wit were appreciated by all. He will be greatly missed
Laura Michael, DO
Bill and I shared our love and dedication to the study of genitourinary cancer. We co authored numerous articles which impacted the management of bladder and prostrate cancer. He taught me a lot about key aspects of the nuances of various subtypes of these cancers which have made me a better clinician and teacher. During my 15 years in Memphis we spoke almost daily about various cases. It is a rarity for a clinician to review the actual histology with the pathologist and incorporate that information into his/her decision making. It took a devoted friend and teacher to provide me that opportunity. He knew how much that association meant to me. Miss you, Bill.
Like George Mills, I was Bill's friend for 73 years as we grew up in Des Moines, Iowa. We went to school together, formed a bowling team, played basketball, and were constantly playing.poker I have read the other tributes and they express exactly the person and personality that I knew during my 73 years.
I will miss him. My condolences to his family.
John Knudson
Playa del Rey, CA
Condolences to Dr. Murphy's family. I first met Dr. Murphy when I was a student in the cytotechnology program at the University of TN Health Sciences Center. He was an excellent teacher. I always enjoyed seeing him through out the years at different meetings. RIP
My condolences to Dr. Murphy’s family. I was a pathology resident at the University of Florida and enjoyed working with Dr. Murphy during those years.
Condolences to the Family of Dr. Bill Murphy. We were professional colleagues and personal Friends for over forty years. He hosted myself and my wife in His home in Gainesville, and always enjoyed conversing about my radio and musical career. A true epicurean and connoisseur of the finer things of life. R.I.P. Old Buddy.
Michael J. Gourrier, MHS,MT(ASCP) C.T.(ASCP)
Richmond, VA
It is an honor to have been friends and colleagues of Dr. William Murphy for many years and Joyce and I send our deepest condolences to his family in their loss.
Bill was particularly helpful to me when I worked at St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. It was wonderful to be able to send our kidney biopsies to his magnificent laboratory at Baptist Memorial Hospital nearby. He made it so easy to submit the specimens, and his reports were outstanding and were accompanied by beautiful slides, including special stains on very thin sections from tissue embedded in plastic, together with electron micrographs, all of which gave a clear understanding of the problem and were most helpful in the management of these young patients. I shall always be most grateful.
Rest in peace
from
Bruce Webber.
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
