Brother Thomas J. Murphy
November 6, 1928 ~ December 12, 2023
Brother Thomas J. Murphy, C.F.X., 95, died Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at the Mary Immaculate Nursing & Restorative Center in Lawrence following a period of declining heath. He had been a member of the congregation of the Brothers of Saint Francis Xavier for nearly seventy-seven years.
Born in Brooklyn, NY on November 6, 1928, he was the son of the late Thomas and Agnes (Flaherty) Murphy. He was raised and educated in Brooklyn, and following his entrance into the Xaverian Brothers, graduated from the former St. Joseph Juniorate in Peabody in 1947. He received his religious habit on August 15 of that year, taking the name Brother Gavin.
He furthered his education with a bachelor’s degree from Catholic University in 1953 and a master’s degree from Saint John’s University in NY in 1960.
Brother’s early teaching career brought him to St. Matthew High School in Brooklyn, Mt. St. Joseph High School in Baltimore, Flaget High School in Louisville, and Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Wheaton, MD. In 1974, he was assigned to Xaverian High School in his native Brooklyn where he would spend nearly a quarter century in the classroom.
At age 70, Brother Thomas left the United States for the community’s Kenya apostolates, serving as regional superior and sharing his ministry at the St. Joseph Centre in Bungoma and the Xavier Centre in Nairobi. Returning to Brooklyn in 2005, he volunteered there and in Baltimore until becoming a resident of Ryken House in Louisville in 2016 and then Xaverian House in Danvers four years ago.
In addition to his brothers in religion, he leaves a sister-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings Agnes O’Brien, Francis Murphy, and Lucille Murphy.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, December 15, 2023 at 3PM in the Chapel of Saint John’s Preparatory School, 72 Spring St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Xaverian Brothers Cemetery. Visitation will precede the funeral beginning at 2PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Brother Thomas’ memory may be made to the Xaverian Brothers Retirement Fund, 4409 Frederick Ave., Baltimore, MD 21229. Arrangements are by C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. For directions and online condolences, visit lyonsfuneral.com.
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May you rest in peace forever Brother Tom. It was a genuine pleasure working with you at Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, NY. God keep your soul in the palm of his hand.