George Scott Murphy |
| Posted 2009-09-02 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Monday, August 31, 2009 George Scott Murphy Jr., 74, died at Prescott, Ariz. on Aug. 29, 2009. Born to George Scott Murphy and Helen Parkins Murphy on Nov. 11, 1934 in Minneapolis, Minn. and raised in Wausau, Wis. He was the oldest of their three sons. George was co-valedictorian of the Wausau, Wis. High School class of 1952 and went on to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, to receive a BS Degree in government and a Master's Degree in counseling. In 1955, he married his high school and university debate team partner, Beverly Ann Sternberg and as he continued graduate school studies at UW, they lived in Columbus, Wis., where Beverly taught speech and English at Columbus High School. During those years, George served as student body president at UW. In 1958, after returning from six months active duty in the Army in Augusta, Ga., followed by eight years reserve duty after which he was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain, he and Beverly moved to Madison where he served as Assistant to the Dean of Men at UW. In 1963, George accepted a position as Associate Dean of Students at the University of California, Berkeley, only in time to become enmeshed in the University Administration's efforts to deal with the years of student unrest in the 1960s and 70s. His patience and expertise in dealing with students was recognized by U.C., which brought hi to the La Jolla campus (U.C., San Diego) in 1966 as Dean of Student Affairs. In 1969, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs as well as Dean. George served in academia until 1978 when he entered the business world as Corporate Director of Employee Relations for Cubic Corporation in San Diego. In 1983, he became Chairman and CEO of CCN (Community Care Network) to help control skyrocketing costs of healthcare for major corporations in San Diego. He, his board and four partners developed the not-for-profit company that succeeded in its mission in the mid 1980s. When the company was sold in 1993, a small subsidiary developed by the partners outside of the San Diego area was also sold and George retired, not only from CCN, but also from the CCN foundation called the San Diego Alliance for Healthcare, which he served as president. His hard work in CCN had culminated as his greatest satisfaction and source of pride in his lifetime of accomplishments, healthcare for the underserved in the San Diego area. During George's high profile career, students knew him as the man whose door was always open to them as was his heart always open to people in need. George is survived by his wife, Beverly; two daughters, Catherine Chiarelli of Prescott and Ann Murphy Amsler of Alta Vista, Calif.; three grandchildren, Emily and George Scott Chiarelli and Robin Murphy Kellogg; and his youngest brother, John Murphy of La Jolla, Calif. After retiring, he and his wife, Beverly, traveled extensively, mostly in Europe. In their travels, he was most touched by a young woman greeting him at the door at Adaire Manor in Ireland who said, "Welcome home, Mr. Murphy." They built their retirement home in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. in 2000. In 2004, they remodeled a mountain condo in Prescott, Ariz. for their summer residence, fell in love with the city and in July 2005, moved permanently to a new home in Prescott. Heritage Mortuary of Prescott made cremation arrangements. A private celebration of George's life with family and friends will be announced at a later date. His ashes will be scattered over the mountains in Prescott. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that trees and perennials be planted in George's memory at a park which was part of his childhood memories. Donations may be sent to River Edge Trail, 212 River Drive, Suite 2, Wausau, WI 54403-5476, c/o William Duncanson. Support of the park maintenance is an affirmation of George's life of giving and his generosity of spirit. Even with all the love and care he showed to his family, Beverly, his wife of 53 years, daughters, Catherine (Kelly) and Ann and his three grandchildren, Emily, Scott and Robin, he always had room in his heart to serve others. So many young people in his life came to visit and say thank you in his last days. George's life indeed came full circle at the age of 74 when he died in the arms of his first grandchild, Emily Ann Chiarelli, RN, whom he held in his arms when she was two hours old. Many people who have love and admired him can hear the echoes, "Welcome Home, Dean Murphy." Information provided by survivors. |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
Questions About This Project?