Eugene Thomas Murphy

                                                                      Eugene Thomas Murphy

                                                                         "Grandpa/Genepa"

Gene Murphy passed away unexpectedly on Labor Day, September 7, 2026. He was born to Olga (Dabkoski) and Lawrence Murphy on March 24, 1938, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Gene and his older brother Larry were raised mainly by their Aunt Anne and Uncle Gene.

After graduating from high school in 1956, Gene wanted to be an engineer but could not afford college, so he went to work for the telephone company in New York. He told stories about launching giant paper airplanes from the phone company’s high-rise building. In 1960, Gene and two friends drove across the country to California where they worked in Yosemite National Park for the summer. Yosemite always held a special place in Gene’s heart. Gene returned home to work for IBM installing and repairing their punch card systems. He then returned to California to attend Fresno State College, originally to get an engineering degree, but switched, earning a B.S. in Mass Communications/Radio and Television. He also studied Theatre. There he met his first wife, Sharil (Martin), a student working in the college communication office. They married and started a family and had son Chris and daughter Shonna.

The family moved to San Francisco, where Gene installed and serviced X-ray equipment by day and sold Fuller Brush products at night. They returned to Fresno State to finish their bachelor’s degrees, both finishing in 1966. In 1967, they moved to Detroit where Gene took a job at Wayne State University producing and directing instructional video tapes. Next, Gene was hired by Kliegl Lighting, selling lighting systems, and the family moved to New Jersey, then back to San Francisco, where Gene helped open Kliegl’s west coast office. He sold the first major touring rig to Creedence Clearwater Revival after meeting the band and their manager at a warehouse in Oakland. He joined Colortran in 1971, moving the family to the Los Angeles area. Each new job brought Gene additional experience and expertise in the lighting industry. 

Sharil and Gene divorced in 1976, and Gene married his second wife, Frances (Gryczan), in 1978. They moved to Florida where Gene began working for Nautilus Sports Medicine designing and constructing its TV/motion picture studios to produce video tapes for Nautilus fitness equipment. He also led the introduction of Nautilus’ home exercise equipment line. 

In 1979, Murphy Lighting was born in Central Florida, when it became the representative for Television in Florida for Strand Lighting. Gene was the lighting supplier for CNN and was in the studio with Ted Turner when the network signed on for the first time in 1980. The territory later expanded to the Southeastern US and Caribbean and included Theatre and Architectural lighting. Sales were so good that Strand hired Gene to be their Vice-President of Sales and Marketing. Gene returned to take the reins at Murphy Lighting in 1985. In 1995, Murphy Lighting became one of the first true systems integration firms, combining equipment from various manufacturers to create the best solutions for its customers. Gene sold the company to his son, Chris Murphy, in 2003, who continues as President.

As a founder, Gene was driven by a restless desire to learn, improve, and build something that would endure. He was never afraid to take a risk, to challenge conventional thinking, or to venture into unfamiliar territory when he believed there was a better way forward. With determination, curiosity, and an entrepreneurial spirit, he had a strong belief in what was possible. He lives on in the people he inspired, the opportunities he created, and the culture and foundation he left for those who would carry his work forward. Gene’s work ethic and legacy continue at Murphy Lighting today, proudly delivering excellence for nearly 50 years.

Gene was self-taught at fixing just about anything and excelled in electronics and computers. He had a generous spirit and was the first to help others. His neighbors could rely on Gene to fix their cable box, hook up a DVD player, mount shower grab bars, or install televisions or dimmer switches. Gene was always at the forefront of the latest technology, whether it was the first microwave, a laser disc player with a rear projection big screen TV, or the best computer for video editing with multiple 5-terabyte external drives of videos and photos of his family.

Gene loved to travel and visited every state in the United States except South Dakota and Alaska. He enjoyed cruises with friends and family and trips to Italy and Ireland with Fran. Mostly, Gene loved his family. He planned large family reunions with all the kids and grandkids in locations across the U.S. complete with games, talent shows, and beach excursions. He was rarely without a camera and took hours of footage of these events which he later edited into keepsakes for the whole family. Gene’s greatest joy was his family, and he could be relied upon to attend every graduation, wedding, family gathering, and had the opportunity to meet four of his five great-grandchildren prior to his passing.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Olga (Dabkoski) and Lawrence Murphy, and brother Lawrence (Larry) Murphy. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Frances; his children: Chris Murphy and his wife, Kristina Murphy and their children, Molly Maxfield and her husband Collin Maxfield, and Jack Murphy; Shonna Halterman and her husband, Lee Halterman and their three sons, Scott Halterman and his wife Helen, Brett Halterman and his wife Katy, and Garrett Halterman; his step-children Noreen McNamara and her daughters Anna Ledwith and her husband Dustin Dacier, and Erin Ledwith; David McNamara and his wife Diane McNamara and their three children, Kelsey Krause and her husband Matt, Scott McNamara, and Lauren Mahesri and her husband Kumail; Michael McNamara and his wife Liz McNamara, and their children Madeline Kahan and her husband Brad, and Emma McNamara; Catherine McKenzie and her husband Scott McKenzie and their daughter Alice McKenzie. Gene was also a proud “Great-Genepa” to Nolan Murphy, Liam Krause, Nora Krause, Remy Krause, and Neela Mahesri.

A service will be held at 1:00pm on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the church Gene loved and regularly attended, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Winter Park, Florida. A celebration of life party that Gene requested is directly afterward at The University Club of Winter Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Gene’s favorite charities:

Camp Boggy Creek – www.boggycreek.org

Canine Companions – www.canine.org 

St. Joseph’s Indian School – www.stjo.org