John R. Murphy, M.D.

John R. Murphy, M.D., of Shaker Heights, beloved father and compassionate physician, died Monday, March 11, 2024, at Judson Park. He was 98.

Survivors include his five sons and their wives, Douglas, M.D., (Dana) of Shaker Heights and Sherman, NY, Bruce (Theresa Yondo) of Novelty, OH, Scott (Nancy) of Somers, MT, Robert (Nancy) of Capitola, CA, and John (Nora) of Shaker Heights; seven grandchildren, Patrick (Whitney Taves), Julia Carey (John Carey), Daniel M.D., (Emily), Jackie, Chantel, Cara and Ian, and one great-grandchild, Evangeline.

He was born Feb. 4, 1926, in Cleveland, the son of Patrick S. Murphy, M.D., and Helen Myers Murphy. Patrick’s death in 1928 left Helen, a public health nurse, to raise two young children, John and his sister Joan. John graduated from Cleveland Heights High School (1943), Adelbert College, Western Reserve University (1947) and Western Reserve School of Medicine (1951). He had a distinguished career at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals as a research scientist, a clinician and an administrator, retiring at age 75 as associate professor emeritus of medicine. He was instrumental in early studies of sickle cell anemia. Later, as an attending physician at Ireland Cancer Center, he served thousands of patients and their families. He was especially proud of his years mentoring physicians in training. As longtime chair of the university’s Institutional Review Board, he brought considerable experience and wisdom to the research process.

At his side for almost 70 years was his wife, the former Mary Johnson, who died in 2017. His sister, Joan Faulkner of Wellington, OH, died in 2016. He was a former scoutmaster of Cleveland Council Troop 15 in Shaker Heights, former commodore of Lakeside Yacht Club, and a lifetime member of Fairmount Presbyterian Church, Cleveland Heights.

Friends are invited to join family for a reception in his honor Saturday, March 23, 1-4 p.m. at Lakeside Yacht Club, 4851 N. Marginal Rd., Cleveland. Remarks at 2 p.m.

He was at home in his garden, on his sailboat, in his woodworking shop, and at the head of the dinner table on holidays, his family arrayed around him. He was honorable and humble, astonished at his own long life. May peace be with him and with all who miss him, today and always. “Home is the sailor, home from the sea.”