Hugh Francis Murphy, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away in Tampa, Florida on October 16, 2022. The son of the late Hugh J. Murphy and Honora R. (Mahan) Murphy, he was born on December 4,1937 in Lowell, Massachusetts and grew up on Weed Street. Hugh was married to his high school sweetheart, Miriam Anne (Sweeney) Murphy, for over 59 years. Miriam, who also grew up in Lowell, passed away on August 22, 2020. They resided in Tampa, Florida for close to 45 years.
Hugh graduated from Lowell High School, where he played saxophone and clarinet in the marching band, and was a member of the ROTC. He later earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lowell Technological Institute, now the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Hugh started his career at Finch Pruyn & Company in Glens Falls, New York. Following several years at Nashua Corporation in Nashua, New Hampshire, he began his 25-year career with Anheuser-Busch in Merrimack. As a construction and mechanical engineer, he was a part of the company’s expansions in Ohio, California and Florida.
In his personal life, Hugh was known for his dry sense of humor and his pride in his Irish heritage. He enjoyed collecting and restoring model trains as well as reading history and biographies. He also loved holiday dinners with family and friends, building and restoring clocks, working in the yard, watching birds, and listening to and collecting big band and jazz music. Hugh was very proud of all his grandchildren and along with Miriam, tried to never miss a game, recital or music performance.
Hugh had fond memories of traveling with Miriam to Savannah, cruising down the Mississippi on the Delta Queen, and their visits to New England. He most enjoyed the family trips across the country by train as well as the summer vacations at Vanderbilt Beach in Florida. He was a fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team and loved watching the games especially when they played for the Stanley Cup. For over thirty years, Hugh met weekly for breakfast with many of his retired Anheuser Busch friends at Village Inn and then later, Brunchies. Finally, he would end the day with a nightly cigar.
Hugh is survived by his daughters: Rosemary Horvat and her husband Richard, Eileen Murphy and Erwin Rodriguez, Catherine Edmonds and her husband Robert, as well as his son, Hugh Joseph Murphy. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Andrew and his wife Natalia, Jeremy, Nathan and his wife Alexis, Nicholas, Hannah, Lily, and Kathleen.
In addition to his wife Miriam, he is predeceased by his brothers, John J. Murphy (Maureen) and J. Kenneth Murphy.
On Wednesday May 3, 2023, his graveside funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. at Saint Patrick Cemetery in Lowell. The cremated remains for both Hugh and Miriam will be laid to rest together.
Cemetery Service