John Murphy celebrates 44-year career as County Legislator

BY CAROL MCILMURRAY

John Murphy is saying hello to retirement after serving Pearl River as Rockland legislator since 1971.

Del Arte Italian restaurant in Orangeburg hosted a parting party for outgoing Republican legislator Murphy on Sunday. Politicians and supporters gathered to say thank you to John for his dedication and service.

Venture Camp, where Murphy is chairman of the board, was on hand to raise money for the John Murphy College Scholarship fund, which will be distributed in perpetuity. Bill Shule, who runs Venture Foundation, said that Murphy’s “volunteerism and dedication to helping others is inspiring and what life is really about.”

Murphy, 81, says he will keep busy being chairman on the board of the four organizations he works with: Joseph’s Home, Loeb House, Camp Venture and Homes for Heroes. Murphy also has championed parole denial for two murderers, Pearl resident Richard Labarbara, 62, and out-of-towner Robert McCain, for the 1980 murder of 16-year-old Paula Bohovesky.

Murphy told the Rockland County Times that, “leaving the Legislature is okay, it frees up my time to help with issues that I am passionate about. My main concern are issues with the brain, like Alzheimer’s, autism and mental illness.”

Murphy worked at Rockland Psychiatric Center during the 1960s after serving in the military with the US Marine Corp.

Murphy met his wife Eileen while working at the telephone company. The pair look forward to spending time with family and supporting the arts.

Vincent Tyer, also a Republican, took over John Murphy’s seat on the County Legislature. Tyer, a local businessman said, “I look forward to continuing John’s legacy for the county.”

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