Peter Goodrich Murphy, beloved husband of Bettyann Murphy, died suddenly at his home in Pinehurst, North Carolina, on Saturday, January 6th. Born on June 23, 1931, Peter was a resident of New Canaan from 1932 until 2003, when he and Bettyann moved to Davidson, North Carolina. Peter was the son of Eleanor Huyck Murphy and Goodrich Kibben Murphy, also of New Canaan, and the grandson of Merle Farmer Murphy and Beatrice Goodrich Murphy, who settled in New Canaan in 1904.
Educated at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, South Kent School, and Yale University, Class of 1952, Peter was on Active Duty for three and a half years in the U. S. Navy, attaining a rank of Lieutenant. He spent more than three years aboard the Attack Cargo ship USS Wyandot, starting with a voyage to the far north to supply several remote Arctic weather stations. Thereafter, as Navigator on the Wyandot, he made many voyages to the Mediterranean and Caribbean. In the winter of 1955-56 the ship was deployed on an extended voyage to the Antarctic in support of Operation Deepfreeze I, when permanent bases were established on the Antarctic continent.
Following his naval service, he joined Seatrain Lines, an international container shipping line, where he served in various executive positions during his 19 years with the firm. In 1957 he married Bettyann Henry of Darien, Connecticut.
In 1976 he was an executive consultant to Burmah Tankers, and then for several years headed Southern Cross Overseas Agency, specializing in intermodal shipping services for international companies. After his retirement from the shipping business, he became the Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of New Canaan, serving in that capacity from 1991 to 2003.
Peter was a member of the Country Club of New Canaan for sixty years and was a member of the New Canaan Board of Finance from 1976 to 1991.
He and Bettyann retired to Davidson, North Carolina, in 2003, where they lived until moving to Pinehurst, NC in April 2017. He was a founder and active member of Southenders Men’s Club in which he participated in bridge, book clubs, walking groups, many social events, etc. Peter loved to play golf, travel, read and very much enjoyed watching old movies. He was an avid sports fan who watched almost any kind of game whether it be football, tennis, golf, hockey, baseball. He enjoyed them all and was a particularly avid fan of Davidson College basketball.
Peter will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor and all the many wonderful stories he had to tell, as well as his friendliness and great kindness to all.
He is survived by his wife, Bettyann, two brothers, Jonathan Murphy and Jeremy Murphy, another brother, Christopher Murphy having predeceased him in 2007, and two daughters, Cynthia (Cindy) Murphy of Wells, Maine and Jacqueline (Jill) Lazusky of Pinehurst, North Carolina, and a son, Douglas Murphy & his wife Tracey of New Canaan, and three grandchildren, Heather Lazusky of Huntersville, North Carolina, and Peter and Jeffrey Murphy of New Canaan.
A private memorial service will be held in New Canaan in the Spring.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to South Kent School, South Kent, CT 06785 would be very much appreciated by the family.
To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Peter Goodrich Murphy, please visit Boles’ Tribute Store.
Online condolences: BolesFuneralHome.com.
Mr. Murphy’s family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers at Sandhills Sentinel.
