He was born to John and Margaret Murphy on April 3, 1928 in the Bronx, New York. Jack was the second child of John and Margaret with his older brother Tim and sister Margaret. Following the untimely death of his mother, John remarried to Nellie Murray. In 1942, the Murphy family grew as they welcomed the birth of Joseph followed by the birth of Ann in 1944. Jack graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1945 then shortly after enlisted in the United States Navy. When he was discharged from the Navy in 1948, the Murphy family moved to a New Jersey suburb, Englewood Cliffs.
During the early 1950’s, Jack worked for the Good Year Tire Company. While making his early morning walk to the bus stop, Jack noticed a police car pull up next to him. Officer Fred H. Witte asked if he wanted a ride. Little did Jack know, that ride was going to shape the rest of his life. With a job opportunity in the police force, Fred told Jack that Englewood Cliffs was going to explode in growth and become a thriving town. Jack knew this was an opportunity he could not pass up. In May 1953, Jack became a full-time member of the Englewood Cliffs Police Department, leaving behind a career with Good Year Tire Company.
Jack was a town-oriented man. He strived to lead Englewood Cliffs to a better place than how he found it. As the Police Department focused their sites on the community’s youth, Jack organized a baseball clinic for pre-Little League children. The police officers created a safe and fun environment while teaching the children of Englewood Cliffs the fundamentals of baseball and a love for the game. Alongside Jack was Captain John LaRaia. Spending hours of playing catch, batting practice, and even driving players to and from games, Jack brought a sense of hope and a lifetime of laughter to the community. In memory of his mentor, the Fred H. Witte Clinic is still an active program fifty-nine years later.
Jack was a man of many talents, including his melodies as an Irish tenor vocalist. He realized this was a gift he needed to pursue. While taking voice lessons, Jack met Alicia Robles, a beautiful young woman who was learning the keys of the piano. Captivated by her beauty and grace, Jack quickly fell hopelessly in love with Alicia. In 1958, Jack and Alicia were married in New York and lived in Englewood Cliffs until 2003. In April 2018, Jack and Alicia celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary with their six children, five grandchildren, and life-long friends.
In 1977, Jack was named Chief of Police of Englewood Cliffs. He was also a member of the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association, the Honor Legion, and the New Jersey State Chiefs of Police Association. During the holiday season, Jack and his fellow Bergen County Chiefs would deliver games and toys to children in every hospital throughout the county. Jack found great joy simply chatting and taking pictures with the children. In 1987, Jack became President of the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association.
Jack organized the Bergen County Police Chiefs Golf Outing at the prestigious White Beeches Country Club in Haworth, New Jersey. Thirty-five years later, the event continues to raise thousands of dollars for numerous families and charities around Bergen County. With his dedication to the event and philanthropy, the tournament was renamed to the Jack Murphy Golf Outing. Jack retired from the Police Department in 1993 after forty years of service to town of Englewood Cliffs.
Shortly after announcing his retirement, Jack was approached by a good friend, Mayor Joseph Parisi Sr. Mayor Parisi asked if he would consider running for a Borough Council seat. Answering a call for help where help was needed, Jack held a seat on the Borough Council for nine years. After serving the people of Englewood Cliffs as councilman, Jack and Alicia moved to the retirement hub of Park Ridge, New Jersey.
Jack was a man who lived a simple life: Sipping tea while eating breakfast at the State Line Lookout every morning, building his extensive coin collections, and reading novels by the great American authors. Every day was a day to be thankful for. His book of jokes and generous heart of gold only grew throughout the years. Jack’s happiness could be measured by the happiness that surrounded him.
With his charming personality, charismatic sense of humor, and captivating singing voice, Jack’s life was filled with love and laughter. Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, and Chief. He will be loved and missed forever in our hearts.
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