Patricia M. Murphy (COL. USAF RET.)

Patricia "Pat" Murphy, 87, passed from this earth gently among loved ones on Sept. 23 following a brief illness. She was born in New York City to Irish immigrant parents Timothy J. and Nora Curran Murphy. Pat was a beloved sister, aunt, friend, mentor, and grandfriend to neighbor children. Her childhood in Elmhurst in Queens was filled with playing street stickball games, sledding down a snowy vacant lot on cardboard, and being active in Catholic parish life. She credited graduating from Bishop McDonnell, an all-girls high school, and from all-woman Hunter College in Manhattan, for developing her considerable leadership skills. Before her Air Force commissioning in 1963, she taught high school English. While in the Air Force, she earned a Master's Degree from the University of California.

Colonel Murphy's 30-year Air Force career included several glass ceiling-breaking assignments, including serving in Vietnam in 1972 as one of the few Air Force women line officers to do so. Her favorite job was as base commander of Zweibruecken AB, Germany, in 1982. Other notable assignments include: chief of staff for the Electronic Security Command (ESC) in San Antonio; commander of the European Division (ESC) at Ramstein AB, Germany, during. Desert Storm. Her last assignment was chief of staff for the Director of the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, MD. Following retirement, she served on the Surveys and Investigations Team for the U.S House Appropriations Committee. In 1998, she formed The Murphy Group to provide management training to members of the Department of Defense, an endeavor she cheekily called an oxymoron. She was teaching a one-day seminar in the Pentagon on 9/11, when a plane slammed into the building. She said her familiarity with the Pentagon helped her guide her less familiar students out to safety.

She was extremely proud of her Irish heritage. She celebrated when a DNA test revealed she was 100 percent Irish. This prompted a New York cousin, whose DNA test showed her to be 89 percent Irish, to comment, "You Murphys were always overachievers."

Using humor as an enlightening tool, she never let facts get in the way of a good story to make her point. Knowing that her troops would need time to adjust to calling her Ma'am, at Zweibruecken she instituted a 25 cent "Sir Tax" for any infraction. Although word spread quickly, at the end of her command she donated an impressive number of quarters to the child care center. Acknowledging the role mentors had played in her success, she strove to give other talented people a seat at the table, regardless of their gender or ethnicity.

Pat enjoyed traveling, reading, discussing current events, and watching Spurs and WNBA games. "Jeopardy!" was appointment TV, accompanied by a glass of red wine. She also became a respectable Grill Sergeant. She enjoyed being involved in her local communities, serving on the boards of the Domestic Violence Center, Howard County, MD, and the Montessori School of San Antonio.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; her brother Monsignor Timothy J. Murphy of Midland; and niece Diane Davies. She is survived by: brother Emmet (Dianna); niece Kim Thomas; nephews Michael Murphy and Timothy Murphy, all of CA; great nieces Samantha and Megan Davies, Kaitlyn and Claire Thomas; great nephew Emmet Murphy, and by her partner of 35 years Grace Blancett.

Those wishing to give memorial gifts may donate to a favorite charity or to the San Antonio Food Bank, Meals on Wheels of San Antonio or to the San Antonio Animal Defense League.

FUNERAL SERVICEMONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 20241:00 P.M.PORTER LORING MORTUARY NORTH2102 NORTH LOOP 1604 EAST

Interment will follow in Fort Sam National Cemetery.

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