Captain Joseph Stephen Murphy II

Born in Boston on August 22, 1946, Joe was the son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth Murphy. He grew up in West Roxbury, later residing in West Wareham, Port Charlotte, Florida, and Falmouth, Massachusetts. He graduated from Catholic Memorial in 1964 and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1968, beginning a lifelong connection to the maritime industry. He later obtained his Masters Degree from Maine Maritime Academy.

Joe proudly served as a naval reservist and as a licensed master mariner, commanding unlimited-tonnage vessels in the United States Merchant Marine. Throughout his maritime career, he sailed around the world and served during both the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. His dedication to service, leadership, and the maritime profession continued long after he came ashore in 1984 to begin a career as a professor at Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

At the Academy, Joe became a nationally recognized expert in U.S. Coast Guard license examination preparation. He authored textbooks "The Murphy Books" and developed a web-based program (Lapware) that helped thousands of mariners achieve their goal of obtaining a deck officer’s license. His expertise and contributions to maritime education earned him numerous awards and citations for his work with the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S.

Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC). He also served as captain of the Academy’s training ship, Patriot State. Under his leadership and instruction, his students achieved the nation’s highest pass rates on U.S. Coast Guard licensing examinations.

Joe took immense pride in sharing his knowledge and preparing and motivating the next generation of mariners. He found great satisfaction in helping others advance in life, encouraging students to reach their full potential, and strengthening the maritime profession through education and mentorship. His legacy lives on in the countless mariners whose careers he helped launch and the many lives he influenced throughout his years of service at the Academy.

A sailor at heart, Joe was an avid fisherman and boater who spent many of his happiest moments on the ocean with his family. On land, he enjoyed cooking and gardening, finding joy in bringing people together and sharing his passions with family and friends. Above all, Joe cherished the people closest to him. He will be remembered for his dedication, generosity, love of the sea, and unwavering commitment to helping others succeed.

Joe was predeceased by his son, David Murphy. He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Suzanne Murphy; his former wife, Marianne Murphy; his sons, Shane Murphy and his wife, Lauren, Kellen Murphy and his beloved stepchildren, Scott White and his wife, Jackie, and Sarah Karahan and her husband, Ilker and the mother of his grandsons Serena Murphy and her partner Domenic Dibiasse. He also leaves behind five cherished grandsons: Dylan Murphy, Jaycen Murphy, Cashel Murphy, Aza Karahan, and Lincoln Murphy.

He is also survived by his sisters, Janie Rusnak and her husband, Richard, and Maureen DeWitt and her husband, Thomas; and his brother, Gerald Murphy and his wife, Rose.

Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Thursday, October 29, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 40 MacArthur Boulevard, Bourne, MA 02532. A Funeral Mass and celebration of life will be held on Friday, October 30, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, 141 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532. Burial is private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe’s memory to plummeryouthpromise.org