John Stephan Murphy

Whether he was making his family laugh with his “weather corrector,” showing off his killer dance moves, or leading from the head of a boardroom table, John Murphy didn’t just walk into a room, he brought it to life.

John Stephan Murphy, born January 29, 1950, in Fairview, NJ, was the youngest of four in a modest Irish-Italian home. John was determined from an early age to do big things and make something of himself. While attending Cliffside Park High School, he developed a love of cars that would shape his early years. Cars were his way to earn money, stay out of trouble—and, if we’re being honest, sometimes get into it. His ’68 Chevy Impala SS was not only his pride and joy, but at many times his home. His mechanical skills helped to put him through Union County College, making him the first in his family to attend college.

It was there he met his future wife, Karen Town. John joined the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity and Karen the Sigma Alpha Pi sorority, where they formed lifelong friendships and built a vibrant social circle that remained a core part of their lives for more than 60 years.

John went on to complete his education at NYU and married Karen in 1972. He began his career at Arthur Andersen Consulting before moving into international shipping at Trans Freight Lines, where he quickly made a name for himself. In 1978, he and Karen, along with their newborn son Adam Blair, moved to the Netherlands, where John served as Director of the Rotterdam Seaport. That experience set the tone for a career defined by global travel, a love of languages, and leadership across international businesses. Over the years, he held multiple roles as CFO and later served as both co-founder and CEO.

In 1981, the Murphys returned to the United States and settled in Cranford, NJ, where they welcomed their daughter, Kelly Margaret. John and Karen spent over 40 years in Cranford raising their family, deeply rooted in their community and surrounded by close friends and extended family. When John wasn’t working or traveling around the world, he was on the sidelines of his children’s sporting events, playing 18 (or 36) holes at Echo Lake Country Club, or simply enjoying time with the people he loved most. He was the first person to call when you needed a favor or needed something fixed, and you could always count on him to show up with his toolbox ready to help.

John embraced life fully and enthusiastically. He loved fishing, boating, golf, skiing, clay shooting, gardening, long days on the beach, and carefree afternoons chasing the “lost puppy”. He was always ready to try something new, whether it was street biking, judo, or tackling a Tough Mudder endurance race at the age of 62 alongside his son and nephew. Life was to be lived and he did just that. And his love of sporty cars never faded.

In 2019, John and Karen moved to Annandale, NJ, where they enjoyed a short but meaningful chapter before relocating to Wake Forest, NC in 2021 to be closer to their beloved grandchildren. They shared 54 years of marriage filled with love, laughter, and partnership until John’s passing on April 23, 2026.

John had a magnetic presence that drew people in effortlessly. He was warm, engaging, and impossible not to notice. Not because he sought attention, but because of the energy he brought with him. He was loved by all, will be deeply missed, and his spirit will live on in all who were fortunate enough to know him.

John is survived by his wife, Karen Murphy; son Adam Murphy (Kelly Williams); daughter Kelly Coble (Bryan); grandchildren Charlotte Murphy and Remington John; sisters Patricia Rex and Joan Davidson; and many loving friends and extended family. He was predeceased by his parents, John William Murphy and Catherine (“Kitty”) Mollica, and his sister Claire Dickman.

"Friends and family are warmly invited to join in a celebration of life honoring John at Echo Lake Country Club in Westfield, New Jersey, on Friday, May 15 at 12:00 PM."

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.