Lester "Jay" Murphy Jr.

Jay is survived by his wife, Christine M. Murphy of East Dennis, Massachusetts, daughter Brittany L. Murphy of Roslindale, Massachusetts, sisters, Judith Sincock Murphy of Key West, Florida, Janice Gallagher of Holliston, Massachusetts, and Joan Dignan of South Dennis, Massachusetts, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Jay was born on May 4, 1950 to the late Joe and Barbara Murphy in Rochester, New York. After graduating from Wellesley, Massachusetts high school in 1968, he went on to earn his bachelors degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and earned his juris doctor degree from Northeastern University. Jay practiced law on Cape Cod for over 40 years with a specialty in real estate law. Throughout that time, he built lifelong friendships with clients, town board members and staff, fellow lawyers and community members. He was known by clients, board members, and town staff for his integrity and to be a creative problem solver, always finding a mutual resolution to satisfy all parties. Additionally, he was known for his “encyclopedic” knowledge of the commercial and residential history of Provincetown and Truro, quick wittedness, and sense of humor. Additionally, Jay was a valued member of the Dennis Finance Committee. He helped ensure the Town’s operating budget had the financial resources needed to provide the programs and services to the citizens of the Town of Dennis, and the committee greatly valued his legal background when discussing matters. He was known for always bringing a fair and reasonable approach to committee deliberations.

Beyond his work, his true passions were his love for Corvettes, Elvis, Maui, and World War II. He lived for his annual vacation in Maui, Hawaii and would often bring up the webcams of Maui’s beaches on his laptops while sitting on wintry Cape Cod on Friday nights with a scotch in hand, dreaming of when he’d be back out on the white sandy beaches of Hawaii with a mai tai in hand. He was absolutely devastated to learn about the deadly wildfires on Maui. He was passionate for Elvis and had all his albums and would sing Elvis’s songs to his cat, Cotton, who was mesmerized by his singing and would sway back and forth gazing up at her father as he sang to her. He read books on non-fiction World War II, and he passed his passion for World War II along to his daughter, Brittany. Finally, he loved his corvettes and his family’s 1968 Camaro. He spent many weekends restoring both his Corvettes and his family’s 1968 Camaro. His dying wish was to see the frame-off restoration of his 1965 fuel injected corvette finished. With the help of friends and family, and Jay, himself, that wish came true.

Visiting hours are from 3:30 – 7 PM on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at Doane Beal & Ames Funeral Home, 729 Rt. 134, South Dennis, Services are being held at 11 AM on Friday, September 8, 2023 at Our Lady of the Cape Parish, 468 Stony Brook Road, Brewster. Burial will follow in Quivet Neck Cemetery, East Dennis.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made in Jay’s honor to either the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (dana-farber.org) or the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund (hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong