Deceased Friars

Gordon Murphy, OFM

Gordon Murphy

1924 – 2007

Fr. Gordon Murphy, OFM, was born on Jan. 26, 1924 in Binghamton, N.Y., and was baptized Donald Joseph. From 1943 to 1945, he served in the United States Army. Fr. Gordon was received into the Order at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1951, professing simple vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1955 and was ordained a priest later that year.

In 1956, he became a faculty member of St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, N.Y. While ministering there, he earned a master’s degree in accounting from George Washington University, Washington. Fr. Gordon served in several leadership positions at St. Bonaventure, including as executive vice president from 1964 to 1969, and as dean of the business school from 1969 to 1971.

He then moved to St. Anthony Friary, Butler, N.J., where he worked on Friar magazine, before being assigned to Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, N.Y. From 1982 to 1983, he served as parochial vicar at St. Francis Xavier Church, Narrowsburg, N.Y. He spent the next 13 years as treasurer at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston before retiring to St. Anthony Residence, located across the street.

He died on Oct. 4, 2007 at New England Medical Center in Boston. Fr. Gordon was 83 years old, a professed friar for 55 years and a priest for 52 years.

Each of us should be called a lesser brother, a Friar Minor. Each one of us should wash the feet of the others.”

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Gordon Murphy, OFM

Gordon Murphy

1924 – 2007

Fr. Gordon Murphy, OFM, was born on Jan. 26, 1924 in Binghamton, N.Y., and was baptized Donald Joseph. From 1943 to 1945, he served in the United States Army. Fr. Gordon was received into the Order at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1951, professing simple vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1955 and was ordained a priest later that year.

In 1956, he became a faculty member of St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, N.Y. While ministering there, he earned a master’s degree in accounting from George Washington University, Washington. Fr. Gordon served in several leadership positions at St. Bonaventure, including as executive vice president from 1964 to 1969, and as dean of the business school from 1969 to 1971.

He then moved to St. Anthony Friary, Butler, N.J., where he worked on Friar magazine, before being assigned to Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, N.Y. From 1982 to 1983, he served as parochial vicar at St. Francis Xavier Church, Narrowsburg, N.Y. He spent the next 13 years as treasurer at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston before retiring to St. Anthony Residence, located across the street.

He died on Oct. 4, 2007 at New England Medical Center in Boston. Fr. Gordon was 83 years old, a professed friar for 55 years and a priest for 52 years.