Obituary of Michael I. Murphy

MURPHY, MICHAEL I - Michael Murphy, died Thursday, February 11, 2010 at his parents home, in Fairfax, Virginia of cancer. He was 30 years old. Mike was born July 27, 1979 in Herndon to James and Martina Murphy. He graduated from Chantilly High School in 1997 and was in the class of 2001 at the Citadel Military College of South Carolina where he graduated with departmental honors in Education. While in High School, he was active in the Boy Scouts; Chantilly High School's Symphonic Band, Marching Band and Drum Line. He also volunteered for five years at Ashgrove Adventure Day Camp for the Girl Scouts. At the Citadel he was a drummer in their bagpipe band. After College, Mike lived in Charleston, SC where he played for the City of Charleston Police Bagpipe Band, grades 2 and 3. He was the drum instructor for their grade 4 band as well. In 2008, he joined the City of Washington Pipe Band. At the time of his death, he was also the drum instructor for the MacMillan-Birtles grade 4 bagpipe band in Montgomery County, MD. His brother, James Murphy, predeceased him in 1977. He is survived by his parents, James and Martina, and three sisters: Kathleen Murphy of Creede, CO; Christy Leonard and Jaime Osborne both of Fayetteville, NC. He is also survived by four nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Mike Murphy Scholarship Fund c/o Wachovia Bank, Sully Plaza Financial Center VA1138, 13960 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Chantilly, VA 20151. This Scholarship will continue Mike's passion for Scottish bagpipe drumming. Visitation services will be held Friday, February 19 th from 6 to 8 pm at Adams-Greene Funeral Home, 721 Elden St., Herndon, Virginia. Funeral Mass will be at St. John Neumann's Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyer's Rd., Reston, Virginia, Saturday, February 20 th at 11 am.