Samuel Michael Murphy

Samuel Michael Murphy

1934 - 2023

On Sunday, August 27, Samuel Michael Murphy, Sr. (89), affectionately known as Michael or Mike, passed away at home in Kanata after an extended illness.  He leaves behind children Deanna, Samuel, Jr., Natasha, Nkrumah (Omar), Claude, Daniel and Raven; sisters Ivy, Lesline and Carmen, and an extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren in Canada, the USA, UK and Jamaica.

A son of Jamaica, Mike was born in Port Maria, St. Mary, the eldest child of Abraham Murphy, a farmer, and his mother, Pastora Hamilton.  He excelled at Dinthill High School and earned a scholarship to the University of Nebraska, where he studied chemistry.  His career took him to the laboratories of prestigious companies before he moved to Ottawa and dedicated his career to education.  As a math teacher at Bell and Earl of March High Schools, he was beloved by his students.

Beyond academia, Mike greatly enjoyed music and would spin his favorite R&B and reggae records at home for friends and family.  He was an avid and loyal fan of the Minnesota Vikings and Toronto Blue Jays and loved playing dominos.  A lifelong learner, he studied philosophy, history and French, and was an engaging conversationalist and debater.  He served the Ottawa community by opening the city’s first Jamaican record store, and at one time was president of the Jamaican association.

A celebration of life will be observed at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 20 Young Road, Kanata, on September 16, beginning at 1:30 pm.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation or the Ottawa Food Bank.