Kevin R. Murphy, 75, of Milford, formerly of Newtown, passed away with his wife (Karen Karpie) and two children (Katie Hayward and Daniel Murphy) at his side on October 11, 2024. Kevin would want to be remembered not as the brilliant and successful trial lawyer that he was for several decades, but for the much more significant roles he enjoyed during his lifetime, as husband, father, grandfather (or Papa as they call him), brother, friend, uncle, mentor, role model, neighbor and golf buddy.

Kevin was born on May 10, 1949, to Robert Murphy and Rose Mary (Hoehne) Murphy, in South Bend, Ind., where his father attended Notre Dame University on the GI Bill. He spent his boyhood first in Peoria, Ill., and then in Rockford, Ill., where he graduated in 1967 from Boylan Catholic High School, having excelled in academics and football. Kevin attended Dartmouth College, sight unseen, and graduated from Dartmouth in 1971. Like many students of his time, Kevin protested the Vietnam War, and he continued throughout his life to espouse progressive causes to further justice for all.

Kevin was a worker — he worked hard at whatever he did and it seems there wasn’t a job he didn’t do (paper route at 11 years old, busboy, waiter, jack hammer operator, foundry worker, school bus driver, landscaper, putting finishing touches on mannequins, driving artificial flowers to New Jersey grocery stores, and working in sales for General Tire & Rubber in NYC.)

In 1971, he enrolled in UConn Law School, where he met his wife, Karen Karpie, on the first day of classes, and they’ve been together since then. They got married and graduated the same weekend in May 1977, and they worked seamlessly together as law partners (eventually at their own firm, Murphy Karpie Connelly & Sickinger LLC) and as life partners.

In addition to his wife, Kevin leaves their daughter, Katie Hayward of Milford and their son, Daniel Murphy (Ally) of Fairfield along with his amazing, cherished grandchildren, Max, Leo and Vivian Hayward, and Ava, Nora and Riley Murphy. His other survivors include siblings, Vincent Murphy (Debbie) of Caledonia, Ill.; Joseph Murphy (Jill) of Valrico, Fla.; David Murphy (Marcia) of Anderson, Ind.; and Mary Ann Cox (Gregg) of Rockford, Ill. He also leaves sister-in-law, April Karpie of Los Angeles, Calif., and brother-in-law Andrew Karpie (Irina) of San Carlos, Calif., as well as 18 nieces and nephews and 16 (at last count) grandnieces and grandnephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, and his beloved nephew, Xavier Murphy.

Even though Kevin had Parkinson’s disease, he never once complained, and while it slowed him down some in his later years, he did not let it hold him back from fully enjoying his grandchildren. He rarely missed their games and sporting events, and even played basketball and hit golf balls at the driving range with them this past summer, much to their amazement. Life will not be the same for them without him.

Kevin will be remembered by his colleagues as a fierce competitor with an unending desire to win, and he nearly always won, but he never once gloated about it. His courtroom skills gained him the respect of lawyers on both sides of the aisle, judges, marshals, court reporters, his clients, and even the clients whose lawyers lost to him. Kevin was known for his killer cross-examinations and logical, sometimes sarcastic but always persuasive final arguments. Jurors loved him and often when a trial was over would approach him and ask him for his business card.

Kevin’s intellect was matched by no other and his wit and wry sense of humor were always on display. He was often the life of the party. He liked The New York Times, beer, golf, babies, ice cream, birds, especially cardinals, taking walks, snow falling at night, a tidy office, NYC, Murphy family vacations, the moon, the ocean, music, dancing (in a dad sort of way), but really what he loved best of all was hanging out with his family, who will miss him forever.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Friday, October 18, from 4 to 7 pm, at Cody-White Funeral Home, 107 Broad Street in Milford. A Funeral Service will be celebrated on Saturday, October 19, at 10 am, at St Mary Church, 70 Gulf Street in Milford (meet directly at church). Interment will follow at St Mary Cemetery, 315 Buckingham Avenue, Milford. In lieu of flowers, anyone so inclined may donate to the following causes supported by Kevin: St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, World Central Kitchen, or Doctors Without Borders.