William F. Murphy

William Francis “Bill” Murphy, age 83, of Media, PA, formerly of Garnet Valley, PA, passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his family, on June 6, 2025. Born in Boston, MA, he was the son of the late John F. and Catherine Murphy (nee Mahoney).

An esteemed architect, designer, land planner, and avid water colorist, Bill was a visionary who infused every project with artistry and purpose, taking great pride in his hand-colored renderings. His work earned him numerous accolades, and he served as a mentor to others in his field. The project closest to his heart was St. Mary Magdalen Church, dedicated in 2008. Blending local history and modern design, with intricate details sourced from Philadelphia churches, Bill often said that he felt God’s hand guiding him when he designed his parish church.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Bill was a devoted family man, having celebrated a remarkable 61 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Marie. The couple raised four children, who, along with Bill’s eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, filled his life with great joy and happiness. His purpose as a loving father and grandfather exemplified the values he held dear: dedication, mentorship, fun, and creativity.

A self-taught architect, Bill was a lifelong learner, always striving to further his knowledge and hone his craft. He sought to broaden his horizons through travel with his wife, venturing to Caneel Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands, across Europe, and to his family’s homeland of Ireland. He also loved exploring the world around him through biking. Bill was spiritual in nature as well as deeply patriotic — he always believed in his country and its youth, whose courage and ambition he admired. He was also an ardent champion of women, especially in the field of architecture.

Bill was the beloved husband of Marie Murphy (nee Hughes); loving father of Andrea Acciavatti (Richard), Colleen Montgomery (Liam), Kristen Darby (Ron), and William F. Murphy, Jr. (Jeff); adoring grandfather of Kayla (Dan), Olivia, Isabella (Tyler), Giacomo, Shannon, Brenna, Matthew, and Evan; caring great-grandfather of Faye, Audrey, Logan, and Andino; devoted brother of Robert Murphy (Barbara) and Barbara Maloney (Pat). Predeceased by his siblings, Jack Murphy (Cecelia) and Janice Burmylo (Walt).

Family and friends are invited to Bill’s visitation, 10:00-11:00 AM on Thursday, June 12 at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2400 N. Providence Rd., Media, PA 19063, followed by his funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bill's name to Cancer Research Institute, 29 Broadway, 4th Fl., New York, NY10006, cancerresearch.org, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl, Memphis, TN 38105, stjude.org, would be appreciated.