Brother Richard Cormac Murphy, who was celebrating this year as his 75th as a Christian Brother, died on Monday April 26, 2010, at the Holy Family Community at Mont La Salle in Napa. He was 94 years of age.

Born Noel Francis Murphy on November 7, 1915, in San Francisco, he graduated from St. Ignatius High School in the city and went on to attend the University of San Francisco for one year. In July of 1935, he entered the De La Salle Christian Brothers Novitiate and received the religious habit on September 15th of that year. He made his final vows on June 29, 1941.

After earning his B.A. from St. Mary’s College in Moraga in 1939, he continued his education, adding a Master’s Degree in library science from USC in 1956, a second Master’s—this one in music—from Holy Names College in 1972, and a Ph.D. in nutrition from Donsbach University in 1983.

Over his 45 years as a teacher, Br. Cormac served at seven high schools in the San Francisco District, including Sacred Heart and St. Peter’s in San Francisco, Christian Brothers in Sacramento, St. Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, Cathedral in Los Angeles, and La Salle in Pasadena. Additionally, he was on the library staff at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, taught at Saint Mary’s Residence School in Napa, and for two separate terms, served on the staff of the Novitiate. In 1986, he retired to the Holy Family Community at Mont La Salle.

Brother Cormac is buried in the Brothers’ Cemetery at Mont La Salle in Napa.