William A. "Bill" Murphy

William “Bill” Murphy

Bill Murphy was born William Anthony Zukauskas on May 1, 1939 to Ernest and Anne Zukauskas in Pottsville, PA. After his father’s passing, he was later adopted by Walter Murphy after he and his mother married. He attended college at Villanova University and received a B.S. Degree in Finance and a minor in Accounting. While at Villanova, he served as the men’s basketball team equipment manager and remained a lifelong friend of the university’s basketball team.

After college, Bill enlisted into the U.S. Navy. He reported to Officer Candidate School in June of 1962. In October of 1962, he became Commissioned as an Ensign in the Naval Reserves and was assigned to the USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier that’s home port was Norfolk, VA. His love of sports continued on the Intrepid where he was the Assistant Athletic Officer and coached the ship’s basketball, football, and softball teams. Some of his military achievements included being a Junior Officer on Deck or “OOD”, which required him to stand watch on the “Bridge” and assist the Captain and senior OOD. He served several OOD positions including OOD in Port and OOD Underway. He held a position on the Court Marshall board and was promoted to Full Lieutenant in the Naval Reserves in 1966. In 1974, he decided that although he enjoyed his time in the Navy, it was time to try civilian life for a while.

Bill moved to Minnesota and began working for Target, where he met Diane Locke. They were married in 1968. They moved to California in 1971 and adopted their first two children Sam and Darrin in 1972. In early 1973, they moved to Vienna, VA. Their son Mark was born in 1976 followed by daughter Katie in 1979.

Bill’s work was in inventory and kept him busy. But, he found his way to coaching baseball with his boys. Sam, Darrin, and Mark played baseball and Bill started as one of many coaches on their teams. He also began holding various positions on the Vienna Little League Board of Directors. In 1983, Chris Burr joined the family and was one of the greatest gifts baseball could have brought into his life.

Bill coached both Vienna football and baseball and became fondly known across the Vienna community as “Big Murph.” He became the manager for the major Blue Jays team and got to coach with Mark and “honorary Murphy” Justin Donnelly for many years. He also managed many Vienna American All Star teams, including winning multiple district and state championships. In 1994, he became the commissioner for American Legion Baseball for the Northern Virginia area. He retired from coaching in 2009 with a big celebration from his large baseball family, but continued actively working with American Legion Baseball as the District 17 Commissioner for the rest of his life, including announcing baseball games with a deep but charming voice that will be remembered fondly by those who knew him.

Bill was recognized for his many contributions to the Vienna community including the 1998 Vienna Times Citizen of the Year, 1999 Post 180 Legionnaire of the Year, 2002 Karl Davey Memorial Award for Community Achievement from the Fairfax County Youth Football Hall of Fame, and the 2004 Jake Jacobs Memorial Life Achievement Award from the Greater Washington DC Baseball Home Plate Club. While these achievements were appreciated, the greater reward to Bill was the many lives that he was able to touch on the ball field and through his community. He was a humble man with a gentle soul who would prefer a good game, a good story, and a drink with friends to any praise for himself.

While his children were his greatest accomplishment, his grandchildren brought him new levels of joy as he got older. They affectionately called him “Papa.” Papa would give them a quick smile, laugh, and be up for a good story when they visited and always managed to have candy waiting for them when they got there. He loved hearing about their new interests and what was happening in their lives.

Due to many health complications, the later years of his life were not easy on him. It truly took a village or a “team” to help care for him. The family is truly grateful for the many friends and family members that have been on “Team Murphy” including Fairfax County Department of Aging, Catholics for Housing, Sunshine Home Health, his dedicated doctors-nurses-and aides, the ladies of Herndon Harbor House, his ex-wife and good friend Diane Murphy, Lorrie Cliff, Justin Donnelly, and many others. Your help was truly a blessing and one that will never be forgotten.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Big Murph on Saturday January 11, 2020 from 4-7:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post 180 in Vienna, VA. Post 180 was like a second home to him, so it is only fitting that we come there to celebrate with family and friends. Private interment will occur on a future date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to Catholics for Housing (www.cfhva.org/how-to-give/) .