In Memoriam

Civil Justice’s founding Executive Director, Senior Mentor, and Visionary Leader, Denis James Murphy, dedicated to helping those most at risk, passed away suddenly of heart failure at his home on Tuesday, May 17, 2005.

Denis was born on September 21, 1938 in Hempstead, New York to Doris and Jack Murphy. Denis grew up in Torrington, Connecticut, graduated from Lehigh University and Georgetown University Law School. He co-founded the law firm Carlile, Patchen & Murphy in Columbus, Ohio, a thriving general law firm where he practiced law for thirty-one years. Denis had a long history of public service work and bar leadership in Ohio.

In 1998, Denis moved to Annapolis, Maryland and became Executive Director of Civil Justice, Inc., a nonprofit formed to increase access to justice for Maryland residents. Denis’s leadership developed a nationally distinctive program that has received several awards for giving poor and modest-income people effective access to justice. In recognition of dedication to the ideal of justice for all Denis received numerous awards throughout his career.

Denis was an avid reader, was a runner, swimmer, skier and sailor, loved travel, was passionate about law, politics and social justice, but above all deeply devoted to and beloved by his family. Denis belonged to St. Mary's Parish in Annapolis, Maryland. Surviving are his wife Maureen Hughes Murphy, brother John Murphy, sisters, Maureen Pugsley, Eileen Mooney, daughter Margaret Murphy, son-in-law Kurt Klapkowski, son Denis Jr., and daughter-in-law Cameron Voss, son Joseph and daughter-in-law Sigrid, son Jonathan and daughter-in-law Megan, and five grandchildren: Myles and Nora Klapkowski, Declan, Eliza and Seamus Murphy.