Daniel H. Murphy II, 84, of Mystic and Groton Long Point, Connecticut, entered eternal life on July 13 after a long illness. He is survived by his loving wife, Deann Ellison, with whom he shared 63 years of marriage, and by his daughter, Jessica Murphy Farrell; his son Ted (Edward) E. Murphy; his daughter-in-law Marci Murphy; seven grandchildren; five siblings; 25 nieces and nephews; and 43 grandnieces and nephews.

After graduating in 1958 from The Kingswood School in West Hartford, Connecticut, Dan entered Yale College. At Yale, Dan joined the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, played football for two years, and swam for the Yale Swimming team for four years. During the summer of 1961, he joined Yale’s St. Thomas More Club, where he traveled to Mexico City to construct a school and family center. Dan graduated in spring 1962, married Deann in June, and entered Columbia Law School in the fall. 

Graduating from Columbia Law in 1965 with a wife, a two-year-old son, and a bulldog, he was invited to join the law firm of White & Case. Dan found his passion in litigation, and after several years, he was sworn into the storied U.S. Attorney’s Office in the City of New York. After six years, loving every minute of both civil and criminal litigation, he opened his own office (this time for the defense) in the Woolworth Building. The family moved from New York City to Pelham Manor in 1975 and commuted on weekends to the family home in Groton Long Point, Connecticut. Dan enjoyed playing all ball sports — golf, tennis, and squash — at The Pelham Country Club, The New York Athletic Club, the New York City Yale Club, and The Ocean Reef Club in Florida.

There was no death by boredom with Dan around. Whether looking for a new condo for his family, buying a new bulldog or sports car, or playing with his grandchildren, all would agree that Dan was a lot of fun. His ever-ready humor, keen wit, and infectious smile enlivened every day.

Dan left legal practice to enter the Roman Catholic Diaconate program at St. Joseph’s Seminary and College (Dunwoodie) in Yonkers. He was ordained by Archbishop Edward Cardinal Egan of New York in June 2006. He served as a deacon at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Pelham Manor, until illness forced him to retire. In 2019, Dan and Deann moved to StoneRidge, a retirement community in Mystic, Connecticut, just minutes from their Groton Long Point home.

Above all, Dan was a family man. He was a devoted husband to Deann; father to Ted and Jessica; father-in-law to Marci Fagan Murphy and Ken Farrell; grandfather to Nicole Murphy Pappas, Skylar Murphy Demeulenaere, Daniel H. Murphy III, Michaela Jane Farrell, John Murphy Farrell, Ellison Ann Farrell, and Tucker Davis Farrell; brother to Mary Ellen Murphy Linton, Robert Henry Murphy, William Cook Murphy (deceased), Nancy Jane Murphy Conley, John Cook Murphy, and Margaret Murphy Orchardo; brother-in-law to George Linton, Janet Thurman Murphy, Carol Wills Murphy, John Conley, Virginia DeuPree Murphy, Joseph Orchardo, Sharon and Stephen Johnson, and John Garey; and uncle to 25 nieces and nephews and 43 grandnieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dan’s memory to either Enders Island Recovery Program, 1 Enders Island, Mystic, CT 06344, or to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) at 2700 Horizon Drive, Suite 120, King of Prussia, PA 19406.

Reception of the Body and Wake ⦁ Lying in Repose

Sunday, July 27, 2025 ⦁ 4-6 p.m.
Dinoto Funeral Home
17 Pearl Street
Mystic, CT 06355
860-536-2685

Memorial Mass

Monday, July 28, 2025 ⦁ 10 a.m.
Chapel of Our Lady of the Assumption at St. Edmunds Retreat Center
One Enders Island
Mystic, CT 06355