Charles W. Murphy, 70; Was Phila. Police Captain

By Herb Drill, INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT
Posted: February 21, 1998

Charles W. Murphy, 70, a former Philadelphia police captain who later held executive positions in the city government and with Chambers of Commerce, died Tuesday of cancer at his Worcester home.

He retired in 1972 after 20 years with the Philadelphia Police Department, the last five as captain and commander of the Accident Investigation Division. He then served as assistant managing director for safety in the administration of Mayor Frank L. Rizzo.

Mr. Murphy joined the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia as vice president/safety and executive director of the safety council in 1972. In 1979, he was named executive vice president of the Chamber of Commerce of Northeast Philadelphia, a post he held for 10 years.

While with the Northeast chamber, he helped form and served as chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Philadelphia Safety and Health Council, an affiliate of the National Safety Council.

Mr. Murphy was a registered professional engineer in the area of safety and a fire-protection specialist.

A native of Philadelphia, he graduated from the former Northeast High School for Boys and, after serving in the Navy, graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. He also studied safety practices at Pennsylvania State University's Delaware County campus.

During World War II, he served as a boatswain's mate aboard the destroyer escort Doyle, which participated in the Normandy invasion.

He was married to Nellie Jacoby Murphy. She died in 1989.

He is survived by his wife of nearly six years, Patricia Cosmalski Murphy; children Charles H. and Sharon L. Diasio, and three grandsons.

Friends may call after 9:30 a.m. today at R.L. Williams Jr. Funeral Home, Skippack Pike (Route 73) and Cedars Road, Skippack. A Funeral Mass will be offered at 11 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, 428 S. Main St., North Wales. Burial was to be private.

The family suggests contributions to Fox Chase Cancer Center, 7701 Burholme Ave., Philadelphia 19111.

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