James P. Murphy

Beloved friend, husband, and father, James “Jim” Patrick Murphy, 63, of Cleveland, OH, passed away on August 27, 2023 after an unexpected and brief struggle with pancreatic cancer.

Jim was born to Gerald and Virginia Murphy in Euclid, OH. He matriculated from Saint Josephs in 1977 and went on to study at John Carroll University. After graduating, he started his first job at the classical music station in Cleveland (WCLV) where he worked as a sound engineer for over 25 years. 

In 1981, Jim met Kathleen “Kathy” Fitzwater through a close friend while she was studying at Case Western Reserve. They married in 1987 and went on to have two daughters, for whom Jim was also part-time stay-home parent. He spent the later part of his career as a Music Manager and Bookseller at Barnes and Noble.

In 2021, Jim retired and to spend time traveling the world with his wife, checking many places off of his bucket list. In 2022 they traveled to Hawaii and in 2023 they traveled to Europe, where they particularly enjoyed their time in Spain. Jim was also a lover of all things music and spent his retirement cataloging and listening to his extensive CD and record collection.

Jim was predeceased by his parents Gerald and Virginia Murphy and his sister-in-law Carolyn Fitzwater. He is survived by his children Maggie Murphy (Brandon Witten), Deirdre Murphy, and Tyler Pounds (chosen family); sister Mary Ann Norton and brother-in-law Dan Norton; nieces and nephews Emily Kirby, Ben Norton, Zak Norton, and Rex Jackson; parents-in-law Charles “Chuck” and Theodora “Teddy” Fitzwater; and sister and brother-in-law Joan and Alan Jackson. He is also survived by numerous other family members and dear friends.

No services will be held at this time but will be held at a future date (to be determined). In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve (https://www.hospicewr.org/Ways-to-Give), an organization that provided both Jim and his mother comfort and peace in their final days.