Dr. Dennis K. Murphy, Sr.

Dr. Dennis Kevin Murphy, educator, musician, author, community leader and athlete passed away peacefully on July 31, 2025 at the age of 93. Born to Desmond and Emma (Comeau) Murphy in Rochester, he spent much of his life in upstate NY, Iowa, and Minnesota before settling in Penn Yan, NY.  Dennis was devoted to his Catholic faith, family, music and teaching.

A proud graduate of the Aquinas Institute (Class of 1951) and a member of the Pioneer Class of St. John Fisher College (1955) - with his life long friend, Dick Phillips - Dennis went on to earn his Doctorate in Education from the University of Rochester in 1965. His teaching career began at Grinnell College in Iowa, where he founded the Midwest Education Review Journal and formed a Renaissance-era a cappella group that specialized in catches. He later served as an Assistant Professor at St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota before being appointed Full Professor and Chairman of the Education Department at Keuka College in 1972, a position he held until his retirement in 1997.

In addition to his work in education, Dennis was deeply involved in his local community. For over 30 years he was an active member of the Penn Yan Lions Club, at one time serving as President.  For about 10 years during the 1980s-90s, he was the golf professional at Lakeside Country Club in Penn Yan. A prolific author, he wrote numerous books, including “General Methods on Teaching” and “The Best Made Plans of Teachers.” With Don Mills, he co-authored two histories of Penn Yan entitled “And in Penn Yan When You Get to the Corner” and “But I Always Called Her Mama.” His creative work also included the Irish-themed novel “The Raveled Sleeve of Care” and the play “Inmates” inspired by his father’s life in a nursing home.

Dennis proposed to his future wife, Yvonne Fay St. Mary, on the first day he met her. She took another 2 months to decide for sure, but the match was perfect and endured nearly 54 years until her passing in 2012. Their home was filled with music, both from their own piano performance or that of their talented friends, among them Dick Volpe or Jimmy Gala. They had an extensive collection of classical and jazz recordings, but Dennis especially loved the vocals of Bing Crosby or Karen Carpenter. Dennis had his own unique way around a song. Who could forget his rendition of Nat King Cole’s “They Tried to Feed Us Egg Foo Young” or his own original “Let Me Tell Ya ‘Bout My Moonlight Sonata; I Shouldn’t Oughta.” On a more serious note, for many years Dennis directed the church choir where Yvonne played the organ.

Dennis loved sports and in his younger days played softball and handball, was an avid long distance runner and downhill skier. He especially loved golf which his father taught him, and that he in turn passed down to his wife and kids. In an effort to make up for all those years Yvonne felt like a golf widow, Dennis even agreed to learn to dance the Argentine Tango. They spent their last several years together attending and hosting many milongas.

To know him is to love him. Dennis would put peanut butter on everything he could, loved filet mignon (pronounced in an exaggerated French accent) as well as the cheeseburgers at the Classic Cafe in Dundee, Sudoku or crossword puzzles, and a bourbon on ice at exactly 5 p.m.

Dennis spent his last years “holding court” on the back porch. There he was frequently visited by his neighbors, Kyle and Jennifer Bower, Steve and Shirley Owens, and Jeff and Dannette Stewart. Neighborhood “kids” Taylin, Ethan, Nicole, Stephanie, Ashley, Tate and Rielly would often spend time with Dennis as well. The family is especially appreciative to Kyle and Jennifer for their many acts of kindness to Dr. M after Yvonne passed, including the Covid years (groceries, laundry, keeping him off the stairs), and those “ Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” moments. You were so good to him.

Had Dennis lived one more day, he likely would have thanked his daughter for all the daily phone calls at exactly 6:40 p.m., their fun times golfing or sharing books, for taking over as his business manager, and for NOT making him learn how to crochet. He would have thanked his namesake for always running over to help with his car or the house, all their Tuesday breakfasts downtown and family pizza/chicken wings dinners, and for coordinating his health care the last few years. Last but not least, Dennis would have said he always enjoyed, with occasional frustration, the inquisitive and curious nature of his youngest son. Whether it be banging his head to get out of his crib, interrupting his college teaching with his self-inflicted wounds, or following him in the school hallway while he took pictures for his book, he was sure to catch him doing something new and unexpected. Most of his joy came from watching with pride as his youngest and Yvonne played music together, especially when his son was playing the flute. He was so happy to watch him graduate from West Point and Princeton, and see him grow with his own wife and children.

Dennis is survived by his children (Den/Bren/Jer!) - Brenda Jean, Dennis Kevin Jr., and his wife, Penny; Jerald Desmond and his wife, Kathleen; his grandchildren, Lauren (Michael) Freedman and Meredith (David) Grosvenor; and his great-grandchildren, James Freedman, Madilyn Freedman, Matilda Grosvenor, and Alanna Cropley (fiancé Jordan Phillips.) He is also survived by his brothers, Brian Murphy, Patrick (Barbara) Murphy and his sisters Kathleen (Tony) Battaglia and Maureen Williams.

Thank you Dad for all your love and support, and for the many nights you stayed up way past 7 p.m. to play another round of Euchre.  May you always continue to silently correct our grammar.  Irregardless, we hope that you and Mom are together again, dancing cheek to cheek, with you singing “Moonlight Becomes You” and “When I Fall in Love” without crying.

Visitation at 10 a.m. with funeral Mass following at 11 a.m. - both at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Penn Yan on Friday, August 8th, 2025; interment at St. Michael’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Wilmot Cancer Center, UR or a charity of one’s choice in his memory.  Weldon Funeral Home of Penn Yan is assisting the family.