Philip Murtha stands beside statue he posed for at Firefighters Memorial in front of Babylon Town Hall.As a serviceman for his country, a volunteer for his community and a family man, World War II veteran and former New York City firefighter Philip Murtha was a role model, both literally and figuratively. He posed for the Firefighters Memorial statue that now sits in front of Babylon Town Hall in Lindenhurst, and left a legacy of commitment in the service of others.
Mr. Murtha of Farmingdale,, 85, died June 5, 2010 with his family at his bedside.
Mr. Murtha was born in Brooklyn in 1927 and moved to Hamilton Beach, Queens soon after. At the age of 16, in the midst of World War II, Murtha enlisted into the U.S. Navy and served in the South Pacific. He was in Guadalcanal and Solomon Islands and spent four years with the U.S. Marine Reserves following his discharge.
He received numerous military recognitions and served as Commander of the American Legion. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
After serving his country and fighting wars, Mr. Murtha came home to serve his community fighting fires. He moved to Farmingdale with this family in the late 1950s after he joined the New York City Fire Department. He spent 34 years there and served as Fire Marshall. While still employed as a New York City Firefighter, Mr. Murtha volunteered at the East Farmingdale Fire Department serving as Chief of the Department and Commissioner.
In 1984, he retired from the New York City Fire Department, after accumulating 11 awards for valor.
Mr. Murtha’s wife Marie and his children, Barbara Dunn and her husband Pete of Seaford, Jerry and his wife Robin of Farmingdale and Raymond and his wife Karen of Seaford survive him, as does his brother Vincent and his wife Diana of Brewster, N.Y., and his sisters, Joan Durjian of New Jersey and Marion of Huntington. Nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren also survive him.
Mr. Murtha reposed at Arthur F. White Funeral Home, Inc. in Farmingdale until June 8. His funeral took place at St. Killian R.C. Church on June 9 at 9:45 a.m.
Donations in his name can be sent to St. Jude Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50 Memphis, TN 38101-0050 or Hospice Care Network, 99 Sunnyside Blvd., Woodbury, NY 11797. Murtha can be visited at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.