by Bill Wells Director of Student Promotion
in memoriam: brian murphy ’76
Brian Murphy ’76: Remembering a ‘best friend’ lost on 9/11 weeks after the attack, at a hotel, Cantor Fitzgerald announced to the families that their loved ones were presumed dead. “There were over 1,000 attendees at Brian’s memorial service held in New York City,” Ann recalled. “Friends from all over the world came to honor Brian’s memory. The universal message shared by each was that Brian was the glue that kept each of their groups together by reaching out throughout the years and setting up gatherings all around the country. So many described Brian as their best friend.” Judy had lost her best friend, too. Worse, the couple’s two daughters—Jessica and Leila—lost a dad, and Brian missed watching “his girls” grow up into remarkable, world-changing young women. “The hardest part about Brian’s death for me is knowing that he is missing out on the experience of being with his wonderful daughters and connecting with their beautiful souls,” Judy revealed. “And that Jessica and Leila are, in turn, not having the pleasure of Brian’s love, sense of humor and brilliance.” “Since they were so young when he died, they have few real memories of their dad,” Ann said. “We have kept his memory alive with stories and photos, but it’s not the same.” Jessica graduated from Brown University, taught in Tunisia for a year, worked for the New York City Department of Public Health as a contact tracer during COVID-19 and is now enrolled in a pre-med program at Goucher College in
• Brian Murphy ’76, right, with wife, Judy, and daughters Jessica, second from left, and Leila.
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ore than 20 years later, the pain is still present. The wounds have not healed. And the day—the day the world changed in an instant—still haunts the family members of Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Brian Murphy ’76, who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “There was, and still is, a terrible hole in all our lives,” Ann Murphy, Brian’s sister, said. Brian’s wife, Judy, had just dropped off the couple’s youngest daughter, Leila, for her first day of nursery school on that 2001 morning. The gentleman operating the elevator in the school’s building mentioned a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. Brian worked in the North Tower as a Vice President at Cantor Fitzgerald for the company’s E-Trading Bond Program. “I immediately felt that Brian was in some sort of danger,” Judy acknowledged. “My nervous system became activated. When I left the building, I called Brian from a pay phone and did not get an answer.” “Knowing that Brian’s office was on 104th floor of the World Trade Center, my heart sank,” added Ann, who was teaching a class at Southwick-Tolland Regional High School in Massachusetts. “My colleague later remarked that the look on my face was total horror.” Brian’s siblings, Harold and Cynthia, rushed to New York City immediately after learning of the attack, reaching Brian’s apartment by noon despite many of the bridges being closed. Family and friends repeatedly called Brian’s cell phone, attempting to trace the signal, but he was never found. Two
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• Brian Murphy ’76, center, in a yearbook photo of the Atlas staff. Others, from left: Ed Costa ’77, Greg Filias ’76, Steve Davis ’76, advisor Mr. Denver, Steve Riel ’77 and Alexandra Hanson-Harding ’77.
