Volunteer leaves lasting library legacy

Private donations will supplement public funding MILFORD — The Pike County Public Library is the recipient of a $434,000 gift from the estate of the late John Murphy of Milford. This gift will be used for the new library system headquarters to be built on East Harford Street in Milford. With this gift, the Pike County Public Library has raised well over $2 million from private donors for its capital campaign for the new headquarters building. Murphy’s gift is the second of two generous bequests that have been dedicated to construction of the new county headquarters of the library system. Murphy was born in Brockton, Mass., and attended Harvard University where he received a degree in literature. He served in World War II as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, first in Panama and then in the South Pacific. Murphy spent his professional career working for IBM in public relations. Upon retirement, he moved to Milford where he lived quietly and simply. He was a longtime supporter of the library, and a dedicated volunteer. Murphy loved to read, and is described as a quiet, reserved man of great integrity. Murphy wanted his legacy to have a ripple effect, influencing not only direct recipients, but also positively affecting all the people whose lives the direct recipients might touch. “We are grateful for Mr. Murphy’s generous gift. His love of literature and goal for his legacy couple to make the Pike County Public Library a perfect beneficiary,” says Library Board President Maleyne Syracuse. “The new headquarters will be the cornerstone of the expansion and enhancement of our countywide library services.” The Library Board plans to name the new Administrative Offices in honor of Murphy, according to Syracuse, and the new headquarters will house some of his papers and mementos. Expanded system-wide services will support economic development in Pike County, provide recreational and cultural opportunities for all residents, and create access to educational programs, information and technology for all. Murphy also bequeathed gifts to other deserving organizations including: the Salvation Army, the Community House, and Help Our Kids, an offshoot of the Center for Developmental Disabilities. With these contributions Murphy’s legacy will live on to positively impact the all the people of Pike County. The library also recently announced two of Rep. John Siptroth’s funding efforts, amounting $1,010,000 in state funding support for construction.