Daniel Murphy, 95, a retired lawyer died Wednesday May 18, 2022 of congestive heart failure at his residence in Haverford.

Born in 1927, Dan grew up on the Main Line where he went to Haverford School, learned Latin, excelled at sports, delivered newspapers to the Von Trapp family, and hunted muskrats for spending money. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he was editor of the newspaper. He earned a law degree from Yale in 1953. After serving as an assistant city solicitor for three years, he went into private practice, retiring as a partner of Stradley, Ronan, Stevens & Young in 1993.

Always civic minded, Dan was very active in Radnor Township politics in the 1960s, serving as a mentor to the struggling Democratic candidates of the day. His contributions were credited with transforming the political climate of the time. He was first to propose the preservation of the 47-acre Zantzinger Estate, now "The Willows" park, which was slated for development in 1973. He served on and chaired the Committee of 70 for many years. He was a board member of the American Cancer Society, and the editor of the Philadelphia Bar Association Magazine.

In his retirement he taught law at Villanova Law School as a guest lecturer, traveled to Hungary as a visiting professor, and served as an arbitrator and clerk of the court in Philadelphia. He was a life-long Democrat and volunteered on political campaigns into his 90s. As a believer in democracy, he privately funded research intended to avert gerrymandering.

An avid reader until his death, Dan had a fine mind and a great love of learning. He was a Civil War buff and student of history. He researched family genealogy and authored two books of family history and the lives of his ancestors. He loved travel  and was a philanthropist and patron of the arts.

He survived two ex-wives, Jeanne Genetti (d. 2019) and Barbara Courter (d. 2020) and is survived by daughter Jewel Murphy, son Daniel Jr, and grandson Jeremiah Vela Murphy.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Funeral Mass on Saturday June 4th, 10:30 AM to be held at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 35 Old Eagle School Rd, Wayne PA. Interment Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Brennan Center for Justice