Stephen A. Murphy, Jr., Lt. Det., Boston Police Dept., Retired, age 88, of Quincy, died peacefully, Friday, May 8, 2026 at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Milton, surrounded by his loving family.

Stephen was born in Marlborough, to the late Stephen A. and Dorothy A. (McPartlen) Murphy. Raised and educated in Hudson and Dorchester, he was a graduate of Boston English High School, Class of 1955. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, with honors, from Northeastern University in 1975. He lived in Quincy for fifty-one years.

Steve was proud to have served in the United States Marine Corps during the late 1950s, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He served with the Third Marine Division, FMF, in Japan from 1956-1957. He served with the Second Marine Division, FMF, in the Atlantic from 1957-1958 and participated in the landing in Lebanon.

Steve was also proud to have served in the Boston Police Department for thirty-eight years, retiring in 2002. He graduated first in his police academy class in July, 1964, and began his career as a patrolman in District Nine, Roxbury. From 1971-1975, he worked as a detective in District Nine and the Drug Control Unit. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1975, working in District Three, Mattapan, and District One, Boston, as a patrol supervisor and shift commander for three years. From 1979-1990, he served as a Sergeant Detective, working as a squad commander in Organized Crime and the Homicide Unit, and the unit commander of the Organized Crime Division of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1990 and Lieutenant Detective the following year, continuing in the Suffolk Country District Attorney’s Office and eventually the Bureau of Investigative Services, Office of the Chief, and the Major Case Division, from which he retired. During the 1990s, he and his partner received national recognition for their work on the Cold Case Squad, Homicide Unit. He was a member of the Boston Police Superior Officers Federation.

He was a member of the Quincy Lodge of Elks and enjoyed spending time in Florida.

Beloved husband for thirty-one years of Mary A. (Serino) Murphy.

Dear brother of John B. Murphy of Indiana.

Steve is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Visiting Hours will be held at the Sweeney Brothers Home for Funerals, 1 Independence Avenue, Quincy, on Friday, May 15, from 4 – 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Divine Mercy Parish at Saint Mary’s Church, 95 Crescent Street, West Quincy, on Saturday, May 16, at 10 a.m. Interment, with military honors, will follow at Saint Mary’s Cemetery, West Quincy.

For those who wish, donations in Stephen’s memory may be made to Marine Toys for Tots – Greater Boston, 1st Battalion 25th Marines, 53 Quebec Street, Fort Devens, MA 01432 or Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.