Community Leader: John Murphy 'Giving' For 50+ Years

HUDSON VALLEY — Without community leaders, the Hudson Valley's towns wouldn’t hum along nearly as smoothly as they do. We’d miss their contributions in big and small ways.

Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to recognize these often unsung community leaders and celebrate their contributions.

This submission comes from reader Eileen Murphy. And she should know, her nominee is her husband, John Allen Murphy of Pearl River.

Murphy is an indefatigable volunteer (and a longtime Patch contributor). He is a past president of Camp Venture, a nonprofit that serves people with developmental disabilities; founder and former president of Joseph's Home for the homeless; founder and former president of Loeb House for the mentally ill (for 35 years); and founder and president of Rockland Homes for Heroes, just to name a very few. He was a Rockland County legislator for 44 years.

Patch: What does this community leader do?

Nominator: For over 50 years to this day, as a volunteer, he has created community homes for our intellectually disabled and mentally ill neighbors, and now homeless veterans.

Patch: What's one thing you want everyone to know about the community hero?

Nominator: He is currently building 14 permanent, affordable, supportive apartments for homeless veterans. This in addition to every cause for people of all genres with mind-related issues. He never got paid a penny for countless days, months, years of giving of his time.

You can hear from Murphy in his own words:

• Rockland County's History of Our Intellectually Disabled
• I Wish Everyone Could Love their Home Town Like I Do
• A Public Thank You To All the People In Rockland County
• This Is A Story You Can't Find Any Where Else!
• Rockland Sons of Italy Helps Homes for Heroes

Shouting out Community Leaders is simple. Just fill out the simple form below — photos are appreciated — and we’ll do the rest with stories on Patch, so the whole neighborhood can celebrate what makes them special.

Click here to nominate a Community Leader.