Lieutenant Commander Thomas "Tom" Joseph Murphy, age 88, of Chesterton, Ind., passed away on Wednesday, December 5, 2012.

Tom was born on June 15, 1924 in Boston, Mass., to Thomas J. and Mary E. (Sullivan) Murphy, both of whom preceded him in death.

He was married on June 2, 1956 in Tokyo, Japan to Gay G. Gaydos, who resides in Chesterton, Ind.

Tom is survived by his wife, Gay Murphy; brother, James Murphy of Florida; daughter, Shannon G. Murphy of Sherman Oaks, Calif.; grandchildren, Kara Anne Rodenhizer-Stampfli of Arlington, Va., John S. Rodenhizer II, and Thomas R. Rodenhizer; grandson in-law, Sean A. Stampfli; and great-grandson, Aiden S. Stampfli.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Mary Murphy; brothers, Edward and Bob Murphy; sisters, Helen Dewey and Muriel Brady; and son Brian T. Murphy.

Tom graduated from Harvard and Tufts University and received his Ph.D. from the United States Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, Calif. Prior to his retirement he was navigator of the U.S.S. Canberra CAG-2 and Commander of the U.S.S. Reaper CAG-2. He received seven commendations while serving during World War II and the Korean War. In 1960, Tom became a member of the Royal Order of Magellan after navigating the U.S.S. Canberra around the world. After retiring from the Navy, he became a professor of Physics at Southern Connecticut University in New Haven, Conn.

Tom was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Tom's passions were reading, traveling, playing bridge, and telling his grandchildren how he fell in love with their grandmother.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, December 9, 2012, at 4:30 p.m. at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, 517 Broadway, Chesterton, Ind.

Visitation will be held Sunday, December 9, 2012 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery in Fort Meyer, Va., at a later date.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.EE-FH.com

Posted 12/7/2012