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Alan Morphy was born in 1943 to Anthony Nicholas and Marie Josephine (Gagan) Morphy, who lived in San Anselmo. He passed away peacefully in his sleep during the night of November 10th and 11th, 2021. He lived a healthy lifestyle, following a sensible diet, bicycling, and working out at the gym regularly. The cause of his death is unknown. The family is mystified by his passing at the age of 77, but we celebrate his life.
Alan was educated at St. Anselm’s School in San Anselmo, Our Lady of Lourdes School in Oakland, St. Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, St. Mary’s College in Moraga, and earned his teaching credential at the University of California in Berkeley.
Our grandmother grew up in Singapore, married an Irishman, and ended up in California. Her sister married a Frenchman and ended up in France. Thus, we have many French cousins. After graduating with a French major from St. Mary’s, Alan spent a year in Le Havre, France, teaching English to French students at L’Institute St. Joseph. This led to many subsequent trips to France, visiting cousins, celebrating weddings and birthdays, and even funerals. On the way to the airport in September, Alan told his brother that this would be his 29th trip to France.
Upon earning his credential, Alan started teaching French and Social Studies at Ygnacio Valley High School. A couple of years later he transferred to Concord High School, where he taught only French, his passion. He organized many extra-curricular activities for the students in his French classes, including a vegetable garden, French cooking, and student exchanges with high schools in France whereby 20 or so of their students would come to Concord High and stay with students’ families, and later Concord High students would go to the French high school and stay with students’ families over there.
Alan was a multi-talented man of high intelligence. He played the accordion and the guitar. He was ambitious, and he followed through on many of his dreams. He and his wife, Barbara, started several businesses. Alan studied baking in France and became certified as a French baker. Also, as much as he loved France, Alan was proud of his Irish heritage, and managed to obtain Irish citizenship and an Irish passport.
He was a family man, blessed with a lovely wife, three fine children, and six grandchildren. He and his wife were loyal to the family, taking in their nieces, Chrystelle and Tiffany, when his sister, Cynthia, and her husband died, and raising them to adulthood. Tiffany stayed local and involved Alan and Barbara in the raising of her family, which was a blessing to them. Alan and Barbara served God in many ways, and God blessed them in many ways.
Alan was preceded in death by his parents, Marie and Tony Morphy, his sister, Cynthia Hamlett, and his wife, Barbara Luciana (Berta) Morphy. He is survived by his three children, Erin Morphy-Lum (Gary), Patrick Morphy, and Tony Morphy (Kirstie), his six grandchildren, Sierra, Jackson, Cody, Anthony, Asa and Amelia, his siblings, Charles Morphy, James Morphy (Alexandra) and Marie Elwood, and many nieces and nephews.
Alan’s funeral mass will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Martinez on Friday, December 10, at 11:00AM, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery.
