Tom Murphy, and his family, lived in Buffalo NY. At various times he was employed as a landscaper, appliance salesman, insurance agent, real estate developer, and civil servant.

He worked for, and with, some of Buffalo's most noted, and controversial business and political figures, including Joseph N Desmon, Harold Farber, Robert J Bradley, Philip B Schwab, Edward H Cottrell, as well as Frank Sedita, Stanley Makowski and Jimmy Griffin.

Murphy loved each and every job, and yet he always found time to laugh and to play with friends and family.