Jerry was born in Youngstown, Ohio on September 10, 1941 to Martin and Dorothy (Mihalik) Murphy.   He played Little League and Pony League baseball .  In 1955 his team was World Series Runner-Up.   Jerry loved fishing and all while he was growing up he was a well-known accomplished fisherman in  the Youngstown area and Mill Creek Park.

Jerry graduated from South High School in 1959 and attended the University of Notre Dame and Youngstown State University. He married Margie Sandine in 1963 and moved to sunny Miami, Florida, where he attended the University of Miami.    Jerry became a Fireman for the City of Miami for 36 years, and truly loved being a fireman.  

He was an avid tennis player and became a USTA Professional Teaching Pro out of Kennedy Park-Maxwell Tennis Center in Pembroke Pines.

Fishing was his favorite past time throughout his life.  After retiring from the Fire Department, Jerry became a licensed Fly Fishing Guide and fished out of Key Biscayne and Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo.  His ‘specialty’ was The Silver King Tarpon. He loved to watch them… watch them jump and do their acrobatics out of the water. Jerry was featured in many saltwater fishing magazines and fishing shows. He learned from his friend Jorge, to “be one with the fish and think like a fish, go with your experience and let nature sync for the fishing magic”.

Jerry and Marge belonged to St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Davie, Florida and were devoted Catholics.   Jerry was a champion of the unborn his whole life and was the secretary of the Broward County Right To Life committee from 1973 to 1977.   Together, Jerry and Marge raised 3 daughters; Christine Marie Foltz and her husband, Tim, Joanne Elizabeth Lopez and her husband, Martin, and Erin Michelle Kristova; 6 grandchildren, Ryan Fussner, Megan (Kevin) Mulles, Monica Fussner, Josephine Lopez, Sean Lopez, And Austin Lopez; and 2 great-grandchildren, Colton Fussner, Charlotte Fussner

Jerry loved spending time with his family and their yearly vacations at Lake Placid in central Florida, where they fished and waterskied.   There was no greater fan of Notre Dame football then Jerry.  He never missed watching his Fighting Irish and studied their statistics daily all year-long.

Jerry had an amazing appreciation of nature and animals.  He actively engaged his daughters to embrace and respect the natural world.  They fondly remember him catching lizards so they could carefully observe the vibrant flaps of skin on their throats extend and retract, or had the lizard hold onto their earlobes with their mouths, like earrings! They squirmed while Jerry encouraged them to bait the hook over and over till the worm or bait was wearing the hook. He taught them to respect Florida’s storms by lying on the deck of his boat if lightening threatened. He taught them to stay calm even if the boat broke down. Sometimes he would have them jump in the water to push the boat to shore as he stood on deck steering the boat to safety.  He taught them how to drive a truck, pull a trailer, drive ski boats, change tires, hit top spin and slices on the tennis court, and toast many holidays with a Jameson Irish Whiskey shot.   Jerry regularly joined them in handstands underwater, swim races across Pembroke Lakes at his parent’s home, and how to train his many boxer dogs. He always encouraged his girls to stay active with their exercising, jogging and dancing.  He would give hugs and gentle advice about boys.  

Jerry and Marge had a storybook marriage.  They met when they were 15 years old and were married 62 years as the love of each other’s lives. They had a wonderful life together, raising their daughters, playing tennis, and of course always rooting for The Notre Dame Fighting Irish.  When Jerry’s active lifestyle was interrupted, Marge insisted on caring for him at home, never leaving his side till the end.

With great acknowledgement to Jere Creed, his life-long best friend.  They were always there for each other and at each other’s side. There is just so much to say – so many things -so many feelings and love. To his friends, Jerry was a simple person you wished had been part of your family. They felt if you had the pleasure to meet and know him you were blessed and that he was like a father and a brother. 

He will be greatly missed.

For those unable to attend the Service, the family is offering LIVE streaming of the Funeral Service on Wednesday, December 11th beginning at 7:00 PM. The link to attend LIVE is on the Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care Facebook page at: TRIBUTES OF A LIFETIME SERVICE LIVESTREAM