Edward J. Murphy Sr. of Oak Bluffs died Feb. 28 at the Tippett Home, a hospice care facility, in Needham. He was 67.

He was born in Boston on March 8, 1940.

As a teenager Ed developed his love for the Vineyard, and he often entertained his children and grandchildren with stories about his vacations on the Island. These included how he earned spending money diving off the Oak Bluffs pier for quarters tossed in the water by ferry passengers. He graduated from Boston English High School, and then attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn.

Ed’s first marriage to Sandra Ribiero and second to Robin Lovely both ended in divorce.

However, in testament to Ed’s ability to forge loving and lasting friendships, he spent the Christmas holiday preceding his death with Sandra, at the home of their daughter, and was later attended to by Robin during his illness.

Ed was predeceased by his parents Robert and Margaret Murphy, and by his siblings Peggy Wright, Robert Murphy, Jacqueline Martin, and Janet Chambers.

Survivors include his children Hope, Ed and Eric, and by three grandchildren, Carson, Hayden and Sarandon, all of whom will miss their Poppy dearly. He will be remembered fondly by his dozens of friends, and nieces and nephews who visited with him often during his hospice care.

Donations may be made to the Tippett Home, Visiting Nurse Association Care Hospice, 5 Federal street, Danvers MA 01923 or to Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. boulevard, Nashville TN 37208.