David Kent
Murphy

1935 - 2024

Peacefully, D. Kent Murphy passed away in Montreal on April 7, 2024, in his 88th year. Pre-deceased by daughter Elizabeth and wife Maryl, Kent (or “Murph”, as many knew him) leaves his sister Eleanor as well as sons David (Marie-Pier) and Michael (Annie), and grandchildren Adrian, Nicolas, Mya, Brooke, and Maximus.

Les Services Commémoratifs Mont-Royal / ​Mount Royal Commemorative Services

Obituary

David Kent Murphy

1935 - 2024

Peacefully, D. Kent Murphy passed away in Montreal on April 7, 2024, in his 88th year. Pre-deceased by daughter Elizabeth and wife Maryl, Kent (or “Murph”, as many knew him) leaves his sister Eleanor as well as sons David (Marie-Pier) and Michael (Annie), and grandchildren Adrian, Nicolas, Mya, Brooke, and Maximus.

 Born in 1935 in London, Ontario, Kent grew up in Sarnia where he excelled as a student and Boy Scout, later working summers on the supply tankers plying the Great Lakes and mapping parts of Canada’s far north for the Geological Survey of Canada. Classmate Jim Kerr in his Mining-Geology year at UofT introduced his sister Maryl to Kent – they soon became a couple that would partner for life and adventure for the next 65 years. Initially based in Niagara Falls, the growing family traveled across Canada and around the world, with stops in Donnie Creek BC, Labrador City, Taichung Taiwan, Ankara Turkey, finally settling in Montreal in 1971 at a time when northern Quebec was leading the world in large-scale hydroelectric power development.

 Montreal became home and Murph led the family exploring Quebec culture and networks. He built his name with RSW - and for a time Hydro-Québec- for thoughtful expertise in deep-rock geology and hydropower dam design and safety in Canada and around the world, including in Colombia, Antigua, China and India. During a sabbatical term, Murph was enrolled in engineering at Polytechnique Montréal at the time the tragic loss of 14 women engineering students occurred. In retirement, Kent volunteered with other leaders in engineering to update and make more inclusive the statutes and ceremonies that obligate graduating engineers in Canada to high ethical and professional standards.

 Murph was committed first and foremost to Maryl and their family. He was a loving and supportive husband, father and grandfather, designing and building the Fodey Lake cottage – now a legacy for the family – as an ecological platform from which to observe and interact with the fauna and flora of the Canadian Shield. When they weren’t themselves swimming (sometime competitively) or cross-country skiing, Murph and Maryl led campfire songs and were cheerleaders at kids (and later, grandkids) soccer or hockey matches and running races. They both loved Montreal West’s unique charm and contributed energetically over the decades to neighbourhood and community events, where Murph’s harmonica often swelled to rally the song….  

Family will receive visitors at Mount Royal Funeral Complex - 1297 Chemin de la Forêt, Outremont, (Entrance via Chemin de la Forêt, Outremont follow the blue line to the funeral complex), between 19h-21h on May 16, 2024. Celebration of life will take place at same address 11h-12h on May 17, followed by light lunch. In lieu of flowers, the family ask that people make donations in support of Alzheimer’s research and patient support.