Amy Murphy

Amy Murphy, born on July 2, 1969, passed away on October 31, 2025.  She was the daughter of the late Christine Joan Murphy and William R. Murphy, Jr. and left behind her sister Jill Murphy Long and brother Michael T. Murphy, her partner Dustin Flay. She has relatives in Florida, Texas, New Jersey and New York, plus friends, long-time and brand new, from Pennsylvania, California, Europe, Turkey and Brooklyn.  

Her creative career provided the opportunities as a: Visual Specialist, Research and Development Specialist, Research Collaborator, Adjunct College Professor and Special Project Coordinator. With years of experience at nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions, Amy’s focus had always been on art research for collaborative projects. She was tasked to present well-vetted information to verify the truth; be it the authenticity of fine art, the content of a complex lecture, or a magazine’s cover art. One of her most memorable successes was working as an art expert to verify an original with the FBI.

Amy excelled equally in both creative and analytical problem-solving that was centered on aligning client objectives with innovative solutions. She combined strong project management skills with her creative background in aesthetics and business ethics with the goal to provide creative valuable insights that resonate with stakeholders and uphold the organization’s values.  

As the Managing Editor and Associate Publisher for GLASS Quarterly in Brooklyn, New York, Amy coordinated editorial calendars, publishing schedules, and supervised staff, offering guidance and direction under deadline. Her coordinated and effective communications with the subscription company, distribution center, and Canadian printer consistently delivered a professional art magazine. She also wrote and edited articles and created engaging content to inform and entertain their diverse and global audiences.

Amy worked as the Special Projects Coordinator at the Keith Haring Foundation for more than ten years in Manhattan. From art provenance research to authenticating the late artist’s work and authorizing various merchandising applications, Amy’s analytical and creative talents served these assignments well. From in-depth connoisseurship and forensic analysis to ensure compliance with international law enforcement standards to the maintenance of meticulous documentation and submission of comprehensive reports, she enhanced and reinforced the foundation's operational integrity to protecting the artist’s legacy.

To give back and influence the next generations, Amy taught college at New York Empire State College for seventeen years, York College while living in York to be close to her father before his passing, and at State University of New York State University of New York for sixteen years as a Humanities Professor, teaching classes that covered the subject matter of: Images of Women in Western Civilization, Aesthetics, Philosophy & Ethics, Research Methodologies and Art History.

She also served as the Project Manager at the Wildenstein Plattner Institute in New York City, a non-profit foundation dedicated to the study of art history.  

As a Business English Tutor with the TEFL Organization, Amy helped many in Europe, NW Turkey and Ukraine during her eight years of tutoring. While in Turkey for a short assignment in 2018, Amy worked at the Anadolu University.

During her years in Southern California, Amy was the Assistant Art Director at Theme Warehouse where she collaborated in the scenic workshop department to design and construct props and sets for film and television, and various special events.  She and her team created everything required of productions from custom signage, floral displays and to integrating lighting, drapery and scenic paintings for these immersive installations.

Amy graduated with honors from Temple University, Tyler School of Art with a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in Sculpture and a Master’s Degree in Philosophy Aesthetics & Ethics from California State University, Long Beach where she was also a Graduate Assistant.

She had graduated from Central York High School in 1987 with honors. She played softball, rode her bike with her family to brunch, and loved her first dog, Bertha, which began a long relationship with other furry friends over the decades.  

Amy started volunteering at StoryCorps in 2012 because she enjoyed hearing diverse interviews from all kinds of people about their lives and reflections. She had said, “There is often a universal quality underlying each life story.” For more than ten years, Amy volunteered with New York Cares, was a member with the American Society For Aesthetics since 2012 and The American Alliance of Museums since 2010. She was also a member of the Catalogue Raisonné Scholars Association.  

With a new move to just outside Philadelphia in 2024, she was a Customer Service Coordinator at a nonprofit organization while she created watercolor art in her spare time. Creative since the day she was born, Amy’s experiences had her painting, drawing, dancing (ballet as a child) and writing and reading extensively.

Amy cared deeply about animal welfare, the arts and culture, and education, health and social services for all. She will be missed by many. Her life touched many with her kindness, sensitivity and creativity.

A Visitation will begin at 12 pm on Saturday, November 8, 2025, followed immediately by a Memorial Service at 1 pm at the Delvin-Gatch Funeral Home located at 517 Main Street in Phoenixville, PA. Questions: (610) 933-3012

A Celebration of Life will be held at later date. Please ask family for details.

Please bring photos and memories to share.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Amy Murphy’s memory to Morris Animal Refuge. Founded in 1874, the Morris Animal Refuge is a pioneer in animal welfare and committed to adoption, education, and high-quality care with the goal of finding positive and humane outcomes for animals in need.

Here is the link to donate on behalf of Amy.

Or use this: https://morrisanimalrefuge.kindful.com/embeds/706ba321-4d8b-4198-b79b-4f3238dbc722

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