In Memoriam: Robert Cushman Murphy April 29, 1887-March 20, 1973

BoR>1⁄2 in Brooklyn where his father was a secondary school official, Robert Cushman Murphy's family soon moved farther out on Long Island to Mr. Sinai. In a diary "kept for less than one month in July and August 1903, the year before I entered Port Jefferson High School," we find that he was already a naturalist and acquiring an interest in things nautical. A few scattered entries give the flavor: "July 25, arose at half past four and went out after bluefish in Captain Davis' sloop-rigged, flat-bottomed sailboat... July 27. My father's fiftieth birthday. Worked on the chickenhouse all morning, and stayed home in afternoon while the rest of the family went to the Sound beach for a swim . . . Aug. 3. Sawed wood, took a swim, and made a bow of red cedar. Caught a fledgling olive-backed [Parula] warbler... Aug. 8. Cleaned ten flounders in 25 minutes." Bob went through Port Jefferson High School, walking the 3 miles each way to and from home as his daughter comments "in approved great-man's-childhood fashion."