William Osgood Murphy was born on July 29, 1948, to William Patrick Murphy of Bellows Falls and Lois Lingley Osgood of Saxtons River. Bill passed away on March 26, 2026, at home, with loved ones present, just as he wished at the age of 78.

In his early years, Bill attended Bellows Falls Schools and then was a 1967 graduate of Vermont Academy where his mother, Lois was employed. He received his bachelor’s in education from American International College in Springfield, MA in 1971 and Master in Administration from Keene State in 1986. He married Christine Gallagher of Bellows Falls and they remained married for 43 years until her passing in 2013. They were married in January 1970 in Springfield, MA, where they first resided.

Throughout a 62 – year career in Vermont and New England that spanned from the early 1970’s until recently, Bill primarily worked as an educator, while also taking on roles as a recreation director, coach, journalist and radio sportscaster. He spent the first 52 years of his life in Bellows Falls, later residing in Lebanon, NH.

Bill began his education career as a teacher of a variety of subjects at Westminster Center School working under the tutelage of John Porter. Following 15 enjoyable years in Westminster, he ventured into administration, being named teaching principal at Grafton Elementary School. Ten years later, he moved to the assistant principal position at the Bellows Falls Middle School for seven years, and then completed his educational career as the assistant principal at Hartford High School for eight years, retiring on June 30, 2010.

Driven by a deep and unwavering passion for sports, education, community and youth athletics, Bill dedicated his life to pursuing meaningful work across each of these fields. He became the recreation director for the Town of Rockingham in 1970, after his junior year in college, and served in that capacity for 18 of the next 32 years. His coaching days actually began when he was in college, when he started a 10-year period of coaching the Moose in the Bellows Falls Junior League, a period in which Bellows Falls won the only state title in the league’s history in 1973, finishing seventh in the Eastern Regionals. He also coached the Jets in Pee Wee Football, and spent a dozen years with the Westminster fifth and sixth grade basketball teams. He eventually became the varsity basketball coach at Bellows Falls Union High School, where his Terriers’ won the only two state championships in the sport’s history at the school, in 1993 and 2000. He concluded his coaching career with a 5-year stint at Vermont Academy again coaching basketball.

A veteran Northern New England sports media figure, he is best known for keeping fans in the know about their beloved Boston Red Sox. His career spans decades, beginning as a writer for the Times Reporter, Brattleboro Reformer, Eagle Times, Baseball Bulletin, Sports Journal, and Vermont Journal and Shopper, while freelancing for the Boston Globe. His radio career started in the late 70s as sports director at WCFR and WBFL, later working for Vox Radio, 1510 the Zone, and for nearly 30 years with Great Eastern Radio.

Bill spent countless hours at Fenway and traveling to see the Sox within drivable distances. He attended any sporting event he could find and get to as often as possible. After COVID, he never attended another professional event, but spent as much time as possible at regional high school events and some particular favorites being The Upper Valley Nighthawks and Vermont Academy Baseball.

Bill was a large part of the Bellows Falls community, deeply respected, loved and admired by many. His dedication to working with youth left a lasting impression, as he continues to maintain meaningful connections with many of the students and athletes he mentored. Through his guidance, he helped shape not only their athletic paths, but also supported them through difficult times and decision making in their lives.

He was humbled when the community showed their appreciation in 1994 and made him one of the first inductees into the Terrier Hall of Fame. In addition, Bill was named The Bellows Falls Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year in 1999. Most recently he was chosen as Grand Marshal of the 2023 Alumni Parade. He did work as hard as he did to gain recognitions such as these, but was honored at the same time.

He is survived by his daughters; Melissa (Murphy) Erickson of Lithia, FL and Heather Murphy of Bellows Falls, VT. His long time companion, Dianne Giffin of Lebanon, NH and her family. His beloved grandchildren; Daniel Erickson of Lithia, FL and Murphy Smith of Westmoreland, NH and her husband, Bailey Smith. In addition to two great-grandchildren, Scarlett Smith and Hazel Smith. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all whose lives he touched.

There will be calling hours at Fenton and Hennessy Funeral Home Bellows Falls, Vermont on Friday, April 10, 2026, from 5:00-7:00 PM. A Mass and Christian burial will be held at St. Charles Church on April 11, 2026, at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow in St. Charles Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bill’s name to the Vermont Academy Baseball Program 10 Long Walk, PO Box 500, Saxtons River, VT 05154.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Fenton and Hennessey Funeral Home, 55 Westminster Street, Bellows Falls, VT.