The passing of a beloved UF Pathologist

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Dr. William (Bill) Murphy, MD, Emeritus Professor of Pathology at the University of Florida. Dr. Murphy passed peacefully at his home after battling cancer.

Dr. Murphy was born in Des Moines, IA, completed his undergraduate at Drake University and obtained his MD at Harvard Medical School. Following service in the US Navy, Dr. Murphy held a faculty position at University of Tennessee, Baptist Memorial Hospital and Tulane before joining the faculty as Professor at the University of Florida in 1994.

Dr. Murphy was a world-renowned expert and teacher in Genitourinary pathology and his particular expertise was in Bladder cancer and the role of urinary cytopathology in the evaluation and management of bladder cancer.  He described many new diagnostic variants that are still recognized today in his numerous peer reviewed publications and books. He was one of the lead authors for the 3rd and 4th editions of the AFIP fascicles for Tumors of the Kidney, Bladder and Related Urinary Structures- the authoritative series on tumor classification. He was in high demand for his teaching abilities and expertise and frequently gave talks at leading pathology meetings including the United States-Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP), the American Society of Cytopathology (ASC) and presented a long-running course at the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) on Urinary Cytopathology.  He was the receipt of numerous awards including teaching awards at the University of Florida and the Papanicolaou Award from the American Society of Cytopathology in 1998, the highest honor for a Cytopathologist.

A lover of travel and a true polymath, he was well versed and an avid conversationist in many areas. A widower, he is survived by daughters Jamar Kroll (Scott) and Shawn Pendergrass (Joe), as well as three grandchildren.

As reported in the Gainesville Sun: A Celebration of life will be held at Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Williams-Thomas Funeral Home Downtown, 404 North Main St. with Dr. Don McGarity officiating. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32606 or the American Cancer Society, https://donate3.cancer.org. Please visit his memorial page at www.williamsthomasfuneralhome.com

The UF College of Medicine community extends our gratitude for Dr. Murphy’s many contributions and our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

 

Colleen Koch, M.D., M.S., M.B.A.

Folke H. Peterson Dean’s Distinguished Professor

Dean, UF College of Medicine

 

Jennifer Hunt, MD

Chair, Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine