- Date Of Birth: October 29, 1988
- Date Of Death: October 11, 2011
- State: Indiana
Xavier Thomas Murphy, 22, Anderson, passed away on Tuesday, October 11, 2011, after a brief illness. Although his life was short, he had an impact on his world that was felt by many, and his memory will be cherished by a multitude of loving friends and family members.
Xavier was born on October 29, 1988, in Champaign, Illinois. He resided there, and in Berlin, Germany, before his family moved to Anderson in 1992. He was a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic parish, and he attended St. Mary’s grade school through the eighth grade. He played on the St. Mary’s boys’ basketball team and was a member of the Anderson Blitz soccer program. As a freshman in high school, Xavier attended Lapel High School, where he played football and basketball and made many friends. He finished his high school years at Guerin Catholic High School in Noblesville, from which he graduated in 2007. At Guerin Catholic, he lettered in track, basketball, and football, and served as a co-captain of the track team, and of the Golden Eagles football team, playing wide receiver and cornerback. He received the Guerin “Outstanding Business Student” award at graduation. He was also recognized as “Guerin Male Athlete of the Year” in his graduating class.
Xavier attended college at the University of Notre Dame du Lac, from which he graduated in 2011. At Notre Dame, he majored in political science. He was a proud resident of Zahm Hall during his entire life at Notre Dame. For four years, he worked with the student management program for the Notre Dame football team, serving as head manager for student personnel in his senior year. At the time of his death, he was working as an intern with Notre Dame’s football equipment program, and applying to graduate programs in sports management. Xavier was a person filled with love and energy and profound devotion to his faith. He liked reading, especially books on history and politics. He enjoyed good food, particularly meats of virtually every kind. He loved being around babies and small children. He was an avid sports fan, and he greatly enjoyed athletics of many kinds. He loved Christmas, family vacations in the summer, Mt. Baldy at the Indiana Dunes, and the Fourth of July. Above all, he loved to be with his family and was devoted to his brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his parents, David and Marcia Murphy, of Anderson; his sisters, Madeline New Orleans, Isabel, Mathilda, and Eleanor Anderson; his brothers, Julian South Bend and Gilbert Cleveland; his grandparents, Nate and Marge Martin, Robert MurphyRockford, IL, and Joe and Martha Warren Lebanon OK; great grandmother, Lillie Martin Rockford, IL his devoted girlfriend, Sarah Jane SJ Power of Perth, Australia; and many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Rosemary Murphy.
