Leaving a Lasting Legacy
For most of us, home is a warm
and special place where we feel safe and learn to grow, serve and
participate in the community. For David Murphy, that place was Lutheran
Social Service's St. Stephen's Group home in Bloomington.
David relished having his own
home where he could be on his own, and took his role in the running of the
household very seriously. He took the initiative, for example, to make
sure the table was set for meals. That was his job! It was also at St.
Stephen's where he met his best friend, Steve, and where he connected with
work at Opportunity Partners, and enjoyed social outings, such as the
train trips he took on occasion - something he loved.
St. Stephen's Group Home
opened in 1976 to serve adults with developmental disabilities. Its
philosophy was to help people with disabilities be among their peers and
live as independently as possible in the community.
"David would visit his mother,
Vivian, at her home or apartment, but was also anxious to return to St.
Stephen's," explained Steve Danielson, David's cousin. "St. Stephen's was
his home, and he loved it there."
Before she died, Vivian Murphy
set up a trust for David to ensure that he would be well cared for. David
died in 2001, and part of his trust went to Lutheran Social Service, at
the request of the family. Before St. Stephen's closed in 2001, monies
from the trust funded a vacation to Two Harbors, Minn., for all of the
people who were living at St. Stephen's. St. Stephen's closed as part of a
State of Minnesota initiative to make way for four smaller homes that
could provide an even richer life experience for people with disabilities.
Additional funds from the
Murphy trust helped to establish those homes, one of which is named Murphy
Place, in honor of David.
David loved St. Stephen's, the
housemates he lived with, and the staff. There he experienced
independence, and became part of a larger family. David's mother wanted
others with disabilities to have that same experience. This desire was
part of the Murphy legacy that will live on to benefit the lives of others
with disabilities for years to come.
To learn more about Planned
Giving opportunities and the way they can benefit others through Lutheran
Social Service, please contact Chris Courchane at 651.969-2342.
