Cornelius Francis Murphy, Jr., (Neal), of Valencia passed away on December 23, 2025, after a brief illness. He was 92.
He was born in Newport on March 13, 1933, to Cornelius F. Murphy and Loretta (Nuss) Murphy. Neal graduated from Rogers High School in 1950 and starred on the school’s football team. He went to the College of the Holy Cross on a football scholarship and graduated in 1954. Neal obtained a law degree from Boston College in 1957. After briefly practicing law in Newport, he obtained a Master of Law degree from the University of Virginia in 1962 and began an academic career specializing in legal philosophy and international relations. Neal was Professor of Law at the University of Maine, 1962-1964 and at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh from 1965 until his retirement in 1995. He was a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Law School (1973-1974) and participated in a colloquium at the World Court in the Hague (1984). In 1993, he was a visiting lecturer at the China University of Law and Political Science, Beijing.
Over the course of a long and productive scholarly career, Neal authored several books on legal philosophy, philosophy, constitutional law, international relations, and a textbook on Legal Process and Procedure that was used in law schools across the United States for years. Neal was the author of numerous articles in scholarly journals and magazines in the United States and Europe. During his retirement he continued to write and teach. He published his last book Reflections on Old Age: A Study in Christian Humanism, taught lifelong learning classes as well as leading a poetry group. He was also a member of the same book club for many years, and he cherished the friendships that grew out of a love of reading.
Neal traveled extensively throughout his life, visiting, among other countries, Egypt, Chile, Cuba, India, Iran, Mexico, and Spain. He maintained a long attachment to Newport, teaching occasional seminars in Law of the Sea at the Naval War College, and owning a summer home in Middletown.
Neal was a long-time resident of the Woodlands retirement community in Valencia, where he was active in discussion groups, poetry groups, and other social activities. He greatly valued the many friendships he made there.
Neal was predeceased by his sisters Nancy Walling and Joan Lynch, brothers-in-law Robert M. Walling, Jr., Raymond J. Lynch, Colonel Edward Burke USAF, niece Kathleen M. Walling, and his son Cornelius F. Murphy, III.
He is survived by his children Michael A. Murphy (Rebecca), Sean E. Murphy (Hengameh), and Rachel M. Landau (Jeff). His seven grandchildren are Dawn (Murphy) Hardman, Joseph M. Murphy, Layla Murphy, Arman Murphy, Jacob Landau, Zachary Landau, and Jeremiah Landau. He was also blessed with great-grandchildren Neal, Lee, and Paul Hardman. Neal is survived by his sister Mary Burke of Newport, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, January 2, from 2:00-5:00 pm at the McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home, Inc., 238 Crowe Avenue, Mars, PA. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 3, at 9:30 am at St Richard Church, 3841 Dickey Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044. Please meet at the church.
A Committal Service will take place Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 11:00 AM, St. Columba Cemetery, 465 Browns Ln, Middletown, RI.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Charities Diocese of Pittsburgh, 111 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, www.ccpgh.org.