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Recognizing Rockland Homes For Heroes & Its Work On Behalf Of Homeless Veterans

Board President John Allen Murphy & Volunteers Have Built 22 Apartments With Supportive Services For Veterans

Rockland County Legislators Toney L. Earl, Lon M. Hofstein, Doug Jobson and Dana Stilley led a ceremony that included the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award to former 44-year County Legislator Murphy. The award is the Legislature’s highest honor.

“John Allen Murphy’s life of public service is an inspiration to all of us,” Legislator Earl said. “When they tell you it can’t be done or when they tell you not to do it, John Murphy finds a way to move forward anyway - not out of spite, but because of a deep commitment to helping others.”

Legislator Hofstein agreed: “John Murphy has dedicated his life to helping the people of his community. It’s an honor to acknowledge his efforts and thank him for his service.”

Also recognized were Board Members Thomas Micelli, former Director of the County Health Department’s Environmental Public Health Division and a U.S. Army Veteran; Monica Toscano, a community volunteer and Veolia Water employee; Will Warren, former Rockland County Family Court Judge; John Manifold, a Purple Heart Recipient and Veolia Water retiree; Carlos Martinez, CEO of the nonprofit BRIDGES; Martin Wortendyke, retired CEO of CALMART Enterprises; Carl Dornbush, retired County Health Department Environmental Public Health Division employee and retired Sergeant Major; Daniel Hooker, former Assemblyman and Marine Corps Reserve Major and Desert Storm ground combat veteran; and Susan Branam, Director of the County Veteran Services Agency and a former U.S. Army Captain and helicopter pilot.

For more than five decades, John Murphy has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities, those living with  mental illness, those battling back from drug addiction; and our neighbors who are homeless.

His service includes 44 years with Camp Venture as President and Board Chair; and more than 30 years with both Loeb House and Joseph’s Home - a Cofounder and President of both organizations. Camp Venture, now known as Venture Together, provides nurturing homes and supportive programs to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Loeb House serves the residential needs of people with mental illness, and Joseph’s Home serves the residential needs of our homeless neighbors.

John long had a vision for repurposing the last available property that was once part of the sprawling Camp Shanks in Orangetown into supportive housing for homeless veterans – a place to not only sleep and eat, but that also connected the veterans to the many services they might need. As of today, John and all who have aided the cause of Homes for Heroes have constructed 22 apartments for homeless veterans.

John first got involved with creating housing opportunities and support services during an era that became known as deinstitutionalization. Rockland Psychiatric Center in Orangetown and Letchworth Village in Haverstraw and Stony Point were preparing to move their populations out. John became part of the effort to find nurturing homes for some residents, as well the children of local Rockland families desperate to find a place and programs for their own  developmentally children, including those entering  adulthood – places where they could experience joy and love and grow as individuals despite their personal challenges.

John spent 38 years as an electrical engineer in the telecommunications industry and 44 years as a Rockland County Legislator, winning four primaries and 12 general elections. Among his accomplishments during his legislative years, John pushed for the use of video equipment, so people didn't have to actually view a body to provide an identification at the medical examiner's office; he campaigned for a mobile crisis unit to respond to emergencies in homes for the intellectually and developmentally disabled, something county government has since expanded upon; and he helped create the county's Youth Bureau.

Throughout his many years of public service, John has enjoyed the help of the many volunteers who join his efforts, including his wife, Eileen.

When he retired from the County Legislature in 2015, John said his governance philosophy is best captured by these words from Senator Hubert H. Humphrey: "It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped."

“John, through your selfless deeds and your unwavering commitment to improving the lives of those too often marginalized by society, you have aced that test,” Legislator Earl said. “We thank you for the many, many positive contributions you have made to individual lives and to our overall Rockland County community.”