Jeanie Murphy (1941–2023)
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Jeanie Murphy in her Jackson art center studio, which she used for painting. She created her sculptures at GWU's ceramics department, where she completed the bas relief for the restored burleith call box at 37th and R NW, 2016.
(Reprinted with minor edits from the Washington Post.)
jeanie designed, sculpted, and produced the bas-relief sculpture depicting the Western High School Cadets and the spy Aldrich Ames, 2016. Photo by Rich Field.
Jeannette Murphy, a long-time resident of 37th Street, passed away peacefully on October 29, 2023. Jeanie, as she was known, enriched the lives of family, friends, colleagues, fellow artists, and neighbors in innumerable ways.
Jeanie was born February 9, 1941, in Omaha, NE, with her twin sister, Jaconette/Jackie, to Louise and Edward Murphy, following sister, Pat. They were later followed by brother, Dennis. Jeanie grew up in several places as her family followed her veterinarian father through his promotions with the US Department of Agriculture, finally landing in Washington, DC. After graduating from Washington-Lee High School (now Washington-Liberty) in Arlington, VA, she pursued her passion at the Corcoran School of Art at George Washington University, where she studied art and earned a BA in painting. Following graduation, she journeyed to Paris to study at the Sorbonne.
When she returned to the United States, Jeanie’s practical father urged his gifted daughter to get a “real” job. She started her career as a country loan officer and later became a public health specialist at the World Bank, where she excelled at evaluating proposals and projects for grants that would, over a lifetime, benefit millions of individuals in Africa and Asia. While at the World Bank, Jeanie enhanced her credentials by continuing her education at Johns Hopkins University, earning an MA in economics and in public health.
“She was a wonderful artist, and her legacy to Burleith will always be the unforgettable bas relief she did for one of our call boxes. She was also very active in our Burleith dining club, never missing a virtual or in-person meeting. She will be greatly missed.”
jeanie PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON the fifth and final call box with BCA president ERIC LANGENBACHER (yellow vest) and restoration organizers ROSS SCHIPPER AND LINDA BROOKS, 2016. photo by rich field.
Jeanie’s World Bank financial career seemed contradictory to her artistic persona, but these two sides complemented and elevated one another. She regaled her rapt family with stories of countries such as Mali and Thailand, as well as amazing them with what they thought of as her exotic artistic lifestyle and aesthetic. Jeanie was a much-anticipated presence at holidays, loving and laughing at everything her nieces and nephew did, adding to the joy of their birthdays, Thanksgivings, Christmases, and family gatherings. She took them to galleries and dinners, theater, and events, and even took some of them to Bangkok, where they were able to witness with pride her savvy interactions with the highest government officials and then follow her to unique experiences, like extracting venom from cobras and black mambas at an anti-venom producing hospital.
As her nieces and nephews and their kids grew older, Jeanie helped with the biggest life changes and challenges, supporting renovations, business school, culinary school, and other dreams. She hosted comfortable and entertaining dinner parties where guests feasted on international dishes and made immediate friends. Decades ago, Jeanie became a member of a running club that stayed close through years of life events, moves, and interchanging members until in their later years the group operated mainly as a dinner club, running tabs and mouths more than miles.
Jeanie’s smitten companions through all these adventures were her cherished Wheaton terriers. With her well-known canine sidekicks, Jeanie was a welcome regular at the dog parks. Jeanie loved to read a range of books and looked forward to the conversations and friends of her book group. Together, Jeanie and her twin sister, Jackie, were ushers for more than 20 years at Arena Stage, Ford’s Theatre, and The Shakespeare Theatre Company—wonderful venues and experiences that undoubtedly contributed to her always evolving artistic skills. Arena Stage recently celebrated her longtime contribution.
Jeanie and neighbors at the Burleith 100th anniversary gala, 2023. photo by jamie Sutera.
Throughout her life, Jeanie painted, produced pottery, and created exquisite lifelike sculptures. She retired early from the World Bank in 1995 to focus on her art. She took pottery from Jill Hinckley, studied painting with Edmund Archer and William Woodward, and studied sculpture with Turker Ozdogan. Her pieces bring color and stories to several DC locations and many of our homes, and they have been prominently displayed at shows in the Jackson Art Center for years. Jeanie recently donated pieces of her remaining collection to Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Her talents have received many accolades, and Jeanie was honored to have a portrait in the Faces of the Fallen exhibit at Arlington Cemetery in 2005. All who loved Jeanie are so grateful to have these representations of her vibrant, loving, generous personality and will treasure every piece and every memory associated with Jeanie.
jeanie at the 2017 burleith gløgg party. photo by ann carper.
Jeanie is predeceased by her parents, Louise and Edward Murphy, and brother, Dennis Murphy. She is survived by her sisters: Pat Murphy Sheehy and Jackie Murphy; and nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. Jeanie lives on through her countless extended family members, friends, business colleagues, artistic compatriots, book lovers, running/dinner club comrades, and many many more around the world. Details of a memorial service are forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Doctors Without Borders, https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/secure/donate.