Dr. George E. Murphy Buried in Missouri

Dr. George E. Murphy, a Cornell University professor of pathology and the leading force behind formation of the Asphalt Green recreation and arts center in New York City, was buried Wednesday in Kansas City, Mo.

Murphy, who was 68, died of leukemia in New York on July 15. Services were conducted there on Saturday.

Since 1954 he had been with New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center, where he became a full professor in 1968. He did research at Rockefeller University (now Rockefeller Institute) and was particularly interested in studying the causes and pathological changes in rheumatic diseases.

His principal interest outside of medicine was the Neighborhood Committee for Asphalt Green. He and his wife had worked since 1972 to turn an abandoned New York City asphalt plant into a recreation facility that became the George and Annette Murphy Arts and Sports Center.

The center, at East 90th Street and York Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, contains a theater, playing field, gymnasiums, running track, basketball court and graphic arts studios for public use. It is supported by both private donations and city funds.

Murphy was born in Kansas City, Mo., on Aug. 22, 1918. He attended the University of Kansas and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. He obtained his postgraduate pathology training at Johns Hopkins Medical School. During World War II, he was in the medical department of the Navy.

Besides his wife, he leaves a brother, Dr. Franklin Murphy, former chairman and chief executive officer of Times Mirror Co. and former chancellor of UCLA, and a sister, Cordelia Ennis of Pasadena.

The family asked that contributions be made to Asphalt Green Inc., 130 E. End Ave., Apartment 17A, New York, N.Y. 10028.