WOLCOTT - Victoria Olivia (Rodriguez) Murphy, 75, died in her sleep on Friday, May 22, 2026.

She was a force of nature and her absence will be felt by all who knew her. Proudly born and

raised in the best city in the world, Chicago, IL to Elisabeth Johnson and Oscar Rodriguez. It

was there that she met the love of her life, David J. Murphy. She was fiercely loving and

protective of her family, especially her sister Sandy, and her daughters, Megan and Erin.

Vikki set out on her own at a young age. As a hippy teenager, she and her friends owned a

clothing store in Chicago, where they designed and sold fashion to the local cool kids. When

David accepted a job at North Rose-Wolcott Middle School, they headed east to New York for a

new adventure and Vikki soon began working there, too. There, they built a life full of amazing

friends and met decades of students who were supported and inspired by her; some who were

lucky enough to be claimed as one of her own. Her greatest joy and accomplishment in life was

being a mother.

David and Vikki were married for nearly 55 years, and their life together was filled with

exploration. They loved nearby trips to Montezuma to watch wildlife and winter escapes to

Weeki Wachee, FL to kayak with the manatees. Many of their travels were family vacations to

the Midwest or Florida, where they spent weeks by the water with Murphy and Barton brothers,

sisters, aunts, uncles, and “dozens of cousins.” Continuing Barbara and Bob Murphy’s focus of

always maintaining close ties, the Murphy clan - David, Vikki, Katy, Scott, Stephen, and Judy -

all worked hard to bring everyone together regularly, so that the next generation grew up with

strong, joyful bonds. Vikki adored all of her nieces, nephews, and their children with her whole

heart.

Road trips with her were legendary, while David made mix-tapes, Vikki provided the best road

snacks, car games, sing-a-longs, and located the most interesting and off-beat stops. She didn’t

believe that there wasn’t something interesting to discover in every place she visited.

Trained by her stepfather, Karl Bierwirth, and later, alongside the fourth Murphy “kid” Judith

Dunbar-Hines, Vikki found joy in preparing food for her friends and family. She loved exploring

new cuisines, and her favorite tradition was creating a Christmas meal inspired by a new

country or region each year. An unexpected favorite was French Canadian!

Victoria was endlessly curious about the world, and educated herself on topics as varied as

geology, physics, and Broadway musicals. She was a voracious reader, and loved mysteries,

fantasy - especially Lord of the Rings - and Kurt Vonnegut. She loved going to movies, concerts,

and theater. She could learn about anything, and always wanted to know more about the world.

The only thing she had no interest in were bigots and boring people.

Although her opinions were strong, she refused to pick favorites, even a favorite color or tree

because it might hurt the other tree’s feelings. But she always knew her friends and family were

the best there ever were. The only favorite she ever picked was her favorite city, which was

Chicago, and no amount of travel ever changed that opinion.

She never would call herself an artist, but anyone who knew her could attest to her talents. She

was constantly creating, whether it be a delicious dish, a gorgeous quilt, unique and thoughtful

decor, outfits for her girls, jewelry for her loved ones, or a stunning garden. Her love for art and

creativity instilled a love for culture in her daughters that shaped how they see and navigate the

world.

When politics became too odious to observe, her passions turned to the basketball court.

Following Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors provided her joy and inspiration in recent

years. She would always root for the underdog, unless it was Steph Curry.

Vikki’s interest in her surroundings extended to the universe, with the night sky being one of her

favorite sights for exploration. Before kissing her goodnight, David, reminded her nightly of any

celestial events, whether it be a meteor shower or special moon, he knew the night owl would

be up for late night spectaculars.

In lieu of flowers, friends and family are asked to make a donation in her name to NY Common

Pantry (nycommonpantry.org), Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex (friendsofmontezuma.org), or the Arizona Justice Project (azjusticeproject.org), to help

support the work her daughters do that made her so very proud. There will be a memorial

celebration of life at a later date.

To donate we ask that you use these links: 

https://nycommonpantry.org/donate-to-new-york-common-pantry/

https://friendsofmontezuma.org/about-us/donate/

https://azjusticeproject.org/donate/