Edward J. Furphy, 91.

UPTON Edward J. Furphy, 91, of Upton, died Thurs., Sept. 29, 2011 in St. Camillus Health Center in Northbridge after a long illness. A retired teacher, he was the husband of Edna M. (Sansouci) Furphy.

Mr. Furphy was born in Clinton. He was a graduate of Clinton High School and a World War II Navy veteran. He earned degrees from the College of the Holy Cross and Worcester State College and had been a resident of Upton since 1949.

An elementary school teacher in Upton, Mendon, Grafton and Hopedale, he retired from the Mendon-Upton School District in 1982. He was a communicant and lector at Holy Angels Parish in Upton, sang in its choir and served as Chair of the Parish Council and the Social Activities Committee for many years. He was a long-time member of the Blue Skies Quartet of the Worcester Men of Song, Chair of the Upton Heritage Committee for 18 years, a member of the Blackstone Valley Heritage Committee, a member and past Secretary of the George L. Wood VFW Post, and a poll worker in Upton. He also was a founder of the Upton Men's Bowling League, a Cubmaster and member of the town's Boy Scout Committee for years, and coached a championship youth baseball team. Known to local schoolchildren as "Johnny Patriot," he was...