Thomas J. Murphy, 80, of Eltingville, a retired NY Telephone Co. employee and veteran who enjoyed visiting his upstate summer home, died Tuesday in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze.

Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Murphy graduated in 1952 from New Utrecht High School in his native borough.

He joined the U.S. Navy, serving from 1952 until 1956 as an airman on the USS Coral Sea in the Mediterranean Sea and the NAAS Chase Field in Beeville, Texas.

Mr. Murphy worked as a telephone installer with the former New York Telephone Co., later AT & T for 33 years. He retired in 1990.

In his leisure, he enjoyed maintaining his home, carpentry and working in the garden.

He also enjoyed going to his summer home in Yulan, NY, which held special memories. It was there that he met his future wife, the former Florence Corney, while both their families were vacationing in upstate New York’s Sullivan County.

He volunteered as an assistant Scout Master with the Boy Scouts of America.

He was a wonderful man, who everyone loved and respected, said his family.

Mr. Murphy was an usher and active parishioner of Holy Child R.C. Church, Eltingville.

In addition to his wife of 54 years, Florence, he is survived by three sons, Thomas, James and Michael; a daughter, Kathleen Murphy; four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

The funeral will be Monday from the John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, with a mass at 10 a.m. in Holy Child Church, both in Eltingville. Arrangements include cremation.