Frank Murdock, former engineer and grandfather extraordinaire of Hauppauge, dies at 93

Frank Murdock and his wife used to be known as Santa and Mrs. Clause to their grandkids.

“They made magic happen for their grandchildren,” said Murdock’s daughter, Helen Murdock-Prep of Huntington. “Having championed many of his children and grandchildren at their track events, it was apt that his final words to his grandchildren were, ‘Run like the wind’ and ‘I love you.'”

The Hauppauge resident died of natural causes March 10, 2025, at the age of 93.

Francis J. “Frank” Murdock was born on May 15, 1931, in New York City and was raised in the Bronx. He graduated from Manhattan College in 1953 and earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He later received his MBA at New York University.

Murdock worked as an engineer at Hazeltine, Sperry, and Unisys. He retired in 1995.

Murdock met his wife, Helen, at the Garden City Hotel, where they bonded over their shared humanitarian interests.

“Dad wanted to be a brother in the order of the Benedictine monks and mom wanted to be a nun. They were destined for each other,” said Murdock-Prep. “It’s like my parents were born holy. Their impulse was always to help others.”

The couple was married on March 2, 1957, and moved to Hauppauge in 1961, where they raised four children, Frank, Helen, Greg, and Paul. 

“He was gentle, kind, caring, thoughtful, and fun,” said Murdock-Prep of her father. “Dad was always championing us and was the perfect combination of a father: calm, hands-on, patient, and loving.”

An Eagle Scout and a leader in the Webelos boy scout program, Murdock often took his children camping or spent time with them out in nature. He also taught his children about current events, even during difficult times.

“As kids, we grew up attending many marches for civil rights, learning firsthand about social justice for all,” said Murdock-Prep. “In 1963, Dad took a Catholic Interracial Council bus to the March on Washington and was honored and proud to be among the crowd who heard Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech in person.”

A humanitarian who led by example, Murdock participated in the Fresh Air Fund and sponsored children and their families through Save the Children for decades. He was also a voracious reader who loved to travel, enjoyed Cherry Garcia ice cream, and listened to all forms of music, from Mozart to Tina Turner.

“He was the grandpa who would throw on a Speedo and run through the sprinkler with his grandkids and spent countless mornings making Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes for his grandkids,” said Murdock’s granddaughter, Brittany Murdock, 35, of Brooklyn. “At family gatherings, he would sit at the head of the table and call for a toast to express gratitude for how lucky he was to have all of us.”

Stephanie Murdock McCoy, 37, is the oldest of 10 grandchildren and said that Murdock was “an absolutely amazing human and grandfather.”

“My grandfather was known for making people feel welcome. Grandpa and Grandma showered us with joy,” said McCoy of Oyster Bay.

She said that Murdock often described his childhood as being from “a small family with a lot of love,” and that he “always wanted a big family and he achieved that dream.”

Murdock’s granddaughter, Molly Prep, 30, said that she always found her grandfather to be a “deeply kind and caring person.”

“He cared about the things that mattered to us­ — performances, sports events, graduations, ceremonies, milestones, interests, and hobbies,” said Prep. “He spoke up about things that sincerely deserved change. It genuinely mattered to him that people be treated with dignity and respect and humanity.”

Prep also recalled her grandfather’s “great sense of humor.”

“He was silly because the world is silly sometimes. Or because sometimes the world is really hard, actually, and the goofy is what helps keep us going,” she said. “I think Grandpa would want his legacy to be remembered as one of love. Genuine, true, present, and real love.”

When asked about her grandfather’s legacy, McCoy said it would be one of gratitude.

“He’d want us to give the kids extra cookies, snuggle them a little more, and remember that washing dirty dishes from a shared meal is a privilege not granted to all,” she said. “He’d welcome a new neighbor, a new adventure, and another scoop of ice cream.”

In addition to his daughter and three granddaughters, Murdock is survived by his wife; sons Frank, of Oyster Bay, Greg, of Rockville, Maryland, and Paul, of Cupertino, California; 7 other grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A celebration of life is planned for a later date.