Remembering Paul Murphy, Regional Director of Buffalo, Albany, Boston, and Hartford Offices

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved colleague, Paul Murphy. Paul was appointed to serve as Regional Director of the Region 3 office in Buffalo, New York in 2017. Additionally, he had served as the Acting Regional Director of the Region 1 office in Boston since 2018. Region 3 serves most of New York state from its offices in Buffalo and Albany, while Region 1 serves most of New England from its offices in Boston and Hartford.

A native of New York’s Finger Lakes Region, Paul received his Bachelor of Science in Economics from SUNY Geneseo in 1978 and a Masters in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations in 1980. He started his career with the Agency as a co-op Field Examiner in Cleveland (Region 8) in 1979 and returned there as a full-time Field Examiner in 1980. Paul transferred to Region 3 in 1982. He was promoted to Supervisory Examiner in 1997 and to Assistant to the Regional Director in 2007.

Current and former NLRB employees remember Paul as an energetic and caring person dedicated to the Agency.

“The entire NLRB community mourns the loss of Paul Murphy. Paul’s dedication to this agency and our mission was a model for all who were fortunate enough to work with him. His legacy of public service will leave a lasting impact on the work that we do,” said Chairman Lauren McFerran. “We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones.”

“Anyone who worked with Paul knows what he meant to our Agency. For more than 40 years, he passionately enforced the NLRA. He possessed the rare combination of brilliance and practicality. He not only excitedly discussed case law development but also how to best resolve issues. Simply stated, Paul was a fantastic colleague,” said Acting General Counsel Peter Sung Ohr. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends as they grieve their loss.”

Paul is survived by his wife Kim, his sons Ryan, Justin, and Adam, daughter-in-law Nicole, and granddaughter Maya.

Regional Attorneys Linda M. Leslie and Laura A. Sacks will serve as Acting Regional Director in Regions 3 and 1, respectively.

Established in 1935, the National Labor Relations Board is an independent federal agency that protects employees, employers, and unions from unfair labor practices and protects the right of private sector employees to join together, with or without a union, to improve wages, benefits and working conditions. The NLRB conducts hundreds of workplace elections and investigates thousands of unfair labor practice charges each year.