‘Our hearts are broken.’ Lexington hospital executive, volunteer dies unexpectedly

Jeffrey R. Murphy, a longtime Lexington hospital executive and community volunteer, died unexpectedly Saturday.

Murphy, who was 53, was vice president for marketing and communications at CHI Saint Joseph Health and southeast division vice president for CommonSpirit Health.

Murphy’s death was announced Monday by the hospital. A cause of death was not immediately available.

“Jeff greeted everyone with a smile, and his human kindness touched the lives of so many people across our ministry and in our community,” said Anthony A. Houston, chief executive officer of CHI Saint Joseph Health.

“He mentored many marketing and communications professionals over his three decades of service and was much beloved across our ministry and the commonwealth,” Houston said. “Our hearts are broken. He will be greatly missed.”

Among his volunteer activities, Murphy served on the board of directors of LexArts and was a strong supporter of the Broadway Live! series at the Lexington Opera House. In 2016, he and others founded Together Lexington to create a marketing campaign for the city and fund projects meant to improve local quality of life.

A Casey County native, Murphy graduated from the University of Kentucky. He joined the the marketing and communications team for Saint Joseph Hospital in 1991.