After a prolonged battle with sickness, Richard Grant, 82, who served as president of the Dan Murphy Foundation for many years and was known across the Los Angeles Catholic community for his generosity, passed away on Aug. 10.

Served Daniel Murphy Foundation, Supported Catholic Education in LA

Grant, known for his humble demeanor and kind nature, has served the Daniel Murphy Foundation in numerous critical leadership capacities for the past 50 years and retired in 2020. 

According to the Angelus News, the foundation he oversaw as president shifted its emphasis more and more toward assisting Catholic schools in the Greater Los Angeles Area, with a particular concentration on those in the city's inner-city neighborhoods.

The new president of the foundation, David Fuhrman, said that through the work that he did as the leader of the Dan Murphy Foundation and other philanthropic organizations, Grant committed his life to alleviate the pain of the needy, the sick, and the vulnerable in the most unassuming way possible.

After he retired, Archbishop José H. Gomez stated in an interview with Angelus that Grant had been the driving force for a significant portion of the Archdiocese's positive, encouraging, and aesthetically pleasing aspects of the Archdiocese Los Angeles for many years.

As per the Angelus News, Archbishop Gomez joined local members of the Order of Malta on Aug. 2, just one week before Richard passed away. 

The prayer service was held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and was organized to pay tribute to Richard and his wife, Maria.

It also stated that the relics of Saint Bernadette were honored throughout the service to honor Grant's profound devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes, who had made an appearance to the saint in the year 1858.

Even though the Grants could not make it to the service in person, they could take part in it because of the live stream that was provided. 

Maria stated that both the visit of the relic and the prayer service had an emotional impact on Richard. During his lifetime, Richard made 15 pilgrimages to the Our Lady of Lourdes shrine, located in France.

Meanwhile, according to what Furhman shared with Angelus, Grant will be remembered for many things, one of which is shaping the purpose of the foundation and building a sustainable business dedicated to a thriving Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

About Dan Murphy Foundation

In 1957, Bernardine Murphy Donohue established the Dan Murphy Foundation in order to continue the philanthropic work begun by her father, Dan Murphy.

When Dan Murphy was starting in business, he always made it a point to consider and be sensitive to the requirements of others. 

Most of Murphy's time and wealth were devoted to philanthropic causes and organizations in Southern California, including religious, educational, charitable, and scientific establishments.

According to the organization's foundation, today, the mission of the foundation is to see a vibrant Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. 

This is in keeping with the focus of the charity efforts that Dan and Bernardine have done in the past.