A Tribute to the late and GREAT
Mary Mikulich Murphy
March 25, 1918 - August 2, 2007
 

Mary Murphy, probably best known as the gray haired lady who Sky Skied to Catalina many times, is a model of inspiration for skiers of all ages. In addition to her numerous Catalina runs she is also known as the mother of water skiing pioneer Mike Murphy and grandmother of all around performer Tony Klarich.

Her water skiing journey began rather late in life, when she was already in her 40s. Her husband, Nick Sr., and their 4 children (Leontine, Pat, Mike, and Nick) enjoyed many carefree days of skiing in the late 1950s and early 1960s: mostly in Long Beach, CA at Golden Shores and the Marine Stadium (site of the 1932 Olympics for rowing, and also of several X-Games).

http://www.youtube.com/user/CapitaineSkipper  (Golden Days)

Note on Film Clips: The videos link for this story are from a larger 30-minute feature documentary about legendary water skier Mike Murphy.

The Murphy family became weekend fixtures as charter members of the Carlsbad Boat & Ski Club (near Sand Diego, CA) in the late 1960s and 1970s. Mary watched over the progression of her growing water ski family. Her specialty was long slalom rides that usually lasted more than an hour!

Mary was the backbone of the family. She never had a cross word for anyone, and was always ready to observe for hours on end as her family improved. Two of her favorite water ski maxims were: “Don’t let go until your nose hits the water,” and “If you don’t fall you don’t learn anything.”

Through the years Mary always had a camera in her hand, and documented 50 years of her family’s skiing milestones and triumphs: and there were many. Sons, Pat, Mike and Nick were quite a team of boat and ski racers. Pat set an official world record for speed in an outboard boat, while Mike went on to co-invent the kneeboard and sit down hydrofoil. Mike also won The Endo’s International Drag Ski Championship in 1978 (118+ mph in the ¼ mile) and also won several world titles in hydrofoiling.

http://www.youtube.com/user/CapitaineSkipper (Mike Murphy…A Water Skier’s Life)

With her sons traveling the globe pursuing watersports careers, Mary’s new focus in training shifted to her grandson Tony Klarich at the Marine Stadium. “My grandma didn’t say much, but she was always there to observe any time I wanted to ride,” said Klarich. “I always tried my best for grandma, and she didn’t mind long rides as long as I was learning something new…that is, with my nose hitting the water a lot!” Klarich broke out in the 1980s an innovative skier and champion on the slalom ski, kneeboard and hydrofoil.

http://www.youtube.com/user/CapitaineSkipper  (Tony Klarich: in the wake of Mike Murphy)

The thousands of West Coast skiers who made a stop to visit and ski with the Murphy family in Carlsbad or at the Long Beach Marine Stadium reminisce about the bright red “milk truck”, grandma’s homemade cookies, and the traditional barbeque with hamburgers and hot dogs.

Click here to here a tribute song about "Grandma"

Mary Murphy made her own mark in the water skiing world at the age of 79. Her son Mike taught her how to ride the sit down hydrofoil at age 76, and together they cooked up a plan to promote the new product he co-invented: the Air Chair. In 1997 Mary rode her foil from Long Beach, CA to Catalina Island, a distance of 26 miles across the open ocean. The amazing feat took about an hour and a half, and garnered a fair amount of local press and coverage in the Water Skiing publications. Mike’s thinking was if an “old lady” can ride the foil, just about anyone could.

The next year Mary outdid herself for her 80^th birthday. This time she dodged sharks and dolphins all the way to Catalina Island and back; a four and a half hour, 52+ mile round trip. This time the press was out in full force, and a media whirlwind blew in. For each of the next eight years Mary was to celebrate her birthday by repeating the Catalina crossing. Her exploits landed coverage in Ripley’s Believe it or Not, The National Enquirer, What’ Age Got to Do with It? (book), numerous overseas publications, and a slew of TV and radio coverage. She even picked up a sponsorship with Body Glove. She “turned pro”, receiving cash to promote the Long Beach Boat Show with another one of her crossings and a friendly competition with fellow octogenarian Banana George Blair. She was inducted into the Hydrofoiling Hall of Fame in 2000.

http://www.youtube.com/user/CapitaineSkipper (Mary Murphy)

In 2005 at the Florida Fly-In Mary participated in a feat that may not have ever been performed in water skiing: 4 generations riding behind one boat! Her great grandson K2, (age 7) joined Nick and Tony to enjoy a ride that was emotional for everyone involved.

In 2007, on her 89^th birthday Mary Murphy made her final Catalina crossing. By now she was battling cancer and Alzheimer’s, but still remained remarkably upbeat. One of her final rides was a 3-hour session on Canyon Lake (home of both Mike and Tony).  Lap after lap, the wide smile on her face told the story…she was having fun skiing with her family!

Mary Murphy’s legacy goes beyond the amazing ocean exploits on a hydrofoil. She was the inspiration and matriarch of one of the world’s most famous water skiing families.

For more on this amazing woman’s skiing life just enter “Mary Murphy Sky Ski” in Google.