James Joseph Dunphy

James Joseph Dunphy passed away on April 13, 2020 at the age of 66 from complications arising from an aggressive cancer. He lived in Fairfax, VA. Mr. Dunphy was born on November 8, 1953 in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, the only son of Anastasia Getman and James Joseph Dunphy, Sr. He grew up in a classic brownstone solely found in Brooklyn with his grandmother on the top floor. The summers of his youth were spent taking the New York City subway to Queens to catch Mets games at Shea Stadium. Mr. Dunphy attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1975. Shortly after his graduation, he was stationed at Fort Jackson near Columbia, SC. He served in a variety of leadership positions, including Company Command. He met his future wife, Sally Wallace, while they were both stationed at Fort Jackson. They were wed in January 1980. Mr. Dunphy left active duty military to enter the Catholic University of America Law School. Upon receiving his J.D., he began a distinguished career at the Department of Veterans Affairs. He served as an attorney with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals for twenty years, where he was well respected for his knowledge of VA compensation benefits. He concurrently served in the Army Reserves for over twenty years, including being recalled to serve at the Pentagon after 9/11. He also served as an Instructor at the 2070th USAR School and as Adjunct Faculty with the Command and General Staff College. He was a 2000 graduate of the Army War College, and retired as a Colonel. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Parachute Badge. After retiring from the VA and the Army Reserves, Mr. Dunphy earned a Masters Degree in Education from George Mason University. Fluent in Spanish, he taught English as a Second Language in Fairfax County middle and high schools for five years. He then returned to the Department of Veterans Affairs with the National Veterans Affairs Council, AFGE, AFL-CIO. He became Director of the Council’s National Education and Training Committee, in which he personally trained union representatives in over 40 states. He then spent the free time of his retirement preparing for the countless classes he taught at the George Mason University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). Mr. Dunphy and his family shared a deep love of travel and sports. They traveled the world, visiting different countries and ballparks. He often turned off close sports games early as they made him too nervous. All who knew Mr. Dunphy have expressed their joy that he lived to see the Washington Capitals and Nationals win championships, and for Army to finally start beating Navy again. Among Mr. Dunphy’s greatest qualities was his magical ability to weave together amazing intellect with humor. A nerd through-and-through, he earned six graduate degrees. He loved military history, especially the Civil War. He was an active member of the Little Big Horn Society and the Society for American Baseball Research. He may have been the only person to pleasure read the entirety of the Power Broker and all six volumes of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Mr. Dunphy is survived by his wife, Sally; son, Peter; numerous cousins; and the countless many whom Mr. Dunphy inspired joy within. A funeral service with full military honors will be held at the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel on Thursday, September 10, 2020 at 8:45 AM with burial to follow at Arlington National Cemetery. Donations in honor of Mr. Dunphy may be made to the Army Historical Foundation or the Osher Lifetime Learning Institute (OLLI) at George Mason.