The travel industry has paid tribute to the pioneering work and life of Jimmy Murphy, co-founder of Brendan Worldwide Vacations and AmaWaterways, who passed away late last week, aged 82.
Born in Ireland, Jimmy spent several years at a Dublin travel agency before moving to the US.
He worked as an Aer Lingus sales executive for 11 years in Los Angeles and co-founded Brendan Worldwide Vacations in 1969, which was sold to Travel Corp. in 2006.
"Few people have touched the lives and hearts of so many people as did Jimmy," said Terry Dale, president and CEO of the United States Tour Operators Association.
"USTOA is so privileged to have had him as a founder and we all are beneficiaries as a result. We celebrate his extraordinary life and contributions to our industry."
He also served as national treasurer at the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and was inducted into the ASTA Hall of Fame in 2003.
Murphy also served as chairman for luxury river cruise specialist AmaWaterways, which he co-founded in 2002 with Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst.
