Dustin was born at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Tarrytown NY to Laurie and Kent Murphy. He was three days early. It was the happiest day of his mother's life. Though it was an easy delivery, it would turn out that Dustin was not the easiest baby! But there was no one cuter, or with more personality!
His love for motorcycles began early on.... or is he trying to tell us something here??
If it had wheels, Dustin would ride it.
His love for the snow began as soon as he could walk.
First ski trip with all the cousins.
Dustin was a big hit with the girls right from the start. Here he is walking along the beach with his first girlfriend....
Two years later, Dustin's brother Ian was born. Mom and Dad couldn't have been happier! But Dustin could! He was not thrilled with the whole idea of not being the only one! His first words when Ian started to walk were "me up, baby down." So there we were, carrying Dustin while Ian at 11 months, walked beside us... but eventually he learned it was fun to have a brother.
Thanksgiving with his Uncle Steve.
Thanksgiving at Grandama's house - with Aunt Lila.
We went to Rockefeller Center to see the tree with our nanny Sandy.
Dustin was the first child of our family of first cousins - so he was often the center of attention! Here he is with cousin Amy!
Dustin and our first Doberman - Kiya.
Dustin graduated from BusyBee Nursery School where he shined even at that age.
Dustin's love for animals began early on. He loved them big and small. He once said that when he grew up he wanted to be a vetinarian. He would take care of dogs, elephants, but not dinasaurs!
Dustin loved going to visit his grandparents out on LI. Here he is with grandma, Ian and his cousin Breanna. Cousin Janet is in the background!
Dustin loved Christmas and made no bones about it!
Skiing with Susan and Michael - Elk Mountain.
Hoildays with the cousins was always fun - here he is with Ian, Philip and Bette and Jordi behind him!
Dustin and Ian... what else is there to say? Together at Heart.
Dustin loved the beach from the first day we brought him there. Here we are at Cape May with his grandmother and grandfather.
Nothing could keep him out of the water!
He loved the ocean and we still have these original boogy boards!
Dustin started Karate lessons when he was 5. He was usually the youngest and smallest kid in his class.
We spent many summer vacations at Tyler Place in Vermont. Dustin always looked forward to his time in Vermont.
Dustin loved spending time with George and George loved spending time with Dustin!
If you could ride it, Dustin would try it!
If you could shoot it, Dustin would try it.
If you could climb it, Dustin would try it!
Dustin tested for, and got his Black Belt just before he turned 9. He was one of the youngest Black Belts in the academy.
Dustin loved his grandparents and loved fooling around. Here he is in Las Vegas with his grandfather, cousins and Ian... If Dustin was there - there was never a dull moment.
Dustin spent a few summers at Woodward Skateboard camp. If you could skate it, or jump off of it, Dustin was there!
Nothing could keep him off the ramps...
Or off the curbs...
If there was snow, Dustin would be the first one on the mountain. He spent several summer weeks in Utah - snowboarding at snow camp.
Candle Lighting at Dustin's Bar Mitzvah.
With Uncle Steve and Cousin Michael at his Bar Mitzvah.
Dustin had his Bar Mitzvah in September of 1998. He wouldn't smile because of his braces. We didn't know this until months afterward.
Dustin and Ian grew up with George - our second Doberman. He was clearly one of the family. Here he is with Dustin the night before Ian's Bar Mitzvah. Notice the yarmake on George's head!
Here's all of us at Ian's Bar Mitzvah.
Ian's Bar Mitzvah. By now, Dustin's braces were off and he smiled the entire day! I think he was actually proud of his little brother.
We spent many summer weekends down at the Markham shore house in Avon By the Sea (on the Jersey Shore). Here's a photo taken by Dustin one summer evening... he was always able to make everyone laugh. (Mark, Maciej, Mary, Kelli, bottom: Ian, Bridgett, Colleen and Alex)
Dustin graduated from Clarkstown High School North, after spending his senior year attending Rockland Community College. He was heading to the University of Vermont - to the Engineering School... but we all knew he was really heading for the mountains to snowboard.
Sophmore year in Vermont, and we finally heard that Dustin was in love! Life would never be the same!
Dustin wanted another dog more than anything, so we decided to get another Doberman - Riley. He was the cutest thing you can imagine, with the largest feet we had ever seen on a dog! He was flown in and we picked him up at LaGuardia Airport. He completed our family!
Dustin and Margot loved spending time with Riley. He made Dustin so happy.
According to Dustin's friends, Dustin lit up the room wherever he went. A simple gathering became a party. Somehow that doesn't surprise me....
Nothing better than a day out with the guys on the mountain...
Dustin graduted from Dominican College after leaving Vermont and taking some time off to find himself. He majored in Business Administration. He loved spending time with his dog Riley and he loved his summer internship with a lawyer in Piermont. In fact, he liked working with her so much that he decided he wanted to go to Law School. He took the LSATs, scored really high, and planned to start Law School in 2010.
Dustin loved playing poker and loved seeing his grandmother - so trips to Las Vegas were often! Here he is at his grandmother's house in Las Vegas. Unfortunatey this was his last trip out to see her - she passed away 6 months and 10 days after Dustin died. She had lost her will to live.
Dustin went to Europe with his then girlfriend Haley, who was from Liverpool England. They traveled to Paris, London and Amsterdam. Dustin of course, liked Amsterdam best!
Out enjoying the clubs...
Dustin passed away on April 15, 2010 - a beautiful spring afternoon. He lost control of his motorcylce on 9W in Valley Cottage, NY, and we're told that he died on impact. He left this world doing what he loved most - living life to the fullest, his way, and on his terms. He will be forever young.
We found some positive thought sayings written on a piece of paper hanging on Dustin's refrigerator. We made copies and passed them out with his photo at his funeral, which was on April 18th (mom's birthday). He was buried at Beth Israel Cemetary in Woodbridge, NJ folllowing the service. We continue to hang the positive thoughts on the pole near where his motorcylce went down.
We light candles for Dustin whenever we need to feel his presence. So, so many nights of candles.
As Ian said, Forever Apart, But Together at Heart.
