Banker Daniel L. Murphy dies at 52

Daniel L. Murphy, of Melville, a banker for three decades, a civic leader and former chairman of the board of his alma mater Molloy College, died Sunday after a battle with cancer.

Murphy, 52, a longtime Roslyn Savings Bank executive, co-founded Madison National Bancorp Inc. in 2007. He served as Madison's co-chairman and chief executive.

News of his death came less than a day after his company issued a public notice saying he had requested, and had been granted, a medical leave.

"We are deeply saddened by the news of Dan's passing," said Michael P. Puorro, Madison president. "Dan was an esteemed colleague and dear friend."

The company operates Madison National Bank branches in Massapequa, Melville and Merrick. It is awaiting a planned $33.7 million takeover by FNBNY Bancorp Inc. Puorro said Madison and FNBNY would proceed with the merger.

As chief retail banking officer at Roslyn Savings Bank, Murphy was "the chief architect" of that bank's growth from five to 40 branches, increasing deposits by $5 billion, Madison officials said. After Roslyn's merger with New York Community Bank in 2003, Murphy oversaw New York Community's 144-branch network.

Madison National opened in 2007 with $32.5 million in a private stock offering with a branch in Merrick that offered amenities such as coffee and popcorn stations.

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Murphy told Newsday at the time that the new bank's strategy was to attract customers by offering personalized service.

"We all know that banking serves basically the same hamburger" in terms of saving and lending products, he said. "It's how you serve it that distinguishes you from the rest of the world."

A 1987 Molloy graduate, Murphy was appointed to the college's board of trustees in 2001 and served as chairman of the board from 2005-2008. He also served as co-chair of the Capital Campaign Committee, which raised $20 million toward construction of the college's Public Square and first residence hall, said Drew Bogner, Molloy's president.

Murphy, together with Gerald Kaiser, co-founder of Madison National, in 2008 gave a $1.75 million personal gift to Molloy for the school's new theater.

"Dan Murphy was an incredible friend and supporter of Molloy College," Bogner said in a statement. "His leadership, guidance and vision were instrumental in our growth over the last decade."

Murphy also served on the boards of the SUNY Old Westbury Foundation, Queens Museum of Art and Winthrop-University Hospital.

Family and funeral information were unavailable Monday.