When it comes to city employees, there is a handful of names that are on repeat when it comes to getting credit or taking some heat, but there are hundreds of others who fly under the radar. They are names you don’t recognize and they run programs you’ve never heard of.

Unfortunately, no news is good news so when a department runs like a well-oiled machine, we don’t have much to say about it.

One of those unsung heroes is Terry Murphy.

I’ve met a lot of city officials between Warwick, Cranston and Johnston and it’s not often that you meet people that put you at ease right away. But when I sat in her office last week, I was reminded of her ability to make you feel like you’re visiting a friend rather than interviewing a department director. The crazy part is I haven’t known her for long, nor have I had many occasions to call on her. There’s been the occasional story here and there, but I’ve seen Terry in the flesh maybe half a dozen times. Even still, I can understand why the mayor is sad to see her go.

The first time I met Terry I was doing a piece for PrimeTime Magazine that we called “Word on the Street.” I wanted to ask one question related to that month’s theme to half a dozen of her seniors and wanted to make an obligatory appearance in the director’s office. I figured I’d shake her hand and repeat the request I made over the telephone and she’d wave me on my way. In this case though, Terry had already identified the seniors she thought would like to speak with me or would give the most interesting responses.

That day, as has been the case with every subsequent visit to Cranston Senior Services, Terry walked through the center like she was at home. She knew everyone’s names and knew just how to get them talking. She knew their families and their stories, and what activities and programs attracted them to the center.

In short, she was likable. She seemed more like another one of the regulars than the director, mostly because of her attitude toward seniors. The first problem in the senior service arena is that the clientele is often overlooked. Even when they are a priority, though, a lot of service providers are condescending. They know the needs of the seniors but they don’t know the seniors. They do that bending over to get to their level, baby voice thing like the elderly population is regressing back into infancy. Terry couldn’t be further from that detached, manager routine that happened to fall into the senior population. Her demeanor is friendly, her appearance is laid back and her work ethic is tough to beat.

It’s no wonder then that she took to it when she was in her early 20s. Terry originally thought that she wanted to be a teacher but didn’t flourish in the classroom. She didn’t find human services – they found her.

To hear that she’s moving up in the world is definitely good news, though. In South Kingstown, she’ll have more money to play around with, and will extend her repertoire to include recreation stuff that she already loves to do.

Still, it’s a sad day for Cranston. There are a lot of seniors who have known her for a couple decades now and to not see her roaming the halls will be a tough adjustment for them. I spoke with the mayor and Director of Administration Robin Muksian-Schutt and their sentiments mirrored one another. Robin, who came from a position in South Kingstown, said it’ll take her colleague no time at all to fit in and start making changes for the better. Even when I sat down with Democratic City Committee Chairman Mike Sepe on an unrelated issue, he looked like I had just stepped on his puppy. His regret at losing a great employee was genuine, and he doesn’t even have that much cause to interact with her.

It’s too bad I didn’t get to spend more time with Terry, but I have no doubt that she’ll do some great things in South Kingstown. Let’s just hope that when Robin hears about how great things are going down there, she doesn’t decide to hightail it back to her old stomping grounds.