The memory is vivid in Cubs’ manager David Ross’ mind.

It’s 2020, the COVID-19 Pandemic had shut everything down, but things — seemingly — were normalizing, even if just a touch. Ross was living near Wrigley Field, just around the corner from historic Murphy’s Bleachers on the corner of Sheffield and Waveland. He’d pop into the iconic establishment, a “staple” for Cubs fans before and after games, and have a meal from the longtime owner Beth Murphy.

“It was nice to have somebody cooking over there, when things started to open back up a little bit and having a place to go and grab a bite to eat and take it back to my place was fun,” Ross said.

Murphy, 68, passed away on Monday after a long battle with kidney cancer. Ross had received word on Sunday night that it was a possibility, and when he found out she passed away, he went to Murphy’s on Monday.

It is with great sadness we announce that our owner and the heart of Murphy’s Bleachers, Beth Murphy, peacefully passed away early this morning. The Murphy’s family and all of us here would like to thank everyone for their support during this difficult time. May she Rest In Peace pic.twitter.com/eFmiHNVEa7

— Murphy's Bleachers (@murphysbleacher) April 24, 2023

“Yeah, just stopping by and trying to — I don’t know, just feel the vibe,” Ross said. “I grabbed lunch there. It was a good little stop, said hi to [general manager] Freddy [Fagenholz] and met her son for the first time and some of the family members.”

It was a time to remember a figure in the Wrigleyville community and celebrate her life and impact.

“It was a lot of people there, just kinda having a drink for her and talking about some good [things],” Ross said. “I got some good history from Freddy about how things transpired — which I never really knew — and how big of an impact she had had. She’s always been great to us and obviously to a lot of the coaches and the fans around. That place is a staple for Chicago and the Cubs.”