Obituary of Thomas-J. Hagerty

Hagerty, Thomas J. HADLEY, N.Y. Thomas J. Hagerty, 66, of Hadley and Tequesta, Fla., died Wednesday, May 23, 2007 in Miami, Fla. Tom was born in Oceanside, N.Y. He was the son of Doris Marvin Hagerty of Charlotte, N.C. and the late Vincent Hagerty. In addition to his mother, Tom is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 43 years, Irene J. Norris Hagerty; his two children, Deborah (Jeffery) Halpin of Saratoga Springs and his son, James M. (Lisa Patti) Hagerty of West Sand Lake; two sisters, Susan (Robert) Kane of Hadley and Virginia (Jeff) Gesslein of Mint Hill, N.C.; his grandchildren, Lauren, Meghan and Michael Hagerty, Molly, Jeffery Jr. and Juliana Halpin; and his brother-in-law, Robert Norris (Roxanne) of Ballston Spa, N.Y. Tom is also survived by many cousins and "Uncle Tommy's" many nieces and nephews. Tom grew up on L.I. where he learned to love boating, fishing, golfing and athletics. He graduated from Baldwin High School in 1958 and attended SUNY at Farmingdale where he studied aircraft operations and enjoyed playing football. He was a former Captain of Hose Co. 4 of the Baldwin Fire Department. Tom and his family moved to West Sand Lake in 1975 and lived there until his retirement. He moved to his summer home on the Great Sacandaga Lake where he enjoyed spending much of his time boating, fishing and swimming with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren. Tom and Irene wintered in Tequesta, where he was a past president of the Little Club Recreation Association in a community that he loved. Tom worked in sales and management for Otis Elevator Company, retiring after 32 years. Tom always put the needs and well being of those who worked for him and with him ahead of his own. Those who worked with Tom could always count on him to brighten their day with his timely sense of humor and words of wisdom. In his work and home life, Tom personified the adage "to know him is to love him". Above all, Tom was a devoted husband and dedicated family man who loved nothing more than being around his family and friends. He always made time for his wife, children and grandchildren. He will be sadly missed. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral 10:00 a.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, West Sand Lake, N.Y. Friends may call in the Rockefeller Funeral Home, 165 Columbia Tpk., Rensselaer on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. The family has requested that those who wish to remember Tom make contributions to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 in his memory.