Thomas J. English
– February 22, 2016
Thomas English
Thomas J. English of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away peacefully on Monday, February 22, 2016, at the age of 89 surrounded by family in Pawleys Island, S.C.
Tom was born in Manhattan, N.Y., to James and Margaret English. He was the older brother of Eileen (predeceased) and Edward. Tom proudly served his country during World War II in the Navy aboard the <i>USS Hugh W. Hadley</i> DD-774 in the Pacific campaign during the invasion of Okinawa. He was awarded a Purple Heart and the ship’s crew received numerous awards, including the Presidential Unit Citation.
<a href="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2016/03/flag-in-color-1.gif" rel="attachment wp-att-12756"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-12756" src="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2016/03/flag-in-color-1-150x150.gif" alt="flag-in-color" width="150" height="150" /></a>After the war, he came back to New York and went to work, where he met his future wife, Anita Hampton (predeceased). In 1953, Tom graduated from Fordham University with a teaching degree. In the same year, Tom and Anita were married. They had nine children. Their first-born, Brian, passed away at 15 months and their son Stephen passed in 2003.
Tom is survived by Kenneth, Maureen and husband Donald, Patricia and husband Apostolos, Michael, Donna and husband Mike, Christopher and wife Claudia, and Philip (his wife Phyllis predeceased); and 16 grandchildren: Olga, Christina, Ioannis, Kathleen, Andrea, Colleen, Kyle, Edward, Christopher, Nicholas, Briana, Brian, Ryan, Alex, Brenna and Jack.
Tom and Anita retired in 1991 and moved to East Stroudsburg, Pa., to a home they had built for retirement. They eventually became snowbirds. In 2003, after Anita’s passing, Tom became a volunteer with Hospice care. In 2007 he relocated to Sun City Center to be near his brother and sister.
Tom was a devout Catholic, attending mass every morning, and he administered communion to friends and neighbors unable to attend services. He headed the bereavement group at Prince of Peace Church in Sun City Center with his dear friend Maryann. He was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus and The Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Tom and Anita spent many years devoted to locating his missing shipmates and planning the ship’s reunions held every two years. They successfully located over 30 shipmates and renewed friendships started more than 70 years ago.
Tom loved life and was loved by many. He will be deeply missed and will always be in our hearts.
Thomas J. English of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away peacefully on Monday, February 22, 2016, at the age of 89 surrounded by family in Pawleys Island, S.C.
Tom was born in Manhattan, N.Y., to James and Margaret English. He was the older brother of Eileen (predeceased) and Edward. Tom proudly served his country during World War II in the Navy aboard the <i>USS Hugh W. Hadley</i> DD-774 in the Pacific campaign during the invasion of Okinawa. He was awarded a Purple Heart and the ship’s crew received numerous awards, including the Presidential Unit Citation.
<a href="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2016/03/flag-in-color-1.gif" rel="attachment wp-att-12756"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-12756" src="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2016/03/flag-in-color-1-150x150.gif" alt="flag-in-color" width="150" height="150" /></a>After the war, he came back to New York and went to work, where he met his future wife, Anita Hampton (predeceased). In 1953, Tom graduated from Fordham University with a teaching degree. In the same year, Tom and Anita were married. They had nine children. Their first-born, Brian, passed away at 15 months and their son Stephen passed in 2003.
Tom is survived by Kenneth, Maureen and husband Donald, Patricia and husband Apostolos, Michael, Donna and husband Mike, Christopher and wife Claudia, and Philip (his wife Phyllis predeceased); and 16 grandchildren: Olga, Christina, Ioannis, Kathleen, Andrea, Colleen, Kyle, Edward, Christopher, Nicholas, Briana, Brian, Ryan, Alex, Brenna and Jack.
Tom and Anita retired in 1991 and moved to East Stroudsburg, Pa., to a home they had built for retirement. They eventually became snowbirds. In 2003, after Anita’s passing, Tom became a volunteer with Hospice care. In 2007 he relocated to Sun City Center to be near his brother and sister.
Tom was a devout Catholic, attending mass every morning, and he administered communion to friends and neighbors unable to attend services. He headed the bereavement group at Prince of Peace Church in Sun City Center with his dear friend Maryann. He was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus and The Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Tom and Anita spent many years devoted to locating his missing shipmates and planning the ship’s reunions held every two years. They successfully located over 30 shipmates and renewed friendships started more than 70 years ago.
Tom loved life and was loved by many. He will be deeply missed and will always be in our hearts.