Thomas A. Flaherty
November 10, 1933 ~ January 15, 2021
Funeral Service will be live at 9:30am Friday
Thomas Arthur Flaherty, 87 of Ridge, New York died on Friday January 15, 2021 from Parkinson’s disease. He was born November 10, 1933 in New York City, son of the late Thomas F. Flaherty and Agnes Flaherty (nee McMahon). He was preceded in death by brothers Vincent and Brian. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Catherine Flaherty (nee Slattery), his sisters Gail Cornacchia, Sr. Arlene Flaherty O.P. and brother Dennis. He is also survived by his nine children and thirteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and one on the way.
Thomas was a graduate of Cardinal Hayes High school where he was a pole vaulter, cross country track star and part of a relay team that held the American High school record for the four by one mile relay. He ran in the Penn relays in Philadelphia.
He served in the U.S. army for two years during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in June 1954.
He graduated from Fordham University for both his undergraduate and his Master’s degree. He worked his entire 38 year professional career for The New York Life Insurance Company, advancing from clerk typist to Underwriter and earning his Chartered Life Underwriters Certification. He was promoted to Treasury, and eventually to Executive Vice President and Head of the Bond Trading Desk retiring in 1988.
Thomas was a devoted Catholic. He helped fund and lead the building of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic church, school, rectory and convent as finance director of the Parrish Counsel. He was a regular Mass lector, Holy Name Society Member and was awarded the Confraternity Christian Doctrine Medal for his decades of work teaching and then leading the education of public school attending
Catholic children at Our Lady of Lourdes Parrish. This was the accomplishment he was most proud of. Additionally, he started and coached the Catholic Youth Organization track team for O.L.L. to great success. He later went on to coach a championship little league team, and the “Big Red” Massapequa Athletic Club soccer team.
He did absolutely everyone’s Taxes. He loved numbers, he loved poker and made the final table of every tournament he ever participated in. He played bridge on the Long Island rail road on his way to work.
Tom had an outgoing personality with boundless energy which he harnessed at work and around family and friends. He was the consummate practitioner of the teachings of Jesus Christ and his leadership and service to others was a powerful force for good. He was a loving and dedicated husband to his first and only love of his life Kate.
He loved to run, compete, and achieve. He loved to sail, he loved to dance his shoes off! He loved to invest, make money, and follow the financial markets. He loved all things Italian, but especially the food!He loved to sing the music of Nat King Cole and knew every lyric of every song. He was crazy about babies, birthdays, and loved to organize parties especially for his birthday and anniversary.
He loved the New York Football Giants. He was the world’s luckiest fisherman.
Services will be private. Memorial Contributions can be made to the Micheal J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Love and miss you Pop-pop xo
Uncle Tom. You were a great Man, Husband, father, grandfather and friend. May you always shine in heaven as you have shined on earth. I know you will watch over your family now and always. Test now until you meet again! 🙏❤️🙏
Never a dull memory with you Pop. What an amazing life with so many accomplishment. Love and miss you.❤️
sending my deepest condolences
May JESUS wrap you in his loving arms in his kingdom.
What a great summary of a beautiful life and man. I will always remember his engaging smile , love for the family and his interest in my career ( and where I saw the stock heading!). RIP Tom, until we meet again over NY pizza or lasagna.
Uncle Tom may the lord welcome you into to his kingdom. Your council helped steer me in the right direction when I returned home from Vietnam and I will be forever thankful .
I will be forever grateful for all you have done for my Mom after my dad died. You guided her and advised though all the financial decisions she need to make to secure her future. You helped her find her home on Fla. where she lived happily for many years. You always took the time to visit and check in on her, have dinner or lunch or go in an outing. I know she will be so happy to see you when your arrive in heaven. I will miss you — you kindness, warm spirit and happy go luckily attitude. May you Rest In Peace. Love ❤️ Mary
Uncle Tommy will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with Aunt Katie and the entire family.
Uncle Tom you most definitely will be missed. Words can’t express how much you mean to me. Rest in eternal peace. Forever in my heart ❤️ Give my mom a kiss for me! Love You Susan
You will be miss I always remember you being a very nice person the short time I known you but my daughter Stephanie always talk about you she will miss yo very much , rest in peace
You will be miss you were always such a nice person and had a great personality my daughter Stephanie your granddaughter always talk about you she always came home with a smile on face after visiting you and her grandmother kate. Rest in ☮️
Uncle Tom, Love you and will miss you! So happy we got to spend so much time together here in Florida. Thank you for always being there and always asking me to dance at any and all parties! 😘
What a great tribute to a very kind and intelligent man. He was a loving and generous man that we will all remember so very fondly. we send our love and prayers to the Flaherty family during this difficult time.
Your downhill run in vancourtland park was your running strength your strength as a human being and parent far surpassed that achievement. good by pop great job.
My deepest heartfelt condolences to the Flaherty family. ♥️ Love Casandra
My Uncle Tom, the perfect gentleman, steady, strong, trustworthy and so much joy to be around. I love you and thank you for your kindness. You have lived the gospel well. You have loved God and loved people all the days of your life. Now Rest In Peace♥️
Uncle Tom, I have the fondest memories of picking you up at your house and driving together to the train station for our commute to NYC. You were great company and always had the best advice. I know you got a kick out of how I would organize my money in envelopes. You were a wonderful father and the best uncle. Thank you for all the times you did Mom & Dad’s taxes. You were larger than life and an example of grace and kindness. Rest in peace in the arms of Jesus. Love, Ann-Marie
Rest In Peace! Toscano family wishing you eternal rest, whence we meet again for an Emily street reunion
My Condolences to the Entire Flaherty Family, The Lane’s
I will always cherish the time that we spent together. Helping you was like being with my dad. You will certainly be missed. God bless you and your family. 😞🙏👼