Tom O’Leary,77, Twenty-five year veteran of North Arlington Volunteer Fire Department Passes
Thomas F. O’Leary, retired Verizon engineer and former North Arlington housing inspector passed away Sunday at the New Jersey Fireman’s Home following a short illness.
Tom started his telephone company career in 1957 with New Jersey Bell and worked through many organizational and technology changes over the next 36 years. Tom worked his way through all the unionized telco craft skills – from installer to switchman. After his promotion into management he continued training and studying and was eventually promoted to engineer in the standards organization at Verizon retiring in 1991. Tom is a member of the Association of Bell Tel Retirees Inc. and life member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.
“He enjoyed his job with the telephone company,” his daughter Sheila Dick said. “But he loved his volunteer job with the North Arlington Fire Department. The fire alarm radio was prominent a fixture of our home, the daily test accompanying dinner each night.”
“The whole family was engaged with the fire department, my mom with the auxiliary and family celebrations – communions, confirmations and graduations were always at the fire house,” Sheila concluded.
Tom served in a variety of roles during his quarter century with the department including as chaplain. He was a third degree knight of the Knights of Columbus, Queen of Peace Council. He was also a Queen of Peace Parish Council member. Tom served in The United States Army from 1957 through 1959 having been stationed in Georgia, South Carolina and California.
Tom was a native of Jersey City and a graduate of Dickenson High School and St. Nicholas grade school.
Tom is survived by his daughters and their husbands Sheila and Brian Dick and Sharon and Tim Tucker and his daughter in law Cecilia O'Shea; six grandchildren, Brian, Bridget and Breann Dick and Elizabeth, Kelly and Patrick Tucker; his brother, Joseph O’Leary and sister Catherine. Tom was predeceased by his wife of 34 years Eileen (nee Long) O’Leary and his son, Thomas J. O’Leary.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Thomas O’Leary Scholarship Fund at Queen of Peace High School. www.qphs.org/giving.htm
The wake will be Wednesday April 3 from 2 to 4 and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr Kearny, NJ 07032 and funeral Mass on Thursday at 10 a.m. at Queen of Peace in North Arlington. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery