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Thomas McGrath Obituary
Thomas "Tom" Francis McGrath III was 67 years of age and lived in Fillmore, CA. He peacefully passed away Sunday, October 13th at home surrounded by his family after a brave battle with cancer.
Tom was born in Oxnard, CA on April 5, 1946, the son of Thomas Francis "Frank" McGrath, Jr. and Lee Carroll McGrath. He is 4th generation of the McGrath farming family and grew up on the Oxnard plain with his brother Sean and sister Bridgit. An active member of the McGrath family, Tom lived and farmed in Ventura County all his life.
Tom attended Santa Clara elementary school and High School in Oxnard, class of 1964. He also attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA. Tom proudly served in the US Army, and after service returned to Ventura County to work with his father for most of his farming career. He married Brianne Patricia Johansen in 1975. Together they raised their four daughters here in Ventura County, while Tom continued to farm throughout the county and develop partnerships throughout the state and region.
Tom was devoted to his faith, his community, his family, and to farming in Ventura County. He was a devoted cowboy and a proud member of the Rancheros Visitadores, Rancheros Adolfo, Santa Barbara Trail Riders, and Ventura County Sheriff's Posse. Tom served on several boards and supported many community organizations including; the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley, the Resource Conservation District Ventura County, Livingston Memorial Foundation, he served as President of the Farm Bureau of Ventura County, Mesa Union School Foundation and School Board, was a member of the Oxnard Rotary Club, and supporter of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. Tom was a proud graduate of Class 4 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, and was a partner of AgLand Services in Somis, CA. He was the recipient of many service awards including the Ranchero Adolfo Carl Lowthorp Award, the Jeremiah Millbank Award from the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley, a three time Paul Harris Fellow through Oxnard Rotary, and the Award for Excellence in Leadership from the Resource Conservation District Ventura County, among others.
Tom is survived by his wife Brianne Patricia McGrath, brother Sean Higgins McGrath, daughter Marianne Carroll McGrath, husband Michael Vincent Napolitano and granddaughter Marlowe Rose Napolitano, daughter Helen Conroy McGrath and her husband Peter Francis Chausse, daughter Patricia Lee McGrath, daughter Kailyn Bridgit McGrath and her husband Andrew Shalby Dennis, and animals including his beloved horse Truckee and dog Shorty. Tom's sister Bridgit McGrath Massey, mother Lee Carroll McGrath and father Thomas Francis McGrath, Jr. preceded him in death.
A memorial mass will be held Saturday, October 19th at 2 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi in Fillmore. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Boy & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley, PO Box 152 Santa Paula, CA 93061.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Thomas McGrath
Sponsored by anonymous.
Marie Mc Grath
November 2, 2013
My sincere sympathy to Brianne, Sean, Marianne, Helen, Patricia and Kailyn on the sad passing of dear Tom. I have such fond memories of Tom at 'McGrath Picnic' event in Lanesboro, Co Longford and also when I visited his home and family.He is a huge loss to us all. Cousin Marie Mc Grath, Derrygeel, Lanesboro,Co Longford,Ireland
Yvonne Bodle Farris
October 22, 2013
Dear Brianne, I was so sorry to learn of Tom's passing. I always admired Tom for his true McGrath qualities of love of family, love of God, love of life and love of our dear earth that he treated so well. He sure loved you and the girls and will always be with you. With much love,
Rob Scherzinger
October 22, 2013
We will miss our trips to the UCLA football games with you and Brianne. We will miss your enthusiasm for always want to go flying. We will just plain miss you Amigo. R.I.P.
MaryAnne & Mike Mobley
October 22, 2013
Brianne & Family,
Tom was an amazing man. His warm smile & big heart will be greatly missed by those who knew him. You & your family remain in our thoughts & prayers.
Dr. Thomas Coultas
October 22, 2013
A wonderful friend and cousin!
Marilyn Berryman=Rounds
October 21, 2013
Dear Brianne and family,
I am speaking for all the Berrymans who cherished your parents Vadie and Kai. Even tough we lost touch over the years except for Facebook, your cousins are sending much love and comfort during this time. Love Marilyn
Muffy Alexander
October 21, 2013
So sorry for your loss. I know he loved Truckee so much and Tucker too. He will be greatly misseed.
John Skakel
October 20, 2013
Deepest sympathies to the McGrath family. It was an honor to be associated with Tom through Rancheros. He was such an upbeat and generous man. He insisted that my two school age daughters who love horses come visit when we travel from Oregon. I told them with pride when I heard his distinctive voice in our Fred Meyer store talking about California avocados - that's my friend Tom McGrath.
October 20, 2013
Brianne & Family, Although we did not get to be there with you yesterday, our thoughts & prayers were. What a great & wonderful man. We have such great memories of this special man. Know our thoughts & prayers will be with you as you face this time without him. The ag community will really miss Tom. Ann & Jim Hohimer
Dale Dean
October 20, 2013
I echo all the salutations. I served with him at the RCD. He honored my AF Flying Experience and took me to the Broom Ranch Several Times for their Show. For the Family, the Mass of Christian Memorial will inspire me for along time. What a tribute.
Mike,Ann,jennifer. Napolitano
October 20, 2013
TO a family we hold very dear , and close to our hearts,from the first time we meet,all our love and prayers go out to you.Tom was someone you LOVED from the moment you meet him,it was just that way.xoxoxo P.S II loved and will miss how he always had a great story to tell. Ann
Bill & Laura Borchard
October 19, 2013
I served on the Oxnard Drainage District Board with Tom the last few years. What a honor to serve with Tom. I was reminded of what a gentleman he is. Our love and prayers go out to Brianne and his family at this most difficult time.
October 19, 2013
We hold fond memories of growing up with Tom, his full-moon face and freckles so often wrapped in his terrific smile. You are in our prayers on two continents, Brianne and family. Much love from the Mary Ellen Meade clan of the McGraths, Patti, Marg, Paul,Tom
Marshall Kane
October 19, 2013
My heartfelt condolences to the McGrath family and his friends...I will always fondly remember as a kid going to the McGrath home on Gonzales Road and playing outside on the farm.
Ruben an Erma Mesa
October 18, 2013
May God bless all your family in this very hard time. God has a plan for all of us and we know that Tom is still looking out for his family. He truly had a giving soul and will always be remembered. I went to school with Tom both grammer and high school, and will always remember his kidding and very serious side. God bless you in this very trying time.
Hoss Brooks
October 18, 2013
My buddy Spencer and I took Tom and my coworker, Chris Dryden to the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo back in August 2011. Tom had never been, and Dryden had been telling me for about a month leading up to the rodeo about how excited Tom was to finally get to go.
Spencer and I listened to both Tom and Chris talk about the Rancheros and swap cowboy stories back and forth, much to our amusement on the drive down to San Juan Capistrano. It was the kind of politically incorrect yet extremely valuable education no institution could ever instruct.
After the rodeo, Tom treated us all to a big steak dinner, and told some more stories. We dropped him off at his home in Fillmore on our way back home, and I'll never forget him yelling, "Let's do it again sometime, gentlemen!"
After the rodeo, I would occasionally see Tom around Ventura County, whether at his ranch, or the Fair, and he was always quick to shake my hand and ask how I was doing. Always with a smile on his face and his straw Cowboy hat on, Tom was the kind of guy that could always make me laugh.
I learned of Tom's ailing condition not long ago on a visit back to CA. I'm sorry I didn't get to see him one last time, but I know we'll all see him again someday. I'm confident Tom is smiling down upon us all at this very moment, no doubt sitting on his horse alongside Ronald Reagan and some of the other great Rancheros that have left us on this Earth.
My prayers and condolences go out to the entire McGrath family.
Larry Kennedy
October 18, 2013
Tom, Ed Gibbs and I were the three youngest members in the Oxnard Rotary Club when I joined in 1978. Although I have seen him rarely in the last 15 years, the guest book comments from others about his generosity and his ability to treat each person as special are carried in all of his for the rest of our lives.
Carri and Mark Jacobs
October 18, 2013
Our deepest condolences to the McGrath family. He was a delightful man with a wonderful smile. He will be missed.
October 17, 2013
Brianne & Family
My condolences to you and your family. I first met Tom in Basic Training in 1966. It was good to see both of you over the past few years.at the AG Leadership events. My prayers are with you.
Bob Friedlein Santa Maria
October 17, 2013
Brianne and Family,
All of Tom's Rotary Family is saddend by his passing. Tom was quite a character and larger than life. He was a kind and generous man and will truly be missed. We were all glad he was part of our lives. God bless.
Cris Fulwider, President Rotary Club of Oxnard
Mike and Shirley Shannon
October 17, 2013
Shirley and I send our sincerest sympathies to your family.
October 17, 2013
We all will miss Tom...Great friend, Ag. Leader, and dedicated to family and friends...Rich and Fran Bozzano.
Julie Friel Eldridge
October 17, 2013
Sooo sooo sorry to hear of Tom's passing. I am sure he is hanging out with my mom, Janice, planning a BBQ in Heaven.
Trisha Muldoon
October 16, 2013
Dear McGrath Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I will always remember being at the soccer field with Tom. He was a second father to me out there on the field. I will never forget his generosity whenever I needed someone to stay with on away tournaments especially when we went to Michigan for our Youth World Cup. I can only hope that him and Coach Ed Pike are up there teaching my Sami Lynn about soccer and telling her stories of our tournaments.
Love you all, Trisha Muldoon (Sutton)
A Heart of Gold stopped beating,
Two shining eyes at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove
He only takes The Best.
God knows you had to leave us,
But you did not go alone ~
For part of us went with you,
The day He took you home.
To some you are forgotten,
To others just the past.
But to us who loved and lost you,
Your memory will always last.
Thomas "Tom" McGrath III (1946 - 2013)
MIchelle Fraser
October 16, 2013
I say it every time I ever spoke of him. The kindest and most giving man I have ever met in my life, he will be sorely missed. Condolences to his family and friends.
Erik Johansen
October 16, 2013
Tom has been the best man I will ever know. love you, my brother.
Larry & Katie Lemke
October 16, 2013
Brianne and Family,
So sorry to hear of Tom's passing. You are in our prayers. I will always have fond memories of our Africa trip with ALA and Tom's wonderful smile and personality. All of us from class 4 will miss him
connie lewis
October 16, 2013
Dear Brianne, Marianne, Helen, Patty, and Kailyn and family-
We send our love and prayers to you at this sad time. May the good Lord grant you peace, love and calm. We are sorry for your loss.
With love, Connie, Jordan, Case, Grif and Morrie Lewis.
Amanda and Richard Bird
October 16, 2013
We were lucky to have experienced Tom's generosity and hospitality. He had a wonderful ability to make people feel like part of the family. Our sympathies to the family.
Paige Dionne
October 16, 2013
I'm so sorry to hear about this as I know all his "girls" here on earth must be heartbroken. He'll always be with all of you now that he's got the best seat in the house. Condolences to you all.
Love,
Paige Dionne (Gale's sister)
October 16, 2013
Brianne, Out thoughts and prayers are with you, the girls, and their families. Tom was a wonderful man, and so well liked. Sincerely, Ron De Boni and Julie De Boni-de St. Jean
Denise McMaster & Paul Thomas
October 16, 2013
Brianne & Family,
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Tommy was a great man.
Brian and Kathy Smith
October 16, 2013
Brianne and girls,
We feel honored to have known Tom. We send to you our love, strength and support today and always. Tom's love, laugh, generousity, humanity and warm-heart will live on through each and every one of you. Your stories will keep him alive in the hearts of his grandchildren for the rest of their days. Tom had the gift of making you feel like you were the most important person in the room. Tom we love and cherish you, we too will carry our memories in our hearts.
kurt kenney
October 16, 2013
smiling as I remember 50 years ago on the "coming of age" camping trip to the wilds of northern cal..rest in peace my friend. kurt k.
Peter Drake
October 16, 2013
This is truly sad news! I remember Tom well from the Rotary Club and seeing him in Oxnard coming and going from the "A" Street Post Office. I used to ask him how the celery was doing and he told me he was now into avocados. We used to share a laugh at the difference in farming as a result of the difference in row crops versus trees. He was a great guy and I will miss our conversations. My deepest condolences to Tom's family and friends. Peter
Carol Maulhardt Jacobs @ Family
October 16, 2013
God bless you all. Love, Your cousins from Montana
Jefferson Lowe
October 16, 2013
What you do only for yourself dies with you without any memory, but what you do for others,becomes part of the world and you become immortal.
Tom Mcgrath is Immortal.
Tom was my friend and I will forever miss him.
October 16, 2013
Thinking of you all with great memories. Our prayers, The Fulkerson Family
My Fav Pic of Tom
Paul Johansen
October 16, 2013
Nancy Ackerman Hines
October 16, 2013
Brianne - my thoughts are with you and your family at this time of grief. I wish I had been able to know Tom, but knowing you, I know he had to be a wonderful man. I know in my heart that he is a better place without pain now. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Rhett Searcy
October 16, 2013
My heart goes out to to the family, what a wonderful man! I never heard a cross word and was always greeted with that warm smile and the firm handshake! I will miss him deeply and with Tom, you never needed "a contract", for his word was gold. He truly was "one of the good ole' boys" and I was privileged and blessed to be his friend.
Joe Pfeiler
October 16, 2013
Brianne & family,
You'd remember me as coming out to the old Vuyovich house on LA Ave. in the mid 80s to teach Helen piano.
I'm sorry to see this, and I'm thinking of you all.
Susan Ferro
October 16, 2013
A smile comes to me just thinking of
Tom's BBQ and his infecious smile. God bless Brianne and family in this sad time. Fondly, Susan Ferro
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