CDR Thomas J. Gorman

1929 - 2018

CDR Thomas J. Gorman, USN (Ret)

Lincroft - CDR Thomas J. Gorman, 88, of Lincroft, entered into eternal life on April 4, 2018. He was born in New York City in 1929 and graduated from Cardinal Hays High School, Bronx, NY and Providence College in Rhode Island where he earned a degree in Economics. Upon graduation he became a commissioned officer in the US Navy. He served on the USS Arneb during the Korean War. He subsequently served at sea on the USS Catoctin, in the commissioning crew of the USS Saratoga, aboard the USS Elokomin and on the USS Remey. The majority of his sea service was with the US Second and Sixth Fleets in the Mediterranean Sea.

CDR Gorman's service ashore was mostly on staff assignments for the Commander, Eastern Sea Frontier in New York City. His assignments included temporary duty to the Columbian Minister of Defense for sea control purposes. He also served as a briefing officer for the US ambassador to the United Nations. His other assignments included naval control of merchant shipping involving NATO missions and serving as a liaison officer with, at various times, the commander-in-chief, US Atlantic Fleet, Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, US Coast Guard and the US Maritime Administration. While on the staff of the Commandant, Third Naval District, he was assigned to the repatriation team for US prisoners of war from North Vietnam, and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for his work in this mission. CDR Gorman also completed two tours in the field of training and education as commanding officer of two US Naval Reserve training centers.

After CDR Gorman retired from active duty, he became a founder and first headmaster of the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) at Sandy Hook, NJ. Also during this time, he was involved with the establishment of the USS New Jersey as a museum and educational facility as vice-chairman of the USS New Jersey Battleship Commission.

CDR Gorman was also involved in numerous professional organizations and was a parishioner of St. Leo the Great Church in Lincroft for over 50 years. As a result of his naval service, he developed a love for traveling and the sea having crossed the Atlantic with his wife 16 times on the Queen Elizabeth II. Tom was also very proud of his Irish heritage. He was a master story teller who was blessed with the Irish "Gift of the Gab."

CDR Gorman was preceded by his parents, Edward and Susan Gorman, his brother Edward Gorman, Jr. and his wife Marie O'Malley Gorman. He is survived by his two children Thomas J. Gorman, Jr. of Bushkill, PA, Kathleen Gorman DeCamp, of Bel Air, MD and his grandchildren Timothy, Christopher and Michael De Camp. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4pm and 7 to 9pm on Thursday, April 12th at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave, Red Bank. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Leo the Great Church in Lincroft on Friday, April 13 at 10:15 am with burial to follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Middletown. Letters on condolence can be emailed via the funeral home's website at www.johnedayfuneralhome.com.