Thomas F. Frawley

1933 - 2019

Thomas F. Frawley

Louisville - Thomas F. Frawley, 86, of Louisville, passed peacefully away in the early morning hours of January 13, 2019 with his family by his side.

Tom was born to the late John and Catherine Frawley in New York City on January 9, 1933. He graduated from LaSalle Academy and earned his Bachelor of Arts from Manhattan College in New York. He met his late wife, Caryl (nee Johnson) of 47 years, in Manhattan, eventually settling in Syracuse, where they lived for 34 years and raised two children.

Tom served in the United States Army and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant while serving in the Korean War. He was thrilled to take an Honor Flight to Washington, DC, in June of 2015, with his son Matthew as a companion. He started his career in the early 1960's serving as a Federal Investigator. One of his first assignments was traveling to Alabama to enforce African-American's right to vote. He then worked as a Regional Director in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for the federal government, before retiring in 1995.

Tom was active in the community, serving on several boards, including the Central New York Rape Crisis Center (President), the Optimist Club's basketball league (Commissioner), and the United Way, along with numerous other not-for-profit and government service organizations. Tom, a devout Catholic, was an original member of Pope John's XXIII Roman Catholic Church (formerly St. John's) in Liverpool, NY, and most recently a member of Epiphany Catholic Church in Anchorage, KY.

Tom is survived by his two children: Matthew, his wife Jill, and their three children Christopher, Andrew, and Elizabeth, of Pewee Valley; and Catherine, her husband Bill, and their two children, Billy and Cate, of Aurora, Colorado. He is also survived by a brother, Robert, and a host of nieces and nephews. His children and grandchildren lovingly knew him as Poppy.

Tom was fond of liverwurst, a good dry martini, and the Yankees. He was an early supporter of the women's rights movement (married to Caryl, a successful politician, it was part of the deal). He supported her and nurtured his children as a loving husband and father. He enjoyed playing golf well into his old age - particularly after retiring and moving from snowy Syracuse to lovely Louisville. Tom had lasting friendships with several grammar school buddies and enjoyed visiting with them and recalling fond memories. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.

Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 4-8 PM, at Ratterman Funeral Home, 12900 Shelbyville Rd, East Louisville. A memorial mass in celebration of his life will be held at Epiphany Catholic Church, 914 Old Harrods Creek Road, Louisville, KY, 40223 on Wednesday, January 16 at 10 AM. The mass will be followed by a reception for family and friends.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in Tom's memory to Hosparus Health (www.hosparushealth.org) or to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (www.michaeljfox.org).