EAGAN, THOMAS P. III, 69, crossed over to the other side in his sleep at 4:20 a.m. Friday, November 6, 2009, succumbing to a 2 ½ year struggle with metastatic prostate cancer.
A self-described "playwright trapped in an attorney's body," as well as a novelist, actor, director, producer, English professor, and literary genius, Thomas II was born March 24,1940 in Newark, NJ, the first child of Thomas P. Eagan II and Mary Eagan.
Thomas III spent the entirety of his adolescence in New York City, with one sibling, James Eagan, one year his junior.
Following education at St. Stephen's Grammar School and O'Hallows High School (Bronx, NY), he attended and graduated from St. John's University (Queens, NY) and obtained a master's degree in English from U. Notre Dame (South Bend, IN).
After Notre Dame, he taught English at the University of Maine (Orono, ME) and then embarked upon the pursuit of his true love: THEATER.
For the next several years, he acted/directed summer stock and dinner theater productions nationwide in states from Montana to North Carolina.
On a production set in Helena, MT he met his actress wife, married in 1967 and had a child in 1971.
In 1974 he moved to Jackson, MS where he subsequently divorced and resided for the next eight years.
In 1982, he moved to Louisville and, after being a (self-described) member of the "Job of the Month Club" for years during which time he held various teaching possessions at U of L & JCC, as well as other positions- he embarked upon his 2nd love: CRIMINAL LAW, graduating from U of L Law School in 1989.
The next two decades were spent as a solo criminal defense attorney, while simultaneously running a play publishing company (Aran Press) and writing plays/ novellas, including the infamous "Tales of The Hall" series, containing characters within the Jefferson County Court in fictionalized settings.
At the time of his demise he had written over 20 novels, novellas and collections of poetry and over 70 plays.
He is preceded in death by his father (1960); mother (1986) and brother (1997).
He is survived by his son Christopher Eagan (Allison); his granddaughter, Ainsley (5); and four nieces and nephews.
His wit, wisdom and ever-positive attitude will be missed by both family and colleagues.
Memorial service to be held 5:30 p.m. Friday at Highlands Family-Owned Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road, followed by funeral Mass at St. Louis Bertrand, 1104 S. 6th St., 10 a.m. Saturday. No burial.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to Baptist East Palliative Care Park Tower 4, 4000 Kresge Way, Louisville KY 40207 and also Hosparus, PO Box 35425 Louisville, KY 40232- 9892.
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