Thomas A. Flaherty

LtCol Thomas A. Flaherty, USMC, Retired, age 71, died surrounded by his family, on Monday, March 21, 2016, at the Sky Ridge Medical Center near Denver, Colorado. Tom Flaherty was born in Erie, on November 8, 1944, to Vernon and Frances (Green) Flaherty.

After graduating from Strong Vincent High School in 1962 and earning his Bachelor's Degree at Gannon College in 1966, he went to graduate school at USC in Los Angeles where he met his wife, Christa Dueser. In 1969, Tom interrupted his Doctoral studies in Spanish and Latin American Literature to volunteer for service in the United States Marine Corps, telling his new wife that "My country needs me." Tom served 23 years in the Marine Corps, including deployments in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. After retiring from the Marine Corps, he worked as a Program Manager for Lockheed Martin and retired from that work in 2013. In addition to the company of his family, Tom especially enjoyed riding his motorcycle and singing in his church choir.

Tom is survived by his wife Christa, three children Christoph, Mark, and Stefanie, his sister Cathy, and eight grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Three Trees Chapel in Littleton, Colorado on Tuesday, March 29 from 4-5 p.m. There will be a funeral mass at the Holy Ghost Church in Denver at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 30, after which Tom will be laid to rest at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, also in Denver, at 12:30 p.m.

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