Thomas J Byrne

Thomas J. Byrne was born on February 6, 1937, to Thomas Byrne and Florence Feeney Byrne, in the Bronx, New York. He attended St. Frances of Rome Elementary and St. Michaels High School. After high school, at age 17, he enlisted in the Air Force where he spent almost 4 years. He then attended Fordham University where he majored in Economics and Math. While there, he joined the crew and was elected MVP. During his senior year at Fordham, he met his wife, Carol, of almost 62 years. He graduated in 1962 and went to work for an aerospace company. In June of 1963 he and Carol were married.

His first job took them to California to work on the Surveyor space program, focused on the moon soft landing. There had been many failures due to their computer, and Tom was tasked with leading the team to fix it. After lots of trial and error, it was fixed, and he was present at NASA for the successful launch. This was an auspicious start to a career that took him to many states and many companies. He liked to say that he fixed broken companies. He ended his career as president of a ship building company on the Great Lakes where they built Staten Island ferries and ships for NOA, the Navy, and the Coast Guard.

He was a wonderful and loving father to Greg, Sue, Kevin, Jenny, and Matt. He was the dad who gave up his time to coach the teams, to teach religion, and to cheer them on. He tried to never miss an event, which was an accomplishment with five kids participating in many sports and activities. He opened his home to the many friends and family who needed help along the way and there were always extra guests at our table.

He was a loving husband, who along with Carol, was fortunate to have numerous travel adventures. They lived in eleven different houses in eight different states and have visited every continent except Antarctica. He had a blessed life with a wonderful and loving family.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Florence and Thomas Byrne, his sister and brother-in-law, Dolores Byrne Pfund and Robert Pfund. He is survived by his wife, Carolann DeLuca Byrne,

Five children:

Thomas G. Byrne and special friend Sandra Bosick

Susan Byrne Church

Kevin J. Byrne and Donna Ochwat Byrne

Jennifer Byrne Harrison and Benjamin Harrison

Matthew V. Byrne and Mary Hersey Byrne

Cheryl Paul - special friend

Eleven grandchildren:

Regan Byrne, Carly Church, Vincent Harrison, Dylan Byrne, Evan Thomas Harrison, Addison Byrne, Camryn Church, Jacob Harrison, Thomas Charles Byrne, Lincoln Thomas Byrne, Miles Byrne

Sister-in-law and Brother-in-law - Rosina and John McFadden

Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law - Vincent and Aunalee DeLuca

Nephew - John Dapello

Many loving nieces and nephews and numerous friends from all the places he had lived.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, February 7th at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, located at 12905 State Road 70 East, Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202. A Celebration of Life will follow at Waterlefe Clubhouse, 995 Fish Hook Cove, Bradenton, Florida 34212.

The family requests that any donations in Tom's name be made to St. Jude's Hospital or the Boys and Girls Club of Manitowoc County.