Thomas Joseph Hagerty

Thomas Joseph Hagerty, 83

GUTTENBERG, N.J. - Thomas Joseph Hagerty, 83, died Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, at the Palisades Medical Center, in New Jersey, after a brief illness.

He was born in June 1934 and raised in Somerville, Mass., the son of Francis and Margaret (Towle).

Tom graduated from Somerville High School and fought in the Korean War from 1953 to 1955, having had his name moved up on the draft list so that he could enlist as soon as he graduated. He was awarded the National Defense Service medal, and after active duty he attended Boston College as an undergraduate on the GI Bill.

Following that, he earned a master's degree in social work from the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work in 1961.

While attending graduate school, Tom worked part-time in the business office at Kennedy Hospital in Brighton, Mass. It was there that he met his future wife, Yvonne Harnois, who was doing her first-year social work placement. They then both worked at Catholic Social Services in Fitchburg, Mass., before getting married in 1964.

The Hagertys moved to Yvonne's hometown of Portland, Maine, in 1969, made a home and raised a family on Ludlow Street. Tom was a loving and supportive spouse, especially when Yvonne was battling breast cancer from 1987 through 1990.

For most of his career, Tom worked as a social worker and administrator at Catholic Charities Maine in Portland, where he eventually became deputy director. He also taught as adjunct faculty at the School of Social Work at Saint Joseph's College in Standish, and belonged to the National Association of Social Workers. He was an active member of St. Joseph's Church in Portland, where he was a lector.

Tom could frequently be found attending his children's many sporting events, and also enjoyed carpentry and making repairs to the family camp on Little Sebago Lake. He was proud of his Irish heritage and made an effort to document the Hagerty family ancestry.

Tom retired in 1996 and traveled extensively in the U.S., working as part of a team of auditors for the Council on Accreditation for social service agencies. During a trip to New York, he met Paul Gomez and eventually moved with him to New Jersey. While in New Jersey, Tom was an avid fan of Broadway and attended many performances with Paul and their friends. He enjoyed reading, and watching "Jeopardy," and loved the TV show "Law and Order."

Tom took great pride in the accomplishments of his family and enjoyed talking about his children and grandchildren to his friends. When he was able, he attended Mass at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Pearl River, where his son Stephen is the priest.

Tom was predeceased by his wife of 25 years, Yvonne (1990); a sister, Joan Ford (2015); and a grandson, Damian (2002).

He is survived by his spouse of 14 years, Paul Gomez; his children, Thomas A., Michael, Andrew, Catherine, and Stephen; as well as their spouses and his 10 grandchildren.

A wake was held at Morgado Funeral Home in Union City, N.J., on Wednesday, Aug. 16, from 5-9 p.m. An interment of his cremains will take place at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland Friday, Sept. 1, at 10:30 a.m. Family and friends are invited to attend.