Thomas James Kearney

Thomas J. Kearney, 91, of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, September 1, 2025. He was a resident of Radburn for 62 years, where he and his late wife Mary Jo raised their family.

Tom was born on February 15, 1934, in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. He was the fourth of seven children in the bustling Main Street household of parents Christopher and Adeline Kearney, along with brothers Jim, John and Pat; sisters Adele, Marie and Kathleen; and occasionally a cousin or two. The family business, Kearney's Beer & Pop Distributing, was situated directly behind the house.

Tom met the love of his life, Mary Jo Morrison, at the Ramsay High School sophomore Christmas dance. She was his first and only love. Their favorite date nights included movies, school dances and caramel cashew sundaes at the Candyland pop shop. Following high school, Tom attended Bucknell University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in history and an ROTC commission. He and Mary Jo were married shortly afterward on August 27, 1955. He then served in the US Army as a First Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

Following two years of military service,Tom won a scholarship and teaching assistant position at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. There he earned a master's degree in political science, public administration and finance from the Fels Institute of Government. Initially intending to become a city planner after graduate school, he instead accepted a position in the management training program at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

During his career at the Port Authority (PA), Tom became involved with the World Trade Center project and later with the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA). For many years, he traveled the globe to promote "peace through trade" and to help grow the membership and influence of the WTCA. He visited every continent except Antarctica, and Mary Jo was fortunate to accompany him on many of these exciting trips, including visits to Canada, Europe, South America and Southeast Asia. Tom retired from the PA at 55, accepting a new position as Secretary General of the WTCA until his second retirement at 63. He continued to work as a consultant until fully retiring at 76.

Despite being a world traveler, Tom was happiest at home with his wife, four children and many friends. He took great pleasure in creating meaningful memories for his family and in maintaining his home and garden. As his family grew, he treated the entire Kearney clan to an annual vacation at Cape Cod. Three months before his passing, he explored Yellowstone, Little Big Horn and Mount Rushmore with his daughters. Two weeks before his passing was the 27th annual visit to the Cape. Five days before his passing was the 70th anniversary of his marriage to Mary Jo.

A lifelong learner, history aficionado, voracious reader, forward thinker, lover of animals, keeper of family stories, obsessive Notre Dame football fan-Tom was all of these things. But he will be remembered most for his kind heart, sweet sense of humor, gentle spirit and steadfast commitment to those he loved.

Tom was the beloved husband of the late Mary Jo Kearney; the loving and devoted father of Kristen Kearney and partner Mike Goldman, Laurie Nash and late husband Terry, Karen Kearney and husband Duncan MacRae, and the late Thomas J. Kearney Jr.; the cherished grandfather of Mike and wife Kerriann, Ryan and wife Alyssa, Keleigh and partner Duncan, Joe and wife Lauren, and Kearney, Colin, and beloved Kasey, always in our hearts; and the dear great grandfather of Mikey, Hailey, Tommy, Maverick and Ace.