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Thomas M. Rafferty Sr.
Thomas M. Rafferty Sr.
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Thomas Rafferty Obituary
THOMAS M. SR., on July 23, 2005, of Drexel Hill, PA, age 67. Beloved husband of the late Rita B. (nee Fox) Rafferty, loving father of Colleen M. Ranieri of Aston, PA, Thomas M. Rafferty, Jr. of Media, PA, Michael J. Rafferty of Drexel Hill, Spec. Brian D. Rafferty, of the U.S. Army, Kathleen A. Merrin and Nora R. Rafferty, both of Drexel Hill, a grandson Gavin Merrin, brother of Marie E. McCallion, James J. Rafferty, Jr., Eileen M. Rullo, Dorothy M. Rafferty, Eleanor M. Obenski, Bernadette M. McGarvey and the late Joseph A. and George D. Rafferty, son of the late James. J. Sr. and Marie E. Rafferty; also survived by many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to call Thurs. 6 to 9 P.M. at the M.F. WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Baltimore and Summit Aves., Clifton Heights PA. Funeral Mass Friday 11 a.M., St. Andrew the Apostle Church, School Lane and Foss Ave., Drexel Hill. Int. Calvary Cemetery, Conshohocken.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
August 20, 2005
Bill Shea
August 19, 2005
Edited excerpt from a message to members of Crescent Boat Club (Tom was a former coach and President of Crescent)
Those of us at Crescent that knew Tom and Rita are deeply shocked and saddened at this very tragic news. Tom Rafferty, once quite a rowing force on the Schuylkill himself, is credited with the resurgence of our Boat Club. In the early 1970’s Tom reintroduced Crescent to competitive rowing with his launch of a very successful youth program that lasted for many years and placed Crescent back on a competitive and winning path on the Schuylkill River. Many of Tom’s youth rowers went onto various levels of collegiate and club rowing, winning many national and international events. A number of current and past Crescent Boat Club members formerly coached or mentored by Tom; continue to row today thanks to his influence.
Tom will particularly be remembered for his love of family and his devotion to his wife Rita. From the 1970’s and into the 90's it was a common sight to see the entire Rafferty clan at Crescent events, Schuylkill regattas, club regattas, work parties and award banquets. The Rafferty’s were very much woven into the fabric of Crescent Boat Club in those days. Being with Tom and Rita was fun. They were, in a word, characters. There was a contagious optimism and excitement level that Tom generated and as a result he made you believe in yourself and believe in your abilities. He taught plenty about conditioning and rowing but like the best coaches and mentors he was really offering us lessons to apply to all aspects of our lives.
Tom Rafferty stands out as Crescent Boat Clubs most significant individual to grace our doorway in the past 35 years. He possessed a solid work ethic, a love of coaching and dedication to the rower, a love of the sport and care of the boat club. It is painful to think he will never enter our club again. It is painful to think we will never see his wife Rita again. However, we are offered some consolation looking back to the mid 90’s when the Club honored Tom with a Lifetime Membership Award, really thanking him for all that he did for the Club and for all those that he positively influenced, coached, mentored, cared for.
There is so much more to Tom and Rita Rafferty and to their family than I have shared here. I offer this brief tribute to them and to their entire family along with our thoughts and prayers and ask that some day this will somehow become more bearable for their family and all those affected by this tragedy.
Bill Shea
President
Crescent Boat Club
FRANK MONTEROSSO
August 11, 2005
AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER WE COULD GO TO HIS HOUSE ON ETTING STREET AND YEAR AFTER YEAR HE WOULD DONATE HIS TIME AND HELP US JOIN THE BASEBALL LEAGUE AT VARE AND PAY FOR OUR SHIRTS AND HATS, HE WAS A GREAT FRIEND AND WILL BE MISSED.HIS HEART WAS BIG AND I WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT HE DID FOR THE KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD....GOD BLESS
Tom Jackson
August 11, 2005
I'm always going to remember the Joy and Laughter that Tommy gave to this world and growing up four doors down on Etting street I saw him at his best.He was loved and respected.
My Thougths and Prayers are with all of you, Forever Your Friend and Neighbor.Tommy Jackson 1622 Etting
Bill and Helens Kid
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Pete Spera
August 5, 2005
I first met Tom "Raff" Rafferty in 1963. I was a member of the Father Judge Crew from 1963 thru 1967. I remember the name on the back of our coach's launch, "Catch Us If You Can." Whenever I hear that song I think of Raff and a smile comes over my face. I have two people to thank for who I am today. One is my father; the other is Tom Rafferty. He taught me to look beyond what was in front of you. He taught me to never give up, always be willing to work hard for what you want, never point a finger at another, and never make excuses. He genuinely cared about us. He always had a smile on face. I never knew him to be anything other than positive. He was a great man, I love him, and the world will be at a loss now that he is gone.
Charles F. Dougherty
August 1, 2005
My thoughts and prayers are with you all on this sad and tragic time. I just know they are in Peace...and my hope for Peace and Grace for your Family. I am the eldest son of Charles and Rita(Rafferty)Dougherty. "His" Blessings to you all.
Helen Jackson
July 29, 2005
To the Rafferty Family,
My deepest condolences at this time. I knew your Dad, from when I was a little girl. He was a wonderful MAN from a wonderful Family! The Rafferty's lived next to us (The Jackson's) on Etting Street in Grays Ferry. My parents, brothers and my sister all looked up to the family. They were the kindest most good hearted people. I was a young girl, but I will never ever forget the time Tommy took out for my brothers Jimmy and Bobby, as well as Billy and Tommy and quite a few other neighborhood kids. We are all devastated for all of you. May God Bless Tom's wife also. She must have been a wonderful woman. May God keep you in this sorrowful time. "May the Road rise to meet you may the wind be always at your back and until you meet again..... With Deepest and Sincere Sympathy,
Helen (Scoo) Jackson
Andrea Gianfrancesco
July 29, 2005
Tom and Rita Rafferty were amazing people. I was very close to their son Tom Jr. and his family for some of the best years of my life. Rita always made me laugh everytime I was over their house. She loved to laugh and joke around about things in the news and other things going on in her own life. Tom Sr. was a loving man who would work every last minute of the day to provide for his family. And after all that work he would give a stranger his last dime out of his pocket. Some of my fondest memories are at their house, with their son, and with their family. A cry now thinking about Tom. Sr. jokingly asking me,"can I make you something, maybe a mayo sandwich." Before I had even met them, I knew they were amazing because I had met their children. They are a great family with alot of strength and most importantly, a strong faith in God, instilled by their parents. I pray for them everyday to stay strong and to remember that Tom and Rita are in the the most amazing place on earth.
Kevin Cauley
July 29, 2005
Tom and Rita are two great people from my growing up. Raff talked my Dad into letting me row over the summer (because I was grounded for cutting class at Father Judge) at Schuylkill Boat Club on Main Street in Manyunk (way before it became trendy) which then became Crescent Boat Club. Because he talked my Pop into the fact that it would be good for me and keep me off the streets, I became a river rat. During those years I developed the best relationships with other like minded souls who rowed for Raff too, and these guys are still close to me today. Raff was all about taking the tired, the poor, and the underdog and making us into champions and being competitive with the VBCs and NYACs and Potomacs. He'd give us work between practices to either dig his ditches, paint his house, or wax the truck. He was the kind of guy who would give you the last dollar out of his pocket if you needed it. He was one of the first guys I ever knew who could make the word "film" into 2 syllables. Raff, thanks for making us always go for the gold and get that shirt, and Rita, thanks for taking care of Tom. There you go Raff, there you go!
Kathy McCulley
July 28, 2005
My deepest, deepest sympathies go out to the Rafferty Family. I grew up a few doors from Tom Sr. and his siblings. They were one of the many big families on the 1600 block of Etting Street in South Philly. It was back in the days of keeping your doors unlocked and knowing all of your neighbors. You didn't have to like them all, but you knew them. I loved the Rafferty Family!
Tommy always had a smile and a kind word toward my family. He loved my mom, Helen Jackson and my dad Bill. He was especially kind to my brother Bobby and tried to guide him along the right track in life. He knew Bobby had problems and he gave him a job, taught him how to row and was just genuinely kind. I will never forget the smile on his face. I don't know Tommy's kids, nor did I know his wife, but I am so sorry that you have to bury your parents and live with this tragedy. My heart goes out to you all and Eileen, Dot, Bernadette, Eleanor and Jimmy and anyone I may have forgotten. God bless you all at this time. You are in the Jackson Family's prayers.
Sincerely,
Kathy (Jackson) McCulley
JoAnn Slavin
July 28, 2005
I am lucky enough to be a friend of Dot's thru her friendship with my husband, Joe, at Lockheed Martin. There are many other connections also, but her friendship to Joe was the most important one. I will pray for you Dot and for all of the wonderful family that you have. I have experienced that a strong and loving family, such as yours,is what helps to get you through the sadness and loss. I know God will take care of you in His own special way as you will take care of each other. Deepest sympathy, JoAnn Slavin
Edward Smith
July 28, 2005
I went to both grade school and high school with Tom Rafferty Jr. I had the pleasure of knowing Tom's father through Bonner Crew. His father came to many of our practices and helped with the repair of shells and I'm sure he did countless other things to make sure the program was successful. My fondest memory of Tom Rafferty Sr. was when he picked up his son and I up from practice and gave us donuts after one of our long practices. His humor and kindness will never be forgotten and I am glad I had the opportunity to meet him. I like to send my deepest sympathies to Tom JR., as well as his family.
Sincerely,
Ed Smith
Anne Jenemann
July 28, 2005
The Rafferty children are in my thoughts and prayers. I knew Tom and Rita through Bonner Crew and I knew their kindness and generosity.
Anne, Drew, Greg and Stephen Jenemann offer our sincere condolences at this time of great sorrow.
Paul McCaffrey
July 27, 2005
Thomas M. Rafferty, "Builder of homes, small businesses and Churches". Raff always made me laugh, even his business card which I remember from years ago. Raff was my coach on the Father Judge crew team back in the 60's(63-67). A few years ago on a trip to Ireland, I told my son Kevin that in life there will probably be just a handful of people who you can say really had a lasting positive impact on your life. I told him one of those people,for me, was Tom Rafferty. My brother Tom ran into Raff at Home Depot not too long ago in Philly and got his phone number and gave it to me. I'd been wanting to call Raff and ask him to go to a Rowing banquet with me this Fall back East. I was waiting to confirm the date and then I was going to call him. I'm sorry I didn't call sooner. My sincere sympathy to the Rafferty family.
I will always remember Tom Rafferty. I'll have a cup of tea in his memory.
Dr. Paul McCaffrey, Crew Member,Father Judge Class of 1967
Anne Donovan
July 27, 2005
I met your father a few weeks ago.
I spent a couple of hours talking to him and in those few hours that I got to know him he made a hugh impression on me.
He was a incredibly nice man who spoke about the wonderful family he had.
I am very sorry for your loss.
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