Thomas Vincent Lavin Jr.

Thomas Vincent Joseph Lavin of Cornelia, Georgia, formerly of several locations within Central New Jersey, and most importantly, Brooklyn, New York, departed this earthly life on January 28, 2025, destined for the great big train depot in the sky.
As the eldest of nine children born to Agnes Elizabeth and Thomas Vincent, Tom was a graduate of St. Augustine's High School and St. John's University in Brooklyn. Though he grew up in New York, he spent much of his adult life in the Princeton, New Jersey area working as a public accountant, dedicating his time to support local businesses in the community for over 50 years.
Tom had a very deep appreciation for the simple things in life: a buttered roll, rock music, key lime pie, and most importantly trains. An avid model railroader, Tom devoted his free time to building model railroads. He was a proud member of the Pacific Southern Railway holding several leadership roles over his nearly half a century of membership, the Cherry Valley Model Railroad, the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society where he served as the Treasurer and Membership Coordinator for the Philadelphia Chapter, the Railroad Model Club of Atlanta where he served as Treasurer, and several other model railroad clubs on the east coast.
Though residing in Georgia, Tom and his wife Donna frequently returned to the Northeast in support of Tom's clients, model railroading, and various non-profit organizations. Even in his eighties, he supported local Catholic churches, serving as an usher at Sunday mass.
Tom is predeceased by his parents Thomas and Agnes, brothers William K. Lavin and Michael Lavin, sister in law Eileen Lavin, sister in law Shirley Ann Evans, and his son Thomas Patrick Lavin.
He is survived by his loving and patient wife, Donna (Evans) Lavin, his children Tara, Sean, Alyson (Rockey) Calderone, Kristin (Brian) Golden, and Jared (Sara) Thiel. He will forever be "Pops" to his seven beautiful grandchildren- Alexandria, James, Tristen, Cooper, Finn, Christian, & Owen. He was a wonderful family friend to Jodie Murl and her daughters, Sarah and Kimberly. He was a proud big brother to Greg Lavin (Cathy), Mary Crerand (John), Patricia Lavin, Peter Lavin (Susan), John Lavin (Christine), Mark Lavin (Denise), sister in law Susan Lavin, sister in law Florence Riccio Lavin,, Denise Joyce Evans, Gregory Robert Evans and wife Lucina "Cookie", Barbara Evans-Collinson (Mark), and Margaret (Joseph) Dolan. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
Those wishing to visit Tom's family may do so on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 from 5-8pm at Brenna-Cellini Funeral Home in Hamilton, New Jersey. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 10am at St. Paul's in Princeton, NJ. Tom's burial will follow at the Riverview Cemetery, 870 Centre St., Trenton, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Tom's memory to the Whole Life Center, Easton, PA at www.wholelifectr.org
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