Thomas Daniel McCann

Thomas Daniel McCann passed away at home in Naples, Florida on March 3, 2026. He was 85 - a man of quick wit, boundless curiosity, and a rare ability to make everyone around him feel important.

Born in Buffalo, New York, Tom carried a sense of purpose and principle through every chapter of his life. He earned his undergraduate degree from Marquette University and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, where he met the love of his life, Carol Cunningham, a student in the School of Nursing. Their partnership began during those formative years in Washington, D.C. and grew into a marriage-spanning more than sixty years-defined by devotion, laughter, shared adventure, and an enduring commitment to family. They were married on June 6, 1964.

Tom built a distinguished professional career, serving as Vice President of Public Affairs at Bristol-Myers Squibb and previously as Labor Counsel and Director of Public

Affairs at General Foods Corporation. He was known for his intellect, strategic judgment, and principled leadership-qualities that earned him the deep trust and admiration of colleagues and industry leaders alike. He was also a valued mentor, and took particular pride in encouraging and supporting women in business and leadership roles at a time when such advocacy was far less common. Among the achievements he held most dear was his leadership role in helping draft the International Declaration of Health Rights commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health-a project that reflected his lifelong belief that businesses carry a responsibility to advance the well-being of society.

Tom believed that leadership carried an obligation to give back. Over the years he devoted extraordinary time and energy to civic and philanthropic causes across the country. In Naples, he served as a board member of Greater Naples Leadership and chaired the boards of the Community Foundation of Collier County, the Naples Botanical Garden, and the City of Naples Planning Advisory Board. He also contributed his leadership to numerous other local institutions. Earlier in his life, he served as President of the Urban League of Westchester County, as a member of the Board of Overseers of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and as an elected Councilman in the Town of New Castle, New York. His civic commitments spanned education, conservation, the arts, and community development.

Tom's truest pride was his family. In one particularly memorable chapter of family life, he and Carol purchased a motor home and spent five consecutive summers taking the family across the country, exploring America's National Parks and creating experiences that became lifelong memories. He was a passionate golfer and an avid tennis player - known among friends for a particularly formidable serve - and an enthusiastic reader of history and biographies. He loved classical music and held a special affection for Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts, where he spent many joyful summers in the Berkshires. Above all, he loved telling stories, sharing laughter, and bringing people together.

He is survived by his beloved wife Carol McCann; his son Thomas (Tom) McCann and wife Heather, and their children Brian and Caroline; his son Michael (Mike) McCann and wife Kathy, and their children Jack, Mike, and Lily; and his daughter Mary Cassell and husband Vance, and their children Vance, Spencer, and Claire. He is also survived by his brother, E. Michael McCann, whom Tom greatly admired and who was an important inspiration in his life.

He was preceded in death by his brother Bernard McCann, his sister Mary Evelyn Mullooly, his parents Bernard L. and Evelyn McCann, and his mother-in-law Mary "Polly" Cunningham, whom he dearly loved.

Tom lived fully, laughed easily, and gave generously of his time, wisdom, and friendship. His lasting impact will be seen in the institutions he helped guide, the communities he served, and the many people who carry forward his example.

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A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Bower Chapel at Moorings Park in Naples, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Thomas McCann to the Moorings Park Foundation.