Thomas Lee Osborne

Thomas Lee Osborne September 21, 1947 - November 6, 2024 Thomas Lee Osborne passed into eternal life at home on Wednesday, November 6 with his loving wife, Mary Ann (née Mifflin), at his side. Tom fought a 7 yearlong battle against bladder cancer caused by exposure to Agent Orange during his service in the Vietnam War. Tom was born to Col. Earl Osborne and Marion Kearney in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on September 21, 1947. His family later settled in Hamilton Square, New Jersey.

Tom graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1965 and received his pilot’s license that same year after completing training at the Mercer County Airport. He then enlisted in the United States Army and went on active duty in October 1966 with basic training in Ft. Carson, Colorado. He arrived in Vietnam in October 1967 and served as a helicopter mechanic in the 282nd Assault Helicopter Company, 1st Aviation Brigade near Da Nang. 

During his wartime military service, he was awarded a Silver Star Medal, the third-highest military combat decoration awarded for gallantry in action. He was also awarded two Air Medals for acts of heroism during numerous flights into combat zones to evacuate soldiers. Tom was honorably discharged in 1969 with the rank of sergeant and held the Air Medal with 12 oak leaf clusters. 

Upon returning home from the war, Tom met Mary Ann. They married on October 25, 1969, and lived briefly in Hartford, Connecticut, where he worked for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft before settling in Sarasota, Florida. Tom worked at Sarasota’s local water treatment plant and took evening plumbing and electrical classes at the vocational-technical school for certification to be a plumber. He worked as a plumbing contractor and became the co-owner of Kurtz Plumbing. After he sold the company, he and Mary Ann moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland, in 1997, where he started a computer repair business and provided expert computer help around the area. He was a very skilled handyman and mechanic and could fix and build anything. He was also an avid reader with an extensive knowledge of health, nutrition, gardening, homesteading, information technology and matters of faith. Tom was a devout Roman Catholic, and a long-time member of the Church of the Incarnation in Sarasota and St. Joseph’s Church in Emmitsburg. In retirement, he devoted his time and talents to managing ten websites for The Divine Will – and The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta. He started and moderated several prayer group cenacles and will be remembered as a man of deep faith with a gentle spirit. 

Predeceased by his parents and his brother John and sister-in-law Elizabeth, Tom's memory will be cherished by his wife of 55 years, Mary Ann; his children: Robert (Riannan), Meredith Rivera (Eric), his son David; his grandchildren, Alex Rivera (Chancey), Thomas, Penelope, Claire, and Amelia Osborne; his brothers, Peter and Michael; his sister, Holly Straight (Jay); sister-in-law Carol Russomanno, as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

A Memorial Mass will be said at 10 a.m., Saturday November 16th, 2024 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 47 DePaul Street Emmitsburg, MD 21727. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Tom's memory to St. Joseph's Church, 47 DePaul Street, PO Box 376, Emmitsburg, Maryland, 21727.