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Rev. Thomas T. Trainor

1929 - 2022

Rev.  Thomas T. Trainor obituary, 1929-2022, Tuckerton, Nj

BORN

1929

DIED

2022

Thomas Trainor Obituary

Trainor, Rev. Thomas T., - 93, of Tuckerton, NJ, Thomas Trainor died on Monday 10/17/22 at his home in Tuckerton, NJ. He was 93. Rev. Trainor was born in Nyack, NY on February 1, 1929. He was an outstanding football player for Spring Valley HS. After graduation, he attended a junior college and then was accepted into The Citadel in South Carolina. His high school sweetheart, Lila Joyce Mihalko, came down to visit him with his parents and he realized The Citadel was not for him and they decided to get married instead. Tom went to work for Lederle Labs. He and Lila Joyce attended the Methodist Church in Suffern NY and inspired by the pastor there, felt the call to go into the ministry. Tom was assigned a circuit of five churches in 1954 in the rural area of Middlefield, NY. As a student pastor, he attended Oneonta State majoring in Education to complete his undergraduate degree. While in Middlefield he started a volunteer fire department as part of his community outreach which would define his ministry throughout his career. Once his degree was completed, he was appointed by the Northern NJ Annual Conference of the Methodist Church to Pine Brook, NJ. He attended Drew Theological Seminary. He has ordained an Elder and served the congregation in Pine Brook for 13 years. During this unusually long tenure, he guided the congregation through the construction of a new sanctuary and taught in Newark after the death of Martin Luther King when the shortage of teachers was critical. He was very active in supporting and recommending issues of social justice at the Annual Conference gathering of the now United Methodist Church. In 1968 Rev. Trainor was appointed to the North Arlington UMC in Kearny, NJ. Through his interest in the World Council of Churches, he became involved in reconciliation projects in Northern Ireland and did a pulpit exchange in Belfast during the "troubles". He also met with Palestinian Christians in Israel. Continuing a mission to spread words of hope and to keep even the narrowest channels of communication open simply for the love of God and each other. The credo he lived by. After 10 years Rev. Trainor was appointed to Livingston, NJ in 1978 and in 1983 to Englewood, NJ. He retired in 1992. He and Lila Joyce moved to Long Beach Island where he took his turns as pastor during the summer months at the Spray Beach Chapel and led several Bible studies. Retirement did not last long. He was appointed as associate pastor of the Tuckerton, NJ UMC and they moved to Tuckerton. He and Lila Joyce continued in ministry even after his official retirement in 2010. In addition to his wife Lila Joyce of 75 years, he was predeceased by daughter Elizabeth and is survived by brother Peter Trainor, sons Peter, Andrew and Kenneth, 9 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few". Rev. Tomas Trainor was one of the mighty few. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Rev. Trainor to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). The website is www.umcministries.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Press of Atlantic City on Oct. 21, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
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Bonnie (Bushey) Regec

October 30, 2022

There's so many kind things you could say about Reverend Trainor and his entire family. I grew up in the Pine Brook Methodist Church became a member at age 13. Had Mrs. Trainor for a teacher in Middle School. Went to school with their children. Reverend Trainor's kind demeanor and preaching made me want to come back week after week and brought me to the person I am now with our Lord.
I remember his visits to our home, attending school with their Son Andrew....and wishing those days never left our community.
My love and heart goes out to the entire Family,
Joyce, Peter, Andrew, & Kenny our sympathy go out to all of you.
With loving memory of Biffy also.
Bonnie (Bushey')

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