Thomas F. Gannon III

GANNON, Thomas F., III, age 57, of Tampa, died Monday, December 29, 2003. Mr. Gannon was born in Portland, Oregon. He came to Tampa seven years ago from southern New Jersey and also had resided in Huntsville, Alabama and Philadelphia, Pa. during his lifetime. He is the newly elected commander of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America, Albert Aronovitz Post #373 in Tampa. Prior to comming to Tampa, Commander Gannon served 21 years in the U.S. Army. His military service began with seven years in the Army Chemical Corps, first in Huntsville, Alabama and later in Camden, NJ., between the years of 1966 to 1973. Subsequent to that, he joined the 50th Armored Division of the New Jersey National Guard in the capacity of forward observer in the Fire Integration Support Team (FIST). He later served in the only National Guard Army Battle Lab, housed in Ft. Dix, N.J. There he trained soldiers in computer guided warfare. His extensive background as a computer programmer/analyst made him an invaluable resource for the Battle Staff Training Branch during Desert Storm. Most recently he was a systems analyst with MetLife, Corp., Controllers Department and had worked previously with Metro Information Services in Tampa. He was a member of Congregation Kol Ami and Congregation Ohev Shalom. He was preceeded in death by his father, Thomas F. Gannon Jr. Survivors include his devoted wife of 19 years, Judith Sabghir Gannon; his beloved mother, Margaret "Marne" R. Gannon of Huntsville, Ala.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Patrick Gannon of Chelmsford, Mass. and Patrick's wife, Marsha Gannon of Incline Village, Nev., K.C. and Debbie Gannon of Lewisville, Texas, Kim R. Gannon of Huntsville, Ala.; sisters and brother-in-law, Molly and Gary Alter of Manchester, Mo., and M.E.G. Gannon Brooks of Birmingham, Ala.; and the Sabghir family, his cherished step-daughter, Aleeza Zeiger of Cheshire, Conn.; in-laws, Aaron S. and Ferol Sabghir of Boca Raton, Fla.; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Nao mi and Allen Zeiger of Philadelphia, Pa., David S. Sabghir of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Jonathan and Nadene Sabghir of Coral Springs, Fla.; and 22 nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held in Tampa. Funeral services will be held Friday at the Torchinsky Hebrew Funeral Home in Washington, D.C. followed by interment with military honors at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Congregation Kol Ami, Congregation Ohev Shalom, the Jewish War Veterans or Lifepath Hospice. BETH DAVID FUNERAL CHAPEL-TAMPA (813) 874-3330