Thomas F. Davoren Jr.

Niantic - Thomas F. Davoren Jr, age 83, passed away peacefully on Fri., June 1, 2012, at the Smilow Cancer Center in New Haven, CT after a courageous battle with lung cancer. He was the husband and very special friend of Joan C. Davoren, to whom he was married for 58 years. Together they raised five children.

He is survived by the love of his life, Joan, to whom he was wed on Feb. 20, 1954. He is also survived by his children and their spouses; Joan and Bernard Dowd of Niantic, Tom and Ann Marie Davoren of The Woodlands, TX, Anne and John O'Gorman of West Hartford, Mary and Ed Kycia of West Hartford, and Bill and Lisa Davoren of Monroe, CT. He also leaves eleven grandchildren; Tim Dowd and his wife Elsbeth, Rob Dowd; Megan (Davoren) Thomas and her husband Alex Thomas; Katie, Mary Anne, Johnny and Tommy O'Gorman; Maggie and Danny Kycia; and Connor and Sammie Rae Davoren. Lastly, he leaves his sisters, Janet Davoren of Elmhurst, Queens, NY, Rosemary Miniati and her husband Pete of Barrington, RI, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was pre-deceased by his sister Maureen Diemer and her husband Ferd.

Tom was born on Sept. 17, 1928 in Elmhurst, Queens, NY. He was the son of Thomas F. Davoren and Jeanette MacLean Davoren.

He was a graduate of Bishop Loughlin High School where he set many records for indoor and outdoor track, went on to become the Eastern States High Hurdle record holder for 1946, and was inducted into the Bishop Loughlin Athletic Hall of Fame. He continued on to Manhattan College on a track scholarship, where he also was active in the Marine Corps ROTC program.

After graduating from college, Tom joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He was stationed at Camp Pendelton, CA, where he was a tank instructor during the Korean War. After the war, Tom received an honorable discharge (at the Rank of Captain). He was hired as an underwriter by Connecticut General Insurance Company in June of 1953. He completed his Master's degree in Business Administration at Trinity College. He worked for 30 years at CG/"little" AETNA. He then embarked on a successful outplacement career with Lee Hecht Harrison, and retired in 1998.

Tom was a loving spouse, father, brother, grandfather and friend. He was a devoted parishioner and volunteer of St. Mary's Church in Windsor Locks, St. Thomas the Apostle Church and St. Timothy's Church in West Hartford, and St. Agnes/St. Francis Church in Niantic. He was a proud member of the "Muffin Men." He was a Selectman for the town of Windsor Locks, a member of the Hartford chapter of the Urban League, and volunteered countless hours to multiple charitable endeavors. He also served on the Board of Directors for the New England Whalers.

Tom was a life-long member of the Niantic Bay Yacht Club where he served on the Board of Governors. He enjoyed sailing (for racing and pleasure), football, basketball, hockey, tennis, golf, baseball, lacrosse, and sports in general.

He loved God, family, friends and his country. Semper Fi, Tom! Rest in Peace, we love you.

Tom's family would like to thank the staff on the 12th flr. at Smilow for their care and compassion. A special thanks to Dr. Scott Gettinger and Irene Scanlon.

Kindly omit flowers. Donations may be made to Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven, 20 York St., New Haven, CT 06510.

The funeral procession will assemble at 10:15 a.m. on Wed, June 6 from the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic and proceed to St. Agnes Church, 10 Haigh Ave., Niantic for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery, Niantic. Calling hours will be 5-8 p.m. on Tues., June 5 at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.neilanfuneralhome.com