Thomas Anthony Mclain

Thomas Anthony McLainFormerly of Newark Valley Thomas A. McLain, age 85, died on August 30, 2009, at Hope Hospice in Cape Coral, Florida due to complications from multiple strokes. Thomas, the eldest son of Thomas Joseph McLain and Mary (Maime) Anselm Fadden was born on June 10, 1924 in Scranton, PA. He was raised in Olyphant in a community filled with aunts, uncles, siblings, family members and friends. He graduated from Saint Patrick's School. During world War II Thomas served from 1943 to 1945 as a radar man on a B-17 in the 398th bomb group based in England. As a result of his service, he was able to take advantage of the GI bill and graduated from Mansfield State Teachers College in PA. He furthered his studies with graduate courses at Colgate University and Cornell University. After graduating he worked in public school education for 32 years, first as a teacher in Corning, Endicott and Newark Valley and later as principal in Spencer and Newark Valley. He was devoted to the students and showed each one of them the value of leading an ethical life and working hard to learn and achieve their goals. He retired in 1982 and began to spend his winters in the Florida sun. On May 30, 1950, he married Isabelle Laura Dye. They spent many happy years together raising a family, working, participating actively in their communities and church, pursuing hobbies and traveling. They have three children, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Tom was active in the Lee County Genealogical Society, past president of the Forest Park Property Owners Assoc. and a member of Saint Cecilia's church in Fort Myers and St. John the Evangelist Church in Newark Valley. He started several activities in Forest Park including the St. Patrick's Day and Thanksgiving dinners, Appreciation Day, the Northeast States' Club and his pride, the Forest Park Chorus. He was passionate about his family, music, education, poetry and politics. He loved good food, theatre, and his favorite hoppy was computers. He was an early advocate of computers in the public school system. Although he held strong opinions, which he loved to discuss, he always listened to and respected others and their right to differ. Tom is survived by his wife, Isabelle Dye McLain, his children, Carol Ann, Thomas Anthony II, and Joseph Charles, by his four grandchildren Lindsey Ann, Brian Thomas, Elise Katherine and Trude Laura, and his three great-grandchildren Mackenzie, Trevor and Ashley. He is also survived by his sisters Mary Bridget McLain Yarosh, and Catherine Winifred McLain Smith, He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Eugene Martin. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Church, Newark Valley on September 12, 2009 at 10 am with Rev. William A. Moorby officiating. Burial will follow in Hope Cemetery, Newark Valley where military honors will be accorded. Memorial donations in his memory may be directed to the Thomas McLain Memorial Scholarship for Music Studies at Newark Valley High School or to Hope Hospice, 2430 Diplomat Parkway, Cape Coral Fl 33909. He will be missed by his wife, children, family and many friends. His legacy will live on through all those he touched in life. Please sign the guest book and share your memories at www.macphersonfuneralhome.com.