Visiting Hours are Oct. 4, 5 for Thomas Martin

Thomas Joseph Patrick Martin died peacefully and in the presence of family on Sunday, September 28, 2014, at 71 years of age. It was in hospice care at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York, that he ended his more than 15-year struggle with lung compromise, which included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and non–small cell lung cancer.

Thomas (then “Tommy”) was born on November 29, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, to Grace (née Cosgrove) and Matthew Martin. He was the youngest of the three Martin boys. Tom graduated from his beloved alma mater, St. Mary’s High School in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, in 1960. He then attended St. John’s University’s undergraduate (biology major) and law programs. On August 10, 1968, while he was in his last year of law school, he married his sweetheart, Carol Ann Goy, at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Highland Park, New Jersey. He earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from St. John’s University Law School in 1969. After an extended European honeymoon, he accepted a position as a litigator at Kelley Drye & Warren, LLC, where he represented such clients as the Archdiocese of New York and, consequently, a number of Catholic hospitals.

Tom and Carol moved from Brooklyn to Metuchen, New Jersey, as their family began to grow. After more than 12 years at Kelley Drye & Warren, Thomas was recruited by Monsignor James P. Cassidy to the post of Vice President and General Counsel of New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York; in 1981, the Martins moved from Metuchen to Katonah, New York. He then served for more than 23 years as Vice President and General Counsel of New York Medical College. In 2005, NYMC conferred upon him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Thomas officially retired in 2008.

A man who followed his conscience in all things, Tom served the community in many ways. His involvement with the Roman Catholic faith community was a constant in his life. He worked with Cardinals Cooke and O’Connor on matters relating to health care and education, and was also a board member at Lincoln Hall Boys’ Haven. He was heavily involved in the right-to-life movement and ran for public office on the right-to-life party. He acted as parish council president at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Metuchen, New Jersey. At St. Francis and then at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Katonah, New York, he sang in the choir for many years. Under the guidance of the Reverend Anthony D. Sorgie, Tom and Carol performed with the festival choir at St. Joseph’s Seminary at several Christmas concerts. Most recently, following his belief that had he not become a lawyer he would have taught, Tom fulfilled his urge to spread the word of God as a religious education instructor for young children for more than 10 years at St. Mary’s.

Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Carol (née Goy) and his devoted children: daughter Jennifer Grace and husband Timothy Kirker of Katonah; son Christopher Thomas and wife Kerry Martin of Maplewood, New Jersey; son Matthew Mathias of Boulder City, Nevada; and son Sean Richard and wife Katherine Wheeler-Martin of Beacon, New York. He is also survived by his adoring grandchildren, Liam Christopher (age 4), Olivia Caroline (age 4), and Serafina Kate (age 2); they were his greatest joy. He is predeceased by his brothers Matthew and Richard.

Family will receive friends for open-casket viewings on Saturday, October 4th, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, and Sunday, October 5th, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM, at Clark Associates Funeral Home, 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah, New York (www.clarkassociatesfuneralhome.com). The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Anthony Sorgie at St. Mary’s Church, 55 Valley Road, Katonah, New York, on Monday, October 6th, at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21297-0303 (www.catholicrelief.org) or the COPD Foundation, c/o Dr. Byron Thomashow, 3300 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Miami, FL 33134 (www.copdfoundation.org).

The family owes a debt of gratitude to the nurses, patient care associates, doctors, volunteers, and other staff members at Northern Westchester Hospital for their continuum of caring, generosity of spirit, and loving support.