Thomas Hennessey

Mr. Thomas J. Hennessey, 83, of Evelyn Avenue, Amsterdam, NY; passed away on June 28, 2010 following a brief illness.

A lifelong resident of Amsterdam, Tom was born on March 30, 1927, the son of Thomas A. and Marie Murphy Hennessey. He attended St. Mary's Institute and graduated in 1945. That same year he enlisted in the Navy and completed basic training in Sampson, NY. He served as a Pharmacist's Mate Third Class and was stationed at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Brooklyn, NY.

Following his discharge from the Navy, Tom attended Siena College and graduated with a B.A. in sociology in 1950. He soon joined Mohawk Carpet Mills (Mohasco) where he enjoyed a nearly 30 year career as a product development manager. Following his departure from Mohasco, he was a manager at Racemark International in Malta, NY.

In 1990, Tom teamed with longtime friends Edward K. Brown and Charles "Bud" Kolbe to form Best BET Realty and spent several years in semi-retirement selling real estate in the Amsterdam area. Tom was a communicant of St. Mary's Church, served on the parish council and was a member of the Holy Name Society.

Tom Married Eileen Corbett on June 20, 1953 on what was the one of the hottest days on record. In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, Tom of Washington, DC and two daughters, Mary Mancini (Alex) of Fonda, NY and Ann Marie Flaherty (Patrick) of Quincy, MA. He has four grandchildren: Michael and Matthew Mancini and Conof and Ciara Flaherty, as well as two nieces and one nephew.

In his free time, Tom enjoyed playing fold at Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course, having coffee with "the boys" at McDonalds and vigorous walks through the neighborhood. In the summer he could be found relaxing next to the backyard pool with the Yankees game playing on the radio. He was also a big fan of Siena Saints basketball, the Jets and the sports teams of his grandchildren. He may be best known for his sense of humor.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday morning at 10:15 at the Riley Mortuary, Inc. 110 Division Street, Amsterdam, NY, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated at 11:00 am at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church,156 East Main Street, Amsterdam.

Internment will be in St., Mary's Cemetery, Ft. Johnson, NY.

The family will receive relatives and friends of Wednesday June 30, 2010 from 4 pm to 7 pm at the mortuary.

Donation can be made in Tom's honor to St. Mary's Church or Mountain Valley Hospice, 108 Steele Avenue, Gloversville, NY, 12078.