Name: Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Homes
Address: Hicksville, NY

Tom, only learned of your passing today.  Knowing that you'll be with Reggie, Paul, George, your beloved Peggy, and other notables ensures that you'll be resting in peace, while still having some great companions and friends to keep you in line.
Ed and Ginny Hamill

Tom and I were good friends…we worked together at Jones Beach and surfed Long Island and Hawaii together.

Tom had a great sense of humor and was fond of pulling pranks….as did I….and we reveled in our misdeeds….but Tom also had a great sense of honor and responsibility. When JB lifeguards went on strike in the late 1960s, Tom and Joe Viviani patrolled the beaches on their own, without pay, and made a number of lifesaving rescues; reflecting credit upon the entire Jones Beach Lifeguard Corps. Tom was also a great athlete in his younger days and had a lot of guts. I watched him go out on a horrendously big day at Pipeline with 15 foot plus waves reforming inside after capping over on outside reefs and howling 25 knot tradewinds making it so difficult to penetrate the crest and drop in…the kind of day on which people sometimes get killed. It didn’t phase him a bit. Tom also surfed Waimea Bay’s twenty footers on my old nine foot waterlogged balsawood gun that mandated late takeoffs.  Tom’s wife Peggy was the great love of his life…I never saw him with another girl. Hopefully, they are now reunited in the spirit afterlife…having a beer on the beach and watching the waves as the sun drops below the horizon.


You were the man!  Cooler than "The Dude."  You will be missed by a lot of people until the next reunion.  I miss you already.  Time is fleeting.  See you soon. 


Brother Tom, We had many a laugh and good times together my friend. You are sorely missed Tom!  God knows that you had been suffering of late and now you are surely resting in peace. I met many of your Life Guard buddies today who sang your praises as I did back to them.  Go in peace Brother Tom. 


Tommy, I can’t help but smile and even laugh some...
From Lifeguarding with you at W.E.B.O., to later out at RM 4 & 5; Lifeguarding, bodysurfing, surfing and  your infectious smile. 
To meeting you on the mtn at Killington and skiing together (giving me some ⛷pointers - the instructor in you).
You were the true waterman and always enjoyed listening to a tale or two & a 🍻 with you.
God Bless you mate - See you on the side 🤙
R.I.P. my friend,
Greg

I think Tommy had retired from life guarding when I visited a number of years ago. We went in swimming at RM 5. I knew I’d be okay with Tommy nearby. I didn’t realize there were two young girls in trouble not far away.  Of course, Tommy did and he took off to hold them both up until the lifeguards made it out for the rescue. Very amazing indeed.

T.Byrne
      You will be sorely missed.You were a true Waterman.Love you brother.RIP.

Tommy will always have a special place in my heart.  The fabulous days of Lifeguarding, skiing, and crazy antics at W.E.B.O. will never be forgotten 

We will miss you Byrneman.  Our Hawaii days were the best as were our RM5 years

I grew up with the Robertsons and the Byrnes my whole life. Peggy and Tommy took me to Fort Lauderdale when I was 16 . That was 50 years ago. We always had good times and memories. My wife Mary and I we'll miss Tommy.

 I know this was very challenging for you. Sorry for your loss. May prayers comfort you at this time. Please stay strong and focused.                                                 

Tommy was the ultimate Waterman. In my early years lifeguarding with him he taught me so much while body surfing & sitting together. On my most difficult rescue in all my 20+ years lifeguarding Tommy was there supporting me.  He helped me tremendously in my early years lifeguarding & continued to develop my love for the ocean. He had the best smile, laugh, and the kindest heart.

OBITUARY

Thomas J. Byrne

May 22, 1948 – January 8, 2020

Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Homes

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Past Services

Visitation

Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Family RC Church, 25 Fordham Ave. Hicksville, NY 11801

Interment at Holy Rood Cemetery, 111 Old Country Rd. Westbury, NY