Thomas Anthony Noel Mehaffy

Thomas Anthony Noel Mehaffy- February 5, 2025. Age 92, Husband of Catherine (nee Ryle) Mehaffy for 61 loving years; cherished father of Catherine (Michael) McKenna, Siobhan Wilson, Deirdre Mehaffy, and Brendan (Michele) Mehaffy; adored grandfather of Edward Mehaffy, Liam McKenna, Tomas Wilson, Catherine Mehaffy, and Emmet Mehaffy; dear brother of the late Ben Collenet, Marie (John) Morris, Margaret( Gerry) Ford; also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Thomas Anthony Noel Mehaffy was born in Rushden, Northamptonshire, England and started life at the Brookfield Maternity Home. Soon after he was placed in the Sisters of Mercy Home in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, which had a well-documented role in training nannies and nursery nurses in the 1930s. The trainees received practical childcare experience, often working in nurseries or caring for children from the local area before being placed in private households or institutions. Thomas Mehaffy was one of these children.

At the age of two, he was placed with the Collenet family in Shoreham-by-Sea, where his two loving foster sisters Marie and Margaret doted on him, welcoming him as a brother. There was always a lot of love and laughter shared over the decades that followed with the families of Marie and Margaret. He grew up in Shoreham-by-Sea during the bombing raids of World War II, lost his beloved foster brother in service as a Royal Air Force pilot, and led a difficult childhood.

He attended Steyning Grammar School in the 1940’s. From a young age he loved sports, joining clubs, and developed a love of literature, art and classical music. He was fortunate to attend a school with a headmaster who helped nurture a lifelong love of learning. This included his ability to absorb poetry, masterfully weaving stanzas from a wide variety of poets into everyday conversation.

After graduating, he worked in construction, and as a waiter so that he could earn money to attend college. He also joined the British Army in 1951. His service included a posting in Hong Kong with the Royal British Artillery. He visited Hong Kong later in life and spoke of it as his favorite city.

Having earned enough money, he studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science where he formed lifelong friendships, a love for political debate, and graduated with honors with a BSc in Economics in 1956.

He met his beloved Irish wife, Catherine (Kay), in 1960 at a wedding where he was the best man, and she was the maid of honor. They married three years later and started life together in Mortlake, London, England. Over the next decade and a half as Thomas, professionally known as Noel Anthony Thomas Maloney, advanced his career in finance at Dunlop Tire Company, the Ford Motor Company and British Steel, Thomas and Kay had four children: Catherine, Siobhan, Deirdre and Brendan. They lived in Ingatestone and Chelmsford, Essex. In 1977 the family of six moved to Clarence, New York where Thomas continued his career in finance at Dunlop Tire Company until he retired in 1991.

Just like the Collenet family, he embraced Kay Ryle’s extensive Irish family from Dingle in County Kerry, taking his family many summers to spend time with grandparents, aunts, uncles and their families. Again, there was always an atmosphere of laughter and banter with all the families, as well as good-natured late night political debates over glasses of Paddy Irish Whiskey. Daytimes were spent climbing the local mountains, exploring the islands, and enjoying the beautiful sandy beaches. He developed a deep appreciation for the cultural history of the area, often commenting that books like Maurice O'Sullivan’s, Twenty Years A-Growing, were essential reading.

In retirement Thomas lived a full and active life climbing mountains and playing soccer with his five grandchildren until limited by his health at the age of 87. His spirit of adventure and exploring never left him travelling with family to Spain, China, Mexico, Hungary, the American West, and Italy. He even backpacked around East Africa, travelling by bus with his daughter and son-in-law.

He continued to pursue passions in literature, theatre and the arts and steadfastly supported places such as the Chichester Festival Theatre, The Shaw Festival, The Irish Classical Theatre, WNED, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Throughout his life he built a library with thousands of books of every genre and topic.

Thomas loved life and warmly welcomed so many people into his life. Thomas was warm, generous and loving, despite (or maybe because) he started life in a children’s home. He gave so much to his family, both supporting their education and giving them his love. He was truly loved....and will be missed by so many.

Flowers gratefully declined but memorials in Thomas' memory may be made to public radio stations WBFO-WNED.