November 21st, 1926 - July 3rd, 2013
Thomas R. Farley of West Orange NJ died on Wednesday July 3rd, 2013. Born in Newark, NJ on November 21st, 1926, Thomas graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School in 1944, from the University of Notre Dame in 1950, he earned his CPCU and he received his LLB from Rutgers Law School in 1955. He taught Corporate Finance at St. Peter's College from 1956 to 1957. He was elected County of Essex Freeholder in 1966 where he served as Deputy Director and Chairman of the Finance Committee. In 1971, he was appointed Surrogate of the county. In 1970, he was appointed to serve as a member of the Apportionment Commission of the State of New Jersey. He was also a member of the State Commission of Investigation (SCI).
Thomas served as Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey from 1977 to 1981.
In 1967-68, he was part owner of the Jersey Jays, a professional football team.
Thomas was the Grand Marshall of the West Orange St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1984.
He was one of the founders of the Short Hills National Bank, and a member of the Board of Directors of Hudson United Bank from 1994 to 2001.
Thomas was a member of the Board of Trustees of Seton Hall Preparatory School for the past 25 years.
He was a member of the Essex County Country Club since 1967.
During WWII from 1944 to 1946, Thomas served in the US Navy as a Signalman attached to the USS Wichita, a heavy cruiser. He was among the first to land at Nagasaki, Japan two weeks after the destruction of the city by the atomic bomb on August 9th, 1945. For the service he rendered to his country Thomas received the NJ Distinguised Service Medal.
He was working on a "Memoir of an Eighteen Year Old Sailor; Atomic Bombs, Nagasaki, and the Liberation of Prisoners of War".
Thomas had a great love of America and was a life-long sports fan. He was an avid collector of historical, political, and brewery memorabilia. His memory was incredible, he loved to read, and had an insatiable appetite for knowledge in a broad range of subjects. He had quick wit and a sense of humor that would catch you off guard. Loyalty to family and friends was a hallmark of his life.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Farley, his daughter, Meghan Farley Astrachan (Isaac-Daniel), and his grandson, Aidhan Farley Astrachan.
He was predeceased by his daughter Anne Farley, his brother James P. Farley, and his sister Maryrose F. Swift.
Visitation will be held at the Quinn Hopping Funeral Home of Livingston, 145 East Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston (NJ) on Monday July 8th from 4 to 8pm. The Funeral Mass will be offered St. Joseph's Church, 44 Benvenue Avenue, West Orange, NJ onTuesday July 9th at 10am, followed by the interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 225 Ridgedale Avenue, East Hanover NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Honorable Thomas R. Farley Scholarship Fund at Seton Hall Preparatory School, 120 Northfield Ave., West Orange NJ 07052.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18