Thomas George Castellano

Tommy was a modern Renaissance man with a rare charitable soul who always brought out the best in everyone. He was comfortable associating and befriending people from all walks of life! His sense of humor was unstoppable. When he awoke from his coma, his sister Ginger would test his cognition by having him tell a daily joke, which he loved to do. He continued to do so, even when he was hospitalized, telling jokes to all the staff, as they would say to him, “Mr. Castellano, where’s our joke today?” His gift for telling jokes was so spontaneous, and punchlines were always on cue. He would call any one of us and say, “Did you hear the one about…?” We loved to hear his voice.

He had a heart of gold, and you could always count on him. Ready to help family, friends, or total strangers. Eventually, those strangers became friends who were treated like family. He gave of himself and loved holiday traditions. He never missed giving a gift or greeting. The fact that the family kept growing never diminished his spirit of giving. Every Christmas each nephew and subsequently, each great nephew would get the Hess Truck for that year. The nieces and nephews always had a multitude of gifts from the “fun uncle.” After his surgery and discharge in 1989, dressed as Santa Claus he would go back to Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital to visit with the children there. He loved kids and they loved him.

His cancer surgery was 36 years ago. After that he never abandoned his passion for one of his favorite hobbies, CARS! He used to have neighbors stand watch for his wife, Eileen, as he crawled under a car, bandages, and all, because he knew she would not approve.

Tommy was unique in his continued quest for learning and had a breadth of knowledge within varied disciplines. He fashioned his persona as an automotive enthusiast in every facet of mechanics, last working on his cherished Mini Cooper, going all the way back to the many cars he owned in his lifetime, and of course, his cherished Prevost Bus. He possessed a finesse and gentle touch with those magic hands and had gifts of intellect and spirituality when working on everything. His hands were an extension of his heart and soul.

Tommy played a different role within each of our lives. To his eldest sisters Joan, the late Betty, and Ginger he was “little brother.” To his many nieces, nephews, greats, Godchildren, and “adopted” ones, he was Uncle Tommy, always the fun and caring uncle. To his group of friends of 50+ years, he was “brother.” To his younger sister Susan, he was protector, and of course, “Pugsley” to her “Wednesday!” Most of all, he was husband to his beautiful, caring wife Eileen. Their commitment to each other was unwavering.

Anyone who met him was always in awe of how much useful information he garnered in his too short life. Tommy had many interests and soared in a multitude of professions. He worked from 12 years old as a paper boy; at 14 he was a weekend dispatcher for a tow truck company. After college, having earned a degree in Business Administration, he worked for the EPA, taught high school, started a charter bus company, Castle Coach, and a tax preparation service. In addition, he offered automotive and business consulting to so many people and small business owners. Along the way, he just got smarter and smarter! Through his many careers, he made innumerable friends, which became very dear to him.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Eileen (Warnock), his sisters, Joan Mizrahi, Virginia Newton (John), Susan Merriman (Donald), and his brother-in-law, Dr. Anthony Provenzano. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, Dr. Juliette Provenzano-Gober (David), Matthew Newton (Christina), Dr. Frank Provenzano (Sarah), Elizabeth Tiano (Michael), Carol Augustyni (Michael), Christina Kent (Thomas), and their children, his great nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his sister, Elizabeth Provenzano, and brother-in-law, Leon Mizrahi.

May our beloved Tommy rest in peace. We love him and will miss him dearly. He is safe, painless, and joyfully present with God in Heaven above.

Visitation will be held at Edwin L. Bennett Funeral Homes, 824 Scarsdale Ave, Scarsdale, New York 10583, on March 3, 2026, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

A Funeral Mass will take place at St. John & Paul Church, 280 Weaver Street, Larchmont, NY, on March 4, 2026, from 10:00 am to 10:45 am.

Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Jackson Ave, Hastings On Hudson, NY, on March 4, 2026, from 11:30 am to 11:45 am.