Thomas Francis Naughton

Thomas (Tom) Francis Naughton, a retired educator who touched the lives of thousands of students, died July 18, 2014 of complications after undergoing aortic valve replacement surgery. He was 87 years old.

Tom and his fraternal twin Ambrose were born on September 15, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan, to Thomas Richard Naughton and Bridget Brennan Naughton. Seeking a better life for their growing family, his parents had immigrated to the United States from the West of Ireland. Tom's older siblings, Pat, Mary and John were born in Ireland. Tom's younger sister Rita was born in Detroit in 1930. During the Great Depression, his family lost the house built by his father and uncle and the children were sent to foster homes through St Vincent De Paul.

Tom attended St Rita High School in Detroit. In 1944, Army Air Force recruiters came to test boys for their fitness for flight training. Tom scored high on the test, qualifying to train as a pilot, navigator or bombardier. He volunteered on the spot, hoping to fly P-51 Mustangs.

After graduating in 1945, Tom was sent to in Keesler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi, for basic training. By then, the Air Force no longer needed new pilots, so Tom was reclassified and sent to airplane engine and mechanics school instead and sent to the American Zone of Occupation in

Germany.

Tom attended Midnight Mass at New York City's St Patrick's Cathedral in New York City before boarding a Liberty Ship for Le Harve, France, on December 28, 1945. From there he was shipped to the 6th Areodome Squadron in Nellingen, Germany. He was promoted to corporal and served as an instructor in airplane and engine mechanics at the Army Air Force Technical Training Center.

After he was discharged from the Air Force in 1946, he spent a year touring the western United States with an army buddy. He climbed Pike's Peak in Colorado and explored the Grand Canyon. He returned to Michigan and served on the Detroit Police Force for five years.

Tom yearned for a higher calling, so he joined Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit in the hopes of becoming a priest. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1958, he left the seminary. His aptitude for teaching, discovered and developed by the Army Air Force, drew him to a 35-year career in education instead.

Tom was teaching at school at St Agnes in Flint, Michigan, when he met his future wife, Jeanne Marie Carriére. Tom and Jeanne were married on August 26, 1961 at Saint Agnes Church in Flint in a double wedding with Tom's friend Dick Roty and Jeanne's sister Françoise.

The newlyweds moved to Detroit and Tom began teaching English and Latin at Lakeview High School in St Clair Shores. Later Tom moved his family to Farmington Hills, Michigan, and began teaching English at Levey Middle School in Southfield, Michigan in 1965. Tom was active in his parish, serving as CCD director (religious teaching program of the Catholic Church) at St Alexander's Church and as lector at both St Alexander's and St Clare of Assisi Church in Farmington Hills.

In 1971, Tom earned a Master's of Education in counseling from the University of Detroit. Soon after, he became a guidance counselor at Levey Middle School. He retired in 1993 after 30 years with Michigan Public Schools.

In 1998, Tom and Jeanne moved to Sun City West, Arizona. Tom remained active in his parish, serving as lector at both Our Lady of Lourdes and Prince of Peace churches for 15 years.

Tom is survived by his wife Jeanne, daughter Marie, son Tom, and sister Mary. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Rita and brothers Patrick, John and Ambrose.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 23, from 2 to 4 PM at Surprise Funeral Care at 16063 W. Bell Rd. in Surprise, Arizona. A funeral mass will be said on Thursday, July 24, at 10 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes in Sun City West, Arizona.