Thomas William Anderson Jr., (61), of Syosset, NY, passed away on the morning of July 7, 2023. His passing occurred as a result of a nine-year battle with cancer, which he was inflicted with as a result of his selfless service as a 9/11 firefighter first responder. Tom is survived by his wife, Barbara, and three children, Thomas III, Caitlin, and William, along with his daughter-in-law, Kenna, son-in-law, Ben, and his sister, Arlene, who all love him and will miss him so much. He was predeceased by his parents, Thomas Sr. and Marilyn.
Thomas, known as Tom, was born to Thomas Sr. and Marilyn Anderson, on November 21, 1961 in Manhattan, NY. He and his sister, Arlene, were raised by their parents in College Point, NY.
Tom joined the fire department at 27 years old on July 5, 1988. He was assigned to Ladder 22 in Manhattan. He received two Unit Citations while in Ladder 22 and a Class 3 Medal, for which he was awarded the Pulaski Medal, an annual award given to a member of the FDNY who upheld the Department’s tradition for bravery, valor, and service. He transferred to Ladder 140 in Ridgewood Queens and then to Squad 270, and finally worked as a part of Ladder 162 in Queens Village. Tom lived his life passionate about the work he did as a firefighter, approaching every element with selflessness and bravery. His remarkable achievements have filled his family’s hearts with immense pride.
Tom was always an energetic and active person. He loved to workout and lift weights, a tradition passed down by his father, Thomas Anderson Sr., which is now a legacy carried on by his three children, nephews, and niece. He also had a passion for biking and was known for going on extremely long rides with his friends at the Massapequa Bike Club, but also loved going on rides with his family along the Jones Beach bike path. Tom was a positive influence on those around him, with endless energy and determination to make the most out of every day.
Tom fought hard and bravely in his battle against cancer for nine long years. Despite spending much of that time in and out of hospitals and doctor appointments, he never lost his sense of humor. Throughout his entire journey, he cracked jokes and made silly faces with those around him. He had a great ability to make others smile and his sense of humor will be deeply missed.
Tom’s family will host a funeral visitation service on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m at Beney Funeral Home in Syosset, NY. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Edwards Confessor Roman Catholic Church in Syosset, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Tom’s name to one of the following charities: Gary Sinise (https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/), FDNY Fire Family Transport (http://www.firefamilytransport.org/), Stephen Siller (https://t2t.org/), Wounded Warriors (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/).
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.beney-fh.com for the Anderson family.
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