Thomas Ignatius Egan
Thomas Ignatius Egan, 88, of Cape Coral, formerly of East Meadow, N.Y., passed away Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. He was the loving husband of Francis (McDonnell), now deceased. He was the beloved father of Thomas (Susan), Kenneth (Gail), Patricia (Glenn), James (Kathy) and Andrew (late Nancy); treasured grandfather of Lauren Clonan (Michael), Kelly McWilliams (Kevin), Kristen Hager (Brian), Erin Murcott (Paul), Jennifer Egan, Glenn Grunewald, Kristen Ropke (Ken), Meredith Galazka (Brian), Anne Egan, Eric Egan; and cherished great-grandfather of Thomas Clonan, Benjamin Hager, Emily Clonan, Eleanor Hager, Molly Clonan and Colin McWilliams.
He was born and raised in the Bronx where he attended and graduated from Mt. St. Michael High School in 1941. Upon graduation, he attended Fordham University but left when he enlisted in the Navy Air Corps after Pearl Harbor was attacked. He faithfully and proudly served until 1946. In 1949 he joined the FDNY and in 1964 was promoted to lieutenant. His last firehouse was Engine 298 in Jamaica. He retired in 1969.
He married Francis McDonnell of Jamaica, N.Y., in 1949, and moved to East Meadow on Long Island in 1951, where they would raise their five children. He was active in St. Raphael’s R.C. Church in East Meadow, coaching numerous teams and belonging to many organizations. In 1963, while still working for FDNY, he became St. Raphael’s Elementary School first physical education teacher, developing its first physical education program. He taught there for 11 years. He had a tremendous love of children and watching them grow up.
While raising five children and working two jobs he still had the drive to get his college degree. In 1970 he received a B.S. degree from Queens College and in later years another B.S. degree from Florida International University. His thirst for learning continued until his final days.
In 1974 he moved to Cape Coral. He worked as a fire inspector and later became a state mediator, working until he was 80 years old. He was a volunteer in FISH, an organization dedicated to helping others, as well as many other emergency preparedness organizations. A good and humble man, who believed in serving others, he was dedicated to his family, God and country. He will always be a member of the Greatest Generation. He will be remembered and loved by all his family and friends. God bless you Dad.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Friday, Dec. 14, at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 2628 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral. Entombment with military honors provided by the U.S. Navy followed at Coral Ridge Cemetery. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com to leave thoughts and memories for his family.