Thomas Donnelly

The Donnelly family is sad to share the news that Tom Donnelly died on July 5, 2024 at his
home at Seaview Health Care. He was 70 years of age.
Thomas Eugene Donnelly was born in 1954 at Southampton Hospital, Southampton, NY. He
was the youngest of five children born to Greta (Wickbold) and Eugene Donnelly. As a child he
loved bicycling, swimming, and playing with legos alongside his best friend, Mike Raynor. He
was a member of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Roman Catholic parish in Southampton,
went to grade school at the Sacred Heart’s school and graduated from Mercy High School in
Riverhead. He later studied history and political science at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY
and Southampton College. As a young man he worked for a landscaping and gardening
company, and developed a lifelong love of gardening.
Tom experienced a variety of health challenges from an early age compounded by an accident
that caused him serious and permanent injuries. He moved to Boston, MA to participate in a
cognitive and physical rehabilitation program at Columbus House. Tom worked with great
determination and recovered the ability to walk with a walker and to work part-time. He famously
used his walker to climb the twisting, narrow, spiral steps of a double-decker tour bus, and from
his upper perch he followed Boston’s Freedom Trail. Always an explorer, he took trips with
family members to numerous Boston landmarks. Tom later suffered a serious fall that imposed
further limitations on his movement. To promote his recovery, Tom moved to the Elizabeth
Seton Neurodevelopment Unit in Staten Island, NY, and later to the Elizabeth Seton Nursing
Home. After several years living there, Tom chose to move to Seaview Health Care where he
spent the last ten years of his life
.
Staten Island was Tom’s home for the last twenty-five years of his life. He enjoyed visits to its
many beautiful parks and landmarks. His absolute favorite spot was the New York Chinese
Scholars Garden at Snug Harbor Cultural Center. Tom loved that center’s Botanical Garden and
Newhouse Galleries, but he felt at peace in the Scholars Garden. Tom loved to find good
restaurants and delis. Tom was a connoisseur with a hearty appetite. Among his many interests,
Tom treasured reading, crossword puzzles and music. His favorite songs were Hello, Dolly and
The Gambler, and he loved to sing those with family members. Tom channeled a pretty good
Louis Armstrong.
Despite the barriers Tom encountered, he never gave up his life dreams. He aspired to be an
attorney, and though he never quite got to law school, he took pre-law courses at the Staten
Island Jewish Community Center. Tom experienced the legal system himself as a victim of
violent crimes. Never one to back down from an injustice, Tom bravely served as a star witness
for the Suffolk County, MA, Prosecutor’s Office. His testimony helped secure a trial verdict and
sentence that protected other nursing home residents from assault.
Tom was a fighter, a philosopher, a religious and spiritual man, a humorist, a difficult foe when
antagonized, a good friend to many and a shameless flirt. Sometimes the fighter took over, even
with family and friends and caregivers, but the fighting was never malicious, it was always about
having control and autonomy despite living a life regulated by the limitations of his health. Tom
was a presence, a force. His demeanor always said: I Am Somebody.
Tom will be deeply and forever missed by his sister, Susie (Bob) and brother Bill. RIP, brother,
you fought the good fight, you are the Champ. May the road rise to meet you. Tom was a
beloved legend with his nieces and nephews: Nicole (Chad), Owen, John, Ryan (Sarah) and
Katie (Pierre Yves). His seven great-nieces and great nephews (Sophie, Grace, Tommy, Noah,

Greta, Siena and Auguste) were privileged to know him. Tom did not know his paternal
grandparents, Owen and Susie (Dowd) Donnelly, who emigrated to Brooklyn from Ireland in the
late 19th Century, nor did he know his maternal grandfather, Wilhelm Wickbold. Tom did know
his maternal grandmother, Sophie Wickbold, who immigrated to Brooklyn in 1925. Sophie was
a presence throughout Tom’s childhood, and as an adult he helped her celebrate her 100th
birthday. Tom’s was also predeceased by his parents as well as his older brothers Jim and
John, his maternal aunt, Anne, and her husband Arthur, as well as his paternal uncle, Ed.
The Donnelly family is forever grateful to the dedicated and wonderful staff of Seaview and the
staff at all Tom’s previous care facilities. You mattered so much, every one of you; everything
you did made a difference in the quality of his life. We also thank the staff of both of Staten
Island’s hospitals for the times you saved his life or restored him to his optimal health. Thank
you, Access-A-Ride operators and drivers, for helping him explore New York.
The Donnelly family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made to Snug Harbor Cultural

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