Thomas (“Tucky”) Maher of Sparta, N.J., passed away on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Newton Memorial Hospital.
Tom was born on Dec. 4, 1930, in Athol, Mass., to Francis Thomas and Vivian (Levesque) Maher.
After graduating Athol High School, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he was stationed in Korea during the Korean War and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. After his military service, Tom attended Seton Hall University and earned a business degree.
Tom worked at Exxon, where he held many positions in accounting and financial analysis until his retirement in 1990. After he was transferred from New York to Florham Park in 1969, he moved his family to Sparta, where he lived for 52 years.
In his retirement he was active in sports memorabilia and opened a baseball card store on Main Street in Sparta named “Tommy III” after his grandson. The store was very popular with the kids in Sparta during the baseball card craze in the ‘90s. Tom also enjoyed watching high school and professional sports and was a fan of the Yankees and New York Giants.
He was married to his beloved wife, Barbara, for 65 years (deceased 2019) and had siblings Alice Croteau (deceased) and Josephine Brennan.
He is survived by his five children, sons Thomas Jr. with his wife Tami from Raleigh. N.C., Jim, with his wife Cindy from Hillsborough, N.J., Tim and Chris, both, from Sparta; and daughter Susan Makowski with her husband Carl from Sinking Springs, Pa. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Thomas Maher III, Steven, Jennifer, Daniel, Kristen and Alyson Maher and Molly and Kirby Makowski.
Tom was a gentle and kind man and will be missed by all those who knew him.
Visitation was held June 2 at Goble Funeral Home, Sparta. A funeral mass was celebrated June 3 at Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church, Sparta. Interment was private. Memorial ontributions may be made to the Sparta VFW Post 7248.