Obituary of Thomas Francis Leahy

Thomas F Leahy, 81, of Oakland NJ passed away on March 21, 2024.  Born on July 25, 1942 in Manhattan, NY to Daniel and Julia (Kennedy) Leahy.  He spent his early years in Kingsbridge in the Bronx, NY.  He attended Bishop Dubois High School in Manhattan and Iona College. He served in the US Army from 1964-1966 as a Military Policeman.  He worked at MJ Cahn, Co. for over 40 years, culminating in being President and part-owner.    

He is survived by his wife JoAnn (Gorham) Leahy, his sons and daughters-in-law, Tom Jr. and Colleen, Kevin and Tracy, and Brian and Kate, and his grandchildren, Michael, Kathleen, Tommy, Brendan, Owen, Ryan, Megan, Keira, Nolan, Clare and Julia. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Eileen Gorham and his nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews. He is predeceased by his brother John, brother-in-law John Gorham and sister-in-law Sr Sheila Gorham.

He met his wife of 54 years, JoAnn, in 1967 on Easter Sunday evening at the Inwood Lounge.  They married in June 1969 and moved to Oakland, NJ in 1972 where they resided for the next 52 years.  He was a devoted parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish where he was a lector for over 40 years.  

He was very proud of his 3 sons and the beautiful families they created. He loved spending time with his family, especially his 11 beloved grandchildren. He was a lifelong Yankee fan and enjoyed watching college basketball.  He was renowned for his speed around the bases for the Raiders softball team. He was always in the running to win the family March Madness brackets.  He had a fondness for Chatham in Cape Cod and loved sitting on Ridgevale Beach. He had the sharpest wit around, he was the king of telling dad jokes and found humor in everything (sometimes to his wife’s chagrin). From his years in the textile business he never met a Melton he didn’t like.

Most recently he was able to celebrate St Patrick’s Day and St Joseph’s Day with many of his closest friends.

Visitation will take place on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 from 4-8pm at Oakland Memorial Home, 330 Ramapo Valley Road, Oakland, NJ. The Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 10:30am at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oakland, NJ. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or a charity that has special meaning to you.