For live stream please click here

Thomas L. McMahon

Thomas L. McMahon, who met the love of his life while serving as Resident Officer rebuilding Germany and became head of leading Staten Island family, dies at 96.

Thomas L. McMahon, whose life journey began in a small town in upstate New York during the Depression; and took him to the Midwest, where he attended the University of Notre Dame; and post-World War II Europe, where he helped rebuild the destroyed continent and also met his true love; and eventually brought him to Staten Island where he became patriarch, or “Opa,” to one of the borough’s leading families, died last Thursday. He was 96.

Thomas or “Tom” was the grandson of Irish immigrants who were “Molly Maguires,” coal miners who labored and died from black lung disease in Pennsylvania. His father, Leo, together with his eight brothers, migrated to the Southern Tier of New York where they found work on the Erie Railroad and with Corning Glassworks.  Tom and his older brother Jim grew up poor in Depression-era Corning, but also secure with a large clan of relatives in a small-town setting.

Tom graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1947 and joined the United States Foreign Service. He was first assigned to Italy and then eastern Bavaria where he became Resident Governor and was tasked with implementing the reconstruction designs of America’s Marshall Plan in an area that bordered Soviet-controlled Czechoslovakia. Serving with distinction, he returned to the United States upon the fulfillment of the Marshall Plan’s initial four years. However, Tom’s life had changed forever in the American Resident’s Office because it was there that he met his future wife, Meta Dorothea Baronin Von Stromberg. Although briefly separated between 1951 and 1952, once married, they were a pair always at each other’s side for the next 69 years.

Tom and Meta found their way to Staten Island through his colleague from the Foreign Service, Tony Scarafone, a native Staten Islander. He invited them to visit to look at a home as they were running out of room in their small apartment in public housing in Hoboken. They took one look at their eventual home on Pleasant Valley Avenue and have been there for the last 65 years. Tom loved his commute on the ferry to Manhattan where he pursued his successful career as an insurance underwriter. Tom and Meta struggled financially to send their seven children to Catholic School, but they worked as a team, one going to work when the other got home to accomplish their goal.

Tom retired in 1989 and quickly took the role of “Opa” to Meta’s “Oma.” They assisted their children in their careers and helped raise their grandchildren.  Many credit him with son Michael’s first election victory in 2001, a primary for the North Shore City Council. In a very narrow win, by only 170 votes, Tom and friend Tony spent day after day calling senior citizen absentee voters asking them to vote for Michael. It was not until the mail-in votes were counted that Michael was declared the victor.

His life was not without tragedy. In 1958, his brother Jim, a reserve Navy pilot, was killed while flying a training mission in California. In 1980, his son Joseph, then 24, a medical student in Syracuse, died after a valiant fight against leukemia. But Tom was a man of great Catholic faith and it was that faith and how he handled adversity, that made him an inspiration.

He loved music and was an extremely talented pianist and composer. In the 1940’s, he wrote and recorded a record with his cousin Laura, “A Farewell Kiss.” In 2003, he entered and won a contest to write the fight song for Wagner College. He was honored as the song was played at a football game and extremely thrilled to win the $500.00 first prize.

Tom was a proud member of the University of Notre Dame Club of Staten Island and an original supporter of its Bread of Life Drive. In 2017, he was honored as their “Man of the Year.” He was thrilled to attend with his youngest son James, his grandson Joseph’s graduation from Notre Dame University in 2011. Tom was also conferred with a Masters Degree in Business Administration from New York University.

Tom loved a funny joke, a snappy tune, a sharp tie, a snazzy jacket, a polished pair of leather shoes, a true walking stick, a long walk, a fashionable hat, an occasional drink, a friendly chat, a family gathering of any type, and a good Notre Dame football win.

His beloved “Oma,” Meta, predeceased him by only five weeks. Together they were proud and grateful for the achievements of their children and grandchildren. These include hospital administrator, government advisors, Supreme Court Justice, Deputy Mayor, Member of Congress and the New York City Council, District Attorney, Equestrian, Small Business Owners, Real Estate, and Government Affairs Professionals.

Tom leaves his six children and their spouses; Bridget and Sandy Carles, Thomas and Linda (Gibbs), Michael and Judith (Novellino), Mary and William Fox, John and Christine (Ladwig), and James and Maureen (Frazier). He also leaves 17 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and 5 nieces and nephews.

Pursuant to Tom’s wishes, he will be cremated after a mass of Christian Burial to be held at St. Sylvester’s on Wednesday, December 8^th, at 10am.

Those wishing to make a remembrance donation in Meta and Tom’s name, are asked to consider the Daughters of Divine Charity c/o St. Joseph Hill Academy, 850 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10305

Quote from Tom’s son, Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon:

“My father lived the life of a true Christian. He had a servant’s heart, was humble, kind, and considerate. When you needed him to be somewhere, whether at your side during a crisis or just for support during one of life’s everyday events, he was always there. We were all blessed to have him in our lives.”

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas Leo McMahon, Sr., please visit our floral store.