Obituary for Thomas Michael O'Shea
Thomas Michael O’Shea, 76, died May 2 at his Fayetteville home. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Judith (Oravec); daughter, Erin (Bob) Starzynski of Pittsburgh; son, Timothy of Boulder, CO; grandsons, Robert and Thomas Starzynski; and sister, Rolanda (Stephen) Divelbiss of Greencastle, PA.
Raised in Waynesboro, PA, the son of the late Helen M. Snider, Tom was a proud graduate of both Shippensburg and Michigan State Universities. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin, as a Rotary Scholar, and developed a life-long love of his Irish roots. His 33-year career in higher education administration culminated with his tenure as dean of Summer Sessions at Syracuse University and president of the North American National Association of Summer Sessions. He was an ardent Syracuse basketball and lacrosse fan.
Tom made a difference in the community by taking active roles in Syracuse Rotary, Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation, Friends of Historic Onondaga Lake, Madison County Hop Fest, F-M School Board, Fayetteville Parks Commission, Odyssey of the Mind, and Empire State Games.
Creative, curious, comedic-a connoisseur of characters and the common man-he was a gentleman and a scholar.
Calling hours will be Saturday, May 18, 10 am to noon, followed by a memorial service at Newell-Fay Manlius Chapel, 8171 Cazenovia Rd., Manlius, 13104.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his name may be made to Syracuse Rotary Foundation, Inc., 800 Nottingham Road, Syracuse, NY, 13224; or Shippensburg University Foundation, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA, 17257.
Raised in Waynesboro, PA, the son of the late Helen M. Snider, Tom was a proud graduate of both Shippensburg and Michigan State Universities. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin, as a Rotary Scholar, and developed a life-long love of his Irish roots. His 33-year career in higher education administration culminated with his tenure as dean of Summer Sessions at Syracuse University and president of the North American National Association of Summer Sessions. He was an ardent Syracuse basketball and lacrosse fan.
Tom made a difference in the community by taking active roles in Syracuse Rotary, Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation, Friends of Historic Onondaga Lake, Madison County Hop Fest, F-M School Board, Fayetteville Parks Commission, Odyssey of the Mind, and Empire State Games.
Creative, curious, comedic-a connoisseur of characters and the common man-he was a gentleman and a scholar.
Calling hours will be Saturday, May 18, 10 am to noon, followed by a memorial service at Newell-Fay Manlius Chapel, 8171 Cazenovia Rd., Manlius, 13104.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his name may be made to Syracuse Rotary Foundation, Inc., 800 Nottingham Road, Syracuse, NY, 13224; or Shippensburg University Foundation, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA, 17257.