Thomas J. McCreight

March 16, 1941 - October 6, 2020

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas J Mccreight, on Oct. 6th. He was a Husband, Father, Brother, Uncle, Coach, and Friend to so many.

With each ringing of the phone comes many beloved stories and forgotten memories. Thomas came upon this earth in Philadelphia, 1941, as the first of five children born to Thomas J. McCreight & Mary Martha Meehan.

Raised in Germantown he attended the Immaculate Conception school. During his formative years he was an altar boy, and participated on the football team. Upon graduation he attended Roman Catholic high school for a brief period until he transferred to the new catholic high school, Cardinal Dougherty, where he was part of the first graduating class in 1959.

Leaving school he took advantage of one of the few opportunities availed to the offspring of blue collared families residing in row-home neighborhoods....his plan of escape was to follow in the footsteps of his cousin Joe McCreight, a man's man, who started a family tradition by volunteering to serve his country in the United States Marine Corps. Joseph along with Tom's other cousin Eddie Corcorn were both Marines, KIA two months apart in 1966 while serving in Vietnam.

Unlike Joe who was determined to make a career out of the Corps; Tom was discharged after 4 years of service in 1963. Determined to continue to escape and evade a return to the cobblestone street and rumbling trolley car that passed his home all hours of the day & night, Tom set his sights on a new horizon, one that gives credence  to that old adage "so close, yet so far away"

While working at UPS for awhile Tom experienced one of those serendipity moments, Tommy and Buddy Gallagher identical twins that Tom had befriended while in the Corps had asked for a ride to Jersey to take the test for the New Jersey State police, while there the handsome brothers told the recruiter there was another Jarhead outside in the car, he then proceeded outside and suggested Tom take the test as well......hoping he would pass, Tom envisioned himself squeezing across the Tacony- Palmyra Bridge figuratively one last time.

He was no stranger to the garden state, during the summer months his parents would pack their 52 Plymouth to the gills headed to unheard then, and most likely unheard of now, beach resort of Ocean Gate, with it's skinny beaches, fortunately though it had a pier where Tom would go crabbing off of with his grandfather.

In order to accommodate all the kids and his Grandparents, Tom's dad would make a couple of trips. His Grandfather, John Meehan was an accomplished calligrapher who skills were such that he was asked to write the invitations for President Eisenhower's inauguration, electing to turn that endeavor down due to the sheer volume.

Considering he had 26 grandkids that he would provide a Christmas card for each year must have given him the insight to avoid the immeasurable numbness of such a daunting task.

Tom along with all his cousins each Christmas eagerly awaited that impeccably written card. There was something majestic about seeing your name executed with wide swirls and loops spread from one end of the envelope to the other, knowing that when you opened it there was going to be a brand new crisp dollar bill, only added to the highlight.

Tom & Nancy Gallagher (Later to become a blessed friend to Patty) took Tom in so he would adhere to the rule, one must live in NJ while being a trooper. It wasn't long before Tom was called out by his commander for wearing Desert Boots, a comfortable and fashionable suede shoe of the time. He admonished Tom, informing him of the unofficial standards that were required of him even when he was off duty, and to represent the Troop in an honorable manner. It was a chilling message that his time in the Corps honed him to understand and respect.

Tom wasn't the first of the family to enroll in law enforcement, his Grandfather Joseph McCreight was a Lieutenant on the Philadelphia Police Department who suffered a gunshot wound to the head while chasing a bank robber. He survived his injury and he along with his wife Bertha actually lived with Tom's family. This was a common arrangement during the 1950's.

Tom's parents were devout Catholics who spent what little time they had after work volunteering for numerous Church organizations. Both having to work full-time jobs during sparse times while raising five children inhibited them from ever actually owning their own home.

To have their first born to graduate from the NJSP Academy was a shining moment in their lives,

Along with his sisters and brothers they beamed with pride.

The next adventures stage of his life was meeting his wife to be Patty Gorman, a college graduate who had moved to Philadelphia for work from Johnstown Pa. (Steeler Country!) Like Tom she was looking to create a new life for herself.

Tom attending a party with childhood friends spotted Patty and the fireworks commenced, the whirlwind technique he utilized to mesmerize her included trips to the Latin Casino considered "The Showplace of the Stars" at the time.... Followed by romantic dinners at Cinelli's Country House.

The road ahead was paved with more than one Caveat..... If Tom was going to tie the knot, he could not help but to consider Patty had a degree, which was a little intimidating for him, yet there was one more twist, or should we say force...

Back up in Johnstown was a wheeler dealer entrepreneur/politician who just may have been the last remnant of the ironclad men, it was her father Joe Gorman, raised from the time he was a kid in the steel mills of western Pennsylvania..... he wasn't about to take any guff from any tough hombre let alone a city slicker from Philly.

It kind of went like this..."NO DAUGHTER" of Joe Gorman is going to marry just anybody...so off to Johnstown Tom went and after hearing the law of the land somehow convinced Joe that he was the right guy.

Along with Patty Tom was graced to have a caring mother in law, Catherine, a new sister in law Linda, & RJ LaPointe for a brother in law....

Her only brother Mike, the long haired motorcycle riding bohemian of the family actually embraced his new Bro, the Trooper.

If you're going to be patrolling the Jersey turnpike or 295, like Tom did with his first partner and unfaltering friend Harry McGrath, staying in shape wasn't an option, which brings us to the next chapter of Tom's adventure... The Jim Corea Gym. Jim Corea a towering figure for his

time, he was a practicing bodybuilder who was once crowned Mr. New Jersey.

Jim took a liken to Tom and Patty and offered them a place to live as caretakers at a new sports camp that he was about to open, Jim was baffled that Tom had managed to attract such a lovely & sweet person in Patty and would almost weekly proclaim... "What does she see in that guy?" Tom always had a good

retort back at the "Beef" as he was affectionately called by his friends.

The gym and the camp was a fantastic place for troopers and friends to get pumped up, with the likes of Willy Trump, Gene Matthews, Mike Parker, Big Paul, Tommy Martin, James Tucker, Dirty Durst, Kevin Callahan, all the Guzziupe's, plus the the adonis Roberson, the only thing that was in more abundance than iron was humor....Non-stop bantering, the perfect blend of humor and insults back and forth, if you claim you never got insulted...you weren't there.

With a newborn on the way caretaking at the camp was a great way to sock away the funds needed for a deposit on a new house which they acquired. Once established in the home Tom invited his parents over, they marveled with each room that they encountered, again beaming with pride that Patty & Tom had managed to acquire their own home.... A Real Dream come true story.

As the children arrived.... first it was Kerri, then Joey, then Tom Jr.

The kids came and Tom who was always busy bonding with his fellow troopers, "as he would tell

Patty".... "Every trooper's wife has heard the same old story", with a different destination.....There was river rafting with the likes of Dunny (Col Dunlop) Grennie (Tom Grennaway) and a bunch of other crazy troopers.... There were hunting trips.....Motocross with Dunny,

Then Dunny got his sailing license and Tom went down to the Caribbean to make the trip back... nothing like a little exposure to a vista of an endless dark sea to bring a person to self-reflect.....that was Tom's last long cruise.

Fishing was an event that Tom always looked forward too. Joe and Nancy Walker were very dear friends to Tom and Patty forever, having shared life's up and downs ..... Joe a fireplug of a man who worked out everyday was an avid fisherman and took Tom out all the time.

Tom along with Bobby Clark who when he wasn't bruising his knuckles over at the spectrum liked to go fishing, they won the first Playboy fishing tournament out of Atlantic City.

Over the years Tom coached football in and around Medford with many outstanding folks including Doc Rankin, Joe Taffoni, These relationships benefited

Patty too, as she became friends with Doc & Joe's wives, Eileen & Susie.

In retirement Medford was a place where Tom enjoyed visiting a variety of good people, like Ron Murphy at his store or Lester Abrams at his farm, sometimes going to the local gas station to chat it up with Steve Flanagan.

His sisters Mary & Connie (may she RIP) along with their husband's Dave Palmer & Ray D'Esposito faithfully braved inclement conditions over the years to visit Tom at the numerous care facilities where he was he was being treated.

Being blessed with an abundance of niece's and nephew's Tom's held a special place in his heart for his goddaughter Lauren who always managed to lift his spirt no matter his condition, Lauren is Bobby and lizanne's first born. Bobby possessing an affable personality similar to his father Tom Sr. is deemed the liaison officer for the family, Bob was thoughtful enough to lift Tom's spirits one last time by bringing Lauren over for her last visit prior to Tom's passing.

His brother Jim always appreciated the fact his older brother never judged him as he choose to live his life outside the envelope.

Tom & Pat's fist born is Kerri who in spite of her own challenges, and at the urging of her brother Joe moved in with her partner Joseph to care for Tom on a 24/7 basis. Their work and particularly Kerri who waited on him hand and foot were irreplaceable right up to the very end.

It gave them both an opportunity to bond.

Tom Jr. Tom's well known favorite along with Beth his wife and little one Isaiah will greatly miss their pop pop. Tom Jr's. heath care skills came in handy as he cared for his dad on a weekly basis over the years.

Tom's relationship with his son Joey was tumultuous to say the least, he gave him no quarter, he rode him hard only to be outmatched by his son's stubbornness.... The grit he installed in him served him well as Joey came to the realization that his family and particularly his father needed him. He left his home in New Mexico to undertake what he though would be a short term situation considering his father's condition.....Little did he know Tom would make a comeback, time, and time again . In the end it was only fitting that Joe was alone with his Father at his time of passing.....

It was only weeks before that he finally gave Joe his just due... he admitted that no one else could have endured his constant demands over the years... and that he appreciated and loved him for being who he is.... a devoted son.

As his health waned over the years, Tom forever fearful after his many heart operations including a quadruple bypass could never manage to overcome the stigma of the shocking pain of a heart attack, that psychological burden accompanied by a plethora of prescriptions drugs for his painful feet robbed him of his vibrancy...... unfortunately friends Like Doc Rankin, Jimmy Lees, Ron Murphy, Mike Lyons to name a few were kept waiting by him countless times for lunching engagements while he fell back into nap after nap.... Over time he disconnect with many of his friends which lead to an accelerated state of depression.....

Jimmy Lees & Mike Lyons made one last ditch effort to motivate Tom just weeks before his passing. Mike was a life long friend from the time of grammar school right through high school where they drove to school everyday with Mike's younger brother Vincent crushed in the middle of the seat where he dare not say a word knowing the big guys would put the elbow on him.

Mike was a fireman in Philadelphia who not long after Tom's joining the NJSP, decided to get out of the city himself and became a trooper, he along with his wife Elaine were always kind to Tom & Pat.

Tom's was very proud of Taylor his granddaughter who is currently in the Air Force. Tom declared his grandson Jacob as the new sharpshooter of the family.... Tom had won top marksman in his class at the NJSP academy.

Tom through dedication managed to get his masters in education after many a night of study.

Tom's cousin Joe McCreight (RIP) has a son Joe who is the spitting image of his dad, he lives with his family in TX. He served in the Air Force.

The Easters are Tom's cousins on his fathers side who up till the birth of Bobby's 3 son's, Robbie, ( a police officer) Chris (former Marine) and Mike were the only ones who shared the same physiognomy as Tom....

His nieces and nephews were many...Collen, Gregory, Sharon, Chad, Lauren, Robbie, Katie, Emma, Chris, Nicole, & Michael.

The Easters were on his Dad's side and have alway been there for the McCreights and beings Tom was

the eldest of the entire clan they held him in High Esteem. We thank them for their never ending love, support, and prayers.

On his Mother side lies the bulk of cousins... The Meehan's, Duane (RIP) The Corcorn's, Eddie the Marine (RIP) the Johnson's, Jeffery was a police officer (RIP) The Kelly's. One of which was a Marine.....Johnny, who suffered serious wounds serving in Vietnam, only to die an untimely death way before his years. (RIP) We thank them all for their kind sentiments, prayers and love over the years.

Painting a picture of 79 years of life in a few short pages can never do one justice , so it is the hope of the family that each of you cherish any good memories you may posses and be encouraged to create some

Loving memories with your own love ones while there is still time.

Blessings... The McCreight's