- Date Of Birth: October 28, 1940
- Date Of Death: January 13, 2019
- State: New Jersey
Thomas C. Kerr, 78, of Toms River, NJ passed away peacefully at home on January 13, 2019 after a battle with lung cancer. He was born in Newark, NJ to the late William and Anna Kerr (nee Snee), one of 7 children, all proud 1st generation Irish-Americans. Tommy, as his friends and family called him, graduated from Orange’s Our Lady of the Valley High School, Class of 1959, before enlisting in the U.S. Army, where he served in the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, Ky. During his service he received the Good Conduct Medal, Parachutist Badge, and Sharpshooter Badge. After honorable discharge, Tommy worked as a clerk at the Short Hills, NJ Post Office, retiring in 2003 after 40 years of service.
Tommy also loved volunteering at the NJPAC, and in his local community as a member of Holiday City West in Toms River, delivering the local newspaper and always lending a helping hand and a witty quip to his neighbors. It was at work where Tommy met his future wife, Evelyn, and they were married in 1986. Tommy and Evelyn shared a love of Monmouth Park, watching Wimbledon, and the arts, particularly opera and Broadway musicals. Tommy and Evelyn welcomed twins-John Kerr and Valerie Kerr-Conner-in 1987, and another son, the late Kevin Kerr, in 1988. The twins remember his kindness, generosity, and good humor, and their many evenings spent together at the movies, or reading at the local Barnes & Noble café.
Tommy was happy to see both children find love and marriage. In addition to his loving wife and kids, Tommy is survived by his adoring sisters, Sheila Masterson and Margaret Karosen, and his brother, Edward Kerr, all of whom he would talk with on the phone nearly every day. He’s also survived by his brothers-in-law Richard Masterson and Lee Karosen, sister-in-law Bridget Kerr, and numerous nieces and nephews (and great-nieces and nephews) whom he loved very much. He was predeceased by his brothers John and William, his sister Ann DiGasper, and brother-in-law Anthony DiGasper.
