Thomas Patrick Mulhern, 82; Retired Businessman and Stamford Resident Who Was Proud of His Irish Heritage

From the Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home.

Thomas Patrick Mulhern died March 28, 2015, in Stamford, CT, where he had been a resident since 1965.

He was born May 2, 1932, in Brooklyn, NY to the late Patrick and Mary Ellen Cafferty Mulhern, and grew up “blissfully unaware of how poor they were.”

He graduated from Fordham University working nights, weekends and summers, and with a fellowship he earned a graduate degree from Brown University.

On the 4th of July, 1963, he married the former Mary Bridget Teague. Thereafter he would proclaim to one and all “the luckiest day in all of my life was the day she agreed to become my wife.”

He began his career as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Fordham and later worked for Shell Oil in New York, General Foods in White Plains and James River in Norwalk. He also taught part time at Hunter College, Pace University and the University of Connecticut.

He travelled extensively for business and for pleasure, all over the United States and Europe, sometimes with his wife or with his wife and children. He enjoyed theater and good music, good food and wine, and good friends. Above all, he enjoyed a good laugh for which he found ample cause in his own foibles as well as the passing scene. He loved poetry and Shakespeare and Irish songs, which he would recall and recite or sing at great length, given the slightest encouragement.

The son of Irish immigrants, he was proud of his heritage and proud to be an American and, most of all, he was proud of his family.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary; his son and daughter-in-law, Brian Mulhern and Laura Hines of New York City and Lawrence, KS; his daughter Patricia Mulhern Chamberlin of Weston, CT; his daughter and son-in-law Dr. Serena Mulhern and Douglas Derryberry of Brooklyn, NY; his daughter Jeanne Mulhern of Stamford, CT; his son and daughter-in-law Terence and Jennifer Mulhern of Ridgefield, CT; as well as eight grandchildren, Margaret Mulhern; Teague, Martine and Oliver Chamberlin; Jane and Thomas Derryberry; and Colin and Kendra Mulhern; not-to-mention his favorite tail-wagger, Jack Mulhern. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law Nancy and Joseph Murray, of Ossining, NY, and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Margaret and Thomas Leder of Garden City, NY. and brother-in-law William Teague of Jersey City, NJ. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held from 4-8pm on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at Shippan’s Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home (next to the Knight’s of Columbus) at 453 Shippan Avenue Stamford, CT. A mass celebrating his life is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 11am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 403 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford, CT.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: The Myesthenia Gravis Foundation and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

To send condolences to the family, please visit www.gallagherfuneralhome.com