Obituary: Thomas Dooley, 59, of Wallingford

Information via The Wallingford Funeral Home

Thomas Dooley, 59, of Wallingford passed gently, surrounded by his family, on July 17, 2017. He was born in New Haven, the youngest son of the late Vincent and Katherine Dooley. He graduated from Fairfield College Preparatory School in 1975, he later earned his B.A. in Recreation from the University of New Hampshire and a M.A. in Recreational Administration from S.C.S.U.

Thomas dedicated his life to improving his community working as the Director of Wallingford Park and Rec for many years. He was instrumental in building community involvement and reveled in the ability to bring families together in celebration of that community. “Come n’ Play”, a slogan Tom coined, was the motto for his recreation department and its guiding ethos.

It could be said that it was the motivating principle of Tom’s life: play. He was, if nothing else, a dedicated merrymaker. Whether largescale—as with his efforts building Wallingford’s community pool or breaking ground on the present Wallingford Recreation Center; or small—like pranking his office staff with chocolate covered onions or building holiday displays with his children.

Tom also had an abiding passion for sports and athletics and was an enthusiastic and inspiring coach, especially when it came to his children. He coached both his sons throughout their middle school careers at Holy Trinity, achieving a 66-7 record, and 3 Deanery league championships in 5 years. He also was, at separate periods, an assistant football and basketball coach for Choate Rosemary Hall, and was the head coach for several travel and summer league basketball teams.

In all these endeavors, Tom taught the principle of hard work, sacrifice, dedication, “To be on time, you must be early,” the redemptive power of the hang dog suicide, and the transformative excellence of being in a “dogfight” and being able to lose with your head high.Throughout all this, a sense of fun pervaded everything Tom put his hands on…or whomever he spoke to.

Tom very much embodied the Irish “gift of the gab”, conversing with just about anyone with ease, and seemingly knowing someone, no matter what state (or country) he was in. He used this innate charm and affability as yet another tool to bring folks together in a sense of community and merriment. For the town that he dearly loved, he brought children and adults together, creating an atmosphere of imagination, inclusion and participation across all ages and backgrounds.

For his family—children, brothers, wife and parents—he created a loving and nurturing environment; he was a true leader, in every sense, a paterfamilias of the highest order, guiding and holding strong and leading by example.He was a father, a brother, a friend and a husband, in the best and highest category to which we hold those terms dear. He touched so many and will be dearly missed by all. Thomas leaves behind his beloved wife, Patricia (Peck) Dooley; his two sons, Timothy and his wife Barbara, and Casey; his daughter, Colleen and her fiancé Zachary; his grandsons, Jacob and Connor; and many loved nieces, nephews, stepchildren and step grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his brothers, Steven and Vincent; as well as his stepmother, Barbara. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be sent to his family to help defray medical expenses, c/o The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext., Wallingford, CT 06492.