Thomas R. Van Doran

Thomas R. Van Doran, 61, of Patterson, NY, passed away on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 after a long battle with esophageal cancer.

Thomas was born on May 19, 1951 in the Bronx to the late Eugene and Margaret (Leahy) Van Doran. He graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1969 and became a New York City firefighter in 1979. After a long courtship, Thomas married Elizabeth Gavaghen on August 5, 1989 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Brooklyn.

Thomas retired from the New York City Fire Department as a Battalion Chief, after working (and studying) for 29 years, in August 2008. He loved golfing and playing the saxophone for his family. He also enjoyed being a pilot and flying his plane over Putnam Lake. Fortunately, he was a bad golfer and a great pilot—not the other way around.

He is survived by his loving wife Elizabeth, his son Thomas, and his daughter Samantha of Patterson, NY; his brother, Gene (Kathleen) of the Bronx; his sisters, Dorothy Van Doran (predeceased by Jerry Rubin) of Poughkeepsie, NY, Ellen Weinberg (Howard) of Archbald, PA and Nora Staller (Robert) of the Bronx. He is also survived by many, many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 11:30am at Sacred Heart Church, Patterson, NY. Interment will follow at St. Lawrence O’Toole Cemetery, Brewster, NY. Visitation will be today from 7-9 and Friday from 4-8 at Beecher Funeral Home, 1 Putnam Ave, Brewster, NY.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in memory of Thomas to the New York Fire Fighters Burn Center Foundation, 21 Asch Loop, Bronx NY, 10475 or www.nyffburncenter.com.