West Point grad, Thomas McTigue falls to leukemia
Posted
Thomas Anthony McTigue Jr.
By Manny Grossman
Thomas Anthony McTigue Jr., a former Riverdalian and lawyer, succumbed to acute lymphocytic leukemia on Nov. 21 at his home in Westwood, N.J. He was 39.
Mr. McTigue was born in the Bronx on June 30, 1968 to Thomas McTigue Sr. and Gigi McTigue. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Brewster, N.Y., where they lived for ten years. The family moved to Riverdale in 1978, where Mr. McTigue attended St. Margaret of Cortona School in North Riverdale.
After graduating from Fordham Prep in 1986, he spent a year at the West Point Preparatory Academy in Fort Monmouth, N.J. He was formally appointed to the West Point Military Academy in 1987 by then Congressman Mario Biaggi. Upon his graduation in 1991, Mr. McTigue entered the helicopter flight school at Fort Rucker, Ala. Upon completion of his training, he joined the 1st Army division Air Cavalry.
While in the Army, Mr. McTigue Jr. fell ill with an “undisclosed” illness, according to his father. He received a medical discharge and attended Pace Law School, where he graduated in 1998. His Aunt, Nina Zingale, said that law was a perfect profession for Mr. McTigue because he was a “logical, rational, thinking kind of man. Law was very appropriate for him.”
In 1998, Mr. McTigue met Stephanie Sheehan at a Christmas party. The two fell in love and married very quickly. “They knew they wanted to get married,” said his mother. They were married in August of 1999.
Mr. McTigue first went to work at Tischman-Speyer, a large real estate investment firm. According to his father, Mr. McTigue did “everything” during his time there.
After leaving Tischman-Speyer, Mr. McTigue went to work for the Tarrytown, N.Y. law firm of Huffman-Wilkes, where he specialized in real estate tax law. He worked there until his diagnosis in January 2007.
Mr. McTigue was an avid bagpipe player, and belonged to the FDNY’s Emerald Society Pipe Band for five years, as well as the West Point Pipe Band for four years.
Mr. McTigue was a big Army football fan, and with the upcoming game this Saturday, his father said that his son “would love it if we said ‘Go Brave Old Army Team,”
This past September, about 2,000 well-wishers turned out to support Mr. McTigue, his wife Stephanie and their two children Kendall and Summer Mary. The family was facing mounting medical bills, which Mr. McTigue Sr. totaled to more than a million dollars. The event raised about $50,000.
Rob Lyons, who along with his wife Tara, helped organize the Sept. 22 event, said that Mr. McTigue “always put his family first.”
“He fought so hard to be there for his kids,” he said. “He was a true dad.” Mr. Lyons said that even before Mr. McTigue had children of his own, “he loved my kids like they were his own.” He said that Mr. McTigue was “right in there,” helping Mr. Lyons and his wife Tara with changing diapers and other baby duties.
“He changed everybody’s outlook on life,” said Mr. Lyons. “I try to be a better person because I know he’d be angry if I’m not.”
Mr. McTigue’s love and devotion to his family was echoed by his father who said, “He had a wonderful life. He had great friends and great neighbors. He was a great father and he loved being who he was.”
The night before he died, Mr. McTigue witnessed the Christening of his daughter, Summer Mary. “He was holding on for that,” said Mr. Lyons, who added, “Again, fighting for his kids.”
Mr. McTigue is survived by his father Tom McTigue Sr., and mother Gigi McTigue of Riverdale, his brother Terrence McTigue of Manhattan, sister Kerry McTigue of Dutchess County, wife Stephanie of Westwood, N.J. and children Kendall and Summer Mary.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, Dec. 3, at the Holy Trinity Church at West Point. Burial will follow at the cemetery at the West Point Military Academy.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Tom McTigue Foundation, C/O TD BankNorth N.A., 224 Route 4 East
Paramus, New Jersey. 07652.
Please visit www.goteammctigue.com for more information.
Thomas Anthony McTigue Jr., a former Riverdalian and lawyer, succumbed to acute lymphocytic leukemia on Nov. 21 at his home in Westwood, N.J. He was 39.
Mr. McTigue was born in the Bronx on June 30, 1968 to Thomas McTigue Sr. and Gigi McTigue. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Brewster, N.Y., where they lived for ten years. The family moved to Riverdale in 1978, where Mr. McTigue attended St. Margaret of Cortona School in North Riverdale.
After graduating from Fordham Prep in 1986, he spent a year at the West Point Preparatory Academy in Fort Monmouth, N.J. He was formally appointed to the West Point Military Academy in 1987 by then Congressman Mario Biaggi. Upon his graduation in 1991, Mr. McTigue entered the helicopter flight school at Fort Rucker, Ala. Upon completion of his training, he joined the 1st Army division Air Cavalry.
While in the Army, Mr. McTigue Jr. fell ill with an “undisclosed” illness, according to his father. He received a medical discharge and attended Pace Law School, where he graduated in 1998. His Aunt, Nina Zingale, said that law was a perfect profession for Mr. McTigue because he was a “logical, rational, thinking kind of man. Law was very appropriate for him.”
In 1998, Mr. McTigue met Stephanie Sheehan at a Christmas party. The two fell in love and married very quickly. “They knew they wanted to get married,” said his mother. They were married in August of 1999.
Mr. McTigue first went to work at Tischman-Speyer, a large real estate investment firm. According to his father, Mr. McTigue did “everything” during his time there.
After leaving Tischman-Speyer, Mr. McTigue went to work for the Tarrytown, N.Y. law firm of Huffman-Wilkes, where he specialized in real estate tax law. He worked there until his diagnosis in January 2007.
Mr. McTigue was an avid bagpipe player, and belonged to the FDNY’s Emerald Society Pipe Band for five years, as well as the West Point Pipe Band for four years.
Mr. McTigue was a big Army football fan, and with the upcoming game this Saturday, his father said that his son “would love it if we said ‘Go Brave Old Army Team,”
This past September, about 2,000 well-wishers turned out to support Mr. McTigue, his wife Stephanie and their two children Kendall and Summer Mary. The family was facing mounting medical bills, which Mr. McTigue Sr. totaled to more than a million dollars. The event raised about $50,000.
Rob Lyons, who along with his wife Tara, helped organize the Sept. 22 event, said that Mr. McTigue “always put his family first.”
“He fought so hard to be there for his kids,” he said. “He was a true dad.” Mr. Lyons said that even before Mr. McTigue had children of his own, “he loved my kids like they were his own.” He said that Mr. McTigue was “right in there,” helping Mr. Lyons and his wife Tara with changing diapers and other baby duties.
“He changed everybody’s outlook on life,” said Mr. Lyons. “I try to be a better person because I know he’d be angry if I’m not.”
Mr. McTigue’s love and devotion to his family was echoed by his father who said, “He had a wonderful life. He had great friends and great neighbors. He was a great father and he loved being who he was.”
The night before he died, Mr. McTigue witnessed the Christening of his daughter, Summer Mary. “He was holding on for that,” said Mr. Lyons, who added, “Again, fighting for his kids.”
Mr. McTigue is survived by his father Tom McTigue Sr., and mother Gigi McTigue of Riverdale, his brother Terrence McTigue of Manhattan, sister Kerry McTigue of Dutchess County, wife Stephanie of Westwood, N.J. and children Kendall and Summer Mary.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, Dec. 3, at the Holy Trinity Church at West Point. Burial will follow at the cemetery at the West Point Military Academy.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Tom McTigue Foundation, C/O TD BankNorth N.A., 224 Route 4 East
Paramus, New Jersey. 07652.
Please visit www.goteammctigue.com for more information.
