Thomas E. Flanagan III, age 87, of Newark, DE, passed away peacefully at home on March 15, 2015. He is preceded in death by his wife Mary, of almost 40 years, his brother Ed Flanagan, who died in the Korean War, his brother Bill Flanagan and sister Cecelia Otterbein, all of whom he loved dearly.

Tom was born and raised in Rahway, New Jersey, the eldest son of Sarah Cecelia and Thomas Flanagan.

After graduating from St. Peters High School, Tom enlisted with the United States Marines Corps, where he served his country for a year before being honorably discharged at the end of WWII. After the war, Tom was accepted to Fordham University and graduated in 1950.

A talented athlete, Tom was Fordham’s running back under coach Vince Lombardi. Over the years, he earned the nickname, “Crazy Legs” for running fast and evading tackles. He was also an outfielder for Fordham’s baseball team. Baseball and Ice Hockey were his true passions. Prior to attending Fordham, Tom made the St. Louis Cardinals professional baseball team, but his parents encouraged him to attend college instead. Later in life, Tom was an avid tennis player.

Tom was co-founder and President of American Sweeteners, a large sugar brokerage firm, for over 25 years. He is remembered for always having an open door and a tireless work ethic. Prior to that he worked with Birds Eye and General Foods.

Tom was an active member of his community. He spearheaded the groundbreaking of the Persimmon Creek Swimming Pool in Newark, served as President of the Arbour Park Civic Association for many years and started a community gardening project. He played on the community volleyball and softball leagues.

Tom enjoyed traveling the world, but felt most relaxed at his family’s beach house in Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ, where he spent countless summers through his life. He was a passionate vegetable gardener, and an amazing photographer. His family and friends remember him with a camera in his hand. He was also a talented carpenter, and built additions to his home with the help of his wife Mary, who drafted the plans for him.

Most of all, Tom loved his family and friends, and was always there for them – whether he had to travel all night through a snow storm to make it home in time for his child’s birthday, help a friend complete a landscaping project, or give his daughter and her friends one more wheelbarrow ride. He lit up every room he walked in because he was so kind. He is remembered for his generosity, his open-mind and his positive outlook even through trying times. Tom always assumed the best in people.

Tom will continue to be loved and missed.

Tom is survived by his children; Debora and her husband Nabil Massouda of DE, Edward Flanagan of MD, Mary and her husband Miles Jaffe of NY, Barbara and her husband Patrick Ingram of NJ and Ellen and her husband Brian Burns of DE. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Sarah, Christine, Daniel, Nathan, Mary, Kaelyn and Aiyana, along with his great-grandchild, Luigi.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Family Church, 15 Gender Road, Newark on Saturday, March 21 at 10 am with interment at All Saints Cemetery. Following the service, family and friends are welcomed to a gathering to celebrate Tom’s life. Memorial contributions may be made to Delaware Hospice and mailed to R.T. Foard & Jones Funeral Home, 122 West Main St, Newark, DE 19711.