Thomas Joseph Gibbons, 94, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2025, in Raleigh, NC.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, on April 2, 1931, Thomas’s early life was shaped by the passing of his mother and a modest beginning. But from the start, he met life with quiet determination and a dry wit that only sharpened with age. He grew up in the Bronx, where he spent his days playing baseball in the park and later graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1948 (after earning a scholarship he secured on a dare). He began his working life at the Radiomarine Corporation of America. Too young at first to work on the production floor, he started as an errand boy, eventually working his way up into management through smarts, humility, and an uncanny knack for fixing what others couldn’t.

Thomas went on to build a respected career as a manufacturing manager at Memorex Telex in Raleigh. He later took on a new role as co-owner and resident greeter at In His Name Catholic Store, where his warm smile, sharp memory, and well-timed one-liners turned regular customers into lifelong friends.

Thomas shared 68 years of marriage with his wife, Marguerite — a partnership that began when they met as teenagers. Together, they raised three children through moves from Queens, NY, to Ramsey, NJ, and ultimately to Raleigh. He was a devoted father to Marguerite Ambrozevitch (Tom), Tom Gibbons (Elisabeth), and Christine Stewart (Rob), and a proud grandfather to Tom Ambrozevitch, Nicole Speir, Sarah Gibbons-Nichols, and Christina Gibbons, as well as numerous beloved granddogs.

A man of principle and patience, Thomas lived by values of fairness, honesty, and care for others. A gifted storyteller with a dry sense of humor, he could captivate a room with tales from his youth, his work experience, or the small everyday moments that stuck with him. His stories were made all the more vivid by his remarkable memory. He could recall names, dates, and tiny details long forgotten by most. As a proud Irish American, his heritage gave him a strong sense of identity, which he shared alongside his brother, Joseph. He loved the beach, especially slow swims between the breakers, and held a lifelong enthusiasm for horse racing, always ready with a tip, a wager, or the thrill of the next race.
He delighted in life’s simple pleasures: long walks, especially with the neighborhood dogs; reading the newspaper cover to cover; and never missing his perfectly cooked over-easy egg each morning. He was endlessly astonished — and occasionally exasperated — by how much the price of a hot dog had changed during his lifetime.

An avid reader, Thomas kept an impressive library of biographies and history books, and rarely met a word he didn’t know or a crossword he couldn’t solve. As a Knight of Columbus, a member of the Holy Hackers golf team, and a faithful parishioner at both St. Raphael and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic churches, his presence was felt throughout the many communities he touched.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marguerite; his parents, Thomas and Delia; and his half-brother, Joseph.

A prayer service will be held at Renaissance Funeral Home on Six Forks Road on April 30 at 6 p.m. A funeral Mass will follow at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Thursday, May 1, at 11 a.m., with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. and the rosary at 10:30 a.m. A celebration of life will follow the service.

The Mass will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/@OurLadyofLourdesCCRaleigh/streams

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cardinal Hayes High School or Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh.

Thomas’s life was marked by love, humor, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility to those around him. May his memory be a blessing, and may we all carry forward a little bit of his wit, warmth, and wisdom.