Thomas Lavin

Thomas P. Lavin, 92, of Princes Bay, a World War II veteran and retired railroad police captain, died Jan. 29 in Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Dongan Hills.

Mr. Lavin was born in Dongan Hills and grew up in Pleasant Plains. He settled in Princes Bay in 1947.

He graduated from St. Peter's Boys High School in 1938. Afterward, having joined the Merchant Marine Corps, he was stationed in the Atlantic, off the English coast, and in the Mediterranean, off North Africa.

Back home after the war, Mr. Lavin went to work for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, in the company's police force. He worked in Manhattan and New Jersey and on the Island for the Staten Island Rapid Transit, then owned by B & O. He was a captain when he retired in 1982 after 34 years.

Mr. Lavin had coached girls basketball at the former St. Louis Academy during the 1960s. He liked deep sea fishing on party boats, with his brother John and sons, out of Brielle, N.J. As recently as this past September, he spent afternoons on the fishing pier at Lemon Creek, reminiscing about his time at sea during the war.

For some years, Mr. Lavin was the oldest member of Our Lady Star of the Sea R.C. Church in Huguenot, where he had served as usher and sacristan.

My father was the facilitator of the family, his son, Thomas, said. Anything that needed to be done, he did. He made it happen.

In addition to his son, Mr. Lavin is survived by his wife of 69 years, the former Valerie Kolisky; another son, Patrick; daughters Constance Lindsey and Mary Anna Donohue, eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

The funeral will be Saturday from Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home with an 11 a.m. mass in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church. Burial will follow in the Cemetery of the Resurrection, Pleasant Plains.

Services: Our Lady Star of the Sea RC Church Saturday, February 8, 2014 11:00AM

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Friday, February 7, 2014 3-8PM

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations in Thomas' name to a charity of your choice would be appreciated.

Cemetery: Resurrection Cemetery (Staten Island)

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: Our Lady Star of the Sea R.C.Church