Husband, father, brother, son, uncle, godfather, and beloved grandpa Thomas Martin Sheridan
Thom was born on November 19, 1949 in Philadelphia and was raised in Havertown, Pa. Tommy loved summer beach trips to Cape May and Wildwood, New Jersey, with family and winning radio contest prizes like a pair of Chubby Checker Twister Shoes with side zippers. Thom was a James Bond fan from the very start, watching Dr. No at the Terminal Theater in 1962 and never missed a book or movie since. After graduating from Havertown High School in 1967, Thom enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1968 during the Vietnam War, serving in Korea from 1970-71. On R&R in Honolulu, a failed trip to Australia, he was reading Kurt Vonnegut when met Maureen Kelly on Waikiki Beach through her best friend Jean Regan, and his life changed. After his military service, he moved to Chicago and married that pretty girl he met on the beach. Thom graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Circle Campus, and worked for many years for the U.S. Department of Labor where he sometimes traveled the world and drove a spy car, as well as working for the V.A. and the Chicago White Sox. With Maureen, he loved night skiing at Devil’s Lake, doing puzzles, and playing chess.
Thom loved his family with his big heart, volunteered to make the Haunted House at the annual IC Halloween Carnival, cheered on track races and wrestling meets, drove his kids everywhere from Troop 77 campouts to Irish Dancing shows, from cross country trips to Colorado and Maine, making small talk and friends with everyone he met and winning as many radio contests from WGN and WNUA, as legally allowed.
Thom loved to laugh deeply, was a friend to every animal he met, and modeled a love of reading for all his children and grandchildren. He prided himself on his encyclopedic knowledge of trivia, followed the Bears and Eagles, the White Sox and Phillies, and was always up for a fun time. Thom died on April 6, 2023 in his Elmhurst home surrounded by his loving family.
Thom was the husband to Maureen Kelly Sheridan and father of Maureen (Mike) Cook, James Sheridan (Kyrlyn Chatten), Daniel Sheridan (Lauren Scrivner), Patrick Sheridan (Stephanie Kevil), Claire (Scott) Jones, and Caitlin (Ben) Tregler. He was preceded in death by his sister Kathy Medvec, his parents Fred and Lillian Sheridan, along with his mother-and-father-in law Maurice and Frances Kelly. He is survived by his brother Dave Sheridan. His 12 grandchildren, Gavin Cook, Jean Marie Cook, August Sheridan, Elsa Sheridan, Magnolia Sheridan, Owen Jones, Madeline Tregler, Connor Jones, Peter Tregler, Carter Scrivner, Tyler Scrivner, and Cameron Scrivner will always remember his smile, silliness, and warmth. They loved him deeply and will keep him in their hearts.
Funeral Mass was held at Immaculate Conception Church, 134 Arthur St., Elmhurst. Interment Private. In lieu of flowers, donate or visit an animal shelter, seek out some Scrapple and Tastykakes to eat, play some Pink Floyd, feed your backyard squirrels and birds, or cheer on the White Sox. Stop by his bench at Glos Memorial Park to read a book or listen to music.
“Always walk through an exit backwards…they’ll never notice.”
For funeral information, please call 630-832-0018 or www.gibbonsfuneralhome.com.
