Thomas was born April 14, 1942 in Sligo, Ireland to Martin Gilligan and Annie Kate (Kennedy) Gilligan. Thomas was born into a large and loving Irish Catholic family and was one of 15 children. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1960.
Thomas worked with the Dannon Yogurt company for over 20 years. An avid runner, Thomas was a member of the New York City Road Runners Club, completing various marathons, including the New York City Marathon and ultra-marathons. Thomas loved the outdoors. Later in life, when he could no longer run, he walked for hours. And when he could no longer walk for hours, he chatted for hours with locals and tourists at his favorite NYC parks.
Thomas is survived by his wife, Christina (O’Malley) Gilligan, his son Thomas Gilligan, two daughters Christina Bickley and Sandra Gilligan, four grandchildren, Thomas Gilligan, Christopher Gilligan, Kaleigh Bickley, Brier Bickley, daughter-in law Liliana Gilligan, son-in law Bill Bickley and 11 siblings Denny, Michael, Sylvester, Noel, Gerry, Oliver, Kathleen Collins, Attracta Hanahoe, Veronica Corscadden, Rosealeen McCann, Martina McHale and a host of loving nieces, nephews and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Annie Gilligan, sisters Mary Theresa Gilligan and Angela Byrne. His brother Jimmy Gilligan recently passed on May 14, 2020 in South End, England.
There will be a service honoring his memory in prayers at Thomas M. Quinn Funeral Home on Friday May 15, 2020 at 11:00am. Thomas will be laid to rest at St. Michael’s Cemetery in East Elmhurst, New York at 1:00pm following the prayer service. Thomas will be memorialized with the celebration of mass at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Mount Sinai Health System COVID-19 Response, which is at the frontlines of the current global pandemic: http://giving.mountsinai.org/covid19research or the Robin Hood Foundation which deploys support to vulnerable New Yorkers during the COVID-19 crisis https://give.robinhood.org/give/282907/#!/donation/checkout
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