PEACEFULLY and at home, on October 27th 2020 shortly before his 96th birthday, Tom Moore left us after an active life that touched many people from Stonington Connecticut, USA, to Limerick, Galway, Europe and Asia.

Born in Westerly Rhode Island in 1925, Tom went to Taft School and at the age of 18, went into the US Army, then preparing for the WWII landings in Europe. He was very proud to have been a member of the Second Ranger Infantry Battalion and landed at Utah Beach on D-Day. A few weeks later, he fought in the fierce battle of Hurtgen Forest where 5,000 American soldiers lost their lives before gaining eventual victory. Tom was wounded and then sent back to the USA having earned three Gold Stars and a Purple Heart of which he was very proud.

Graduating from Yale University in 1949, he joined the family textile business, Fulflex, which later as chairman, he expanded within the USA, to Europe and to the Far East. In 1970, he opened a factory in Limerick, specialising in the manufacture of elasticated tapes and fabrics, and over the following 37 years, employed a workforce of more than 125 people. The opening ceremony was performed by a youthful Des O’Malley, then recently appointed as Minister for Justice. There were many ups and downs in operating the Limerick factory, but Tom enjoyed telling the story of how some of the workers were pressing him for unusual extra days off. After a while, he discovered that following a recent recruitment drive, he had unknowingly employed the entire Limerick soccer squad.

Tom had been visiting Ireland since the mid 1960s, always staying at Bunratty, and for relaxation, he became a regular visitor to Burkes Horse Riding Stables at Newmarket-on-Fergus. They introduced Tom to hunting with the Clare Harriers, an activity that he enjoyed as often as he could along with occasional visits to the Co Limerick Foxhounds. In 1983 he was invited by Lord Hemphill of Tulira Castle to join him as a Master of the famous Galway Blazers, then hunted by Michael Dempsey.

Happy times

This proved to be a most successful sporting partnership and perhaps some of Tom’s happiest times. He was especially delighted to be asked to help parade the hounds at the Dublin Horse Show (1983). With his gentle and genial personality, his respect for everyone he met, and perhaps his old fashioned manners, Tom was always welcome in all company. His deep interest in the countryside, nature, history, legends and people endeared him to everyone he met.

With his wife Marguerite, always a strong supporter, Tom bought a beautiful and large thatched cottage in Kilcolgan, Co Galway overlooking the river, where they entertained generously a wide circle of neighbours, visitors, family and friends for many years before permanently retiring home to Stonington to be near family.

His last and most loved hunter (Dempsey) who, had carried Tom in style and comfort across the Co Galway countryside for many seasons, was flown to America to enjoy retirement as a companion and first ride for many of his 14 grandchildren.

Tom continued to return to Ireland and follow the hunt on foot, striding out over the fields, clambering over the stone walls and greeting landowners even into his 90s. In his pocket as always, was a small misshapen and very old plastic shampoo bottle containing something to keep him and his companions warm.

Tom is survived by Marguerite, his devoted wife of 70 years, and their large family: Dorothea, Marguerite, Peter, Elizabeth, John, Alexandra and Susan. Four-year-old Timmy predeceased his parents.

A private funeral liturgy was held in Stonington followed by a burial with full military honours.

PH