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August 17, 2014
Services
A Memorial service will take place on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 beginning at 11:00 AM at the Packanack Community Church, 120 Lake Drive East, Wayne. Tom will then receive a U.S. Navy ceremony and be buried at sea.
Thomas H.Hyatt, age 87 of Wayne, passed peacefully on Sunday, August 17, 2014.
Born and raised in Jersey City, Tom lived there until 1974, then, to find a better place for his wife and daughters, he moved to Clark, NJ. He remained there until 2001 then moved to Wayne so that he could be close to his grandchildren.
As a young man, Tom served his country in the United States Navy during World War II from 1944 to 1947. He served most of his time in the Pacific on the USS Cohocton, USS Tappahannock and USS Fred T. Berry. For his bravery, he received the American Area Campaign Medal, European-African Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He returned home from the war and soon met a cute petite young lady named Josephine Rae “Skelly” Viola. They married in 1948 by eloping to Elkton Maryland which, in those days, was the marriage mill of the North East. In Elkton no questions were asked such as age to get a marriage license. The final result was sixty-three wonderful years.
Tom was a big man and Josephine was only four foot nine inches tall. They were well described as a giant and a peanut together. They loved to dance and Tom had no problem swinging Josephine through the air as they did the jitterbug.
Tom was a crane operator and tug boat captain, most recently with Union Dry Dock of Hoboken. During his career, he participated in the building of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Once, as a tug boat captain he helped to reenact a crime for which he was featured in New Yorker Magazine. His career spanned 49 years until retiring in 1996 from the job and life on the water that he loved so dearly.
In his spare time Tom loved sports, including playing softball and basketball and, of course fishing. He also enjoyed watching the Mets and Giants. He loved a good time, a good laugh and a good song, often singing around the house. Since moving to Wayne Tom was a Wayne Crossing Guard for several years and spent every moment he could with his grandchildren, picking them up from school, attending school functions and sports.
The Captain or The Chief as he was called will be remembered for his generosity, sense of humor and kind eyes.
Surviving are Tom’s two dear daughters: Lois Hyatt and Gail and husband Craig Rovere, both of Wayne; three adored grandchildren: Hunter, Jillian and Collin; and his sister Florence “Sissy” and husband Harold White of Clark. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 63 years, Josephine in 2011, and his sister Dolores Kolbenheyer.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Tom’s name are asked to consider Hospice of New Jersey, 400 Broadacres Drive, Bloomfield, NJ 07003, or the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 875 North Randolph Street, Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
A Memorial service will take place on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 beginning at 11:00 AM at the Packanack Community Church, 120 Lake Drive East, Wayne. Tom will then receive a U.S. Navy ceremony and be buried at sea.
August 17, 2014
Services
A Memorial service will take place on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 beginning at 11:00 AM at the Packanack Community Church, 120 Lake Drive East, Wayne. Tom will then receive a U.S. Navy ceremony and be buried at sea.
Thomas H.Hyatt, age 87 of Wayne, passed peacefully on Sunday, August 17, 2014.
Born and raised in Jersey City, Tom lived there until 1974, then, to find a better place for his wife and daughters, he moved to Clark, NJ. He remained there until 2001 then moved to Wayne so that he could be close to his grandchildren.
As a young man, Tom served his country in the United States Navy during World War II from 1944 to 1947. He served most of his time in the Pacific on the USS Cohocton, USS Tappahannock and USS Fred T. Berry. For his bravery, he received the American Area Campaign Medal, European-African Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He returned home from the war and soon met a cute petite young lady named Josephine Rae “Skelly” Viola. They married in 1948 by eloping to Elkton Maryland which, in those days, was the marriage mill of the North East. In Elkton no questions were asked such as age to get a marriage license. The final result was sixty-three wonderful years.
Tom was a big man and Josephine was only four foot nine inches tall. They were well described as a giant and a peanut together. They loved to dance and Tom had no problem swinging Josephine through the air as they did the jitterbug.
Tom was a crane operator and tug boat captain, most recently with Union Dry Dock of Hoboken. During his career, he participated in the building of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Once, as a tug boat captain he helped to reenact a crime for which he was featured in New Yorker Magazine. His career spanned 49 years until retiring in 1996 from the job and life on the water that he loved so dearly.
In his spare time Tom loved sports, including playing softball and basketball and, of course fishing. He also enjoyed watching the Mets and Giants. He loved a good time, a good laugh and a good song, often singing around the house. Since moving to Wayne Tom was a Wayne Crossing Guard for several years and spent every moment he could with his grandchildren, picking them up from school, attending school functions and sports.
The Captain or The Chief as he was called will be remembered for his generosity, sense of humor and kind eyes.
Surviving are Tom’s two dear daughters: Lois Hyatt and Gail and husband Craig Rovere, both of Wayne; three adored grandchildren: Hunter, Jillian and Collin; and his sister Florence “Sissy” and husband Harold White of Clark. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 63 years, Josephine in 2011, and his sister Dolores Kolbenheyer.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Tom’s name are asked to consider Hospice of New Jersey, 400 Broadacres Drive, Bloomfield, NJ 07003, or the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 875 North Randolph Street, Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203.
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