Thomas Richard McAteer

After many months of treatment, Thomas R. McAteer, age 63, of Totowa passed away peacefully on Monday, January 18, 2021 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Tom was born and raised in Paterson, NJ and was one of seven children to Donald and Rita McAteer.   He attended John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson and graduated with the class of 1975.  Tom was a jack of all trades and master of them all. He was always a hustler and worked an eclectic assortment of jobs such as Christmas tree salesman, pinball machine repairman, and for a short time as a wedding photographer. For the years following his high school graduation, he worked as a master carpenter by trade and utilized his skills in various capacities in the construction industry.

One random evening in 1975 while still a senior in high school, Tom was hanging out at a friend’s house who lived near Don Bosco High School.  That same night a young, attractive girl by the name of Donna Neglia was also lingering outside of the high school. She was hanging with some friends whose mother was inside playing Bingo when she caught the eye of Tom. And she has kept his eye ever since.  The two hit it off instantly and quickly became high school sweethearts.  Their “Endless Love” officially began on November 8, 1981, when they became husband and wife.

Donna and Tom continued to live in Paterson after first getting married, the city in which they both were raised.  During their time living in Paterson, the couple started a family and welcomed the births of all three of their children.  After the birth of their third child in 1991, the family moved to Totowa and have called it home ever since. This is the home that Tom constantly improved over the years for his family. Tom finished basements and attics, built backyard decks, replaced the exterior with stucco and more. Tom turned their Totowa house into a home.

Shortly after getting married, Tom started his own company known as TMAC Construction Services LLC which he owned and operated for over thirty years.  Together with owning his own construction company, Tom was also Project Manager for ACP Contracting for the last three years.  He also concurrently held a position as a Property Manager for private residences in Short Hills, NJ, the owners of whom over the years became very close family friends.

One of Tom’s many hobbies was Radio Control Helicopters.  For years he was a member of Hirobo Helicopter, where in the United States he flew RC Helicopters competitively.   He also traveled to Japan and Poland where he was a judge for RC Helicopter competitions. Tom was also a huge New York Yankees fan, his favorite players being Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and the great Greg Nettles. He had a love for music and Boston was his favorite band.

Tom was a man of many talents and interests, and some would say his true passion was always his long-term interest in photography.  This was something that Tom took a liking to when he was just a teenage boy.  In the 1970’s, Tom built his own darkroom in his parents’ house.  Throughout his entire life, Tom refined his skills as a photographer, taking photo classes and workshops that were offered at “Unique Photo.”  Tom’s favorite subject for photography was nature, particularly birds.  He also participated in a memorable trip to North Carolina with other photographer colleagues to photograph the Solar Eclipse a few years ago.  Tom was a genuine technology buff, always making it a point to get up to speed on the latest and greatest cameras, computers, and any kind of cool gadgets.      

However, aside from all of Tom’s interests, talents, and hobbies, Tom’s greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Tom than providing for and spending time with his family.  He and his wife Donna cherished thirty-nine years of loving and loyal marriage together.  Tom had a quiet presence, but when you got to know him, you quickly found that he was a gentle, kind, compassionate, and humble individual.  He lit up a room with his sense of humor and held the attention of any crowd with his words of wisdom. Tom was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

Tom is survived by his wife Donna “Squirrel” (nee Neglia) of Totowa, one daughter Melissa “Miss” DeLucca and her husband Jason of Wayne, two sons; Thomas “Tommy” McAteer of West Milford, and Shawn “Monk” McAteer of Pompton Lakes, three brothers; Donald McAteer and his wife Judith of Toms River, NJ, James McAteer and his wife Sue of Toms River, and William McAteer and his wife Maria of Bradenton, FL, three sisters; Linda Iulo and her husband Kenneth of Bradenton, FL, Patricia McAteer of Clifton, and Rita Rubestello and her husband Paul of Longs, SC, two grandchildren; Jason and Joseph DeLucca, and many nieces and nephews.

                                                      "Don't view the horizon as a line that separates

                                                                     the Earth from the Heavens,

                                                             but as a defining line where they unite."

                                                                              ~ Tom McAteer

In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom's name may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. https://www.stjude.org/