Thomas P. Lyddy

Decorated Athlete

Thomas Peter Lyddy, 57, a longtime resident of Newtown, died at home with his family by his side September 4. Mr Lyddy was the son of the late Walter E. and Catherine M. (Jacoby) Lyddy, and was the beloved husband of Sally Farrell Lyddy for 34 years.

Mr Lyddy was self-employed and started Homestead Inspections, a family-operated business out of Newtown. He was a real estate broker for more than 30 years and was a member of the Connecticut Board of Realtors. He was a devout Catholic and enjoyed teaching religious education at the St Rose of Lima Parish and was a longtime member of the Gaelic American Club of Fairfield. He found peace and tranquility with his family and friends at Fairfield Beach where he and his family have spent the last 25 summers.

Mr Lyddy was a decorated athlete and received many accolades and awards over the course of his lifetime. As a child, he was very active with the North End Little League as well as the Boys Club in Bridgeport. He played in the Pony League World Series in Pennsylvania and competed in the Biddy Basketball World Tournament in Chicago and Lakewood, N.J. He later attended Fairfield Prep where he played baseball, basketball, and football. While at Fairfield Prep, he received a number of awards and was named to the All-State and Catholic All-American Teams for football. He was actively recruited to play football and baseball by a number of universities around the country and decided to play football for the University of Maryland.

He was severely injured early in the season, however, and was no longer able to pursue his dream of playing professional football. He then attended Fairfield University where he played baseball and was actively scouted by professional baseball organizations. He graduated from Fairfield University in 1972. His most recent involvement with Bridgeport athletics was with his membership in the Old Timers Association.

Mr Lyddy enjoyed a wonderful life with his large family and his many friends. He will be sadly missed as he was a great husband, brother, father, grandfather, friend, uncle, cousin, and mentor. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Ryan Lyddy and his wife, Amy, of Newtown, Kara DeFilippo and her husband, Robert, of Naugatuck, Katie Barry and her husband, Christopher, of Naugatuck and Christopher and Kyle Lyddy, both of Newtown; four grandchildren, Sophia and Ava DeFilippo, Molly Lyddy, and Thomas Barry. He also leaves behind brothers and sisters, Maureen Mulligan and her husband, James, of Trumbull, James Lyddy and his wife, Denise, of Rochester, Minn., Kathleen Sullivan and her husband, Eugene, of Stratford, and Peter Lyddy and his friend, Rick Messina, of Sarasota, Fla. Mr Lyddy was also the loving uncle of 36 nieces and nephews.

His family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the Praxair Cancer Center at Danbury Hospital, Danbury Regional Hospice Association, Reverend Larry Carroll and Reverend Robert Weiss and the St Rose Parish.

Relatives and friends are invited to meet directly on Saturday, September 9, at 9:30 am in St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown, for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Newtown. Friends may call on Friday, September 8, from 3 to 8 pm at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Swim Across the Sound, c/o St Vincent Medical Center Foundation, 2800 Main Street, Bridgeport CT 06606.

The Newtown Bee        September 8, 2006