“A man of true grit has passed on.” Tom Kearns, “T.K.,” of Sandy Hook, died July 18.

“He gave it a valiant battle for five long years, having been inflicted with bone cancer. Tom was a man’s man, he knew how to look fear in the eye and he knew how to crush it. He worked the family dairy farm in Sandy Hook hand in hand with his mother, Florence, and his brother, Ed," his family recalled. "The three made the distinguished dairy farm sparkle with pride, dignity, and enjoyment for all to behold. The three of them literally created a true touch of heaven.”

Mr Kearns’ passion in life was sports. He could tell the stats of every player, on any given team, whether it be baseball, football, basketball, or golf. If anyone wanted to know what was going on in the world of sports, he was the person to ask. He loved his summer run to Saratoga Raceway, and when it came to the Triple Crown, he knew how to pick them. When fishing and hunting season approached he knew how to catch them and he knew how to bag them. He was a man of many talents. He played hardball with the Newtown Baseball League, and further went on to play, coach, and manage softball teams throughout many years in Newtown.

Mr Kearns was a member of the Newtown Country Club, the Newtown Fish and Game Club, and a former member of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company. As a young lad growing up, the Sandy Hook Athletic Club (SAC), was a very dear place to him.

Special recognition and thanks from his family are in true order to his caregivers, especially Kas Allen, a lady dear to his heart, and his brother Ed Kearns, who was there every day for him to assist him with his health needs, and to keep him abreast of all the activities on the farm. His sister Martha (Kearns) Harshbarger, along with her husband, Dick, transported Mr Kearns on a daily basis, for five years, back and forth to the hospital for all his treatments and medical evaluations. To Masonicare Home Health and Hospice, and the many others that deserve recognition and appreciation too numerous to name, the family extends heartfelt thanks to all for the kindnesses, service, and concerns, and highly recognized support.

He leaves behind his five remaining siblings, William “Mike” Kearns, Ed Kearns, and wife Lucille, of Sandy Hook, and Ruth Hunt, all of Sandy Hook, and Mary Petty, and husband John, of Peabody, Mass., and Martha Harshbarger, and husband Dick, of Pawling N.Y. Many loving nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces, and even a couple of great-greats survive Mr Kearns. His father, John, and mother, Florence (Ruffles) Kearns; his brother Jim Kearns; and sister Dorothy Bresson predeceased Mr Kearns.

Calling hours are Monday, July 21, from 4 to 7 pm, at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown, Tuesday, July 22, at 10 am. Interment will follow at St Lawrence O’Toole Cemetery, Brewster, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, PO Box 783, Sandy Hook CT 06482, or to Masonicare Home Health & Hospice, c/o The Masonic Charity Foundation, PO Box 70, Wallingford CT 06492.