Thomas J. Lilly joined Division 8 back in 1968 and became a full member in 1971. He served as a three time President of the Division, worked on the Pro-Life and Freedom for All Ireland Committees in Nassau County and served as Legal Council for the National FFAI Committee back in the early 1980s. He heled the AOH fight for prisoners rights in Northern Ireland, including arranging a health furlough for Terry Kirbey in 1979. He currently serves as Division 8′s Historian.

Tom is a native of the Flatlands area of Brooklyn, the youngest of three children born to Frank Lilly and Mary Ellen Kelly of Mary Queen of Heaven parish.  He attended Most Holy Trinity High School in Brooklyn.  Tom then spent three years at Maryknoll College and later graduated with a B.A. degree from St. John’s University.

After four years in the Navy, mostly aboard the aircraft carrier Coral Sea in the Near East, Mediterranean and Caribbean he resumed his educational career, earning a J.D. Degree at night from Fordham Law School, becoming a member of the Bar in 1961.  Later, also at night, he received an LLM at N.Y.U. Law School.

Tom was appointed an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.  He went on to start his own practice and is very sell known in the area of labor relations and employment law.  He has taught in that field as a professor at the Xavier Institute, C.W. Post, and at Cornell School of Industrial-Labor Relations.

A bright thread running through the tapestry of Tom’s life is his resolve to put into practice Christ’s teaching of service to our brothers and sisters, especially to the “least among us”.  This dedication led him to devote his legal career to the protection of the rights of working people to organize to defend themselves and promote their interests.  It led him to unswerving advocacy on behalf of the unborn and their mothers and his position as a board member of Momma’s House.  That dedication is also the impetus for his tireless efforts in support of our neighbors who need assistance in hard times.  Tom has had a lifelong devotion to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, emulating his father as a longtime member.  He has served as President of the Nassau-Suffolk Central Board and is currently President of the St. Boniface Conference of that Society.

The principle of service to community also led Tom to political involvement as the local Democratic leader in Sea Cliff.  In the 1980’s he spearheaded the presidential campaign of Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson on Long Island and former DA Denis Dillon has credited Tom as the first person to encourage him to run for public office.  Tom, himself, has also run for office.

In 1958 he married Marge Doherty of Park Slope.  They later moved to Sea Cliff, where they have resided for over forty years.  They have of four children, Thomas and Joseph, (both attorneys), Mary Jo and Sean (both teachers), and are the grandparents of Thomas, Eileen, Sarah, Jones and Catherine Lilly.

Tom and Marge are active members of St. Boniface Martyr Parish in Sea Cliff.  He served as President of the Parish Council, was fundraising captain for the parish, taught Religious Education classes and belonged to the Nocturnal Adoration Society.  A parish publication in 1973 declared that “the name Thomas Joseph Lilly has become synonymous with St. Boniface School”, where he served as Chairman of the School Board for many years.

He will be honored by Division 8 on January 13th with a testimonial dinner.

Jim has been a member of the AOH for 57 years and this honor is very well deserved.On the night he received his Life Member Medallion, a citation from Congressman Peter King, another citation from Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi, a Life Member sash from Division 8 and also a various gifts from both the men’s and ladies’ divisions of Glen Cove.

Division 8 also honored their Division Life Members Ed Doohan, Tom Lilly, and Martin Mannion.

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“He was a dedicated member of the order,” said fellow National Life Member Michael O’Rourke. “He was very active with the Feis, and helped build the stages. He was a worker.”

John joined Division 5 in Far Rockaway back in 1957 and later transferred to Division 3 in the Five Towns. Over the years he held many positions in the Order, including serving as Assistant National Freedom for All Ireland Chair back in the late in 1970s. He also held a few state appointed positions.

In 2002, John was awarded with National Lifetime Membership for his service to the Order and continued to be active with the division and county up until his accident.

He is survived by his nephew former Nassau County President and State Director Ed Friel, three daughters and four grandchildren.

John will be waked 7-9 pm on Tuesday and  2-4 pm and 7-9 pm and Wednesday this week at Fullerton’s Funeral Home on Merrick Road. Baldwin, NY. With the Mass of Christian Burial taking place on 9:45 am on Thursday at St. Christopher’s Church in Baldwin.