Is there something in the water at The Landings that helps people live a long and healthy life? Perhaps that’s why another Landings resident hit the century mark in July.
Thomas John Healy, a resident at Trawler, was born in Elizabeth, NJ on July 21, 1925, to immigrant parents from Ireland. Tom, the oldest of five children, has outlived his three sisters and his brother. That birth year was shared with two actors who earned lifetime achievement honors at the Academy Awards, Paul Newman and Angela Lansbury.
Tom was an active youth and outstanding basketball player, where his height and agility earned him the nickname “Ace.”
He enlisted in Newark, NJ in the Army Air Corps on September 7, 1943, at age 18. He was just hours away from being deployed to the Pacific when Japan surrendered. After leaving the service with the rank of Staff Sergeant, Tom earned his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Newark College of Engineering through the GI Bill.
Tom met his future wife, Rita Murphy, at a local dance. They married in 1954 and moved to Cranford, NJ, where he was skilled enough to remodel their home. While living in Cranford with their five children, Tom worked full time at Public Service Electric and Gas and taught night school classes in Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology for ten years. The salary he earned from teaching was invested in the stock market, which he still follows actively today.
Tom earned promotions and accepted the position as Lead Engineer at Public Service Electric and Gas in 1966. The family relocated to Cinnaminson, NJ where Tom and Rita lived for more than 30 years. He was very involved in his community where he volunteered and served as president of the local Planning Board for many years.
Rita and Tom were very active tennis and golf participants throughout their adult lives. Those activities helped them decide to move to The Landings, which they found through New Jersey friends Bob and Londi Lazzaro. He remains close friends with these long-term Landings residents.
Rita and Tom fell in love with The Landings active tennis community, friendly people and beautiful weather and moved here permanently in 2003. Tom also played with the social poker group as recently as 2024 and played tennis until age 97. Rita and Tom loved live music and often enjoyed local entertainment. They were married 69 years until her death at age 92 in 2024.
Tom’s voting record was highlighted in the Fort Myers News-Press in November 2024. He voted in every presidential election since he was 21. His first was the 1948 election when Democrat Harry S. Truman defeated New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey. His most recent vote was cast in the 2024 election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
Tom continues to live independently and is thankful that his son has moved to The Landings to keep him company and assist when needed. Tom attributes his longevity in part to “everything in moderation.” He also notes that he’s always been a great sleeper.
