Thomas Owen McLaughlin Jr, of Bowling Green OH and Sparta NJ, died peacefully in his sleep Sunday night. Tom Jr. is survived by his father, Tom Sr and his beloved daughter Lily Emmaline Parker McLaughlin, her mother Penny Parker and her sister Bryn Parker. Tommy is also survived by his brother William (Elizabeth Delong), and three sisters Maureen (Michael) Parent, Colleen (Jeffrey Litton) McLaughlin, and Pegeen (Daniel) Lorusso. Tom was also uncle to one nephew – Sean – and a crowd of nieces – Samantha, Sara, Jenna, Phoebe, and Sophie. Tom was a daily caretaker for his mother, Kathleen (Kay Kastner) McLaughlin, in the years leading up to her passing in July 2014.
Tom’s greatest love was for his daughter Lily. His two other loves being science and music. Tom’s wish for Lily is to pursue a formal career in science; as this was not the path that would be available to him. What Tom learned, he learned by doing.
His mom often remarked how Tom, from an early age, could walk anywhere with his head down and find more snakes, frogs, bugs, plants, flowers, and rocks than anyone could imagine were there. Yet he also saw more birds in the trees and sky than anyone else would notice. How excited he was of his first pileated woodpecker and barred owl. Nature was Tom’s universe and he often lay on the ground at night to search the sky for her fireworks. It’s true that his education came more from this reverence of the earth than from school which seemed to confine him to a lesser place. His pets, as his dad recalls, included baby snapping turtles and baby catfish which never stayed babies for very long as they were well fed with worms and such. These last fews years he has faithfully fed every squirrel and deer who would come into the back yard. And there were many: fox squirrels, grey squirrels, and red tailed pine squirrels. There were does and fawns and bucks and they would all gather out back and wait for Tom to bring out the food.
Tom was an avid nature photographer, particularly enjoying photographing birds. Tom was an active and enthusiastic member of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory and would spend many days of the shores of Lake Erie banding the migratory birds. Lily spent days helping him and she was a member of the Ohio Young Birders Club. Friends wishing to memorialize Tom can make donations in his name to the Black Swamp Bird Observatory.
Tom spent his lifetime attending concerts and hanging out with bands. He worked as a music producer in his younger years, and continued his labor of love in Bowling Green. He loved the Black Swamp Arts Festival, it had his kind of music, and he enthusiastically helped out. Every year he volunteered for set-up and cleanup. For a time he served as chair of performing arts and he was able to bring to town nationally known groups; two of which – From Good Homes and Railroad Earth – were from his hometown of Sparta NJ. Under the pseudonym Charlie Hogan, Tom was From Good Homes’ Biggest Fan. Man, he loved that band.
Tom was a very friendly person who believed sincerely in the equality and goodness of all people. He grew up in an environment of respect and had always saw the value of honesty and respect towards everyone. Perhaps this is why Dr. Seuss struck a note in Tom from a very early age. He was so familiar with all the works and especially the sayings of Dr. Seuss that he could not help but be a collector. His collection is on display at the Wood County Historical Center and Museum as part of the Be Your Own Museum program.
His oncology doctor thought a great deal of Tom. He remarked that Tom was a gentle soul who caught your attention; never angry or despaired of his life but always respectful of all peoples. This was reflected in his great interest in the works on comparative mythology of Joseph Campbell.
A music filled celebration of Tom’s life will be held at Grounds for Thought in Bowling Green later this summer. A favorite pastime was sitting on Main street in front of GFT chillin’ out with iced green tea. “I’ll spend my days here, the rest of my nights here. Here I will watch the world go around.”
Arrangements have been entrusted with the Deck-Hanneman Funeral Home & Crematory, Bowling Green, Ohio.
On-line condolences as well as fond memories may be shared with Thomas’ family by visiting www.hannemanfh.com.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
