GREEN, THOMAS HENRY

GREEN, THOMAS HENRY Retired attorney, Navy veteran and father of six, Thomas Henry Green, formerly of Florham Park, N.J. and a legacy homeowner from the 1960’s in Avalon, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on July 9, 2023. He would have been 98 this week. To write a condolence, visit www.LeonardisMemorialHome.com. An intrepid storyteller, reader and opera buff, Thomas Green was born and raised in Newark; he graduated from West High School. He enrolled in college and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943, serving for three years, including in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. He earned an Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, and WWII Victory Medal. In 1948 he graduated cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame. While working as an AFL-CIO stagehand in Newark and New York City, Tom Green attended Fordham Law School. The Green family settled in Florham Park, and the family began vacationing in Avalon, N.J. in the early 1960’s, purchasing land from Golden Builders in 1967. His speaking skills made him a sought-after emcee at events and parties. Once Thomas and Dorothy settled in Avalon in 2008, he was a frequent joke teller at the 7 Mile Beach Democratic Club. He worked tirelessly for over 14 years to find a solution for legacy Avalon homeowners unfairly targeted by the State of New Jersey with a Tidelands Claim. Tom Green actively petitioned for himself and his neighbors by appearing in front of the New Jersey Senate and Assembly Committees multiple times for the Tidelands Bill. It was drafted initially by a blue-ribbon panel to consolidate multiple adverse possession disparities in the state legislation. The bill, which would have provided relief to Mr. Green and many others, was overwhelmingly successful in both houses each year it was voted on and made it as far as the desk of the Governor. Chris Christie did not approve the bill. The love of his life, Dorothy McKenna Green, predeceased him by eight years after 61 years of marriage. Together they traveled to Australia, China, England, India, Ireland, Italy, and New Zealand, and loved visiting St. John (USVI) in the winter. He was predeceased by his sister Dorothy Conroy, and his grandson Patrick James Green. He is survived by his children: Mary Ellen and husband Scott Hettinger, Thomas and wife Erin Mackesey, Brian and wife Virginia, Kathleen and husband Tom Rietzl, Emily and husband Tom Basca, and Anne and husband Gerry Beston. He cared deeply for his many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, from his extended family. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought him great joy.