HUDSON FALLS – Thomas “Tom” Quigley, 69, of John Street, passed away unexpectedly, surrounded by his loving family, at the Glens Falls Hospital, on Sunday, June 17, 2018.
Born on February 18, 1949, in Amsterdam, he was the son of the late William and Eleanor (Aiken) Quigley.
Tom graduated from Bishop Scully High School in Amsterdam and then continued his education at State University of New York at Albany, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in English.
On September 2, 1978, he married his best friend, Barbara Bechand in Watervliet. Together they shared 39 wonderful years.
Tom had a mind like a steel trap, he remembered movies from 1930 to the present and was a true movie buff. He loved watching movies throughout his life and in his earlier years, he reviewed movies for Kite Magazine. From 1983 to 2012, he took that love and worked for Tribune Media as a T.V. Editor, reviewing movies. Tom was a wordsmith, he was known as being a master of words. Tom also loved debating politics and always felt he was right, no matter what. He was the Quigley family historian, who loved to tell great family stories to anyone that would listen.
The highlight of his life was being an extra in the movie “The Way We Were”, sitting between Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford in a classroom scene.
Tom was a great lover of animals, at one point he had 16 cats and knew the names and habits of each one.
In addition to his parents, Tom was predeceased by his daughter, Aimee Marie Quigley.
He is survived by his loving and patient wife, Barbara Quigley of Hudson Falls; his daughter, Susan Quigley-Clum and her husband, Casey of Hudson Falls; his siblings, Mike Quigley and his wife, Kathy of Ballston Spa and Kathy Quigley-Grant and her husband, Tim of Amsterdam; his brothers in law, Steven Ginquitti and his wife, Judith of Liverpool and Roy Bechand and his wife, Beth of Wynantskill; three nephews, Ben Bechand, Sam Bechand and Chris Quigley; and one niece, Jessie Sellingham.
Friends may call on Thursday, June 21, 2018, from 11 to 1 p.m. at the Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main Street in Hudson Falls.
Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. on Thursday, at the funeral home, with Rev. Thomas Babiuch, officiating.
The Rite of Committal will follow at Union Cemetery in the town of Fort Edward.
Memorial donations may be sent to the SPCA of Upstate New York, 588 Queensbury Ave, Queensbury, NY 12804.
Dear Barbara and Family: I am so, so sorry that I am unable to attend Thursday. Tom was a wonderful friend, and we shared many good times and conversations; I remember our going to see Gregory Peck at Proctors, and sitting together in a theater, eagerly hoping Timothy Dalton would make a good James Bond. Every time “The Way We Were” is on, I look for :”that scene” — it was such fun to bring the movie into work one day and play it fr everyone, billing it as “Starring Tom Quigley. With Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.” My deepest sympathy to you. I do, and will, always think of Tom with great fondness. — Jay Bobbin
I’ve missed you since I left Trib. You were a good buddy, a good man, and a righteous human and humane man who kept his integrity and faith and honor in a job that sometimes wasn’t always conducive to that. I’ll miss you even more knowing you’ve passed on, but I suspect I’ll see you where you’ve gone. God bless, Barbara.
Barbara & family – I’m so sorry for your loss. I met Tom at Tribune in 1985, he was a kind, gentle, funny and sharp guy. Bless you, Tom.
We are so sorry we could not be there for you both today. My deepest sympathy and love to you. My prayers are with you now and always. God Bless
Dear Barbara and family, Tom was one of the very first people I met at Tribune, and I had the pleasure of being seated adjacent to him. We had many discussions about film, politics, family, and everything in between. He spoke warmly and lovingly of Barbara and beamed with pride when he talked about Susan. He had a delightfully sharp wit, and did not suffer any fools. A mere glance or cursory raising of an eyebrow spoke volumes. I’ll remember him as someone who had my utmost respect as a husband, father, and as a good man. God bless, Tom. You were one of a kind.