Thomas J. Grogan, (85), of Oakbrook Commons, passed away Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, at Saratoga Hospital, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He was born in a log cabin owned by his grandmother, Anna Opet Kowalowski, in Lyon Mountain, N.Y., on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1936, son of William and Patricia (Kowalowski) Grogan.

Tom graduated from Lyon Mountain Central School in 1954 and worked at the Iron Mine Service Station in town. Since the iron mines were closing, Tom followed Uncle William Kowalowski to Silver Bay, Minn., to work at the Reserve Mining where he held a position as a quality control technician. While there, he met and married Gloria Jean Laskowski in 1962. His son, Steven John Grogan and daughter, Nancy Ellen Grogan were born while Tom was in Silver Bay.

Ever the wandering soul, Tom and the family moved to Oroville, Calif., in 1968. Tom worked at various construction projects including his first Safety Supervisor position in Norfolk, Va., on the Hampton Roads Tunnel Project. That project led to another multi-million dollar tunnel project for JF Shea Company in Yorba Linda, Calif., and then to Parker, Ariz. Tom liked the Arizona desert and the small community of Parker, Ariz., where he joined the Elks Club including helping to cook for various Elks Functions. In 1979 Shea transferred him to Rochester, N.Y., for the Culver Goodman Sewage Tunnel Project. Tom lost his first wife, Jean, after a short illness in 1981.

Tom didn't stay unattached for too long, though, because he met his current wife, Gayle (LaFreniere) Grogan, at the Old Miner's Day Celebration in Lyon Mountain in the fall of 1982. Tom and Gayle were married in August 1983. Tom became a stepfather when son Jim Garrant moved to Rochester to be with them the following year. They moved to Phoenix, Ariz., in 1984 to work on another tunnel project. From there, it was off to California in 1987 for more tunnel projects in Los Angeles, El Segundo. Tom had triple bypass surgery in 1992 and decided to retire to Phoenix, Ariz., in 1994 where they were building what they thought would be their final retirement home. But alas, Gayle wasn't ready to settle down and was offered employment at a tunnel project in Southborough, Mass. And the story goes on and on but they finally settled in Clifton Park, N.Y., in 2008.

Tom used his retirement time wisely with basement renovations. During his spare time, Tom enjoyed photography and most of all making memories with his family and friends. His health in later years caused him to slow down and he took up coloring with gel pens and colored pencils. He was so proud of his handiwork that he not only signed the pages, he scanned them to the computer and then put them in binders for what he called his "Tom Grogan Memorial Library."

His health further deteriorated this past year but he seldom complained about all of the doctors appointments and hospitalizations.

Tom was a Veteran of the Army Reserves, a member of the BPOE Elks Lodge 2157 in Rotterdam, N.Y., and a devoted Catholic.

Survivors include his loving wife of 39 years, Gayle Grogan; children, Steven (Joan) Grogan, James (Amy) Garrant, and Nancy Jackson and partner Mark Anderson; sister, Anne (Daniel) Gregory; grandchildren, Emily (Jason) Durgan, Dylan Garrant, and Carly Garrant; great-grandchild, Alayna Jane Durgan as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express thanks to Dr. DeSantis and Dr. Prieto of Albany Assoicates in Cardiology, St. Peter's and Saratoga Hospitals.

Donations in his memory may be made to Lyon Mountain Mining and Railroad Museum, PO Box 230, Lyon Mountain, NY 12962.

Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 11th, at Rabideau Funeral Home in Ellenburg from 10 to 11:30 a.m., with a funeral Mass at St. Edmunds Catholic Church at 12 noon and entombment at the Town of Ellenburg Mausoleum following the Mass.

A reception will be at St. Edmunds Church Hall following the services. All are welcome.

Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.rabideaufuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted into the care of the Rabideau Funeral Home, 5614 Route 11, Ellenburg, N.Y.