Thomas Slattery

To view the livestream of Tom's Funeral Mass, please click the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/@StThomasAquinasChurchMadison/live


Thomas Francis Slattery, 92, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2025, born on September 8, 1933, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Tom's life was marked by service, dedication to family, and an unwavering commitment to his faith.

Tom's early years held a unique chapter that would shape his identity throughout his life. When he was two years old, his mother, an Irish immigrant from Tralee, brought him back to Ireland for three years as her mother’s health was failing. Those formative years in Ireland planted deep roots in Tom's heart; roots he would cherish his entire life. Tom would return to Ireland multiple times later in life with family. 

Growing up in Jersey City with 4 siblings, Tom attended Seton Hall Prep High School then St. Peter's College, where he majored in economics. It was at St. Peter's that he met the love of his life, Loretta, inviting her to a college dance that would change both their lives forever. The year 1955 proved momentous: Tom graduated from St. Peter's, married Loretta and they welcomed their first child. While at St Peter’s Tom was enrolled in the Army ROTC and was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation.

The Army decided Tom was destined to be a missile site officer and transferred him and his family to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, where they welcomed their second child. After three years of dedicated service, the Slattery's returned to New Jersey where Tom began his professional career. In 1963, he joined The Wall Street Journal in New York City where his success led to a promotion and another move – this time to Dallas Texas. In 1966, the Slattery family, now expanded to six children, transferred back to New Jersey to the idyllic town of Gladstone.

Tom’s time with the The Wall Street Journal lasted through 1973 when a new opportunity lured him to Nashville, Tennessee with family in tow. This was the launch of his 35 years in the insurance industry. His last relocation brought the family back north to Madison, Wisconsin which set the stage for his career with Northwestern Mutual Life. Tom loved his time at NML as part of the Todd Organization, working both the Madison and NYC offices.

Tom officially became a snowbird in 1995, when he and Loretta purchased a winter home in Tucson, AZ. For the next 30 years they made the annual December journey from Madison to Tucson, returning to the Badger state the next May. The one break from that schedule were August trips to their beloved Jersey Shore destination Ship Bottom.

Tom had always been an avid walker in his Madison neighborhood and he continued to do so daily with a renewed enthusiasm in his Ventana Canyon foothills neighborhood and nearby Sabino Canyon. Tom made many longtime friends during his walks, so much so that the family joke was that if Tom said he’d be gone for a one hour walk, they all knew to plan for two hours to allow for his conversations with his friends and neighbors along the way. Tom’s gift of gab could not be overstated when it came to all of his friendships. While Tom relished his mountainous surroundings in Tucson, he also had a love for the wildlife that occupied that space. His favorite though were his birds. Each morning Tom put out a generous amount of wild bird seed on the back patio and loved watching the cardinals, quail and other birds enjoy their daily feast.

Much of the time Tom spent in Arizona was with his large extended family during their visits to Tucson. Tom especially relished his time spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Grandfather was always game for the next fun thing and never failed to accompany the children and their parents on all their desert outings, most notably trips to Pima Air and Space Museum, Desert Museum, Colossal Cave, Titan Missile, and walks up Sabino Canyon.

As the grandchildren grew older and began their undergraduate and professional studies primarily at UW-Madison, Tom was always there at the kitchen table to listen to, support, guide and offer sage advice to each of them, no matter the topic. Of course, when the grandsons came it was usually with beer in hand (Tom’s favorites) which served to make the conversations flow easily, often late into the night. Tom relished all the graduations that followed, not missing one.

Finally, the common thread running throughout Tom’s entire life was that of his deep Catholic faith. He manifested his faith daily which became the cornerstone of faith for his entire family. May he live forever in the loving arms of God.

Tom is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Loretta, his children Thomas (Nancy), Corinne, John (Margaret), Susan (Michael), Jacqueline (Taki), Lisa and Brendan, as well as nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, sisters Joan Raynolds and Gail (James) Feely and brother Edward (Rita). Tom was preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Mary, brother James (Claire) and granddaughter Katherine.

Family will greet friends on Monday, November 3, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Ryan Funeral Home, 6728 Mader Drive Madison WI. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 10:30 AM at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church 602 Everglade Drive, Madison WI. Visitation will be held at the church on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass. Private burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery at 9400 W. Donges Bay Road, Mequon WI.