Thomas J. Scaglione, 89

of 48 Church St., Hornell

  A soldier, State Trooper and an involved citizen, Thomas passed away Friday evening (Feb. 10, 2012) at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, surrounded by his loving family.

  Born in Greigsville on Jan. 19, 1923, he was a son of the late Anthony and Rose Gugliemello Scaglione. On June 11, 1947 he was married at St. Ann’s Church in Hornell to the former Yolanda DiNardo, who survives.

  A graduate of York Central School, class of 1941, Tom graduated with a Regents diploma and majored in Math, History, French and Science and was a member of the Soccer and Baseball teams. In the fall of 1942 he began his studies at Cornell University in Ithaca and took an honorable leave of absence to enter military service with the U.S. Army in Feb. of 1943. He completed a 16 week course at the New England Aircraft School in Boston, Mass. in 1943. Tom also attended Georgetown University in Washington D.C. from 1943-1944 and was in an Army specialized training course in basic engineering. After completing one term, the program was terminated and in 1944 he was assigned to the 102nd Ozark Division at Camp Swift in Texas. He trained as an infantry soldier and as a Light Mortar Crewman and was sent overseas in Sept. of 1944 with the division which eventually became part of the 9th Army European Theaterand Jan. of 1946 he was honorably discharge . During his military career Tom was awarded many decorations including, the European Theater Medal with 2 bronze stars for Rhineland and Central Germany, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Expert Infantry Combat Badge and the Occupation Medal with Germany clasp.

   He served active Army Reserve duty and completed the artillery five year career course that was followed with the completion of a five year Command and General Staff School program which was followed by the Logistics Management five year course with some additional special schools that became available over the years. Prior to completing these courses he was assigned to the 98th Infantry Division Reserves as an MP. During his active reserve duty he was awarded the American Theater Medal and the Reserve Medal. Tom’s military career spanned a total of 29 years and five months and after his retirement in 1973 as a Lieutenant Colonel he was awarded the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross. This medal was awarded for having been the recipient of the Bronze Star and the Bronze Star was awarded for having been the recipient of the Expert Infantry Combat Badge.

  Tom returned to Cornell University in 1946 and graduated in 1950 with a bachelor’s of science degree in Education and accepted a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Active Reserves.  While at Cornell he was a member of the football team and in 1948 they became the Ivy League Champions. From 1950 to 1951 he was an education major as a graduate student, earning certification for high school level teaching.

  In June of 1953 he began his career with the New York State Police and retired in July 1973 after 20 years of service.

  A devout member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, Tom was a daily communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell and was member of the former Nocturnal Adoration Society.  He was also a Fourth Degree member of the Hornell Council No. 243, Knights of Columbus and also a life member of the following organizations, the Hornell Lodge No. 210, Loyal Order of Moose, the Cpl. J.J. Mooney V.F.W. Post No. 2250, the Arthur H. Cunningham American Legion Post No. 440 all in Hornell, the Bath Chapter No. 7 of the Disabled American Veterans, the Cornell University Alumni Assoc.,  the 102nd Infantry Division Assoc. (Ozark Division), the Genesee Valley Retiree Sub Council Legislative Committee (this organization consists of retired members of military service), the National Assoc. for Uniform Service, the Assoc. of former N. Y. S. Troopers, Alleghany Mountains Chapters, the N.Y. S. Troopers Police Benevolent Assoc., the N.Y. S. Federation of Police and the United Federation of Police. Tom was also a member of the National Rifle Assoc. (NRA), the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the National Committee to preserve Social Security and Medicare, the U.S.A.A., and for several years he served as a Republican Committeeman for the third ward in Hornell.

    He enjoyed traveling and also attending his Army, High School, College, football and family reunions. Tom loved to spend time with his family, especially his grandchildren, who were the recipients of excellent “grandfatherly” advice.

   His family include his wife of nearly 65 years, Yolanda; his two daughters, Donna Marie (Carl) Roosa of Magnolia, DE and Ann Marie (Kevin) Quinn of Rochester; his six grandchildren, Jennifer (Charles) Dougherty, Krista Roosa, Lauren Roosa, Kelly Quinn, Thomas J. Quinn and Sean Quinn; his four great-grandchildren, Jordyn Ford, Jaden Hartnett, Jordan Dougherty and Domenic Antonio Scaglione Quinn;  his two sisters-in-law, Helen Case and Mary Theresa (John) Cardamone all of Hornell; his brother-in-law, Domenic (Janet) DiNardo of Corning; also his nieces, nephews and cousins.

  Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his four brothers, Cosmo, Frank, Joseph and Vincent Scaglione; his three sisters, Angelina Rotunno, Mary Dugo and Philomena Scaglione; also his brother-in-law, Dr. Joseph DiNardo.

  Calling hours are from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell, where the Knights of Columbus will conduct a memorial service at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Friends are invited to meet his family at St. Ann’s Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Committal prayers and interment, with military honors, will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.

  The United States flag and the Army flag will proudly fly at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc. in recognition of Tom’s service with the U. S. Army

  Those wishing may contribute in his memory to either St. Ann’s Church, 27 Erie Ave., Hornell, N.Y. 14843, to Southern Tier Hospice, 11751 East Corning Rd., Corning, N.Y. 14830 or to the Bath V.A. Medical Center Palliative Care Unit, 76 Veterans Ave., Bath, N.Y. 14810. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.

  Online condolences or remembrances of Tom are welcomed at www.bishopandjohnsonfuneralhome.com.