Thomas Haggerty Obituary (1936 – 2022) – Mystic, CT

Thomas Haggerty, 85, of Pawcatuck, CT died January 19, 2022 at Westerly Hospital. Tom was the last survivor of 6 children born to Marguerite McKinnon Haggerty and Augustus Haggerty. He was born in Houlton, Maine on February 16, 1936, joined the U.S. Marine Corps after high school and then went on to graduate from the University of Hartford as an electrical engineer. Several years later, after his career with Electric Boat began, he earned an MBA from the University of New Haven. In 1964 Tom joined Electric Boat in Groton, CT as a nuclear test engineer. He quickly progressed through the Nuclear Test Department management ranks, becoming Chief Nuclear Test Engineer before being selected to manage the Nuclear Test Department. He then moved on to manage the backlog of LOS ANGELES Class ships, in addition to the lead Trident Class hull–a submarine completion delivery record never achieved during a non-wartime environment. In 1985, Tom was again promoted as the Director of Electric Boat’s Nuclear Construction Engineering Organization, where his team provided nuclear technical and construction support to both OHIO Class and LOS ANGELES Class ships under construction. Tom also served as Engineering Director prior to leaving in 1995. He provided 31 years of technical excellence to the nuclear submarine construction environment. Considered as tough, fair and well respected, he was an engineer’s engineer and clearly one of the most capable and knowledgeable shipbuilders of his era. In 1976 Tom married “the girl next door”, Gail A. Shea, Ph.D., to whom he was deeply devoted and shared many happy times with over 45 years of marriage. She survives him. Tom was Uncle Tom to 35 treasured nieces and nephews, including the 7 Corey “children” (Tim, Kathleen, Matthew, Danny, David, Beth and Shawn) to whom he was like a second father. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Carol Murphy and his furry friend Caitlyn. Tom had a big heart and personality along with his signature mustache. He loved story- telling, reading, cooking and eating out with family and friends — often, and his generosity was bestowed upon many. Tom had the uncanny ability to take naps anywhere anytime. When awoken he would fondly say with a sly grin “I wasn’t napping, I was praying.” He most loved being on or near the water including fly fishing both around the world and around home on his Grady White “Tom’s Toy” (the name prevented Gail from wearing “Tom’s Toy” tee shirts) and relaxing at his summer cottage in Giants Neck Beach. Due to the ongoing pandemic a memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s memory to the Westerly Hospital Foundation, 25 Wells Street, Westerly R.I. 02891 or to the scholarship fund Tom and Gail created for UConn students who focus on gender inequality in higher education and/or the political arena, known as the “Gail Anne Shea Scholarship Fund”. Checks made payable to the UConn Foundation, Inc. (Foundation account # 23763) can be mailed to: The UConn Foundation, Attn: Data Services, 2390 Alumna Drive Unit 3206, Storrs, CT 06269-3206. The Mystic Funeral Home is handling Tom’s arrangements. Please visit www.mysticfuneralhome.com to leave a note of condolence.