SIDNEY – Thomas J. Mirabito, Sr., 93, longtime resident of Sidney, passed away peacefully early Wednesday morning, May 2, 2012 at Wilson Regional Medical Center in Johnson City.
Tom was born in Norwich on Jan. 17, 1919, one of four sons of Vincenzo (James) and Rosa (La Greca) Mirabito. Tom graduated from Norwich High School in 1938, and was a member of the 1937 Norwich High School Football Team that was undefeated, untied and unscored upon. He was also an avid tennis player throughout his life. He attended Alfred Agricultural & Technical College from 1939 to 1940. In 1940, Tom moved to Sidney. On September 5, 1942, Tom was married to Concetta Mirabito. Together, they shared nearly 70 years of love and happiness, and were blessed with 5 children: Rosemarie, James, Thomas, Jr., John and Joseph.
Tom dedicated most of his life to the family business, acting as president of James Mirabito & Sons from 1942 until 1984. He was also the President of the Sidney Oil Company from 1960 to 1984, President of F&S Fuel Supply of Greene from 1968 to 1984 and a Director of the Empire State Petroleum Association in 1980. With his brother, Soddy, Tom was the Vice President of Golden Valley Sports Camp. Tom was a member of the Sidney Chamber of Commerce, serving as a Director for several years, and as President of the Chamber from 1949 to 1950. He also served as the first President of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce in 1962 and was selected as the Citizen of the Year by the Delaware County Chamber in 1981.
His local community was very important to Tom, leading him to serve as a Sidney Village Trustee from 1948 until 1953, and then as the Mayor of the Village of Sidney from 1953 to 1961 and from 1967 to 1971. He also served as President of both the Sidney Industrial Improvement Corporation (1962) and the Sidney Development Corporation (1962 to 1976), and was Chairman of the Sidney Industrial Development Agency from 1978 to 1984. He was also one of the four original members of the Route 7 Association that later became Interstate 88 and was a member of the board and First Chairman of the Sidney Area Hospital Foundation.
Tom was a member of the State University College of Oneonta Council from 1963 to 1975, a Director and Vice President of Tri-County Motor Club in 1967, Commissioner of Claims for the N.Y. City Board of Water Supply in 1968, Director of Oneonta YMCA. from 1978 to 1983, was a Trustee at Pathfinder Village from 1983 to 1990 and was Finance Chairman of the Tri-County Valley Coalition in 1990. He was a Director of First National Bank of Sidney in 1968, then became a Director of NBT of Norwich when it bought the First National Bank of Sidney in 1979, serving until 1991. Tom was currently an Honorary Director of NBT Bancorp.
In addition to the many boards he served on, Tom also gave his time to numerous local civic organizations. Tom joined the Rotary Club of Sidney in October 1945 and deeply believed in the motto, “Service Above Self.” He was President of the Club from 1965 to 1966, received the distinction as a Paul Harris Fellow in 1977 and was a District Governor for Rotary District 717 from 1984 to 1985. He was also the President of the Delaware County Cancer Society from 1975 to 1976 and was a Founding Father of the United Way of Sidney. Tom was a devout member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Council #4937 in Sidney, where he served as a Parish Council Trustee. Tom and Tiny faithfully attended daily mass. Among his highest accolades were being the recipient of the Sidney Man Of The Years Award in 1984, the Town of Sidney Republican of the Years in 1998, and being honored as the Torchbearer for the 1996 Olympic Games.
In his 93 years, Tom accomplished much, and was loved and respected by many. He will be truly missed by his family and by his community. And in the words of Tom Mirabito, “Time Marches On.”
Tom is survived by his loving wife, Concetta (Tiny) Mirabito; a daughter and son-in-law, Rosemarie and Arthur Weed; three sons and daughters-in-law: Thomas, Jr. and Sharon Mirabito, John and Cheryl Mirabito and Joseph P. and Rosemary Mirabito; 10 granddaughters; 4 grandsons; 6 great-grandsons; 7 great-granddaughters; sisters-in-law, Josephine Mirabito and Carmela (Carmie) Mirabito; brothers-in-law: Fred and Ramona (Estelle) Mirabito, Salvatore and Ruth Mirabito and Frank Mirabito; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Tom was predeceased by his son, James Mirabito, who passed away at age 5, as well as three brothers: Angelo, Anthony and Rosario (Soddy) Mirabito.
Friends are invited to call from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Sunday at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main Street Sidney. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11a.m. on Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 15 Liberty Street, Sidney, with Fr. Gordon Polenz as celebrant. Burial will follow in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Sidney.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Tom’s name may be directed to the Sacred Heart Parish Endowment Fund, 15 Liberty St. Sidney, NY 13838 or to the charity of one’s choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.landersfh.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney.