Francis 'Tom' Brophy

Francis Thomas Brophy, Jr., of Strafford, NH died on March 31, 2011 at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, at the age of 65. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, on April 21, 1945, He was the husband of Marsha (Auchterlonie) Brophy. He was the first of five children of the late Francis Thomas Brophy, Sr and Mary Agnes (Clark) Brophy.

Tom grew up on 558 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn before moving to Hicksville, NY on Long Island where he graduated from Hicksville High School in the Class of 1962.

Tom proudly served in Vietnam with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment from 1966 to 1967. He maintained friendships with the men with whom he served during the war.

Tom was an early pioneer in the computer field with the Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO). Tom’s journey through the systems placed him as Director of Computer Systems with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. Tom retired in 2005 after 22 years with the organization.

Tom enjoyed being outside and spending time in the water and on the golf course. In 1986, he married Marsha in mid-winter on frozen Bow Lake and within several years they built their home on the adjacent land. Rainbow’s End became the favorite gathering place of family and friends. Tom was generous, thoughtful and a sensitive man who took great pleasure in bringing people together at his “Poor Tom’s Lounge”. He made skating rinks and bonfires on the lake in winter. He organized barbecues and the Brophy Trophy games in summer and he was the original organizer of Christmas in July Bow Lake Boat Parade. He designed and built his own float boat, the U.S. Goods.

Tom loved his grandchildren dearly and he constantly delighted them with his story telling, sense of humor and magic tricks.

Tom is survived by his wife of 25 years, Marsha; step-son Paul Hicking and his wife Jody of Strafford, NH; step-son David and his wife Meghan of Dover, NH; step-daughter Kristen and her husband Matt of Lake George, NY; grandchildren Chelsea, Meredith, Kate, Kayla and Will, all of NH; son Brian and three grandsons of NY-Matthew, Brian Jr, and Thomas. His siblings Roddy, Rosemary Nierenberg, Jimmy and Kenneth; and many other dear friends and extended family. He was predeceased by his oldest son, Thomas Gerard, who was a NYC Police Officer and who died as a result of his work at the World Trade Center after the September 11th attack.

A Committal Service with Military Honors will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 10:00am in the Chapel at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, NH.

Memorial donations may be made to the Strafford Fire and Rescue or to the Rochester Visiting Nurses Association.