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Bennett, Dr. Thomas Edward,
passed away at home surrounded by family and friends after a prolonged heroic battle with cancer. He was a distinguished, tenured faculty member at Bellarmine University for 36 years. He was most recently honored with the Monsignor Horrigan Distinguished Service Award. He was a human physiologist who has twice flown experiments on the Space Shuttle Discovery. Dr. Bennett was currently developing projects based on sialochemical methods (saliva-based analysis). Not only was this a career for him, it was his life's work and passion. He found great friendship and fellowship with his colleagues and students. He leaves a lasting legacy in the medical field of our community as he taught many doctors and nurses. He was fortunate enough to receive care during his illness from many of his former students.
Tom is survived by his cherished wife of 40 years, Barbara Bennett (Simpson), 3 children Michelle McCarty (Dave), Melissa Loyd (James), and Matthew Bennett, and 5 grand-children, Evelyn, Elizabeth, & Ella McCarty and Aubrey & Anderson Loyd, and brother Chuck Bennett. He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles & Nataline Bennett. He also leaves behind his "family" in the Biology Department at Bellarmine.
The family would like to thank the doctors at the Norton Cancer Institute at the Pavilion, Dr. Rex Lagerstrom, Dr. Brennan Greene, Dr. Tom Shurfranz and all the others doctors and nurses who helped him through his medical journey.
Memorial visitation will be Sunday December 20th, 2015, 2-7 p.m. at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Rd., with a Celebration of Life ceremony at 7 p.m. at Highlands. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/louisville/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-edward-bennet&pid=176947447&fhid=29361#sthash.7QGrEJDT.dpuf
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Michael P Marchese
So proud to have Tom as a friend. We spent a lot of hours together growing up in Jeffersonville, shooting pool in his parents basement in Jeffersonville, riding the bus to the Plymouth Meeting Mall to your jobs, Tom at Pathmark and mine at Woolworths, summers at Markley Farms Swim Club, walking to the Jeffersonville Drug Store for an ice cream and cherry coke, playing basketball at Marshall Street School, riding the Schuylkill Valley Bus to school, swimming in the Schuylkill River in Port Indian. We have lots of history. This picture was taken a few years ago when he came home for a one day visit. He asked me to drive him around town to his grandparents homes on E. Main Street and either Walnut or High Street, our High School. We had a cheesesteak and Buddy's Lemonade, a Zep from Lou's to take to his brother in Bucks County. Great guy who accomplished his dreams of being called Doctor and teaching.
This is us at my office after our Norristown Tour.
Joseph S. Manzo
Mike,
So sorry to hear about Tom.
I know you guys were close and I feel your sorry.
Sure sounds like Tom had a very successful career and a full family.
RIP Tommy!
Joe Manzo
Robert Interrante
I remember Tom from the homeroom bowling league in my junior year. He was a good person.
Dr Frank R. Ebert
I have memories of Tommy since Marshall Street elementary, Stewart Jr High School, and Norristown. I have pictures of him at my birthday party when I was ten, with Matt Young, Gary Merritt and others. I wish all the best to his family and from the sounds of it he lived a good life. In the end that is about all you can ask for. You will be remembered. Frank Ebert