LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Thomas E. Tierney, Sr.,
legendary Tottenville High School baseball coach

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay proper tribute
to individuals of great character whose lives exemplify the highest
ideals of humanity; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Tierney, Sr., died on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, at the
age of 82; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Tierney, Sr. was a three-sport star at Curtis High
School, and a Hall of Fame Athlete at the University of Vermont where he
earned a bachelor's degree in economics; he also received a master's
degree in education from New York University; and
WHEREAS, At the University of Vermont, Thomas Tierney, Sr. was twice
All-Yankee Conference in both baseball and football; in addition, he was
a .350 hitter who led the team in RBIs, the leading rusher on the foot-
ball team two years in a row, and winner of the Seamans Trophy as the
school's outstanding athlete; and
WHEREAS, Enlisting in the United States Army, Thomas Tierney, Sr.
played on its traveling baseball team that put on exhibition games; he
was drafted by the NFL's Baltimore Colts and by a Canadian Football
League team, but embarked on a pro baseball career beginning with the
Milwaukee Braves' Class AA Atlanta Crackers in 1959; and
WHEREAS, When Thomas Tierney, Sr. arrived at Tottenville High School
as a teacher and coach, all the dominant teams were at the other end of
the Island; he went on to win Island championships as a tennis and bowl-
ing coach, helped to organize the track team and the football program,
but baseball was where he left a singular mark; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Tierney, Sr. coached at the Huguenot school for 33
years before turning the reins over to his son, Tom Tierney, Jr. in
2000; Thomas Tierney, Sr. compiled a 940-120 record at Tottenville and
was inducted into the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame in 1999; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Tierney, Sr.'s Pirates won city championships in 1986
and 1987, and four more after that, including a 32-0 season in 1998; he
also won a National Coach of the Year award; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Tierney, Sr. is survived by his wife, Doris, his chil-
dren, Thomas, Jr. and Colleen, his daughter-in-law, Michele, and his
grandchildren, Tierney, Shannon, Tyler and Thomas III; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, imbued with a sense of
compassion, Thomas Tierney, Sr. leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Thomas E. Tierney, Sr., legendary Tottenville High
School baseball coach; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Thomas E. Tierney, Sr.