Senate Resolution No. 501

BY: Senator HARCKHAM

MOURNING the death of Thomas E. Hales, generous
philanthropist, distinguished citizen and devoted
member of his community

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, With deep regret this Legislative Body records the passing
of Thomas E. Hales on Thursday, October 8, 2020, at the age of 83,
noting the loss of a citizen whose purposeful life and endeavors
contributed so much to the quality of life in his community; and

WHEREAS, Thomas E. Hales was born on October 15, 1936, to the late
Phyllis E. and William H. Hales in North Tarrytown, New York; after high
school, he proudly served his country as a member of the United States
Army Signal Corp; and

WHEREAS, In 1958, Thomas E. Hales graduated from Iona College (cum
laude) and began his long and distinguished career in accounting with
Price Waterhouse & Co; in 1963, he founded and ran Thomas E Hales & Co.,
a regional accounting firm for the next 17 years, before selling it to
go to work for C. Pappas & Co., of Boston, Massachusetts; and

WHEREAS, Thomas E. Hales became the CEO of Image Maker, a photo
finishing company, and Town & Country Liquors, the second largest
wholesaler in Massachusetts; in 1980, he joined Union State Bank (USB),
and under his able leadership, it grew from $23 million in assets to
over $3 billion in assets by 2007, and was listed on the New York Stock
Exchange; and

WHEREAS, During this time, Thomas E. Hales furthered his education
by obtaining his master's degree in Business Administration from Pace
University; and

WHEREAS, After being diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis, Thomas E.
Hales sold USB to KeyBank, and received a double lung transplant which
gave him almost 13 years of additional life; and

WHEREAS, Thomas E. Hales and his wife Alice Marie were compassionate
and warm people who were dedicated to making their community a better
place for its residents to live, work and play; for his steadfast and
unremitting commitment to various worthy organizations, he was the
recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the 2003 Ellis
Island Medal of Honor, the 2004 Business Leader of the Year Award from
the Westchester County Business Journal, the 2008 William Cullen Bryant
Award and the 2017 John F. Heimerdinger Lifetime of Service Award from
the Westchester Medical Center, the Corporate Citizen Award from the
Boys and Girls Clubs of New Rochelle; and

WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman served on the Board of Trustees of
Iona College, New York Medical College, Nyack Hospital, New York State
Independent Bankers, New York State Bankers Association, Independent

Bankers of America, Kirschman Corp., Friendly Sons of St. Patrick,
Leukemia Society of America, Dominican Sisters Family Health Service,
Knights of Columbus, and the Westchester County Association; he was also
a Board Member Emeritus of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF),
where he was instrumental in the growth of the organization; and

WHEREAS, On April 29, 2017, Tom and Alice Hales proudly dedicated an
Iona College Residence Hall the "Alice Marie and Thomas E. Hales Hall"
or "Hales Hall" through a philanthropic gift to his alma mater; and

WHEREAS, Thomas E. Hales helped establish the Maria Fareri
Children's Hospital and Trauma Center at the Westchester Medical Center
in Valhalla and supported the Thomas E. and Alice M. Hales Endoscopy
Unit and the Alice Marie and Thomas E. Hales Pediatric Treatment Area of
the Emergency Department at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center; and

WHEREAS, Thomas E. Hales was truly thankful for his life-saving lung
transplant, and was actively involved with Donate Life and opt-out organ
donation in New York State; and

WHEREAS, In honor of his father, Terence Hales started the PFF Walk
NYC, and in the last 14 years, this incredible event has raised
significant funds which has allowed this vital organization to fulfill
its mission of mobilizing people and resources to provide access to high
quality care and leads research for a cure so people with pulmonary
fibrosis will live longer, healthier lives; and

WHEREAS, Grateful for the expertise of his doctors and the quality,
compassionate care he received at Maryland Medical Center, Thomas E.
Hales established in perpetuity the Thomas E. and Alice Marie Hales
Distinguished Professorship in Transplant Surgery which is held by
Bartley P. Griffith, MD; and

WHEREAS, Predeceased by his brother William H. "Red" Hales, Jr. and
a sister-in-law, Helene (Honey) Bieliewcz, Thomas E. Hales was survived
by his wife of 60 years, Alice Marie; three daughters, Lianne (Sean),
Carolyn (Bruce) and Allison (Donald); three sons, Thomas Jr. (Jennifer),
Terence (Ryan) and William; one sister, Phyllis Weaver; two
sisters-in-law, Virginia Power and Joan Power; nine grandchildren,
Robert, Michael, Thomas, Christopher, Nicholas, Thomas III, William,
Teagan and Althea Marie; and 34 first cousins, as well as numerous
friends and neighbors who will long cherish his memory; and

WHEREAS, A devoted husband, father and grandfather, Thomas E. Hales'
name is synonymous with character, dignity, intellect, depth, and humor,
qualities evident to his family and to all those who were fortunate
enough to have known him; he will be deeply missed and truly merits the
grateful tribute of this Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Thomas E. Hales, generous philanthropist,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Thomas E. Hales.