Thomas P. Doherty

Thomas P. Doherty of Wilmington, DE, passed away on December 26, 2023 in Riddle Hospital, Media, PA. He is preceded in death by his father Maynard “Pug” Doherty, mother Mary M. Doherty, and brother Michael Doherty. He is survived by his wife Dr. Phoebe F. Doherty and daughters Jennifer Doherty (with grandson John) and Heather Doherty.

Thomas P. Doherty graduated from Benson High School, Omaha, NE, in 1958, earned an A.B. in chemistry in 1962 from the University of Omaha and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1967. After a 26-year career at DuPont in fibers and technology forecasting he joined Cunning & Associates Ltd. (1993) as a Technical Consultant and Technical Editor for the National Textile Center.

Tom continued on as a professional genealogist, historian and futurist specializing in tailored presentations, technological and social trend forecasting, strategic planning and futures research. As a professional genealogical researcher, Dr. Doherty specialized in Delaware and surrounding counties and edited the Delaware Genealogical Research Guide (2002). He taught genealogy at the University of Delaware (Osher) for 12 years, both lectures and computer workshops, until 2018. Tom was president of the Delaware Genealogical Society, where he designed and managed their web page, managed both their Delaware Families 1787-1800 project and their tax transcription project.

Outside of work, Tom played tennis and duplicate bridge for over 30 years, organizing many mixed doubles tennis competitions. He enjoyed coaching youth soccer at Brandywine YMCA for 11 seasons. Tom also helped write the Coastal Zone Act for DE in the 1970’s with Governor Russell Peterson.

Our family would like to extend a big thank you to all who cared for Tom and helped him on his journey through life.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to New England Historic Genealogical Society, 99 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116, Delaware Genealogical Society, 505 N Market St, Wilm., DE 19801, or Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, University of Delaware, Wilmington campus, 2700 Pennsylvania Ave, Wilmington, DE 19806.

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Funeral Services

Tom’s Memorial Service followed by a Celebration of his Life, will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 1:00 pm at the First Unitarian Church, 730 Halstead Rd, Wilmington, DE 19803.

Condolences

Kerry Samluk

01/05/2024 06:20 pm

Kerry & Joe Samluk writes,

So sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. Our condolences to the family. Joe has many good memories of Tom as they were co-workers at DuPont.

01/05/2024 06:27 pm

Ron Kelley writes,

Here’s to a wonderful man who led an amazing life and gave back his skills and knowledge to others along the way. God bless you, Tom! Condolences to Phoebe and the family. Ron and Patti Kelley

01/07/2024 08:32 am

Debbie Wat writes,

Tom and Phoebe were good friends throughout the years. Sincere sympathy to Phoebe and family as they mourn his passing.

01/07/2024 11:05 am

Allan Champion writes,

I'm so sorry to hear of Tom's passing. He and I were fraternity brothers at the University of Illinois when we were in graduate school. Years later we reconnected at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at University of Delaware where I took genealogy courses from him. He will be missed. My sincere condolences to his family.

01/07/2024 09:25 pm

Hillary Shade writes,

I knew Tom as my Genealogy Teacher at OLLI when I joined in 2015. He was the one to get me started on my Genealogical Search; and, I’m still at it - he was a terrific teacher! Tom will be greatly missed by many. God Bless His Family🙏🙏

01/08/2024 07:52 pm

Robin Roe lit a candle and writes,

I was blessed to take Tom's genealogy class at OLLI. My sincere condolences and prayers Phoebe and family.

01/09/2024 09:05 am

Lorraine Faris writes,

I was saddened to hear of Tom's passing. I met him at a genealogy conference and knew of his work through his daughter, Heather, who made an incredible difference for me and my family with her genealogy research on our behalf. My condolences to the family Lorraine Faris

01/09/2024 01:55 pm

Raymond Hagrman writes,

Tom was a close friend during our childhood days (late forties - early fifties). We did a lot of things together, trick or treating, camping out, playing chess or bridge, selling Kool-Aid on 52nd Street in Omaha, and just palling around. Years later when he was on a trip to St Louis. he stopped by to visit me and my family at my home. Later, I visited with him at the 50th Benson High School glass reunion in Omaha. Tom was, by far, the most intelligent friend I had during those days, and an all around good guy! I was shocked and saddened to hear of his recent poor health and then his death. My heartfelt condolences to Phoebe and her family.

01/09/2024 03:07 pm

Blake Bichlmeir writes,

My sincere condolences to Phoebe and family. I met Tom Doherty 50 years ago in 1973 in the DuPont Textile Fibers Department at Chestnut Run. Tom was already a seasoned industrial scientist in my mind. He introduced himself by inviting me to one of our many shared lunches in the then famous Chestnut Run Cafeteria. Here, lunches were subsidized by DuPont to encourage employees from straying off site and to socialize and network with others. Tom also knew a good deal when he saw one. In short order, Tom invited me to play pickup tag football, mostly with other DuPont employees, on Saturday mornings at a nearby park. We could not possibly do something this dangerous on DuPont property! Also, in relatively short order, Tom invited me to join the Technical Investors Fund for monthly meetings, some years with as many as 20 investors. This was great fun and very interesting, giving us opportunities to meet other people as well as to learn about investing in general and about stocks in particular. Our now much smaller TIF group still meets quarterly, more or less as a retiree group, still enjoying that camaraderie inspired by Tom’s leadership and example. Tom was an early activist pointing out the dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke in the workplace. He actively encouraged management to prohibit smoking within buildings at DuPont, using science and technology as tools to improve workplace safety, in a company that treated safety as a core value. Here, Tom was clearly ahead of his time. Within a few years of our arrival in Wilmington, my wife and I were invited to join Tom and Phoebe in a duplicate bridge group, which we loved. Typically, we played 3 tables of duplicate bridge for more than 20 years, sharing dinners and bridge! Throughout these many years, Tom was always ready to share thoughts on a wide range of subjects that eventually come up between coworkers and friends. I also admired Tom’s enthusiasm for physical exercise, especially his running regimen which he continued well into his retirement years. I admired Tom’s personal work on his own genealogy, and later, Tom’s teaching of genealogy at Osher Life Long Learning Center. Tom was always sharing and always teaching. Mainly due to Tom’s inspiration, I began my own family genealogy search just prior to the Covid19 pandemic. Unlike Tom and Phoebe, who had to travel the globe in search of their ancestors, I was able to perform 100% of my search virtually. Within a few months, I uncovered an order of magnitude of ancestors that I did not know about and a lot more about those I had heard about! Tom, thanks for inviting me into your life and for our long friendship! I will remember you always! Blake Bichlmeir

01/13/2024 11:51 am

Carol Palermo writes,

I am so sorry to learn of Tom’s death, which was published in the OLLI newsletter this week. My condolences to Phoebe and family. I have many fond memories of our bridge group over the years, and I recall a couple of New Years Eve get togethers with our young children.

02/19/2024 10:02 am

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