Resident of the Month: Thomas Moehringer
Apr 16th, 2010 by admin
On February 19th, 1945 Tom was born in Queens. Growing up, his father often told the story about Tom being born the same day the Marines landed on Iwo Jima. Although most Residents call him Tom, at school and work his nickname was Moe, “like the 3 Stooges!”
Tom attended Catholic School in St. Albans, where he played drums in the marching band. Tom has many happy memories of growing up in the 1950’s, especially lighting fireworks every July 4th. Jamaica Avenue had many empty lots where Tom played Cowboys and Indians, and jumped on the large grass piles. Tom and his two older brothers “made their own fun” but also got over 100 stitches among them because of the glass bottles in the lots, Tom recalls with a smile.
When Tom’s family moved to Uniondale, he felt like “a bird let out of a cage” in public high school, where he joined the wrestling team. Tom’s father would take the family to Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to watch the Dodgers. Now Tom is a Mets fan.
Tom worked as a machinist, and later was promoted to an inspector for Metco Company. During his 30 years there he made precision parts for metalizing guns, and inspected industrial flame spraying guns, which makes equipment like gas tanks safer.
Tom raised his two sons, Thomas and Keith in Bethpage. He has four grandchildren, Emma, Travis, Sophia and Joseph. Tom misses doing his own barbequing; but he is happy to attend the Lake Shore summer barbeques. Tom “likes to eat” especially the “Thursday eggs”, hot dogs and pizza. At Lake Shore, he watches cartoons and old movies, such as favorites Laurel & Hardy and the original King Kong. With the nice weather coming, Tom is looking forward to playing ball in the courtyard with his youngest grandchildren.
Story By: Lynne R.
