Former Rockville Centre resident Thomas Kearns dies

Thomas Kearns

Former Rockville Centre resident Thomas B. Kearns, a.k.a. Buckethead, Tom Tom and Bud Bud, died peacefully in his home in Fort Myers, Fla. on June 30.

As a reflection of how he lived his life, his final days were filled with love and adoration from his family and his friends near and far. He was born to Richard T. Kearns and Christine J. Kearns on May 1, 1941, in Hempstead, and lived the majority of his life on Long Island, including Rockville Centre, with the last eight years spent in Fort Myers.

After a quick stint at Villanova University, he joined the financial workforce in New York City, where he worked for almost 40 years. He married the love of his life and the girl next door, Jane C. Hoyt, in 1967 — four years after they re-met in November 1963. He was quick-witted, somewhat reckless and always the life of the party. His one-liners will be never be forgotten. Even in his sickest days, he kept his loved ones laughing and held his sense of humor until the final moments of his life. He loved his family, his friends and always had one more “just to be social.”    

He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, his three daughters, Deborah Kearns (Kenneth Carlson), Kimberly LaFayette (Adam) and Karen Buch (John), his niece, Lesley Weller, his sister, Elizabeth (Kearns) Ruskin (Richard), four nephews and seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Susan (Kearns) Weller, brother, Richard Paul Kearns, and grandson. Charlie LaFayette.

In lieu of flowers, consider supporting Tom’s life-long charitable endeavor, World Vision International (worldvision.org) or Hospice of Fort Myers (hopehospice.org).

A celebration of life is scheduled for July 14 at 10:45 a.m. at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre/ Internment of his ashes will be at a later date at St. Brigid Catholic Church Memorial Garden in Johns Creek, Ga. As Kearns always said . . . “that’s a wrap.”