Fallis, Anthony
January 10, 2007
The late Tom Fallis
News of the sudden death in New Jersey of Enniskillen-born Tom Fallis, who was known as, 'Irish Tom' and 'American Tom', depending on which side of the Atlantic one was speaking about him, was heard with genuine shock and regret. He was 53 and was single.
Ever since emigrating to America 30 years ago, he had done much to foster links between his adopted home - he became an American citizen in 2002 - and here, often bringing across two and three groups each year of US visitors on 'themed' outings. He had already planned the next visit and, as a mark of respect his many friends who had already booked, those visits went ahead.
The manager, David Morrison, of the Killyhevlin Hotel where so many of the visitors stayed, speaking on behalf of the management and staff, extended sympathy to Tom's mother and family.
"We were very shocked to hear of his death. We all valued what Tom had done over the years in bringing countless US visitors to the country and contributing to the local economy. He had in fact made prior arrangements for another trip in May 2007, and the usual one in September".
Tom was especially attentive to his family's links and, had just returned to his adopted home in Wildwood, New Jersey when he became ill and died in the Burdette Tomlin Hospital. He had otherwise enjoyed excellent health , and a very happy Christmas with his mother, Elizabeth (Lily) and his brothers and sisters in Enniskillen.
Tom was born in Riverside, Cornagrade, the son of Lily and the late Ronnie Fallis. He was one in a family of nine, being survived by his brothers, Denis (Veronica), Brian (liz), Carol (Roy), Maureen (Joe), Marian (Bobby), Yvonne (Hugh), Genie and Jackie. He is further survived by his girlfriend, Hope back in Wildwood, and by his five nieces and eight nephews.
After his early education at St Michael's PS and St Joseph's College, Tom secured the grades at Fermanagh College in Belfast in the mid-70's. However, two summers and then a third enjoyed in America lured him away from the classroom and into the bar trade.
It was the start of a 30-year link with New Jersey where he threw himself wholly into its very active Irish-American cultural programme.
He was a dedicated member of the Emerald Society whose members are mostly ex-Police officers and firemen of Irish ancestry from New York who had retired to New Jersey, and he was a member of the AOH. In 1999, the then Mayor of New Jersey issued him with a Proclamation for helping to foster and increase the understanding of the Irish heritage in the US.
Tom realised this in a number of ways. At the practical level, he found work for recently-arrived immigrants, usually in in the construction industry or in the bar trade. But, to people here, he was know as, "American Tom" for leading groups of US visitors into Northern Ireland. He split his groups up, according to their preferred 'theme', so, he would bring over a golfing group and, at another time, a group who merely wanted to sight-see.
This latter group he would invariably bring to see a GAA game at Brewster Park. He had played for Enniskillen Gaels and, also The Ranch with whom he won an All-Ireland Freshers medal in 1974. His love of the Gaels Club, and the GAA in general, never died. He had made three trips home in 2006, the last one at Christmas during which he socialised in the Gaels Clubhouse.
Back in the US, he was a huge fan of American football so much so that, last November 2006 when he was here, he bought his mother a new TV set with the sports channels. Mrs Fallis described him as 'our Santa': Everytime he came home, he was full of presents. Even though he loved America, he was a home bird."
His younger sister, Jackie said her brother didn't know how well he was liked: " He spent so much showing people around, he didn't take account of the number of people whose lives he touched. You only have to go on to the website (www.legacy.com/PressOfAtlanticCity) to realise how popular he was.
Tom Fallis hugely-attended memorial service took place in New Jersey. His remains are due to arrive at his mother's home, 51 Riverside, Cornagrade. Funeral Mass was in St Michael's Church, Enniskillen with burial in Breandrum Cemetery.
Courtesy of the Fermanagh Herald
10 January 2007
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