Thomas McInerney's Obituary
Thomas McInerney A man beloved by all who knew him, Tom passed on August 7 in Moraga, after a series of illnesses at the age of 83. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Jackie; and four children who adored him: Maureen (John) McAndrews of Dana Point, Tom (Julie) of San Anselmo, Tim of Moraga, and Kerry (Dale) Freeman of Berkeley. He was a doting grandfather to Danny, Katie, Claire and Megan McAndrews, Molly and Joe McInerney, and Jackson, Leah, Alexandra, and Erin Freeman. He is also survived by his brother, Daniel McInerney of Palo Alto, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins, including the Moriartys. He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Marion Moriarty McInerney, and by his siblings, Katherine Page, Mortimer McInerney, and Lena McInerney, SND. Born in San Francisco, a city he loved, on July 11, 1926, Tom was proud to always call himself a member of the Eureka Valley Gang. He attended Most Holy Redeemer for most of his grammar school years, although the family spent two years in Honolulu due to his father’s business. He attended St. Joseph’s Seminary for 9th and 10th grade, which resulted in a lifetime of friendships with Catholic priests throughout the US. A graduate of St. Ignatius, members of his class of 1944 remained some of his closest friends his entire life. In the waning days of WWII he attended naval training at College of the Pacific (where he played football for Amos Alonzo Stagg) and then St. Mary’s College. After the war he became the first member of his family to graduate from college, from Santa Clara in 1948. He joined his brother Mort in the SF Police Department for several years, where he worked in the accident bureau and collected a lifetime of stories, many comical, as a member of the department. Tom graduated from Hastings College of the Law in 1953, and once he left the police department in the late 1950s he went into private law practice, ultimately becoming a name partner in two Oakland law firms, Berry, Davis & McInerney, and Haims, Johnson, MacGowan & McInerney. He was on the boards of the Northern California Defense Association and the Oakland Diocese School Board. Tom loved regaling family and friends with stories of San Francisco back in the day, including from his time as a Golden Gloves boxer for Spider Roach at the Olympic Club, selling newspapers on street corners, and escapades with friends at places such as the Philosopher’s Club and the Club Unique. There wasn’t a person he met, whether it was a waitress, priest, or fellow swimmer, whom he didn’t engage in a friendly conversation by asking where they went to high school. His children will always cherish his memory as a wonderful father who had a special knack for making each feel he or she was the most important person in the world. A Rosary will be held Monday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. at St. Perpetua in Lafayette, and a Memorial Service on Aug. 11 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Perpetua. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his honor to CTP (ctpberk.org) or St. Anne’s Home (stanne.com).
What’s your fondest memory of Thomas?
What’s a lesson you learned from Thomas?
Share a story where Thomas' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Thomas you’ll never forget.
How did Thomas make you smile?