RIT mourns Trustee Emeritus Thomas McDermott

RIT Community,

Thomas C. McDermott, a businessman and compassionate family man who was elected to RIT’s Board of Trustees in 1986, died peacefully in his Pittsford, N.Y. home on Dec. 7. He was 89.

Mr. McDermott held leadership positions as president and COO of Bausch and Lomb, and chairman, CEO and president of Gould Pumps.

He was a veteran, serving in the Army from 1958 to 1962 as a 1st lieutenant, earning an Army Commendation Medal as well as badges as an expert infantryman and parachutist. After the Army, Mr. McDermott continued to serve his country as a Special Agent in the FBI.

He was elected to emeritus status to the RIT Board of Trustees in 2006.

In his spare time, Mr. McDermott enjoyed spending time with his family, visiting Cape Cod and cheering for the Red Sox.

The RIT flag will be lowered in his memory on Dec. 19.

Mr. McDermott is predeceased by his first wife, Gloria “Bunny” McDermott, and his sister, Dorothea Warren. He is survived by his wife, Judy; sons Tom, Mark, Jim, and Andy McDermott; 13 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and 3 step-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Dec. 19 at Anthony Funeral Home, 2305 Monroe Ave., in Rochester. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 20 at St. Thomas More Church, 2617 East Ave. Rochester. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lollypop Farm Humane Society.