Thomas R. Driscoll

Thomas R Driscoll of Winter Park, Florida passed away peacefully at his home on November 2, 2025, at the age of 96 years. Tom is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 70 years, Bridie Maher Driscoll, his three children Jim (Sharon Murrel), Kevin, and Susan; his granddaughter Anne; and his sister Margie Axelson (Larry). Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph (1976) and Cecelia (1989), and by his siblings Ward, Don, Chuck, Alice Brown (Frank), and Marianne Kidd Van Maren (Albert). Tom was born on May 21, 1929, in Park Rapids, Minnesota. Tom grew up in a log home on Long Lake where he developed a lifelong love of the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, calling out to loons across the lake at night, and watching the northern lights dance across the sky. During his youth, the Driscoll family owned and operated Driscoll’s Café on Main Street in downtown Park Rapids. The café also served as the bus depot and had a taxi stand out front. Tom began working there at a young age alongside his siblings and later drove a taxi after he earned his driver’s license. Navigating the rural network of unpaved roads, he developed an exceptional sense of direction that stayed with him throughout his life. After graduating from high school, a chance friendship with the local airport manager opened the door to a lifelong fascination with aviation. He began taking flying lessons and eventually purchased a small single-engine airplane that required repairs. With guidance from the airport’s technician, he repaired the airplane himself, and once the plane was recertified, he enjoyed countless flights across Minnesota. Outfitted with skis for landing gear, his plane could land on snow and frozen lakes, allowing him to park it right on the shoreline of Long Lake in front of the family home. Tom’s passion for airplanes inspired his future career as an aeronautical and aerospace engineer. A few years after high school, he moved to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering. While living in Denver, he met Bridie Maher at a church event. They were married in 1956 at St John’s Cathedral in Downtown Denver. By 1964, they had three children—Jim, Kevin, and Susan. In 1968, Tom and Bridie moved the family to Winter Park, Florida, where they purchased their “forever home.” Tom continued his engineering career at Martin Marietta Corporation (now Lockheed Martin) in Orlando. His expertise in aerodynamics, flight guidance, and computer simulation contributed to several advanced missile development programs. However, Tom was first and foremost a family man. His greatest joy was spending time with his wife and three children. He created countless happy memories—taking the kids for donuts after church, organizing camping trips at the beach, building a treehouse in the backyard, and canoeing down Florida’s peaceful rivers. In the 1970’s, he planned multiple cross-country road trips to visit relatives in Wisconsin and northern Minnesota, including one over the Christmas holidays—a 3,500 mile round trip from Florida. Throughout the years, he continued to support his children’s activities, and introduced them to some of his own hobbies, including canoeing, beekeeping, fishing, and camping. In his children’s teenage years, he volunteered as a Scoutmaster and served as a mentor with Junior Achievement. After retiring in 1991, Tom and Bridie explored North America by car. They traveled to all four corners of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, and ventured into Canada for several long excursions. When the weather was good, Tom especially liked fishing in Mosquito Lagoon near the Kennedy Space Center, returning home with vivid stories of his trip—and of the dolphins, manatees, alligators, and the “fish that got away.” Tom will be remembered for his kindness, curiosity, humility, and devotion to his family—a man whose steady guidance and quiet strength enriched the lives he touched. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11a.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 526 Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL. A reception will follow.

Thomas R. Driscoll

May 21, 1929 - November 2, 2025