Thomas J. Harkins, 75, of Leola, passed away on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at Lancaster General Hospital.

He was the husband of Phyllis M. DeNicola Harkins, with whom he celebrated 47 years of marriage this past November 17 ^th . Born in Brooklyn, NY, Tom was the son of the late James and Kathleen Kearney Harkins.

Tom had been a teacher at the Dawnwood Middle School in Suffolk County, New York for 22 years, where he taught English and Latin. He had been a member of the NY State Teachers Assn. He had also taught in Lancaster at St. Joseph's School, was the former principal at St. Leo's School, and taught Latin at St. Anne's School. Tom also taught at Lancaster Country Day School on a part-time basis.

Tom was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church, where he had served as a Eucharistic Minister. He was also a Third Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus.

He had attended the Salvatorian Seminary, was a 1959 graduate of Catholic University, and earned a Masters at Stony Brook University in Long Island.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Monica Anne Harkins-Cloonan, married to Brian Cloonan of Leola; his three grandchildren Sean Thomas, Caroline, and Elizabeth to whom he was very devoted, and his brother, Vincent Harkins of Ohio. He was preceded in death by his brothers, James and Alfred Harkins.

Friends will be received on Friday, June 11, 2010 from 6-8PM at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home and Chapel, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA. Family will again receive friends at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 601 E. Delp Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601 on Saturday, June 12 from 10-11AM, with the Mass to follow at 11AM. Interment will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Tom's memory to the Blessed John XXIII Parish Religious Education Fund in care of St. John Neumann Catholic Church, or to the Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary, 1834 Lititz Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601. To send an online condolence, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com