Page created by: Ellie Raftery

After a 7 year battle, the Raftery family is sad to announce that Thomas (Tom) Raftery has lost his fight with Parkinson's. While Tom approached each day with a positive attitude and sense of optimism, he was finally forced to succumb to the disease on December 14, 2023, at the age of 71.

Along the entire journey, Tom had amazing support from his wife Ellie, his children Mike and Chris, and an entire community of devoted family and friends. His courage in defeating leukemia and undergoing a bone marrow transplant during the fight with Parkinson's was a testament to his tenacity and his unwillingness to give up. While Tom may have been dealt a tough hand, he never complained about his situation and always did the most he could towards living a full life with an attitude driven by passion and care for others.

Throughout treatment Tom insisted on continuing to travel to his favorite places, namely Hilton Head Island and Walt Disney World, and enjoy his life with his loved ones along the way. Tom prioritized spending time with friends and family as much as possible during retirement. His laughter, his unfailing selflessness, his determined spirit and his kind heart will be missed every day by those who were close to him.

Tom's family has established this memorial page to honor his memory and work towards finding a cure, ensuring that a day will come where none will have to suffer from this disease.