Thomas Mulvihill June 29, 1926 - November 9, 2023

Thomas Oliver Mulvihill, Sr.

Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, Pop passed away peacefully at the age of ninety-seven at his home on Thursday, November 9, 2023.  His profound love of Family and Faith inspired himevery day and sustained him through the remarkable and long life we are so grateful to have shared.

Beloved Husband of forty-eight years to the late Nancy Josephine Mulvihill (nee Jackes).  Dear Father of Stanley T. Mulvihill (Emily), Becky Mulvihill McKenna (Ken), Jennifer Mulvihill Kersting (Jack), C. Campbell Mulvihill (Janie) and Deacon Thomas O. Mulvihill, Jr. (Molly). He was preceded in death by his dear second wife, Delphine Mulvihill (nee King).

Loving Grandfather to eighteen: John Kersting (Angela), Kate McKenna (Peter Benziger), Augie Kersting (Branka), Maggie McKenna (JoeyAdamji), Andrew Kersting (Mayra Bravo), the late Oliver Mulvihill, Erin McKenna Sutherlin (Teron), Margaret Mulvihill Egan (Patrick), Luke Kersting (Lianna), vonBrecht Mulvihill (Ellyn), Peter Kersting (Toni), Patrick Mulvihill (Anna), Deacon Anthony Kersting, Lucy Mulvihill (Ben Schweiss), Isabel Mulvihill, Brother Basil (Noah) Kersting, FHS, Ian Mulvihill and Mary Kersting.

Cherished Great-Grandfather to twenty-one: Lucia Kersting, Kolbe Kersting, Blaise Kersting, Clement Kersting, Teddy Egan, Leonie Kersting, Amina Adamji, Frances Egan, Ambrose Kersting, Joseph Kersting, Olivia Kersting, Memphis Sutherlin, Francesca Kersting, Elizabeth Kersting, Naima Adamji, Jack Egan, Henry Kersting, Lennox Sutherlin, Agustin Kersting, Kashi Kersting and Ollie Mulvihill.

Devoted son-in-law to the late Stanley and Josephine Jackes (nee Murphy), brother-in-law to the late Josephine Jackes Ross (John), and dear uncle to John Ross, Jr. (Nancy), Laura Ross Greiner (Bruce), Jeffrey Ross (Melissa) and Margaret Ross McDonough (Tim).

Tom was born on June 29, 1926 to the late Thomas E. and Eleanor (nee vonBrecht) Mulvihill.  A Son never loved a Mother more, nor she him.  He was a devoted grandson to Charles E. and Bertha (nee Stolle) vonBrecht, and beloved nephew to Betty and Joe Mitchell, Chick and Gert vonBrecht, and “Pete” and Don Heuchan.  The extended family delighted in summers spent on Lakeshore Drive in Douglas, picnics at The Quarry and, later, Sunday cocktails on Forsyth.  Tom attended elementary school at Our Lady of Lourdes, followed by Saint Louis University High School and St. Louis University.  Upon graduation from college in 1948, he sought to combine his love of illustration with marketing, eventually bringing his talent for innovation to the former Jackes-Evans Manufacturing Company as Vice President for many years.  He was a cherished Board member of the Casper Stolle Quarry & Contracting Company for over five decades, and he cheerfully served to promote other community and social endeavors.  His contemporaries admired his intellect, his creativity, and, especially, his sense of humor.

On a summer evening in 1952, he arrived at the Jackes’ Ruhl Lane Farm for a blind date with Nancy…and he never looked back. Married in 1954, their growing family took Nancy and Tom from Manhasset Village to Carswold Drive (twice), Hampton Park and eventually Lindworth.  Interspersed among the years for them was travel to exotic spots across the globe, or longer sojourns at the Harbor Club and Carlton House.  The family excursions and retreats also created many vivid memories and above all – the deep bonds among us.  The venues were varied: Tippe Canoe Club, Sugar Tree Club, the Winfield Farm, Carlyle Lake and, more recently, Seven Springs Farm.  He delighted in the meticulously planned surprise “Mystery Trips” to remarkable (and occasionally odd) locations.  Vacations were orchestrated to the last detail, perhaps most spectacularly over the three-week, 5,849-mile trip “out West” in 1969 in a motorhome for all seven (with a pup tent for overflow).  On his fortieth birthday, he decided to master his sailing skills, eventually completing the U.S. Coast Guard’s demanding navigation courses; the rewards were bareboat charter sailing memories for family and friends.

Tom preferred to teach by example… how to be a good husband, father, grandfather, friend, business executive… and Child of God.  Pop was a daily Communicant for most of his 97 years, at Lourdes, Saint Joseph, Little Flower, Annunziata and the Carmel of Saint Joseph (Carmelite Monastery), where he was a member of the Legion of One Thousand Men.  He looked forward to his annual visits to the bluffs of the Mississippi for the White House Retreat, and reconnecting with his Jesuit roots.  Even when he was infirmed, he welcomed Holy Communion nearly every day, fervently praying, “Give to Thy child to feel at least some little sweetness in receiving Thee, that tasting of the heavenly Manna my faith may grow stronger, my hope become firmer, and my love ever more inflamed.”

Tom’s lifelong passion for his illustrative art was a gift-beyond-the-frame to many, often celebrating the life of a family member or close friend, and extending to Saints, Popes, priests, presidents and sports figures.  As a teenager, he found his style and refined his skills, completing literally hundreds of works over his lifetime.  (He once even obliged the request of a Schnucks cashier to draw her grandchildren.)  Admired for their quality, these portraits are especially appreciated for the loving manner he gave them.

The family would like to thank Pop’s dedicated caregiving staff –Maria, Sherry, Genesis and Ruth— for the love and support that you provided him in his final years.

Services: Visitation and Funeral Mass to be held Saturday, November 25, 2023 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 7148 Forsyth Boulevard 63105.  Visitation at 1:00 p.m., with Mass to follow at 2:00 p.m.  Interment immediately following at Calvary Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Birthright Counseling of Saint Louis (2525 South Brentwood Boulevard, Saint Louis, Missouri 63144) or Carmel of Saint Joseph/Carmelite Monastery (9150 Clayton Road, Saint Louis, Missouri 63124).