Thomas W. Mullen Jr., 90, of Rye, passed away on August 1, 2025. He was born in Greenport, N.Y., on August 20, 1934 to Thomas and Grace Mullen and raised in West Hempstead, N.Y.
Tom attended Chaminade High School and, upon graduation, earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Villanova University, where he was an honor student and active in student government.
Tom was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy in July 1957. He served aboard the USS Wasp, an anti-submarine aircraft carrier, until May 1960. While aboard the Wasp, he enjoyed coaching the ship’s basketball team.
After his service, Tom joined NY Telephone Company, where he developed a strong proficiency in running labor-intensive operations. At the conclusion of his career, the Bell System had broken up, and he acquired significant responsibilities during the resolution of numerous intensely difficult intra-company disputes.
A lover of classical music, Tom had the privilege of sitting on the board of the Westchester Philharmonic for five years. He was also an accomplished piano player with a repertoire focused on “The Great American Songbook.”
Rye became Tom’s new home in June 1975, and he was the inaugural president of the Blind Brook co-op. He subsequently served an additional five presidencies over the years.
Tom is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Michael; his son, Peter Devine Mullen; daughter-in-law, Tatiana Gonzalez Mullen; three grandchildren, Ian, Kevin, and Sophia Mullen; stepdaughter, Elise Folk, and her husband, Watson Folk; and two step-grandchildren, Michael and Ann Marie Folk.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 15 at Resurrection Church in Rye.
