Thomas Alden McGrath, 79, of San Rafael, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on December 2nd 2016. He was born in San Francisco on November 16, 1937. Tom graduated from St. Ignatious High School and received a Masters Degree in Counseling and a teaching credential from SF State University. After serving in the Navy for two years, he met his wife, Maureen (Bunny), on a summer night at Hoberg's dance hall in Lake County in 1961, and they married on February 16th 1963. Tom worked for the San Francisco Fire Department for a year and was a San Francisco Police Officer for over thirty years holding various positions on the motorcycles, as a Sergeant in the Taravel district, and as an inspector in the Juvenile Bureau. Post SFPD, he worked as a U.S. Federal Marshall in S.F. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Sarah, and his brothers, George and Bill. He is survived by his loving wife, Bunny, and was a hero to his four children, Molly (Rob) Larratt, Colleen McGrath, Tommy (Sue LeBlanc), and Danny McGrath, and his adoring grandchildren: Kerry and Jack Larratt, Kevin and Dan Deely, Isabelle, Mia, and Liliana McGrath and many cherished nieces and nephews. Tom's favorite childhood memories included playing baseball with his brothers and friends at Candlestick Cove and roaming the mountainside. He spent many joyous summers with family and friends at Pine Grove Resort on Cobb Mtn. His imagination created the world of "Blue Belly Heaven" on the Kelsey Creek where he'd take children to explore nature and have wilderness adventures. Tom loved children, chess, singing, music, dogs, handball, kayaking in the S.F. bay, and the outdoors. He hiked the trails of Marin including Mt. Tam and Blackstone Canyon and fished at Kirby Cove. He was a role model to so many and will be deeply missed by his family and friends for his many stories, his sense of humor, his commitment to his faith, and his love of family. A memorial mass and a celebration of his life will be held at 11am on December 19th at St. Vincent's Church in Marinwood, with a reception to follow at the same location. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Continuum Care Hospice Foundation 7677 Oakport St., Suite 110 Oakland CA 94621.
Published in San Francisco Chronicle on Dec. 11, 2016 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.a...