Thomas P. "Tommy" Kiffer

Mr. Thomas P. “Tommy” Kiffer, age 38, formerly of Rome and more recently a resident of West Palm Beach, Florida, passed away on Thursday, August 10, 2006, in Florida, as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on January 30, 1968, Tommy was the son of the late Thomas George and Nancy Elaine (Kirschner) Kiffer. He was raised and educated in Rome, NY and attended Rome Free Academy. He and his partner John Llewellyn recently celebrated 12 years of their life together, a life of completeness and love. They were soul mates. For many years, Tommy was employed as a dental office manager in New Haven, CT and subsequently in West Palm Beach, FL. He was an inventive jokester with a dynamic and spontaneous personality. As a fervid family man and friend, he was a source of support for all those dear to him. He appreciated the goodness in people, accepted their faults, made them feel loved, and bore their griefs on his broad shoulders when needed. He enjoyed dinner and conversation with friends and family, and spent time biking, hiking, and boating in Connecticut. He also took great pleasure in traveling and was looking forward to a trip to Ireland. These were the finer things in life that Tommy loved. While growing up, Tommy was a parishioner of St. Mary's Church in Rome. Left to mourn Tommy’s passing are his partner, John; his sister and brother-in-law, Kirsten and Anthony Marino of Utica; and his brother, Eric C. Kiffer of Rome. His extended family includes his nieces Frangelia Marino, who was also his Godchild, and Dia and Andrea Marino; his aunts, Brenda Kiffer of Long Island, and Carol Ward of Jacksonville, FL; his cousins, Jennifer Kiffer of Manhattan, Claudine Dugan of Long Island, and Martha Eadie of Chicago. He also leaves his second family, who treated him as their own, including Fran and Anthony Marino, Cynthia Marino, Mary Jo DeBiase, Frank, Jimmy, and Joey and Danielle Marino, Melissa and Robbie DeBiase, and Julianna Clemente, Jessica Llewellyn, and Melissa Marriot, and members of the Llewellyn family. Surviving Tommy are many dear and cherished friends, especially acknowledging Naomi Oshel, whom he loved as a sister; and David Piccola, a second brother and childhood friend, Ted Caldwell, a dear friend in Fl; also, all his everlasting friends from New Haven, CT who meant so much to him. He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Felix and Margaret Kiffer and his maternal grandparents, Madelyn and Paul Kirschner; and numerous aunts and uncles. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 5-8 at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave. For those wishing to do so, please consider memorial contributions in Tommy’s honor to the American Heart Association, or the Seigenthaler Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc.; envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Tommy's Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated on Thursday morning at 10:00 at St. Mary’s Church in Rome. Interment will take place in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Thomas P. "Tommy" Kiffer

January 30, 1968 - August 10, 2006