ORMOC CITY, Philippines — Thomas J. Mullen, 58, of Ormoc City, Philippines passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 13, from heart failure. He was the husband of Joanne Ycoy-Pelostratos Mullen.
Tom was born May 2, 1953 in Waterbury, son of Joseph Mullen and Lillian (Bednarek) Sylvia. He was raised in Naugatuck attending borough grammar schools and graduating from Naugatuck High School in 1971.
He played the trombone for the Hillside school band, played baseball for the Peter J. Foley Little League, was a newspaper carrier for the Naugatuck Daily News and an altar boy for St. Mary’s Church in Union City.
Upon graduating Naugatuck High School he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and retired after 23 years of service in 1996. He was stationed in South Korea, Germany, and Japan during his years of service and settled in California after his retirement from the Air Force.
He worked for the California Correctional System and retired in April 2011 prior to moving to Ormoc City, Philippines. He is remembered as quiet and kind with a deep love for his family.
Tom was a man of integrity, speaking softly with humility. His proudest moments were the births of his children.
In addition his wife Joanne he is survived by his mother, Lillian Sylvia of Waterbury; his father, Joseph Mullen of Arizona, his sister, JoAnn Morse and her husband Ken of Waterbury; his sister, Judy Cox and her husband Phil of South Carolina; half-sisters, Kathleen Mullen of Naugatuck and Shelia Linsky of Plymouth; half-brothers, Gary Mullen of Florida and Sean Mullen of Waterbury.
He is also survived by his children, Dathan Mullen of Missouri; Dustin Mullen of Kansas; Thomas Mullen of Kansas; Erik Mullen of California, and Jace Mullen of Ormoc City, Philippines; a granddaughter, three grandsons, several nieces and nephews.
His funeral was held on Sept.16, in Ormoc City, Philippines. He will be missed greatly by his family and friends.
