Obituary: Thomas J. Goldrick, 48th Sheriff of Rockland County

From the Rockland County Sheriff

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Thomas J. Goldrick, the 48th Sheriff of Rockland County, at the age of 93.

Sheriff Goldrick served as the Sheriff from 1982 to 1991 and led the Sheriff’s Office during the trials of the Brinks defendants, which had a significant impact on Rockland County. This occurred at a time when the Rockland County Jail had the dubious distinction of being identified as one of the top 50 most inadequate correctional facilities in the United States.

Other achievements during his tenure included the completion of a new Headquarters building for the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office and a new state of the art Correctional Facility. He was instrumental in obtaining numerous grants for new technology that assisted the law enforcement community in forensic investigations; he obtained funding for re-establishing the Sheriff’s Patrol Marine Unit; and funding for the transportation of prisoners to and from local courts. He relieved the overcrowding in the Rockland County Jail by initiating a community service program, releasing weekend prisoners with supervision to work outside of the jail in the community.

He was also affectionately known as the “Singing Sheriff, as he shared his voice at many local ceremonies and events.

Sheriff Goldrick had previously served for 22 years with the N.Y.P.D. in the 44 th Pct. as a Police Officer & Youth Officer. In September of 1968 he began his career as a professor in a newly developed program in Criminal Justice at Rockland Community College. The program began to grow and he became the Chairman of the Criminal Justice Department. In 1972 he started the Criminal Justice Educators Association in New York State and became involved in writing countless grants which were received through the Federal Government’s Law Enforcement Assistance Program (LEAP). He secured grants to help start the Rockland County Police Training Academy and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad.

Sheriff Goldrick received a Master of Arts from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

After serving 10 years as Sheriff, he was appointed in 1993 by Governor Mario Cuomo to the position of Commissioner at the New York State Commission of Correction, which oversees local and state correctional facilities, as well as police lock-ups. He reappointed in 1996 by Governor George Pataki and was instrumental in developing many new policies and procedures which were then utilized to help relieve the issue of prison overcrowding in New York State.

After his term expired at the Commission of Correction in 1999, he began to volunteer his service to the community as Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Board involved in the development of the New York State Sheriffs Victim Hotline, which monitors offenders in the New York County Correction system, the New York City Department of Correction and the New York State Department of Correctional Services. This service provides victims of violent crimes with an ability to obtain offender status information, either online or by telephone.

Sheriff Goldrick dedicated 55 years to public service and had four sons who all followed him into law enforcement careers, as well as two grand-sons currently serving with the NYPD.
On behalf of the women and men of the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office, we offer our deepest condolences to the Goldrick family as they prepare for the funeral services for this legend in law enforcement.

Various police officials and police agencies are expected to attend his funeral.

• Wake services will be held on Wednesday May 15th from 7pm to 9pm and Thursday May 16th from 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9pm at the Joseph Sorce Funeral Home, 728 W Nyack Rd, West Nyack, NY 10994
• Funeral Services will be held on Friday, May 17 at St. Catherine’s Church, 523 Western Highway, Blauvelt, N.Y. 10913
• Interment will follow at Rockland Cemetery, Kings Highway, Sparkill, New York.

From Joseph Sorce Funeral Home

Goldrick, Thomas Joseph, (1925-2019) of Blauvelt, NY passed away peacefully on May 11, 2019, surrounded by his family. Tom was born in New York City to Katherine Rooney and Patrick Goldrick and was raised on the East Side of Manhattan.

After graduating Cardinal Hayes High School, he joined the United States Army and fought on the front lines in WWII with the 5th Army in Europe during the Italian Campaign. Upon returning home, he became a New York City Police Officer and during that time attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice, eventually attaining a BA and MA in Criminal Justice.

After retiring from NYPD, Tom became Chairman of the Criminal Justice Department at Rockland Community College for 14 years. In 1982, he was elected Sheriff of Rockland County and served three terms. In 1993 he was appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo as a Commissioner of Corrections for New York State and reappointed in 1996 by Governor George Pataki.

Tom had a wonderful sense of humor and always had a joke to tell. He loved music and enjoyed singing, dancing and especially golf at Blue Hill Golf Course. He was dedicated to his wife, his children, his many friends, colleagues, and students. Tom will never be forgotten by all those who loved him.

Along with his wife, Mary of 59 years (pre-deceased), he was the devoted father of Thomas (Sandra) , Robert (Susan), Mary Patricia Ingrassia (Christopher), Christopher (Susan), and James (Dara). Grandpa to Kristen, Erin; Megan Finnegan (Dan), (Great-grand daughter Nora), Kaitlyn: Beth Ann Ingrassia-Laman (Robert), Christopher Ingrassia; Christopher, Sean, Kevin; Shannon, Brittany and Madison.

He is survived by his brother Michael McGoldrick (Barbara) as well as many nieces and nephews. He is pre-deceased by his brothers John and Eugene and his sister Maureen. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His memory will live on in our hearts.

A special thanks to United Hospice of Rockland and his longtime caregivers, Marcy, Liz, Bridie and his "Irish Gals".

Visiting hours will be on Wednesday May15th from 7pm to 9pm and Thursday May 16th from 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9pm at the Joseph W. Sorce Funeral Home, Inc. 728 West Nyack Road, West Nyack NY 10994 (845) 358-4433.

A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, May 17th at St. Catherine's Church, Western Highway, Blauvelt, New York 10913. Burial to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Kings Highway, Sparkill, New York 10976.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to United Hospice of Rockland 11 Stokum Lane, New City, New York 10956.