Thomas Darrah

Thomas (Tommy) John Darrah, 59, died peacefully on March 28, 2013, in Bloomingdale, NY, at his family’s homestead, surrounded by his loving family, after fighting a brave battle against cancer.

Tommy, the third of eight children, was born in Saranac Lake, NY, to Belva Jean (Farmer) Darrah and the late Ralph Leonard Darrah. He attended elementary school at St. Bernard’s Catholic School and after the family moved to Bloomingdale, NY, in 1966, he attended school in the Saranac Lake Central School District. He resided briefly in Milford Connecticut, and then enlisted in the United States Army. After his military service, he returned to Bloomingdale, where he was employed at Hoyt’s Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth in Saranac Lake, as an autobody repairman. In 1972, he met his first wife, Barbara Jean (Callaghan) and they were married on September 1, 1973. They resided in Poughkeepsie, NY, where he worked for Paintmaster Autobody. In 1974, they returned to Bloomingdale, NY, where Tom was employed by Charles Hinds Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, in Ray Brook. In October 1975, Tommy and his brother, Wayne, opened Darrah’s Body Shop, located on Main St., in Bloomingdale, NY. The brothers were third generation autobody repairmen, having learned the trade from their father, Ralph (Teet) Darrah and grandfather, Wayne P. Darrah. The business succeeded quickly and with continued growth, they then leased the autobody repair shop located behind Davy Chevrolet, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Ray Brook, then moved the business to Wes Valley Road, Lake Placid, and finally purchased property in Lake Placid, which is currently Darrah and Darrah Autobody Repair at the bottom of Mill Hill.

Tommy took great interest in creative cooking and was a self-taught chef for several years. In 1990,

he purchased and ran the Steakside Restaurant in Bloomingdale. Tommy married his second wife, Jeannie L.(Gillespie) Darrah on December 17, 1995. Tom and Jeannie ran the Steakside Restaurant in Bloomingdale and the Raindancer Restaurant in Saranac Lake throughout the 1990's.

One of Tommy’s greatest accomplishments occurred on May 21, 1982, at 2:31 a.m., when en route to the hospital, he delivered his third son, Benjamin Sean, who was born in the car on Trudeau Road. Tom also enjoyed camping, making spaghetti sauce, canning pickles, food shopping, gardening, diagnosing, fixing, programming and building computers, playing practical jokes, bartending at LaBella’s restaurant, going to church with his brother, Stuart, chatting with friends, of which there were many, watching television, and helping anyone who needed anything, including giving the shirt off his back.

Survivors include his wife of 17 years, Jeannie L. Darrah, Saranac Lake, his previous wife of 19 years, Barbara J. Darrah, Bloomingdale, their four sons, Daniel T. Darrah and his wife, Kirsten, Peru, NY, Matthew B. Darrah, Bloomingdale, Benjamin S. Darrah, Kennebunk, ME, and Thomas J. Darrah, Jr., Bloomingdale, and grandchildren, Cole G. Darrah, Alysa P. Darrah, and Bryce D. Darrah, his mother, Belva Jean Darrah, Bloomingdale, six brothers, Wayne A. Darrah and his wife, Brenda, Bloomingdale, David R. Darrah and partner, Gail Lozier, Plattsburgh, Scott D. Darrah and partner, Donna Sayles, Saranac Lake, Stuart J. Darrah and his and wife, Tracy, Bloomingdale, Ronald P. Darrah and his wife, Mia, Bloomingdale, and one sister, Marianne T. Ahern, and her husband, James, Saranac, mother-in-law, Marie Tiblis, Lake Placid, sister-in-laws, Sandra M. Cimbrec, and her husband, John, Plattsburgh, Carol A. Eldridge, and her husband, William "Sarge", Bloomingdale, and brother-in law, Joseph C. Patnode and his partner, Jessie Thayer, Lake Placid, close family member, Rocky (Linda) Cimbrec, Pennsylvania, and several dear nieces, nephews and cousins, and his cat, Simba.

Tommy was predeceased by his father, Ralph L.Darrah in 1984, and one sister, Susan Lynn Darrah, in 1961.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, April 1, from 2:00-4:00 pm and 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Fortune-Keough Funeral Home, 20 Church St., Saranac Lake, NY. A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, April 2, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church, Bloomingdale, with Father Bill Muench officiating.

Those wishing to remember Tom Darrah may make donations in his memory to High Peaks Hospice. Family and friends are also encouraged to sign the online guest book (www.fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com) expressing their condolences or sharing their most memorable recollection about Tom.