Mr. Thomas Jennings Kane of Winston-Salem died Nov. 14, 2006, at Forsyth Medical Center, with his loving wife, Patricia Moerman Kane, at his side. Born in Scranton, Pa., to Helen O'Hora Kane and Joseph M. Kane, he moved to Winston-Salem in 1952 with his widowed mother and his only brother, Richard Joseph Kane, who died merely a month before him. He had the good fortune of being introduced to his wife, Patricia, whom he married in 1975, and they enjoyed a 31-year honeymoon, as he was a tender, loving and dedicated husband. He often told friends, "Marrying Pat was the best thing I ever did" and anyone listening knew he meant it. Mr. Kane was president of Lakeside Insurance Agency for more than 25 years. He was a great judge of character and, unmindful of racial divides, long served both the African American and white communities in the city. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sister-in-law, Mary McGarry Kane, who grew up with him and his brother in Scranton, Pa. Also surviving are his niece and nephews, who loved him as a second father. They and their spouses include Mary Elizabeth Kyle and William Kyle of Snellville, Ga., Richard J. Kane Jr. and Deborah Wheeler Kane of Troutville, Va., Thomas J. Kane (his namesake) and Karen Grace Gray of West Newton, Mass., Patrick J. Kane and Jane Moury Kane of Winston-Salem, and Brian J. Kane and Kathleen Stack Kane of Baltimore, Md. He will be fondly remembered by his 13 grandnieces and nephews, Kelly, Jack and Sarah Kyle of Georgia, Kathleen and R. Joseph Kane of Virginia, August and Thomas Finnian Kane (another namesake) of Massachusetts, P. Boggan, Kendall, Mary Carolyn and Daniel Jennings Kane of Winston-Salem, and Rory and Cecelia Jennings Kane of Maryland. He was a passionate supporter of the University of Notre Dame, serving on the board of directors of the Notre Dame Club of Central North Carolina for 18 years. He and his wife contributed to its scholarship fund, and their shared passion inspired many (including one of their nephews) to attend the university named for Our Lady. Mr. Kane attended the University of Scranton and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He was a devoted member of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Winston-Salem for 54 years. Parishioners will remember him as the well-dressed gentleman escorting them to their pews every Sunday morning at the 9 a.m. Mass. He was a dapper Irish man. He will be dearly missed by his family and the Notre Dame community, which he loved. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 18, at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church. The family will receive visitors at the Bishop Begley Parrish Center afterward. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 336 Springdale Ave., Winston-Salem, NC 27104; or the University of Notre Dame Development Office, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, Ind., 46556. (The latter should be sent in memory of Thomas J. Kane.)

Winston-Salem Journal (NC) - Friday, November 17, 2006