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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jan '97
Thomas Vincent Hirschberg
No. 16090 Class of 1946
Died 9 December 1995 at Rye Brook, New York, aged 71 years. Interment:
Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, New York.
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Tom Hirschberg was born 31 August 1924 in the Riverdale
section of the Bronx, New York City. He grew up in the city,
attended high school at All Hallows Institute and after graduation
attended Manhattan College. In 1943, he obtained his coveted
appointment to West Point and joined the Class of 1946 on the
banks of the Hudson on 1 July of that year.
Cadet life was relatively uneventful for Tom. He
had no problem with the Tactical Department and managed to satisfy
the Academic Department with lots of hard work. One of his roommates,
Joe Lusk wrote: "Since Tom came from New York City he told
me he would have no trouble providing blind dates for me. He
was right! In the spring of plebe year, Tom made arrangements
for my last blind date. This was exceptional as the blind date
became my wife when we graduated. Thanks to Tom we will celebrate
our 50th anniversary this year." As was to be his practice
all of his life, Tom was very active in the Catholic Chapel and
served as an acolyte all during his cadet years. Tom graduated
as a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps.
Following basic branch schooling, Tom was assigned
to Japan and served as a platoon leader in the Honor Guard Company
for General Mac Arthur. When the Korean War erupted, Tom became
Aide de Camp to General Ryan, KMAG, where he earned the Bronze
Star Medal. From Korea, Tom traveled to Williamsburg, Virginia
as an Assistant, PMS&T, William and Mary College. Tom opted
to leave the Army in 1953 to try his hand in civilian life.
Tom joined the Sperry Gyroscope Company as an engineer
at its Long Island location. His leadership qualities and great
potential for the future were soon recognized and in 1957 he
was moved to Clearwater, Florida to take control of a new plant
for Sperry. In 1959, Tom was called back to New York at Sperry's
Great Neck office where he became personnel manager. In 1967,
again recognizing Tom's outstanding abilities and potential for
bigger and better things, Sperry called him to their New York
Headquarters to serve first as Vice President of Insurance and
then as Corporate Vice President of Finance. In 1973, Tom married
Nancy Keefe on 6 October in Milton, Massachusetts. His final
position at Sperry was Vice President, Finance and Chairman of
Sperry Capital Management Corporation. . Tom and Nancy's interests
outside of business were travel, tennis and boating and both
were active in community activities in the Westchester, New York
area. Tom retired from Sperry in 1987 after thirty four years
with the firm.
After retirement, Tom and Nancy bought a home in
Naples, Florida and became Florida residents. For the next seven
winters, from November 1987 to May 1994, they enjoyed all the
amenities of the Sunshine State. In 1994, the Hirschbergs decided
they wanted to do other things so they sold their home in Florida
and returned to New York once again. At that time, Tom was suffering
from prostate cancer once again. He never complained; he was
a "trooper" to the end and finally succumbed on 9 December
1995. He is survived by his wife, Nancy and his brother, John.
Tom Hirschberg was a true West Pointer. He loved
West Point and was proud to be a graduate and a member of the
Class of 1946. He exemplified the ideals of Duty, Honor, Country.
They were not just words to him. They represented a credo by
which his every action was governed. He applied them in his most
successful career at Sperry Corporation. He was recognized by
his associates at Sperry and his friends for his integrity and
the respect he commanded from all who came in contact with him.
He was honest, straightforward and ethical. Tom never did anything
halfway; he felt a job worth doing was worth doing well. He applied
this philosophy to all aspects of his life. He is remembered
by all who knew him as a "true gentleman and a fine person."
His roommate, Joe Lusk wrote: "Tom was a very
good man and we will miss him."
Tom was a modest man, but he would be pleased to
know that the Class of 1946 joins his loving wife and friends
in proudly declaring: "Well Done, Tom; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife, Nancy
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