Obituary of Thomas J. Kiczula, Jr.
Thomas J. Kiczula, Jr., 36, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at home in New Windsor, NY.
Born in New Brunswick, Tom is a lifelong resident of South Plainfield.
He played recreation and travel baseball with SPJBC, as well as with South Plainfield High School. A 2005 graduate of South Plainfield High School, Tom was a proud member of the National Honor Society and a drummer in the marching, concert and jazz bands. After graduation, he went on to Susquehanna University, graduating in 2009 where he was President of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. Tom had a love for creative writing, winning several awards during his high school and college tenure. He later received his Master’s Degree from the University of New Orleans, where he served as a T.A. While there, he fell in love with the NOLA atmosphere and The Saints.
Throughout Tom’s life, he worked in the restaurant industry where he thrived. From his high school days with Applebee’s, to his opening of the Flagship DatDog on Frenchmen Street, and working at the famous Drago’s in the New Orleans Hilton, to his career with LongHorn Steakhouse as manager of their Newburgh, NY location, which became the number 1 restaurant in the region. He will be forever remembered as a kind and loving soul with a perfect sense of humor.
Tom had a love for all genres of music from Symphony, and Jazz, to Heavy Metal and sports: Yankees, Devils, Saints and Vikings. He was an avid reader and writer, proud of his large collection of fiction books.
Surviving are his parents, Thomas and Victoria (Powers) Kiczula; aunts and uncles, Kathy Terzian, Patricia Powers, Mary Scimone and husband Joseph, Jeannette Everett, Bud Hutchison and wife Dawn and Diane Wargo. He is predeceased by his grandparents and his uncle; Richard Terzian and George Everett.
He will also be missed by his cousins, David Terzian and wife Rana, Katie Terzian, Andrew Powers and wife Vicky, Kim Powers, Kelly Powers, Joseph Scimone, Michael Scimone, Ryan Hutchison and wife Carly, Sean Hutchison and Lauren Hutchison.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 30, 2023 at 9am in the McCriskin – Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080 followed by a funeral mass in Sacred Heart RC Church at 10am.
Burial will follow in Holy Redeemer Cemetery, South Plainfield.
Family and friends may gather in the funeral home on Sunday, October 29, 2023 from 3-6pm.