Obituary of Thomas Phelan

Thomas D. Phelan passed away unexpectedly at home on January 17, 2017. Tom was a kind, thoughtful and generous man. He taught courses in crisis communications, public information and outreach. His most recent research projects focused on digital/virtual group processes and concerns with literacy in public preparedness. He worked with FEMA, DMORT, and other international groups on emergency preparedness. At Hamilton, Tom taught courses as an adjunct, valued his interactions with students, and served as an evaluator for the annual drills conducted by the Hamilton Emergency Response Team. Ever the educator, Tom also served as a tutor for the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) at Hamilton. Recently, he enjoyed working with Utica College to assist in the development of a crisis management team. The recipient of a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz, a master's degree from SUNY Albany and an Ed.D. from Syracuse University, Tom earned a professional certificate in education from Harvard University. He was the author of Emergency Management and Tactical Response Operations: Bridging the Gap. Tom will be remembered for his warm personality, dedication to others, and his commitment to assist with the safety of our campus and the many other communities he served. He is survived by his wife, Catherine; his son Andrew Phelan and wife Kathy of Schoharie, NY; four grandchildren; a brother Robert Batson; two sisters, Carol Sue Swann and Shelby Jean Phelan; and many nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, January 20, 2017 at the Hamilton College Chapel in Clinton.