Obituary of Thomas Michael Kinsella

Thomas Michael Kinsella, 73, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on October 9, 2019, in Colorado Springs, at his apartment complex, having just returned from town.Tom, whose background was Irish, was born September 22, 1946, in Kings Park, New York, to the late Thomas C. and Eileen (nee Hickey) Kinsella. He leaves a brother, Timothy; a sister, Kathleen; and a son, Kevin Thomas, of Peabody, Massachusetts. Tom graduated from Kings Park High School, where he excelled both academically and athletically. Very well-liked, he was voted by his classmates "the most likely to succeed."Though he was accepted to Dartmouth College in Hanover, Massachusetts, Tom chose the University of Massachusetts, where he spent two years. As the older Kinsella son, he had always thought it was his duty to serve his country, like both his parents had in World War II. However, this was the generation of the Vietnam, which for many Americans was an unwanted and unpopular war. In the fall of 1967, he enlisted as a PFC in the 8th Marine Corps, 2nd Division. He was discharged two years, eight months, and ten days later at the rank of Lance Corporal. He was awarded four medals: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, and The Purple Heart. Soon after returning from the war, Tom married his Kings Park sweetheart, Christine, and, with the GI Bill, re-enrolled in college, this time at New York University in Buffalo. He chose philosophy as his major and planned on graduating in two years. What he had not planned on were deep, unseen battlefield wounds, which would later be called PTSD.What had once been a promising future for Tom, now was nipped in the bud, never to bloom to its potential. Colorado Springs became his permanent home in 1990 and he became an avid mountain hiker. Being part of nature gave him great peace, where he observed even the smallest things, like a sunlit beauty of spider web just after a rain, or an amazing hummingbird hovering close-by. He could even feed deer by hand. Tom found pleasure, too, in music, childrens laughter, books (reading at least one novel week), cooking gourmet dinners or ordering pancakes and bacon for breakfast (always). He worked in construction, and his favorite job was helping build Fountain Creek Park. Tom is now home with his God, his mother and father, his beloved aunts, and all his fallen comrades-in-arms whom he served next to. He is hiking this time in the Fields of the Lord with a white Labrador by his side, named Mica. He is hiking at last free of the debilitating memories of Vietnam. He is survived by his son, Kevin; his former wife and the mother of Kevin, Christine Biscardi; a sister and brother; many nieces and nephews; Jo Higginbotham, a longtime loyal friend; and Desiree Mombleau, his neighbor and newest friend. Graveside Service 3:00PM, Friday, November 1, 2019, Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10545 Drennan Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80925. Members of the Marine Corps will be present to honor their fellow veteran, patriot and brother-in-arms. Reverend Stephen Handon of The Mesa House will officiate.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Pikes Peak Humane Society, 610 Abbott Lane Colorado Springs, Colorado 80905, or Service Dogs of Distinction (aiding veterans suffering from PTSD), at P.O. Box 73, Mount Vernon, Arkansas 72111. Events Graveside Friday, November 1, 2019 3:00PM Pikes Peak National Cemetery 10545 Drennan Road Colorado Springs, CO 80925 Phone: 202-632-8035