Thomas C. Power, beloved husband, father and grandfather

OLEAN — Thomas C. Power, of Olean, passed away Monday (April 27, 2026) at his home, surrounded by his family.

Thomas was born Dec. 9, 1943, at St. Clare’s Hospital in New York. His twin brother, Joseph Anthony, died shortly after birth. He was the son of the late Dr. William T. and Dr. Helen C. Redmond Power.

He grew up in Baldwin, Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J., and in Angelica. He moved to the Olean area in the late 1960s.

He was a member of the inaugural class at Archbishop Walsh High School in 1961. He earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from St. Bonaventure University in 1965 and a master’s degree from Alfred University.

On Nov. 25, 1972, he married Mary Anne Wright at St. Patrick’s Church in Salamanca, who survives.

Their sons, Thomas C. (Kimberly Dunning) Power and Patrick J. Power, both reside in Olean. Thomas and Kimberly reside with their son Benjamin and daughter Eloise.

Thomas worked in the environmental health division of the Cattaraugus County Health Department as a senior sanitarian. He was a founding member of the Cattaraugus County Credit Union and served in various offices in the supervisory unit and on both the Mosquito Control Board and the Fleet Committee. He retired in 2000 after 35 years.

After retirement, he taught a semester of earth science at Archbishop Walsh. He also served as president of the Archbishop Walsh School Board and provided interim coverage in the principal and business manager roles.

In the community, he belonged to St. John the Evangelist Church for 58 years, volunteering at the Festa Italiana for many years, and helped with counting the collections. He was a long-time member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, a board member at St. Vincent de Paul and a past trustee of the Olean Public Library. He also volunteered for many years with the Olean Soccer Club.

Thomas also had interests including archeology, photography, music, housing repairs, technology and the wilderness of Alaska.

Surviving besides his wife, children, daughter-in-law and grandchildren, are his sisters-in-law, Margaret Weinholtz, Sharon (Arthur) Smith and Linda Rychcik; many nieces and nephews and their children, including Bryan McElwain and daughter Amelia, Kimberly Wright and son Aaron, Karen Wright, Daniel (Becky) Smith and daughter Rachel Kent, Shawn (Trisha) Rychcik and sons Ajay and Drew, Jennifer (Jack) Widger and daughter Anna, Robert (Jeanne) Fisher, and William (Dr. Rachna) Fisher and children Zara and Dylan.

He was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Helen Mary McElwain and her husband James; and brothers-in-law, Donald Weinholtz and William Wright.

There will be no visitation hours. Friends are welcome to a requiem mass to be held at 10 a.m. Friday (May 1, 2026) at St. John the Evangelist on North Union Street in Olean. Burial will follow in St. Bonaventure Cemetery.

Donations in memoriam can be made to St. John the Evangelist Church in Olean.

Arrangements are with the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean.