February 17, 2003 Thomas J. Shepardson, 59, of Fayetteville, died Tuesday at St. Joseph's Hospital. He was a life resident of Syracuse, a graduate of St. Vincent dePaul High School and Simmons Institute of Funeral Service. Mr. Shepardson was the owner and president of the Frasier-Shepardson and Goddard-Crandall-Shepardson Funeral Homes. He was the National Commander of DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Response Team), a national team of disaster responders. He was instrumental in forming disaster plans and teams in Onondaga County and New York State. His team worked at all three locations on September 11, 2001, at the Oklahoma City Federal Building disaster, multiple plane crashes including TWA Flight 800 off Long Island and many natural disasters throughout the country.

He was the recipient of the Post Standard Achievement Award in 2002, received the 2002 New York State Senate Liberty Award, received the Eastwood American Legion Post 1276 "James McHale Americanism Award" in 1999, received the "Chief Thomas Hanlon Community Service Award" in 1986, NYSFDA "Funeral Director of the Year Award" in 1985, and a was guest lecturer at Harvard University Medical School in 1998. He was also a member of the Eastwood Lions Club, Onondaga-Oswego Funeral Directors Association, New York State Funeral Directors Association, Knights of Columbus Council #5398, Hospice of CNY Professional Advisory Committee, former member of the Board of Trustees of CBA, former trustee of Blessed Sacrament Church, an honorary member of the Fayetteville Fire Department and the Fraternal Order of Police.

His family includes his wife of 37 years: Jacqueline Pellenz Shepardson; daughter: Laura Shepardson Lentz of Cleveland; 2 sons: Christopher of Jamesville, Peter of Fayetteville; sister Joan Snyder of Syracuse; brother: G. James of Liverpool; 2 grandsons: Jack & William Shepardson; 2 granddaughters: Gwenyth & Payton Shepardson; and nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00am in the Blessed Sacrament Church. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Calling hours are Thursday from 5-8pm at the Frasier-Shepardson Funeral Home, 1217 N. Salina Street and on Friday from 4-8pm in the Blessed Sacrament Church, 3127 James Street.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Thomas J. Shepardson Scholarship Fund, c/o Blessed Sacrament School, 3131 James St. Syr, NY 13206.

Published in the Syracuse Post Standard on 2/20/2003.