Thomas J. Herlihy Jr. was born in Queens, New York and lived his life in Simsbury, Connecticut. Tom attended Saint Mary’s elementary school before graduating from Simsbury High School in 1974. Tom later graduated from the University of Hartford in 1978 with a B.A. in Elementary Education. After teaching in the Simsbury Public School system for two years, he worked at the Traveler’s Insurance Company before opening his own insurance business in 1983. Tom was the owner of T.J. Herlihy Insurance in Simsbury, Connecticut since 1983. In addition to being a local sports enthusiast, Tom was an active participant in Simsbury town politics. He coached his son and daughters in basketball, soccer, and baseball, and watched them grow and thrive in the Simsbury public school system. Tom was also an active member of the Simsbury Rotary Club and served on the Simsbury Board of Selectman from 1987-1990 and then again in 2009. He was elected to the Simsbury Board of Finance in 1991 and served as chairman in 1996. Over the years, Tom was a generous contributor to the Simsbury community. Tom’s passion for public policy eventually led him to serve as a State Representative for the 16th district between 1997 and 1999. He later served as a State Senator for the 8th district between 1999 and 2009. As a State Senator, Tom served on the finance and energy committees and was instrumental in the passage of several lasting reforms. He was honored by the CT State Firefighters Association for spearheading efforts to provide thermal imaging equipment for fire departments throughout the state. Pre- deceased by his father, Thomas Joseph Herlihy Sr., Tom is survived by his mother, Mary Herlihy of Simsbury, and his siblings: Patricia Silva of Suffield, Connecticut; Lynn and Kenneth Tilley of North Andover, Massachusetts; Doreen and Jim Cheverie of North Andover, Massachusetts; James and Kathleen Herlihy of Wallingford, Connecticut; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his daughter Kaitlin Cambras and her husband Jonathan of South Orange, New Jersey, his daughter Meggie Barrow and her husband Jeff of Chicago, Illinois, his son Sean Herlihy of Los Angeles, California, and his former wife Janet Herlihy Russell of West Hartford, Connecticut. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday May 13th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Vincent Funeral Home in Simsbury, Connecticut. A private funeral service will be held. In lieu of flowers, friends may choose to make a donation to Simsbury Youth Soccer LLC. A donation page will be set up at www.simsburysoccer.org. Additionally, you can mail a donation to: Simsbury Soccer Club, P.O. Box 731 Simsbury, CT 06070. Please visit Tom’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online condolences.