Thomas E. Andres, 56
Thomas Edmund Andres of Springs-Fireplace Road in Springs died on Sunday at home after an accidental fall. He was 56 years old.
He was born on Oct. 13, 1960, in Brooklyn, one of two sons of Edmund Andres and the former Helen Grombkowski. His family left Brooklyn for Montauk when Mr. Andres was 5, and he attended and graduated from the Montauk Elementary School and East Hampton High School.
Mr. Andres was passionate about baseball and cars. In 1978 he was recruited by the New York Mets to play in its Minor League division but he had to withdraw after starting training due to an elbow injury. Locally, he played ball with his children and helped out with the teams his son was on. He was also a longtime member of the Bonac Cruisers Classic Car Club in East Hampton during a period when he owned a 1969 Mustang. He had worked most recently restoring cars at Georgica Services in East Hampton. Before that he had worked at one of the local lumberyards.
He and the former Audrey Watson, who survives, were married on Sept. 22, 1985. Their son, Joseph Andres of East Hampton, said his father enjoyed drawing in pen and pencil and had always helped him with school projects. He had also enjoyed surfing and been a lifeguard at the beach that was next to Gosman’s Dock in Montauk.
A daughter, Donna Andres of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and a brother, Henry Andres of Oakdale, also survive, as do many Watson and Andres relatives who live all over the world.
The family will welcome guests on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton. A reception will follow. Memorial donations have been suggested to the Springs Fire Department, 179 Fort Pond Boulevard, East Hampton 11937.