Tom Twomey, Lawyer, Local Leader

Thomas A. Twomey, a lawyer, civic leader, and chairman of the East Hampton Library’s board of trustees, died of a heart attack early Sunday morning after collapsing at his house in East Hampton’s Northwest Woods. He was 68 and had no history of heart disease.

Mr. Twomey was the founder, in 1973, of the Riverhead firm that is now Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo. In its first decade, the firm became known for taking on often controversial public-interest cases. Today, the firm has 26 attorneys who work in a broad range of legal fields, and some 55 staff members. State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle is of counsel.

One of Mr. Twomey’s first successful public efforts was stopping the extension of the Sunrise Highway to the South Fork as head of an environmental group called Halt the Highway. Later, representing the Long Island Farm Bureau, he was able to stop the Long Island Lighting Company from building two power plants in Jamesport and was active in the successful fight against its nuclear plant at Shoreham.

In the last 20 years, Mr. Twomey had served on numerous state agencies, including the Energy Council, the Freshwater Wetlands Appeals Board, the Long Island Power Authority, and the East End Economic and Environmental Task Force, which he chaired. 

Earlier in his career, he was an assistant Southampton Town attorney, and at various times was special counsel for Riverhead, Southold, Shelter Island, Brookhaven, Smithtown, and Babylon as well East Hampton Towns. He also was instrumental in the passage of the Suffolk County farmland preservation program. Closer to home, he was a member of the executive committee of the board of trustees of Guild Hall. He ran for Congress in New York’s First Congressional District in 1980, losing to the incumbent Republican, William Carney.

Although the list of Mr. Twomey’s civic and governmental accomplishments is long, his tenure as president and chairman of the East Hampton Library is perhaps most notable here. He chaired the committee that raised $3.6 million for the library’s renovation in 1997, and, in 2004, began a long campaign to overcome obstacles and raise $6.5 million for a new children’s room and lecture hall, which was dedicated this summer.

In a statement released on Monday Dennis Fabiszak, the library’s director, said Mr. Twomey was “an extraordinary leader who was dedicated to making this one of the greatest small libraries in America.”

Donations in Mr. Twomey’s memory have been suggested for the library, whose address is 159 Main Street, East Hampton 11937.

Mr. Twomey’s deep interest in local history led to the expansion of the library’s Long Island Collection and its publication of five scholarly books about East Hampton, Gardiner’s Island, and Montauk. He also served as the East Hampton Town historian in 1999, and chaired the committee for the town’s 350th anniversary celebration.

A recreational pilot who kept aircraft at East Hampton Airport, he was active both professionally and personally in advocating on behalf of airport interests and also served on a recently established town airport planning committee.

Thomas Aloysuis Twomey was born on Dec. 8, 1945, the son of Aloysuis Twomey and the former Mary Maloney. He grew up in Queens, and his family spent summers in Mattituck, which was his introduction to the East End. He graduated from Archbishop Molly High School in Queens, received a bachelor’s degree from Manhattan College in 1967, and studied law at the University of Virginia before transferring to the Columbia University School of Law, from which he received a juris doctor in 1970.

He and Judith Hope, who was first elected East Hampton Town supervisor in 1974, were friends and associates before they married. They would have celebrated their 35th anniversary on Dec. 15.

Speaking yesterday of their courtship, during which she learned he was a pilot when he invited her to fly with him to Nantucket for brunch, Ms. Hope said, “I feel like the luckiest woman on the face of this earth. I said to him last week, ‘I am as much in love with you as the day I married you.’ I feel so fortunate to have spent so much of my life in his company.” Nantucket eventually became their second home.

Ms. Hope described her husband as a great family man who was loving and supportive of his stepchildren, Nisse Hope of East Hampton and Erling Hope of Sag Harbor, who survive, as do Mr. Hope’s three children. He had planned to treat his granddaughter to a European vacation in June, Ms. Hope said, and had already bought tickets.

Mr. Twomey’s law partners also spoke of him in glowing terms. Stephen A. Latham, Mr. Twomey’s first partner, said yesterday that he had “preached independence,” was a phenomenal businessman, and had a genius for thinking ahead, even on matters of technology. “He taught us very well. We’re going to make him proud for many years to come.”

Janice Olsen, who had been Mr. Twomey’s assistant for 40 years, noted that many others had stayed with the firm for years. “A great leader,” she said yesterday, “is someone who can help others achieve their best. He did that for me.”

In addition to his wife, stepchildren, and grandchildren, Mr. Twomey is survived by two sisters, Mary Claire Vrtodusic of Oakdale and Florence Cope of East Marion.

Visiting hours at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton are tomorrow from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. His funeral will be on Saturday at 1 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in East Hampton. A reception will follow at East Hampton Point restaurant on Three Mile Harbor Road.