SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Thomas “Tommy” Coyne, former president and board chairman of Coyne Textile Services, died Nov. 27. He was 86.
He joined the family business in 1977 (then called Coyne Industrial Laundry) under his father, J. Stanley Coyne.
Tommy advanced to CEO of the company in 1982. His son Martin succeeded Tommy in 2012. He retired after the company’s assets were sold in 2015 to Cintas Corp. and Prudential Overall Supply.
Tommy was a well-known figure in the industry as a former TRSA chair and the 2009 winner of its Lifetime Achievement Award.
Before joining the family business, in 1958 he joined the U.S. Army serving in Korea. After his discharge from the Army, he served a four-year apprenticeship with R.A. Kaesbey Company becoming a master mechanic, which led to serving the Fossil Fuel #5 Plant in Oswego, New York, for five years.
Besides TRSA, numerous boards and organizations benefited from Tommy’s leadership, including the National Kidney Foundation of Central New York, the Salvation Army, the President’s Club of Leadership of LeMoyne College, Francis House and the Boy Scouts of America.
He continued in his father’s footsteps of giving back to Syracuse, including the building of Loretto’s J. Stanley Coyne Heritage Apartments; the J. Stanley Coyne Hall Office of Institutional Planning, Assessment and Research at Onondaga Community College; and five affordable housing units on J. Stanley Coyne Circle in downtown Syracuse.
He supported many local charitable causes, including Francis House, The Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, the Everson Museum of Art and Upstate Medical University.
An avid outdoorsman, Tommy was the owner and loyal member of the Alder Creek Hunting Club, the Lowville Elks Club and The Syracuse Pastime Athletic Club. He loved to fish, hunt and snowmobile in the great outdoors with his children and friends.
He also earned his pilot’s license and enjoyed many solo flights, and he was a parishioner of Holy Cross Catholic Church.
Tommy was preceded in death by his mother, Jessie Cardwell Coyne Adams; his father; his brother, Gerald; his sister, Susan Coyne Whitney; and his longtime friend Shanna McCoy.
He is survived by his daughter, Constance Coyne Bohrer; his three sons: Thomas M. “TM” (Amy), Martin R. “Marty” (Aimee), and Mark D.; his sister, Joanne Coyne Matina; and John Stanley Coyne Jr.
He is also survived by his former wife, Diana E. Coyne, nine grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was held on Dec. 5. Donations in Tommy’s memory can be made to Francis House.
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