Michael J. Thomas Dies At 62

Michael J. Thomas

Michael J. Thomas of Sag Harbor died at home on Wednesday, February 16. He was 62 and had also lived in Westhampton Beach, Bridgehampton and Southampton at various times.

Born November 16, 1948, Mr. Thomas was raised in Lakehurst, New Jersey, graduated with top honors from high school and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He trained as a hospital corpsman and served his full term on U.S. soil. He graduated summa cum laude in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts from Southampton College at Long Island University. He later attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania for a short time.

He studied writing after moving to Manhattan and, in 1976, became a member of the Dramatists Guild during which time he was a playwright for a production at the Roundabout Theatre.

In the early 80s, he decided to move back to the East End and became a real estate broker, interested primarily in land subdivision and development. Colleagues and clients noted that he was the “land master” from the farm fields of Sagaponack and Bridgehampton, to the woods of Water Mill. He was a broker in small partnerships, and in the 90s, when large real estate corporations started taking over, he was a broker at Braverman Newbold Brennan, which became Sothebys International Realty, and Prudential Douglas Elliman.

Mr. Thomas enjoyed playing golf with his friends, jogging, lifting weights, playing tennis at the East Hampton Indoor Tennis Club, and swimming in the ocean at Beach Lane.

In 2002, at the age of 52, Mr. Thomas suffered a brain hemorrhage, which left him hospitalized and in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation facilities for four months. For a short time afterward, he was still able to rally tennis balls, hit golf balls and walk the beach.

He is survived by his wife Marylynn Novak. He is also survived by his mother Noreen Thomas of Lakehurst, New Jersey; a sister, Maureen Thomas of Staten Island; and four step-siblings.

There will be a brief memorial service on Saturday, February 26 at 4 p.m., at Wainscott Cemetery on Wainscott Hollow Road. There will be a reception to follow from 5 to 8 p.m. at Ms. Novak’s home on Madison Street in Sag Harbor.

Memorial donations may be made to the national Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org and East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978.