Obituary of Thomas A Picone

Thomas A Picone 1954-2015 Thomas Angelo Picone of Basking Ridge, New Jersey died on October 30, 2015, with his family by his side after a long battle with Parkinson's disease and Lewy Body Dementia. He was born to Josephine Picone (nee Trocchi) and the late Angelo Picone on October 1, 1954 in Massachusetts. Tom graduated from East Catholic High School in Manchester, Connecticut, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Biology from Saint Michael's College in Burlington, Vermont, his Master of Arts degree in Psychology and Neuroscience from University of Hartford and his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Connecticut at Storrs. He met Claire Winslow at Saint Michael's and they were happily married in 1978. They lived in Storrs, Connecticut, Santa Ana, California, and Worthington, Ohio before moving to Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Tom dedicated his life to his faith, family and friends, closely followed by his career in the pharmaceutical industry. He was the foundation for his family and friends ensuring impactful relationships were created and maintained throughout his entire life. He spent over 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry, starting in R&D and then spending the second half of his career as a Business Development and Licensing executive. He proudly worked to identify and advance lifesaving medicine by successfully completing countless in-licensing and M&A deals for 4 major pharmaceutical companies. A hallmark to his career included serving as a Trustee of the Licensing Executives Society (LES) for over ten years while having the distinct honor of serving as President of LES from 2007 to 2008. When faced with Parkinson's as a new challenge in his life, he turned it into an opportunity by serving on the Patient Council of the Michael J. Fox Foundation and advising on research opportunities. In addition, one of his great passions was mentoring aspiring colleagues and impacting his professional community. He was happiest skiing with his family and friends and celebrating decades of Christmas' in the beautiful mountains of Mount Snow, Vermont where he will now be fondly remembered on the Ridge ski trail. Tom is survived by wife Claire (nee Winslow), three children, Michael (Donna) Picone of New Hope; Kathryn Picone of Jersey City; Robert (fiancee Alison) Picone of Manhattan, and three grandchildren, Joseph, Matthew and Julia Picone. He is also survived by mother, Josephine, siblings Joseph (Ellen); James (Martha); Mary Joan and Richard Picone, and mother-in-law Florine Winslow, sisters-in-law Mary Lynn (Anthony) Curti and Julie (Reto) Morosani and 7 nieces and 2 nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation. A viewing will be held Tuesday, November 3, 2015 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home. The funeral mass will take place Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Saint James Church, 184 South Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Basking Ridge, New Jersey with a celebration of life to be held immediately after at Claire and Tom's home.