Burchill, Thomas F. III born January 12, 1942, died quietly in his sleep at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx NY, on Tuesday, August 11th 2026 at the age of 84. He was a longtime resident of the Upper East Side and formerly of Garden City and Westhampton Beach, NY. Tom was sustained throughout his life by an unfailing devotion to his family. He was a generous and loving husband, father, and grandfather, friend and colleague. He is survived by his beloved wife Paula (Gigante) of 25 years, three adoring children, Thomas (Maggie) of Westport, CT, Mark (Suzanne) of Southport, CT., Melissa (Gregory DePalma) of Lawrenceville, NJ and stepdaughter, Lara (Michael LaMar) of Dallas, TX. He is also survived by nine beautiful and talented grandchildren who knew Tom as Toddy: Thomas, Annabel, Nicholas, Garrett, Aidan, Conrad, George, Blake and Graham. He is also survived by his younger brother, Brian. Former spouse, Cathryn (Esser Block), deceased, is the mother of the three Burchill children. Tom was born and raised in New York, the older child of the late Thomas F. and Margaret E. Burchill. Tom is the grandson of the late NY State Senator, Thomas F. Burchill, who served in Albany for many years and was a member of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Turkey Cabinet during Roosevelt’s term as Governor. Tom loved nothing more than to be with his family for holiday occasions, days at the beach, or on the sidelines of the many athletic contests of his grandchildren. He was particularly fond of his annual Toddy awards, which he presented to his grandchildren honoring their various accomplishments during the year. Tom was an avid and talented tennis player winning trophies in doubles at which he excelled. He loved the arts in all its forms and was a consistent member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Following service aboard the USS Warrington (DD-843) as a Lieutenant (J.G.) in the Navy, Tom began what would be a forty year career in the media business, first in radio and later in television. 

In 1984, Tom became the founding CEO of Lifetime Entertainment Services positioning Lifetime Television as a channel aimed primarily at serving women’s interests. He later acquired Petry Television and transformed that company with new technology and created a digital advertising unit that later became 24/7 Real Media. During the course of his career, Tom served on a number of Boards, including Chairmanship of the Cable Television Advertising Bureau, the Board of Directors of Outside Television, the Corporate Development Committee of the Central Park Conservancy, and the Board of Directors of the Westhampton Country Club. Following his media career, Tom became active in real estate with Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales, LLC alongside his wife, Paula. Among his favorite charities were the Central Park Conservancy where there is a Burchill Bench dedicated to his grandchildren, and the Inner City Scholarship Fund sponsoring the education of needy children in the city’s parochial schools. Tom was a graduate of Brooklyn Prep High School, the College of Holy Cross (1963) and the Columbia University Graduate School of Business (1980). Tom loved life, inspired those around him, enjoyed a good meal and a glass of fine wine and was happy to debate the politics of the day. His family will miss his presence and his devotion to them. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Ignatius Loyola Church on Tuesday, August 18 at 10am. Tom will be buried at Calverton Cemetery in honor of his service in the US Navy.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Central Park Conservancy or the Inner City Scholarship Fund.