Thomas Andrew Pluta
Lawyer

Thomas Andrew Pluta, 67, of Bethesda, MD, died on January 23, 2018. He was born in Ludlow, MA, on October 16, 1950 to the late John and Stella (Gruszka) Pluta.

Tom grew up in Wilbraham, MA and was a 1968 graduate of Minnechaug Regional High School. He was a 1972 graduate of Boston University (BA History, magna cum laude) and a 1975 graduate of the Boston College Law School. He was a member of the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bars.

Tom served as a Foreign Service officer with the US Department of State in Washington, DC, and as political officer at the American Embassy in Helsinki, Finland. Thereafter, he served over 25 years as Counsel with the US Department of Veterans Affairs Board of Veterans Appeals, retiring in 2011.

He leaves his beloved wife, Marianne Mulcahey, and beloved Aunt, Elaine Pluta, Indian Orchard, MA, dearest and beloved cousin, Patricia (Bernard) Waite of Wilbraham, MA, fun cousins Anne (Gruszka) McKenzie of Annandale, VA, and Carole Gruszka of Brookline, MA, and several other cousins and numerous friends.

Tom’s happiest days were spent in Hampton Beach, NH, and in Stone Harbor, NJ. He enjoyed all things in life thoroughly – biking to a beach bar, hanging at Fred’s and other establishments, boiling giant lobsters, drinking beers in the sun, and a fine whisky at the day’s end.

He was the son-in-law of Madelon G. Mulcahey, a lifelong resident of Uniontown, PA, and dearly loved by the Mulcahey family, brother and sister-in-law Paul and Rosemary Mulcahey, Cecil, PA, brother-in-law Gary Pedicone, Export, PA, his niece, Rosemary Ann Mulcahey and her husband, John Beaumont, Southern Shores, NC, and especially beach buddies and sisters-in-law, Madelon E.S. Mulcahey, Chevy Chase, MD, and Megan Joan Mulcahey, Export, PA.

Family will receive guests at the Skirpan Funeral Home, 680 Cherry Tree Lane, Uniontown, PA, on Monday, January 29, 2018 from 5:00PM until 7:00PM and on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 until 9:15AM where a prayer service will be held followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00AM at St. John the Evangelist RC Church, 50 Jefferson Street Uniontown, PA with Rev Fr. James D. Tringhese as celebrant.
Interment will follow at Mount Saint Macrina Cemetery, Uniontown, PA.

An open house to celebrate his life will be held at his home at 5610 Durbin Road, Bethesda, MD, on Sunday, March 4, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to your favorite charity, or the American Cancer Society, Boston College Law School, or Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Home (http://www.oldfriendsequine.org/).

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