Thomas G. Breslin MD

THOMAS G BRESLIN, M.D., a resident of Bristol, RI and Delray Beach, FL passed away peacefully on March 7, 2020 holding the hand of his beloved wife of 58 years, Carolyn J. (Anderson) Breslin. He is survived by her and 5 of his children: Kate Harden, Jane Sorensen (Soren), Robert Breslin, Amy Breslin (Peter) and Amity Jackson (Benjamin). He is predeceased by his son Thomas William Joseph and his parents Drs. Kate and Robert Breslin. He leaves behind his 11 wonderful grandchildren and his older brother, Robert H. Breslin (Carol) whom he looked up to and admired.

Tom graduated from the Moses Brown School (where he started a legacy of 3 generations of graduates and met one of his best life-long friends, Joe Kinder), Brown University and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He became a urological surgeon with privileges at RI Hospital, Fatima Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital and successfully ran his private practice, Breslin Urosurgical, for 31 years. Tom was appointed to the RI Board of Medical Review, was a clinical instructor at Brown University Medical School and was the founder and first president of the RI Urological Society. He was the first to practice groundbreaking surgical techniques in RI, including cryosurgery and lithotripsy. He loved to tinker and invent and, had he not been a surgeon, would have loved to be an inventor creating things in his tool shop to make the world a better (or at least more interesting) place. His vast knowledge and wisdom on a wide array of topics was always a source of amazement to his children, with whom he would take every opportunity to teach.

He and Carolyn lived in Bristol for nearly 60 years where they raised their children. Tom was active not only in his career but in his community. He is a past president of the Bristol Highlands Improvement Association, a member of the Harbor Commission, as well as fleet surgeon and former board member of the Bristol Yacht Club, where he spent years pursuing his love for sailing.

This passion for sailing began as a youth at the Edgewood Yacht Club where he met his other two best, and life-long, friends: Herb Browne and Kenny Knowles. His love for the sport, and the competition and fellowship it offered, followed him throughout his life. He enjoyed numerous Block Island Race Weeks, Newport to Bermuda races and even frostbiting in his sunfish in the winter. But there was nothing he loved more than cruising with his family aboard his beloved yacht, The Watch, named after his own father’s boat, and teaching his family the joys and challenges of sailing and a love of water, especially Narragansett Bay.

Tom was also incredibly proud of his service to country in the US Navy, where he followed in his father’s footsteps. His patriotism was a source of great pride and guided his intentions and efforts throughout his life. The American flag always hangs proudly at his home.

Burial will take place om Friday, July 10th at 11 AM in Juniper Hill Cemetery.

 In lieu of flowers, Tom would be proud to have donations made in his name to the Seaman’s Church Institute, 18 Market Square, Newport, RI.

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