Thomas Isabella (2024)
2024 Outstanding Graduate Award Winner
As a lifelong resident of Schenectady, Tom graduated from Mont Pleasant High School in 1967 and Louisiana State University (LSU) in 1973. Tom has dedicated his life to giving back to the community, from serving Schenectady residents for 16 years (12 years as City Council President) to serving the youth of Schenectady for 40 years as a Board Member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Schenectady.
Tom’s commitment to the community has never waned. During a successful tenure in government, he focused on revitalizing city parks and implementing quality-of-life initiatives for the youth and senior population. One of Tom’s proudest moments was the finalization of the building of the new state of the art Boys and Girls Club, which opened in 2020 in the former Quackenbush Park.
After leaving public office, Tom worked tirelessly for 38 years for NYSDPS bringing cable TV and broadband internet service to rural and urban communities throughout NYS. Following his retirement in 2005, he pursued his love for sports through coaching. Tom served on the SCSD Athletic Advisory Committee for many years and as Schenectady High School girls' varsity softball coach and freshmen girls' basketball coach. Tom also helped rebuild Schenectady Little League and the Mont Pleasant and SHS men’s and women’s basketball programs.
Tom attributes his passion for giving back to his late parents, Dr. Hugo and Kathleen, both graduates of MPHS, as well as his late uncle, Dr. Fred Isabella. Their influence inspired him from an early age to help those in need and advocate for the voiceless.
Tom was proudly married to Mary Ann Hogan (MPHS class of 1969) for 33 years before she passed away in 2013 after a three-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. Her selflessness and generosity inspired Tom to create a $1,000 scholarship awarded annually to a deserving member of the SHS graduating class who is also a member of the Boys and Girls Club of Schenectady. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the MAH scholarship, Tom gave two deserving students $1,000 each.
Tom also spent 8 wonderful years with his partner, Marion Ausfeld, who recently passed away from metastatic lung cancer. He currently resides in Schenectady and enjoys vacationing in Florida. He takes immense pride in being the father of Kaitlin (SHS Class of 2003) and Sean (SHS Class of 2007), as well as being a new grandfather (Pops) to baby Mary Katherine Isabella, the daughter of Sean and Dr. Jackie Isabella.
