Thomas Michael Monahan – Police officer, champion swimmer

Thomas Michael Monahan, 94, passed away peacefully on Sunday,
January 30 with family members close by. Tom was born June 10, 1910
in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Charles and Lucy Monahan. He graduated
from South High School in 1929 and continued his education at the
University of Minnesota. Tom was a corporal and engineer in Company
B of the 259th Combat Battalion of the U.S. Army. Tom retired in
1960 after serving 20 years in the Minneapolis Police Department,
where he advanced first to Detective Lieutenant and later to
Captain of Detectives. He frequently participated in special police
escorts for dignitaries including the President of the United
States. He later moved to Southern California where he worked as a
special investigator for the State of California. Eventually he and
his beloved wife Willie relocated to Northern California. They
lived near Grass Valley for several years before moving to
Healdsburg in 1997. Tom was an avid swimmer all his life. He
captained his high school swim team, made varsity at the University
of Minnesota and just missed getting a berth on the 1932 U.S.
Olympic team. He continued swimming later in life and was an AAU
Masters Swim Team champion well into his 80s. In 1986 at age 76 he
helped set a new world record as part of the 200-meter mixed medley
relay team at the World Masters meet in Tokyo, Japan. He also took
home gold medals in the 50- and 200-meter backstroke events. At age
80, he won four gold medals in the California Senior Games swimming
events. Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years Wilma
(Willie) of Healdsburg; children Sandra, Thomas, Dick, Harry, Pat,
Jim and Mary Lou; stepchildren Pam Sibley and Dennis Russell; and
10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. He was the adopted Dad
and Grandpa of the entire staff at Center Street Cafe where he will
be greatly missed. Donations in his name may be sent to the
Healdsburg Senior Center Visually Impaired Persons or to the
Healdsburg High School Swim Team. A memorial service is planned for
late February.