Thomas P. Carafa

Thomas Peter Carafa, of Allen Street in Syracuse, a prominent trial attorney and beloved husband, father, brother and friend, passed away on June 10, 2025. He was 65 years old.

Tom was born January 25, 1960 in Boston, MA, to the late Nicola and Serafina Carafa. He grew up in Canton, MA, a devoted son to his parents and a lifelong Boston sports fan, despite (or maybe because of) growing up in the Curse of the Bambino era.

Tom graduated from Northeastern University, where he majored in Criminal Justice, and New England School of Law. After graduation, Tom joined the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, NY. It was his dream job, and in a universe of no responsibilities or practical considerations, he probably would have ended his career there too.

Becoming an Assistant District Attorney changed Tom’s life in many ways. He met his future wife, Eva, and made lifelong friends while serving in this role. Tom and Eva married in 1992 and moved to Syracuse in 1997. Together they raised a daughter, Jillian, and a son, Sam.

Tom’s family was the center of his universe. He helped run various sports leagues and served on several school committees, including Nottingham High School’s Parent-Teacher-Student Organization, where both of his children attended. Beyond that, Tom was active in the Dewitt Rotary and was the Youth Exchange Officer for several years. This involved placing students from abroad that had been selected for Rotary scholarships with local families and monitoring their progress during their stay. The Carafas also hosted three students from abroad in their home.

Tom’s family extended beyond Eva, Jillian and Sam. Though he was trepidatious about animals, at Eva’s urging, he agreed to adopt the first of many rescue dogs that the family has loved, Maddie. Somehow, he agreed to adopt a second dog, Max, and after that, the Carafas have always had two dogs. Simon, Luke, Middy, Gus, Pippi and Riley have all been beloved canine members of the family. In his later years, though, his most beloved pet and best friend was his cat, Jupiter. Jupe chose Tom to be his person and thereafter, the bond between the two grew stronger and stronger.

In addition to his wife and children, Tom is survived by his brother Nick (Sheryl), his sister Roseann (Lee), and his brother Tony; nieces Rachel, Sarah, Gina and Erica; and nephews Nicholas, Matt and Mark. He is also survived by many cousins, aunts and uncles, all of whom he loved very much.

A Celebration of Tom’s Life will be held on August 3, 2025 at Drumlins Country Club, 800 Nottingham Road, Syracuse, NY at 12PM with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making donations in Tom’s memory to support Rotary Youth Exchange scholarships. Make checks payable to District 7180 Rotary Youth Exchange, put “Tom Carafa” in the memo, and mail to their treasurer: Stuart Wood, PO Box 649, Moravia, NY 13118

Or, if you love animals like we do, please consider supporting one of these local animal shelters:

Helping Hounds     https://helpinghoundsdogrescue.org/

The Humane Society of CNY    https://www.humanecny.org/

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