He was recruited in 1959 during the Woody Hayes era to play College football for The Ohio State University and also recruited by then Western Reserve University, both on full scholarship. Ultimately, he decided to serve his country instead of playing college ball and joined the United States Air Force.  He coached his kids' North Olmsted league and St. Richard's league soccer and football teams for years and was active in adult soccer and softball leagues.  Tom was a first generation Irish American, son of Irish immigrants, and was very proud of his Irish heritage. He was an aide in the 2002 Cleveland St. Patrick's Day Parade alongside his brother, Frank Sheehan, who was the Grand Marshall of the parade that same year.  He played guitar in his younger years and sometimes had small Irish music seisiúns at his home . Tom was a generous man and gave of his time and possessions without hesitation to family, friends and neighbors.  In his final year his Parkinson's Disease made it necessary to move into assisted living so he resided at Emerald Village in North Olmsted where his daughter, Allison, is a nurse.