Thomas Sugrue

Thomas J. Sugrue was born in 1907 on Ward Street in Naugatuck, the son of Michael and Mary Sugrue. Though he passed away at just 45 years old, his impact as a writer, journalist, and radio host left a lasting mark far beyond his hometown.

After graduating from Naugatuck High School in 1924, where he was known for his love of dancing, Sugrue worked as a bank teller before earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Washington and Lee University. His professional writing career began with the Naugatuck Daily News and soon took him to New York City, where he wrote for the Herald Tribune and later became a staff writer for American Magazine.

Sugrue’s writing was known for its warmth, wit, and curiosity. He covered a wide range of topics, from religion and jazz to politics and personal reflection. His work included interviews with prominent cultural figures, and he often experimented with creative formats, such as presenting an interview in the style of a one-act play. One of his most personal essays was a letter addressed to his “unborn son,” who turned out to be his only daughter, Patricia, born in 1938.

At the height of his career, a mysterious joint disease left him paralyzed in his legs and arm. Despite this, he continued to write, often limiting himself to 1,000 words per day. In search of healing, Sugrue moved to Virginia Beach, where he wrote There Is a River, the first biography of the controversial psychic Edgar Cayce. He also co-authored books with notable figures such as Edmund Starling, a presidential bodyguard, and jazz musician Eddie Condon.

In 1940, Sugrue published Such Is the Kingdom, an autobiographical novel that drew deeply from his Naugatuck roots. His vivid recollections of life in the borough’s Irish section—fictionalized as "Kelly Hill"—offer a rich and honest portrayal of early 20th-century life in Naugatuck:

“From every door of the Goodland Rubber Boot and Shoe Company's factory they had poured at the blast of the whistle… The Swedes and the Yankees went west and north, to Cracker Hill and Swede Hill. The Irish went south on Church Street and up Kelly Hill.”

Later in life, Sugrue hosted a New York City radio program called Conversations at Eight, where he invited guests to join him in a Manhattan hotel room for engaging conversation. He also traveled to Israel shortly after its founding and published Watch for the Morning, offering thoughtful reflections on religion and humanity.

Sugrue passed away in 1953 during a hip replacement surgery. Though his career was cut short, his legacy continues. His daughter, Patricia Sugrue Ketchum, donated his collection of 1930s magazine writings to the Howard Whittemore Memorial Library in Naugatuck. These pieces, now preserved for future generations, offer a glimpse into the life and voice of one of Naugatuck’s most gifted storytellers.