The extended YAI family suffered a profound loss today with the passing of Thomas A. Dern.

Tom, our Chief Operating Officer, was a cherished colleague and formative leader whose contribution to the agency and the field is hard to overstate.

There will be a time for tributes and rememberances for a man who made a remarkable difference in the lives of many, many families and was a passionate advocate for people with disabilities.

But right now we are deeply shaken and saddened by the loss of our friend. Our hearts are with Tom's wife Patty, his son Marc, his brother Danny and his family.

A funeral Mass will be on Friday, Dec. 13, at 10:45 a.m. at St. Christopher's Church, 11 Gale Ave., Baldwin, N.Y. 11510. Burial will follow at St. Charles Cemetery, 2015 Westwood Ave., Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735.