THOMAS H. JAMERSON of Port Chester, NY, passed away peacefully on September 29, 2026, after a long, courageous battle with cancer. A distinguished singer and teacher, he brought untold joy and inspiration to others through the gift of his music. Thomas was born on July 3, 1942, in New Orleans, LA. He received the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Voice from Louisiana State University, where he studied with Loren Davidson. He continued his studies with Cornelius Reid when he moved to New York. Known for his beautiful, rich baritone voice and his commanding stage presence, Mr. Jamerson was a leading artist for 15 years with the New York City Opera, where he sang over 60 roles. In addition, he performed with the Baltimore Opera, Opera Company of Boston, Metropolitan Opera National Company, Greater Miami Opera, New Orleans Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, and Tulsa Opera among others, as well as opera companies in Mexico, South America, and Canada. He sang in concert performances with the St. Louis Symphony, the Hartford Symphony, and the Israel Philharmonic. He appeared as Germont in La Traviata, Sharpless in Madame Butterfly, Marcello and Schaunard in La Bohème, Ping in Turandot, Papageno in The Magic Flute, Masetto in Don Giovanni, Dandini in La Cenerentola, Silvio in Pagliacci, Valentin in Faust, de Brétigny in Manon, Harlekin in Ariadne auf Naxos, Junius in The Rape of Lucretia, and Faninal in Der Rosenkavalier, among many other roles. He sang the role of the Bishop in the East Coast premiere of Stephen Paulus’s opera The Three Hermits in Grace Episcopal Church's concert series, Downtown Music at Grace in White Plains, NY. He is featured in the movie Foul Play with Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase, as well as on the recordings of The Merry Widow with Beverly Sills, and La Traviata with Monserrat Caballe, Carlo Bergonzi and Sherrill Milnes. After retiring from full-time singing, he became a union executive at the American Guild of Musical Artists, where he fought for better working conditions for singers and dancers. In addition, he taught Voice at the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains, NY for 25 years, where he also conducted the Teen Vocal Ensemble and directed the Summer Vocal Academy. He was the baritone soloist at Grace Episcopal Church in White Plains, NY for many years, after which he served as the baritone soloist and then Music Director at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in White Plains.

He leaves behind his loving wife Celeste Jamerson and daughter Debra Kaye Carter; as well as his son-in-law Tom Carter and his brother-in-law Charles Emmons; his grandchildren Amelia Berrigan, Emily Berrigan, Kathleen Berrigan-Lockhart, and Brittany Carter; his great-grandchildren Jaylen Carter, Kamron Carter, Cecilia Mae Lockhart, Louis Lockhart and Berlin Richardson; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father Theodore Paul Jamerson, his mother Laverne Jamerson, his daughter Carole Berrigan, his sister Barbara Derenbecker, his brother-in-law Edgar Derenbecker, and his grandson Joshua Carter.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 21 at 11 am at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church at 82 Prospect Street, White Plains, NY.