Thomas P. McDonald
Thomas P. McDonald, at Massachusetts General Hospital, surrounded by his family, after a long illness, November 28, 2012. Born and raised in Quincy, Tom was a graduate of Saint Mary’s School, West Quincy, the first graduating class of Archbishop Williams High School, Braintree, in 1953 and The Great Class of 1957 at Boston College. He entered Officer Candidate School for the United States Navy in Newport, RI, was commissioned in 1957 and honorably discharged in 1960. Tom suffered a diving accident that resulted in quadriplegia in 1966. His injury did not prevent him from being an active husband, father, friend, businessman and member of many local organizations. Tom was involved with the Holy Cross Father’s Retreat House in Easton, an original board member of Fr. Bill’s Place, Quincy and a member of the Development Board of My Brother’s Keeper. In 1975 he established the Thomas P. McDonald Insurance Agency of West Quincy. Beloved husband of Bernice A. “Bernie” (Tirrell) and loving father of Michael D. McDonald and his wife Dinah and Judi M. Pekkinen and her husband David, all of Quincy. Devoted grandfather of Thomas P. McDonald II, Brendan D. McDonald, Connor M. McDonald, Brian D. Pekkinen, Sean M. Pekkinen, Jason T. Pekkinen and Kara E. Pekkinen. Brother of J. Richard “Dick” McDonald of CT, James G. McDonald and his wife Pauline of Hingham, Noreen Curtis of Braintree, Ann Erickson and her husband John of Quincy, John M. “Jack” McDonald and his wife Ann of Braintree and the late George B. McDonald. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Mary’s Church, 95 Crescent Street, West Quincy, Monday December 3 at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours at Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, EAST MILTON, Sunday 3-7 PM. Interment Saint Mary’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom’s memory may be made to My Brother’s Keeper, P.O. Box 338, Easton, MA 02356-0388.
Guestbook Entries
Dear Bernie and family…
I am so, so sorry for your loss. Tommy was a great guy…an inspiration to all of us. He will be missed…
Love,
Barbara
To the McDonald Family:
He was a tribute and a blessing to all who called him friend. We shall miss his kindness and his gentle words of wisdom.
Many thanks to Tom & Bernie, who both showed us all how to love and lick all of life’s obstacles.
To my two dear friends:
Love, June
A finer man never lived. He had such great quality to his life because of this spirit, his wonderful wife Bernie, his children, and his nephews who helped him every day to do the little things we all take for granted. Rest in peace, Tom.
My condolences for your loss of such a great man. Mr. McDonald was the one to insure my very first car… I had just signed on the dotted line and left to find my car had slid into another car on the hill in the icy parking lot of his office at the time. He was wonderful about it and it has come to be a fond funny story of mine. I am so very sorry for your loss.
Mike and Family
i am so deeply sorry for your loss. You all know how very special Tom was to me, both in friendship and business over many years. Any time I wanted to know anything about the Sox and BC Football we would really get into some fabulous discussions. He was such a blessing to all of our lives and we will all miss him so very much.
Again, please accept my condolences from me and my whole family.
Dear Bernie – Tom was one in a million. He led a heroic life with his disability and was an inspiration to us all. As his caretaker, you were his angel on earth.
Love, Betty Fitzgerald
Dear Bernie,
I was so sorry to hear about your loss. I remember when I met you both so long ago when I was just a new grad. He was always one of my favorites. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Much Love,
Kathy
We are so sorry for your loss. Tom was such a nice man who was always pleasant, with a smile on his face. I will always remember that about him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May he rest in peace. God Bless.
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with you. God Bless.
Dearest Friends,
Our love, our thoughts, and our prayers are with all of you. Tom has left a wonderful legacy. Another Angel in Heaven. May he rest in peace.
The Powers Family
Dearest Friends,
Our love, thoughts, and prayers are with you all.
There is another Angel in heaven.
May he rest in peace and may all of your memories help you through until we all meet our loved ones again.
Love The Powers (Donahue) Family in NH
Dinah thinking of you and your family. Although I never met Mr. McDonald, I recall your inspiring comments and stories. I am sure he will be deeply missed. Peace to you and your family…Dennis
Bernie & family I am so sorry for your loss of Tom he was always so sweet to me and my family, I will always remember going to your house with my mom(Anne B.) and playing games with the kids and everytime I sawTom he always had wonderful things to say he always knew the right thing to say..I also remember seeing all of you on the cruise Boston to Bermuda so much fun I still have the picture with all of you on the stairs. I will miss him and will never forget the wonderful times.
xo Leah & family….
Hi, our family was so sorry to hear about Tom’s passing. We were neighbors in West Quincy. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.Joanne Pelton and family.
Dear Bernie; Our deepest sympathy to you and to your family. Tom was quite a man, to say the least. We are thinking of you.
God bless. Tom and Ellen
Sorry for your loss. Mr. McDonald was a lifelong friend of my Dad’s and a friend of our families. He will be missed..
Dear Mike,
My sincerest condolences to your entire family on the passing of your father. I have so many fond memories of your dad during the years we were together. Every holiday season when complimented on my eggnog I credit your dad for teaching me his secret recipe while waiting for you to return from church on x-mas eve. He and your family were very kind and welcoming and taught me alot about celebrating life. I’m very sad for your loss.
Ariane