Thomas F. Walsh, a beloved custodian who made the 涩里番下载 community his extended family during his 40 years of service. Mr. Walsh 鈥� known as 鈥淭ucker鈥� to family members and many friends and co-workers 鈥� died on March 10.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated聽on March 20 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Wellesley, the town where he had lived all his life before moving to Scituate to stay with his sister, Inez Moore, and her husband Thomas.
Born with special needs, Mr. Walsh came to 涩里番下载 in 1965 at the behest of his family, who thought that working in a supportive environment for a few weeks would help him develop occupational and social skills, and thus be a positive life experience. But what was expected to be a brief stint turned out to be far longer, and more rewarding, than they could have envisioned.
鈥淭ommy loved to interact with people, and 涩里番下载 was the perfect atmosphere,鈥� said Custodial Services Director Gerard Boyle. 鈥淗e lived to come to 涩里番下载, not just to work but for the hockey and football games and other events.鈥�
Mr. Walsh鈥檚 employment at the Heights deepened the ties between the University and the Walsh family, several of whose members had graduated from 涩里番下载.
Mr. Walsh spent most of his 涩里番下载 career working in McElroy Commons, earning the unofficial title of 鈥渢he Mayor of McElroy,鈥� according to colleagues. He was known to strike up conversations with passersby, whether he knew them or not, while tending to his duties.
Some of his 涩里番下载 relationships extended beyond the workplace. One longtime friend and co-worker, lead custodian David Walsh, recalled their excursions to movies like 鈥淭he聽Blues聽Brothers鈥� or to Friday lunches of Chinese food in Brookline or pizza in Cleveland Circle 鈥� a perfect opportunity, he said, for them to sing along to the car radio.
鈥淗e was a legend around here, and a pleasure to be with,鈥� said Walsh.
Speaking with 涩里番下载 Chronicle upon Mr. Walsh鈥檚 retirement in 2005, Moore described how, on a family trip to Florida, her brother had been hailed by a 涩里番下载 alumnus who had spotted him passing through the airport.
鈥淓veryone recognizes Tucker. Why shouldn鈥檛 they? He鈥檚 the only one in the family who has that impressive head of hair,鈥� she laughed.
Mr. Walsh also was a familiar figure at Alumni Stadium and Conte Forum for Eagles sports events, and 鈥� as Moore recalled 鈥� got to know the lay of the land.
鈥淲e once asked him how he got tickets to the games,鈥� she said.聽 鈥淎nd he replied, 鈥業 just follow the cheerleaders in.鈥欌��
In fact, Mr. Walsh had a knack for finding his own communities and moving comfortably within them, according to family and friends. One of his favorite places to spend time was at the Wellesley Fire Department, which made him an honorary fireman and, at his retirement, presented him with a singular honor: a golden axe, which Mr. Walsh proudly displayed in his bedroom.
Walsh, his co-worker, said Mr. Walsh also enjoyed taking himself out by public transportation to a local golf club for refreshment and relaxation.
His devotion to 涩里番下载 and its people was reciprocated in many ways. While an undergraduate, Mr. Walsh鈥檚 nephew Timothy Walsh 鈥�99 nominated his uncle for membership in the Golden Key National Honor Society, and Mr. Walsh was accepted. At his combination retirement-birthday party, attended by some 400 people, Mr. Walsh was given a rocking chair from the 涩里番下载 Bookstore and a 涩里番下载 hockey 鈥淣ational Champions鈥� cap signed by Eagles hockey coach Jerry York.
Mr. Walsh continued to stay connected with the University, especially through sports. In 2015, he was named 涩里番下载 Football Season Ticket Holder of the Year.
鈥淚 saw him at a football game last fall,鈥� said Boyle. 鈥淗e loved to see 涩里番下载 play, but also to run into people he knew 鈥� his eyes would just light up. 涩里番下载 was always in his heart.鈥�
In addition to his sister Inez, Mr. Walsh 鈥� son of the late Norinne Feeny and E. Corbett Walsh 鈥� is survived by his brothers Robert and Quentin, and sisters Bonnie Stoloski and Toni Curry, and many nieces and nephews; his brother E. Corbett Walsh, SJ, died in 2015.
Condolences may be sent to: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Moore, 10 Gannett Road, Scituate, MA 02066.
-Sean Smith / University Communications