Obituary for Thomas F. Megan
Thomas F. Megan, beloved husband of Claire H. (Russell) Megan, a longtime resident of Wellesley, passed away suddenly Jan. 8 at the age of 88 surrounded by his loving family.
Tom approached life with great joy, optimism, passion and generosity and brought that to all he did as a music-lover, golfer, professional, and most of all as a husband and father.
As the devoted father of six children and nine grandchildren, all of whom adored him, Tom helped to shape their lives in important ways, attending their games and concerts, reading to them, encouraging their music-making, and introducing them to the game of golf. He loved to make them laugh, even if it annoyed them.
A sense of playfulness and humor infused everything he did as he would encourage his children and grandchildren to "roar like a lion" or “slay the dragon” as they headed off to school. He loved to sing and if he didn't know the words, he would make them up.
Tom, who was most recently living at North Hill in Needham, was born the son of Emily A. Moran and Thomas F. Megan on Oct. 28, 1930 in Watertown, MA. He grew up during the Depression and when his family had to move into a smaller house, it proved serendipitous because it was on the edge of Oakley Country Club.
Soon young Tom was working as a caddy and slipping onto the golf course, sharpening his game whenever he could.
He had a lovely voice as a child and when a member of Trinity Church in Boston heard him sing a solo at his elementary school, Tom was invited to join that church’s prestigious boys' choir.
Tom went on to Boston College graduated cum laude in 1952 and was a member of the BC golf team that won the New England College Intercollegiate Golf Championship in 1952. He was also president of the music club, which included the chorus, orchestra and band.
Shortly after graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and served as a Lieutenant Junior Grade, teaching at the U.S. Naval prep-school in Bainbridge, MD.
For 65 years, the center of his life was his childhood sweetheart, Claire. Tom was smitten from the moment he met Claire in dancing school. She was 12 and he was 13. From then on, there was no other for him and together they fashioned a marriage --- based on love, respect, generosity and fun -- that was a model for all who knew them.
Tom spent most of his career working as a partner for the former Big Eight firm known then as Touche Ross -- now known as Deloitte.
For six years, he ran the Worcester office for Touche Ross and was a member of the Worcester Airport Commission.
Later, he moved to Wellesley where he spent most of his life and was an active member of St. John the Evangelist.
He also kept up his passion for golf as a member of Weston Golf Club for over 40 years and served as treasurer. He played regularly right through last fall, taking his sons and grandsons out for rounds.
When he retired from Touche Ross, a younger partner said he had achieved “an enviable balance” of career and family.
He led an active retirement with lots of travel, golf and music, most recently singing in a chorus in Needham. When he was 76, he took up guitar and at 85, thanks to a loving gift from a daughter-in-law, he started painting.
Besides his wife Tom leaves his children, Kathleen Megan and husband Peter Pach of Middle Haddam, CT; Tom Megan and his wife Diane Edgecomb of Jamaica Plain, Jack Megan of Concord; Robert Megan and his wife, Carrie of Wellesley; Carolyn Megan and her partner, Michael Gelsanliter of Portland, ME; David Megan and his wife Wendy Millette of Concord.
He also leaves his sisters, Janet Greehan, a longtime resident of Belmont and Katharine Row, a longtime resident of Weston.
He also leaves nine grandchildren, Nell, Sam, Matthew, Claire, Emma, Julia, Evan, Katie and Ben, as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents and his daughter-in-law Sarah Gray Megan.
Family and friends are invited to a celebration of his life with a wake scheduled Thursday, January 10, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Burke Funeral Home, 56 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA.
A Mass celebrating his life will be held on Friday, January 11 at 10 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church 9 Glen Street, Wellesley MA. Burial at Woodlawn Cemetery in Wellesley will follow.
Donations may be made to: the Blessed John XXII National Seminary in Weston, MA and to the Pine Street Inn in Boston
Tom approached life with great joy, optimism, passion and generosity and brought that to all he did as a music-lover, golfer, professional, and most of all as a husband and father.
As the devoted father of six children and nine grandchildren, all of whom adored him, Tom helped to shape their lives in important ways, attending their games and concerts, reading to them, encouraging their music-making, and introducing them to the game of golf. He loved to make them laugh, even if it annoyed them.
A sense of playfulness and humor infused everything he did as he would encourage his children and grandchildren to "roar like a lion" or “slay the dragon” as they headed off to school. He loved to sing and if he didn't know the words, he would make them up.
Tom, who was most recently living at North Hill in Needham, was born the son of Emily A. Moran and Thomas F. Megan on Oct. 28, 1930 in Watertown, MA. He grew up during the Depression and when his family had to move into a smaller house, it proved serendipitous because it was on the edge of Oakley Country Club.
Soon young Tom was working as a caddy and slipping onto the golf course, sharpening his game whenever he could.
He had a lovely voice as a child and when a member of Trinity Church in Boston heard him sing a solo at his elementary school, Tom was invited to join that church’s prestigious boys' choir.
Tom went on to Boston College graduated cum laude in 1952 and was a member of the BC golf team that won the New England College Intercollegiate Golf Championship in 1952. He was also president of the music club, which included the chorus, orchestra and band.
Shortly after graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and served as a Lieutenant Junior Grade, teaching at the U.S. Naval prep-school in Bainbridge, MD.
For 65 years, the center of his life was his childhood sweetheart, Claire. Tom was smitten from the moment he met Claire in dancing school. She was 12 and he was 13. From then on, there was no other for him and together they fashioned a marriage --- based on love, respect, generosity and fun -- that was a model for all who knew them.
Tom spent most of his career working as a partner for the former Big Eight firm known then as Touche Ross -- now known as Deloitte.
For six years, he ran the Worcester office for Touche Ross and was a member of the Worcester Airport Commission.
Later, he moved to Wellesley where he spent most of his life and was an active member of St. John the Evangelist.
He also kept up his passion for golf as a member of Weston Golf Club for over 40 years and served as treasurer. He played regularly right through last fall, taking his sons and grandsons out for rounds.
When he retired from Touche Ross, a younger partner said he had achieved “an enviable balance” of career and family.
He led an active retirement with lots of travel, golf and music, most recently singing in a chorus in Needham. When he was 76, he took up guitar and at 85, thanks to a loving gift from a daughter-in-law, he started painting.
Besides his wife Tom leaves his children, Kathleen Megan and husband Peter Pach of Middle Haddam, CT; Tom Megan and his wife Diane Edgecomb of Jamaica Plain, Jack Megan of Concord; Robert Megan and his wife, Carrie of Wellesley; Carolyn Megan and her partner, Michael Gelsanliter of Portland, ME; David Megan and his wife Wendy Millette of Concord.
He also leaves his sisters, Janet Greehan, a longtime resident of Belmont and Katharine Row, a longtime resident of Weston.
He also leaves nine grandchildren, Nell, Sam, Matthew, Claire, Emma, Julia, Evan, Katie and Ben, as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents and his daughter-in-law Sarah Gray Megan.
Family and friends are invited to a celebration of his life with a wake scheduled Thursday, January 10, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Burke Funeral Home, 56 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA.
A Mass celebrating his life will be held on Friday, January 11 at 10 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church 9 Glen Street, Wellesley MA. Burial at Woodlawn Cemetery in Wellesley will follow.
Donations may be made to: the Blessed John XXII National Seminary in Weston, MA and to the Pine Street Inn in Boston