Thomas Walsh

Watertown - Mr. Thomas Walsh, died Thursday, February 23, 2012 in Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge. He was 78.

Tom was born on August 23, 1933 in Galway, Ireland. Raised in Annascaul, County Kerry, Ireland Tom always considered himself a "Kerry man". He was a police officer with An Garda Síochána in Dublin. While in Dublin he met Anne C. Sharkey. He moved to the United States in 1957. Tom and Anne married on April 19, 1958 in St. Mary's Church in Brookline and lived in Roslindale for over 32 years where they raised and educated their family. Upon his retirement they moved to Watertown in 1998.

Tom was appointed to the Boston Police Department on September 30, 1964 where he served with the department's Tactical Patrol Force in the old District One in Boston's North End. On January 31, 1997 he retired after 30 years of service to the police department. In 1980, he was awarded a medal of honor for his heroic efforts for saving a young boy from a fire. He was a member of the Boston Patrolman's Association and the Retired Patrolman's Association.

He loved history, a good round of golf and American football. Mindful, loyal and proud his Irish heritage Tom also was fluent in Gaelic. In the end what Tom loved most was watching his grandchildren either at a sporting event or when the family gathered.

In addition to his wife of 54 years, Anne, he leaves his children, Kevin B. Walsh and his partner, Peter McCabe, in New Mexico, Kathleen M. Walsh of Arlington, Brendan P. Walsh (B.P.D. Area D -14) and his wife, Grace, of Needham, Emmet T. Walsh (B.P.D. Area A-1) and his wife, Gabriela, of Sandwich, Michael W. Walsh (Lt. Suffolk Sherriff's Dept.) and his wife, Crystal, of Watertown, and Patricia E. Walsh – Shea and her husband, Robert, of Charlestown; his siblings, Enda Walsh of Mayo, Ireland, Micheál Breathnach of Kerry, Ireland, Nuala Walsh and Maeve Cronin, both of Dublin and Evelyn Brennan of Long Island, New York; his grandchildren, Tess, Ryan, Annemarie, Matthew, Gabriela, Casey, Graham, Thomas, Jake, Catherine, Maeve and Aidan; his brother-in-law, Patrick "Christy" Sharkey of Watertown; nieces and nephews and an extended family in Ireland.

Family and friends will honor and remember Tom's life by gathering for calling hours at the Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday, February 26th from 2 to 6 and again at 9:30 a.m. on Monday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Ridgelawn Cemetery, Watertown.

Memorials in his name may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780.

~~~ Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam (May his good soul be at the right hand of God) ~~~