Mr. Thomas F. McKay

March 1, 1946 - February 9, 2014

Thomas F. McKay Loving Husband, Father, and Grandfather LOWELL— Thomas F. McKay passed away on Sunday afternoon, February 9, 2014 at his home, surrounded by the love of his family. Tom was the beloved husband of Lorraine F. “Lori” (Rourke) McKay, with whom he celebrated 44 years of marriage. Thomas F. McKay was born in Boston’s Dorchester Neighborhood on March 1, 1946, the only son of the late Thomas F. and Helen V. (McTighe) McKay. He was a graduate of the Immaculate Conception Grammar School, Lowell High School, and attended Mount Wachusett Community College. Tom served for 6 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. Tom was the former proprietor of Hynes Tavern in Lowell. While at Hynes’, Tom initiated the “Irish Feet are Running Road Race,” one of the longest consecutively run Road Races in the City. In 1989 Tom became the General Manager of the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Six years later he formed Mill City Management, Inc. and continued, with his partners, to manage the Auditorium as President and CEO, until his retirement in June of last year. Tom was a Corporator, Trustee and Member of the Executive Board of the Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank and a Corporator, Trustee, and Member of the Executive Board of Lowell General Hospital. He was also a former Member of the Lowell Plan Executive Committee, a former Chairman of the Lowell Board of Appeals, a Director of the Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Board, and a Member of the Lowell Chamber of Commerce. Tom was a parishioner of the Immaculate Conception Church in Lowell and Star of the Sea Church in Salisbury. At the Immaculate, Tom was a member of the Parish Golf Committee, the St. Vincent de Paul, and a past recipient of the Immaculate Conception School Distinguished Graduate Award. In addition to the Immaculate Conception, Tom served on many Charitable Golf Committees, including the Steve Ronan Jimmy Fund and the Greater Lowell Boy Scouts Golf Committees. He was a former member of Vesper Country Club. Throughout his professional career, Tom received countless awards and was recognized for the many acts of charity and goodwill he carried out. He was the Grand Marshall of The City of Lights Parade , recognized as the “Man of the Year” by both Keith Catholic and the Boy Scouts of America, as well as receiving the Bishop McNamara Award for Community Service and the Thomas F. McKay Tourism Award, just to name a few. Tom McKay was a major contributor in improving his local community. While Tom led a very busy professional life, he was a family man to the core and his family was always his first priority. His devotion and affection for his wife Lori and daughters Jennifer and Meredith were unwavering and always obvious. Tom was blessed with two beautiful granddaughters, Madison and Mia, and in his last days another blessing came into Tom’s world; his first grandson, James Thomas. Tom is survived by his wife Lorraine R.”Lori” (Rourke) McKay of Salisbury; his two daughters, Jennifer A. McKay Marsh and her husband James M. Marsh of Lynn, and Meredith F. McKay of Lowell; three grandchildren, Madison Nancy Marsh, Mia Isabelle McKay and James Thomas Marsh; his niece and nephew, Lee Ann Davis of Groton and Richard Villeneuve of Ashland; his cousins in the Anacone and Robinson Families; his God Son, David A. Hall of Lowell; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Frank L. Rourke of Lowell and Joann and Ed Nelson of Merrimack, NH. Tom was also the nephew of his dear Aunt, the late Mary Isabelle “Mabel” McKay, and the late Rev. William F. McKay, O.M.I. FUNERAL NOTICE McKAY—In Salisbury, February 9, 2014 at his home, Thomas F. McKay, 67, the loving husband of Lori (Rourke) McKay. Family and friends may call at the FAY McCABE FUNERAL HOME, 105 MOORE STREET, LOWELL, on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2014 from 2 until 7 P.M. Tom’s Funeral Mass will take place on THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 at 10 o’clock in ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH, corner of Cross and Suffolk Sts. Lowell. FRIENDS ARE ASKED TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE CHURCH ON THURSDAY MORNING. As an expression of sympathy, donations in Tom’s memory may be made to The Immaculate Conception School Endowment Fund, 3 Fayette Street, Lowell, MA 01852 or to the Lowell General Hospital Legacy Fund, Philanthropy Office, 295 Varnum Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854. ARRANGEMENTS BY THE FAY McCABE FUNERAL DIRECTORS, 978-459-9222. www.faymccabe.com