Waltham Asst. City Clerk Thomas J. Curtin Waltham, Massachusetts Obituary

Waltham Asst. City Clerk Thomas J. Curtin

<p>Of Waltham, passed away peacefully with loving family by his side Friday evening December 2nd, 2016 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after a long illness at the age of 59. </p><p><br></p><p>Born on August 30,1957 in Cambridge; son of the late Joseph Andrew Curtin and Mary Catherine (Donlon) Curtin, Tom was raised in Cambridge and lived for a brief period of time in Newton. Family was always important to Tom so with him being from Cambridge and Tricia being from Newton, they decided to meet in the middle and settled in Waltham 30 years ago.</p><p><br></p><p>Tom graduated President of his class in 1976 and served as a student member of the Cambridge School Committee when he attended Cambridge's Rindge School of Technical Arts, before it merged with the school now known as Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. He furthered his education at Northeastern University in Boston.</p><p><br></p><p>His professional and civic career was one of always helping others and giving back to his community. He found throughout his career that his true passion in life came from helping others in any way possible. Tom began his career as an Athletic Trainer at Cambridge Rindge &amp; Latin High School for 13 years. During the summers, he would work as the athletic trainer for a camp with Coach Mike Jarvis called Shoot Straight, because everyone needs a coach. As hard as it was to leave Cambridge Rindge &amp; Latin, Tom said that they had “an attic full of thank you notes and a basement full of bills.” Tom went to work with his best friend managing a video store, Movies on Video, in Watertown &amp; Melrose. He loved the business and when his daughter was born, donated three VCR players to Newton Wellesley Hospital from the store so new parents wouldn’t have to wait for the only one available to circulate. He then started working for a small company in the arsenal building in Watertown called LifeLine as a Customer Service Representative and quickly worked his way up to Communications Manager. He helped the company expand and grow through the years and was recognized with an achievement award for his dedication and hard work. He went on to another customer service position and was Vice-President of Communications with the Jeepers Company in Waltham &amp; Burlington. Throughout the years he sought positions in customer service with ADP in Waltham, Mutual of New York Life Ins., and Harrison Transportation. He loved his time in the cars at Harrison chatting with each passenger about their lives, always looking to make a difference in someone’s day even it if was just a shared laugh. </p><p><br></p><p>Tom’s greatest enjoyment came from giving back to his community, although his roots came from Cambridge, Waltham was his home. This is something he learned from his parents and made sure to pass on to his own children. On January 6, 2002, Tom successfully ran for Waltham City Council representing Ward Four. He served in numerous capacities while serving on the council; on the Ordinances &amp; Rules Committee, as Chairman of License &amp; Franchise Committee, Chairman of Finance, Vice - President of the Waltham City Council and earned the respect and admiration of his peers and was elected President of the Waltham City Council. He had a lifelong passion for politics. </p><p><br></p><p>After the retirement of the former Assistant City Clerk, Tom stepped down from his position as City Councillor and was appointed City of Waltham Assistant City Clerk on July 1, 2013. </p><p><br></p><p>He was a former officer of the Cambridge Lodge of Elks and an Irish member of the Sons of Italy in Waltham.</p><p><br></p><p>Throughout his children’s lives, whatever they participated in, Tom did too. He and Tricia were heavily involved in many of their activities including Warrendale Little League, President of the Fitzgerald Elementary School P.T.O. and the Waltham Show Choir. When he couldn’t serve as a coach or on a board, he was in the stands cheering louder than anyone else.</p><p><br></p><p>In his spare time, he was an avid reader, loved doing puzzles and playing (winning) trivia. He refused to switch to an e-reader because he like the feeling of a real book in his hands. Tom loved trivia because he always loved the Why, and when he found the answer to that why, he always shared. Did you know that you hold the door for a lady because originally their hoop skirts would not allow them to get the door themselves? </p><p><br></p><p>In addition to his loving parents, Tom is predeceased by his sisters Mary Ellen McCarthy and Helen Anne Stavro, brothers-in-law Frank McCarthy and Joseph Hamel, his sister-in-law Mary Celi, and his mother-in-law Winnifred Conneely. He is survived by his beloved wife of 34 years Patricia A. (Conneely), his devoted &amp; loving children Christina A. Curtin of Waltham, Kevin T. Curtin and his fiancé Patti Anne Browne of South Dennis, and Andrew J. Curtin of Waltham, his dear siblings, Joseph J. Curtin and his wife Maureen of Milton, NH and Anne Marie Hamel of Billerica, his sisters-in-law Eileen Andrew and Kathy Jordan-Quern and brothers-in-law Dann Stavro, Frank Celi, Edward Andrews and Patrick Conneely and father-in-law Patrick Conneely. In addition, he is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will miss him dearly. </p><p><br></p><p>Relatives &amp; friends are respectfully invited to attend Visiting Hours in the Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco &amp; Sons Memorial, 773 Moody Street, WALTHAM on Thursday Dec. 8th from 2 - 8 p.m. Parking attendants will be on duty. A Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of Tom's Life will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 311 River Street, Waltham on Friday morning Dec. 9th at 10:00 a.m. Committal ceremonies will follow at Mount Feake Cemetery in Waltham. </p><p><br></p><p>Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Thomas J. Curtin Memorial Fund: </p><p><br></p><p>Watertown Savings Bank</p><p>c/o Bill Burgess</p><p>10 Bigelow Avenue</p><p>Watertown, MA 02472</p><p>https://www.gofundme.com/thomas-j-curtin-memorial-fund</p>
August 30, 1957 - December 2, 201608/30/195712/02/2016
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Waltham Asst. City Clerk Thomas J. Curtin
Waltham Asst. City Clerk Thomas J. Curtin

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Of Waltham, passed away peacefully with loving family by his side Friday evening December 2nd, 2016 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after a long illness at the age of 59.


Born on August 30,1957 in Cambridge; son of the late Joseph Andrew Curtin and Mary Catherine (Donlon) Curtin, Tom was raised in Cambridge and lived for a brief period of time in Newton. Family was always important to Tom so with him being from Cambridge and Tricia being from Newton, they decided to meet in the middle and settled in Waltham 30 years ago.


Tom graduated President of his class in 1976 and served as a student member of the Cambridge School Committee when he attended Cambridge's Rindge School of Technical Arts, before it merged with the school now known as Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. He furthered his education at Northeastern University in Boston.


His professional and civic career was one of always helping others and giving back to his community. He found throughout his career that his true passion in life came from helping others in any way possible. Tom began his career as an Athletic Trainer at Cambridge Rindge & Latin High School for 13 years. During the summers, he would work as the athletic trainer for a camp with Coach Mike Jarvis called Shoot Straight, because everyone needs a coach. As hard as it was to leave Cambridge Rindge & Latin, Tom said that they had “an attic full of thank you notes and a basement full of bills.” Tom went to work with his best friend managing a video store, Movies on Video, in Watertown & Melrose. He loved the business and when his daughter was born, donated three VCR players to Newton Wellesley Hospital from the store so new parents wouldn’t have to wait for the only one available to circulate. He then started working for a small company in the arsenal building in Watertown called LifeLine as a Customer Service Representative and quickly worked his way up to Communications Manager. He helped the company expand and grow through the years and was recognized with an achievement award for his dedication and hard work. He went on to another customer service position and was Vice-President of Communications with the Jeepers Company in Waltham & Burlington. Throughout the years he sought positions in customer service with ADP in Waltham, Mutual of New York Life Ins., and Harrison Transportation. He loved his time in the cars at Harrison chatting with each passenger about their lives, always looking to make a difference in someone’s day even it if was just a shared laugh.


Tom’s greatest enjoyment came from giving back to his community, although his roots came from Cambridge, Waltham was his home. This is something he learned from his parents and made sure to pass on to his own children. On January 6, 2002, Tom successfully ran for Waltham City Council representing Ward Four. He served in numerous capacities while serving on the council; on the Ordinances & Rules Committee, as Chairman of License & Franchise Committee, Chairman of Finance, Vice - President of the Waltham City Council and earned the respect and admiration of his peers and was elected President of the Waltham City Council. He had a lifelong passion for politics.


After the retirement of the former Assistant City Clerk, Tom stepped down from his position as City Councillor and was appointed City of Waltham Assistant City Clerk on July 1, 2013.


He was a former officer of the Cambridge Lodge of Elks and an Irish member of the Sons of Italy in Waltham.


Throughout his children’s lives, whatever they participated in, Tom did too. He and Tricia were heavily involved in many of their activities including Warrendale Little League, President of the Fitzgerald Elementary School P.T.O. and the Waltham Show Choir. When he couldn’t serve as a coach or on a board, he was in the stands cheering louder than anyone else.


In his spare time, he was an avid reader, loved doing puzzles and playing (winning) trivia. He refused to switch to an e-reader because he like the feeling of a real book in his hands. Tom loved trivia because he always loved the Why, and when he found the answer to that why, he always shared. Did you know that you hold the door for a lady because originally their hoop skirts would not allow them to get the door themselves?


In addition to his loving parents, Tom is predeceased by his sisters Mary Ellen McCarthy and Helen Anne Stavro, brothers-in-law Frank McCarthy and Joseph Hamel, his sister-in-law Mary Celi, and his mother-in-law Winnifred Conneely. He is survived by his beloved wife of 34 years Patricia A. (Conneely), his devoted & loving children Christina A. Curtin of Waltham, Kevin T. Curtin and his fiancé Patti Anne Browne of South Dennis, and Andrew J. Curtin of Waltham, his dear siblings, Joseph J. Curtin and his wife Maureen of Milton, NH and Anne Marie Hamel of Billerica, his sisters-in-law Eileen Andrew and Kathy Jordan-Quern and brothers-in-law Dann Stavro, Frank Celi, Edward Andrews and Patrick Conneely and father-in-law Patrick Conneely. In addition, he is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will miss him dearly.


Relatives & friends are respectfully invited to attend Visiting Hours in the Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco & Sons Memorial, 773 Moody Street, WALTHAM on Thursday Dec. 8th from 2 - 8 p.m. Parking attendants will be on duty. A Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of Tom's Life will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 311 River Street, Waltham on Friday morning Dec. 9th at 10:00 a.m. Committal ceremonies will follow at Mount Feake Cemetery in Waltham.


Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Thomas J. Curtin Memorial Fund:


Watertown Savings Bank

c/o Bill Burgess

10 Bigelow Avenue

Watertown, MA 02472

https://www.gofundme.com/thomas-j-curtin-memorial-fund

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Events

Dec
08
First Visitation
Thursday, December 08 2016
02:00 PM - 08:00 PM
The Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco & Sons
773 Moody Street
WALTHAM, MA 02453
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Dec
09
Service
Friday, December 09 2016
10:00 AM
Sacred Heart Church Waltham
311 River Street
WALTHAM, MA 02453
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Final Resting Place
Mount Feake Cemetery
203 Prospect Street
WALTHAM, MA 02453
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