Thomas Francis Ward

It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, Thomas Francis Ward, age 83, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease. A battle that he fought with the utmost resolve and dignity.

Tom was born on July 6, 1941, and grew up in Medford, Massachusetts. Soon after graduating, he proudly served his country as a petty officer in the U.S. Navy. He married his loving wife of 59 years Vivian Marie on October 9, 1965. They eventually settled and raised a family in Reading, MA in a house that Tom built all while working full time. He started his career as a master tradesman and was involved in several award-winning projects in Boston as a bricklayer. Then while still working as a tradesman and raising a family, he returned to school and earned his master's degree. At that point, he left the trade and began a long and rewarding career as the Director of the Co-op Program at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School where he worked until his retirement.

Tom was a quintessential family man in every sense of the word. A loving and supportive husband and caring and compassionate father, grandfather, and brother. He would always go out of his way to do anything for family member or friend alike yet expected nothing in return. No ask of him was too big. He was great and wonderful man and so impressionable that he left an indelible mark on all who knew and met him. It does not matter if you knew Tom for 30 years or 30 days. The resulting opinion was the same; one of universal admiration and respect. Whittier students who had not seen him in decades, still remembered his name, recognized him, and spoke of him with great fondness while addressing him as Mr. Ward which is how they were taught. He had a great passion for golf and tennis and continued to play regularly until well into his 70s winning several tennis tournaments at their winter home in Naples, Florida.

He is survived by his wife Marie, his son Thomas and daughter Christine, and their spouses Brenda and Anestis, his grandchildren Vanessa, Cameron, Jason, Kayla, and Tyler, his sister Carol, and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.

We his family members loved him deeply and will miss him greatly. But amid our pain, we draw comfort and take solace in knowing that his suffering is over, and he is now at peace in a better place. He has blessed us with a lifetime of wonderful memories that will forever remain near and dear to our hearts. May he rest in peace.

In lieu of flowers, please make to make a donation to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in Tom's honor.