Frederick John Toomey

Frederick John Toomey, 80, of New Bedford, passed away on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, after a courageous & hard-fought battle with cancer.
Fred was a proud yet humble lifelong resident of New Bedford and made it his quiet mission in life to make New Bedford a better place for everyone. From helping senior citizens, to teaching young ones how to succeed in school, work and life, all while giving back to the community, Fred's love and passion for the city was impalpable.
Fred was a 1963 graduate of the Electrical Department at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. After graduating, he proudly enlisted in the United States Naval Reserves, ironically one day before he received his draft notice for the Army. His Naval Service took him through 2 tours in Vietnam, where he was a member of the First Nuclear Task Force in Combat, aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. There, he attained the Rank of Electricians Mate 2nd Class (E5). His tour of service ended in the port of San Francisco in 1968, where he decided to become a "roadie" for the touring Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons. That tour returned him to the East Coast and his home, New Bedford, where he would build his family and career.
Fred met the love of his life, Maryanne, in 1969 and it didn't take long for their love to turn into a beautiful 54 year marriage, which began in 1970, followed by the birth of their beloved 3 children Sean, Maureen and Kathleen. There was no stronger love than his family for Fred.
Fred was a lifetime member of the IBEW Local 103 since 1963 and taught as an apprentice instructor for 8 years. He served on the Executive Board & as the Board of Trustees Chair in 1974-75; his years with the Union all culminating in his hiring in 1972 as an Electrical Instructor at Greater New Bedford Voke. He would retire in 2005 and he immediately became a passionate member of the GNBRVTHS School Committee and as Chairman of the Regional School Committee in 2013-2014 and became one of Voke's strongest advocates in the school's historic renovation.
He would always spread his impact through various projects throughout New Bedford. He served on the NB Airport Commission from 1982-1990 and as Chairman in 1983-1984. In 2001, he turned his attention to the Seamen's Bethel, joining the NB Port Society in 2001 and becoming its President, serving from 2012-2023. Alongside his best friend, Bruce Oliveira ("Frick & Frack" as they were known), they set out to restore the Bethel to its original beauty, which they accomplished with the help and financial support of so many of their friends and supporters. Not a day went by when Fred didn't visit the Bethel, either to check its structural standing or simply to watch all the folks visiting our little piece of literary history. Fred and Bruce were, in turn, named The Standard-Times New Bedford Co-Men of the Year in 2017, for their constant determination in saving the building which, to this day, traditionally honors New Bedford Fishermen lost at sea.
Fred's love of his community was felt through his membership with the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Through his connection to his Irish heritage, and with his Friendly Son brothers, his compassionate outreach would touch our city & beyond, as he was honored by the Clann na Gael for his contributions to them in celebrating the anniversary of great Catalpa prison escape. In 1992, The Friendly Sons named Fred their "Person of the Year".
His kind-hearted spirit and sense of generosity stemmed from his faith and Fred was the humble recipient of the 1994 Marian Medal, for his work with the Catholic church. You could most certainly find Fred at the entrance of St. Julie's each Sunday morning for 9 AM Mass, as a greeter and usher.
Fred was the embodiment of the "spirit of giving back", leading by example, of faith, of family and of friends, and that will be his legacy.
Fred leaves behind his loving wife, Maryanne (Murphy), two daughters, Maureen Patricia of Easton and Kathleen Anne of New Bedford, and his sister Patricia Stinson and her husband Richard of New Bedford. He is pre-deceased by his beloved son, Sean Patrick and his parents, John and Helen Toomey. Fred will be missed by his wonderful nieces and nephews as well as a very close core of dedicated friends.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 10 AM at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Rd., Dartmouth, with everyone invited to meet directly at Church. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held Friday, November 8th from 3-7 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. A scholarship fund has been established at NB Voke, in Fred's name. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to GNBRVTHS c/o Frederick J. Toomey, 1121 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford, MA 02745, or to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215. For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.