T.R. Kerr Thomas R. Kerr

Thomas Roland Kerr, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 89. Born on the Fourth of July 1935, in Flushing, New York, Tom was the son of Arthur and Bertha Kerr and the brother to John and Peter, both of whom predeceased him. He was married to Harriet and later to Laura, both of whom he outlived. A proud father, he is survived by his children: John and his wife Victoria, Scott and his wife Teena, and Karin, engaged to Michael, stepdaughters Lisa McRae and her husband Howard, Katie Crenshaw and her husband John. He was predeceased by his son Thomas II who was married to Janice, as well as by his stepson John Murrell McRae who was married to Sandy. Tom's life was further enriched by the joy of many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a great-great-granddaughter, all of whom will carry forward his memory with love. A graduate of Gloucester High School and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Tom's early years were spent working on the family's dairy farm. After college Tom served in the Army reserves. His robust work ethic eventually led him to a successful career in building materials, first with Midland Lumber and then with Black Millwork. In 1979 he partnered with Jay Ruhle to buy Reeb Millwork. The business served eastern PA distributing Andersen Windows and had 17 employees. By the 1990's Reeb had become one of the largest Andersen Window distributors in the country serving areas of the mid-Atlantic, New England, and Pacific Northwest. In 2003 Reeb parted ways with Andersen and turned their sites on fabricating and distributing interior and exterior doors. When Tom and Jay sold the business in 2021 it was one of the largest door fabricators in the country serving an area from Maine to Georgia and had 1,200+ employees. Tom was a passionate collector of everything that had to do with classic cars. He was a world-renowned collector of Packard cars, car literature, and car memorabilia. He also had many close friends that he would travel the world with, in search of the next treasure. He was a long-time member of the Classic Car Club of America A fervent New York Giants fan, Tom became a season ticket holder in 1962. He reveled in the excitement of the game, attending numerous playoff games and witnessing in person four of the five Super Bowls in which his beloved team competed. Tom's love for motorsport also saw him at the iconic Indianapolis 500, where he enjoyed many races alongside family, friends, and business associates. Tom's dedication to the values of brotherhood and service was evident in his lifelong involvement with the Massachusetts Freemasons. Tom will be buried at Locust Grove Cemetery in Gloucester, MA. There will be a celebration of Tom's life at the Cruiseport Gloucester, 6 Rowe Sq in Gloucester, MA on Sunday September 29th between 4 – 7 PM As we remember Thomas Roland Kerr, we celebrate a life lived with unwavering passion, intelligence, and hard work. His impact on his family and his business was profound and will be felt for generations to come. He will be deeply missed, yet his spirit will continue to guide and inspire all who were fortunate enough to have known him.