Thaddeus W. Pritchard Sr.

On December 30, 2025, Thaddeus Wilmont Pritchard Sr. claimed his seat in heaven, etching his memory in our hearts as one of the most loving people many of us will ever know. His life began on January 16, 1932, and he spent 93 years in this world, uplifting and caring deeply for everyone he held dear. He was the second of five children born to the late Robert James Pritchard and Corrine (Bryant) Pritchard of Charleston, South Carolina, and he moved to the city of Boston with his family in the late 1940s.
Later in life, Thaddeus would go on to attend Boston Trade High School where he'd study painting and design. A fierce competitor and a true lover of sports, Thaddeus excelled in football, track, and baseball. He was known as "Sawdust" by his classmates due to his quick speed, and easily recognized by his bow legs. After graduating, he served in the Air Force until he received an honorable discharge, then went on to work at Colonial Provisions meat packing house for many years. He later joined the US Postal Service and worked as a letter carrier, and it was unsurprising when he later accepted a job at the Shelburne Recreation Center, given his love of sports and his deep desire to help others. From there he would move on to work for the City of Boston, serving as a custodian for Boston Public Schools. Beyond his regular duties, Thaddeus also stepped up to serve as a coach and mentor for the staff and students.
He may not have known how big of a legacy he would leave behind when he met his wife, Margaret Wilson. They married her in 1952, and from their union, 9 children were born, including their son, Barry Leroy, who only lived for a few months. Early in their marriage, Thaddeus and Margaret joined New Hope Baptist Church where they were both baptized, and with a shared love for candlepin bowling, they started playing together at Huntington 55, later joining the Classic Bowling and I.C.B.L bowling leagues. Thaddeus and Margaret were both passionate about music and fierce swing dancers, but Thaddeus really loved soca and was always the first person on the dance floor.
Thaddeus found so much joy in planning road trips for his family. No vehicle could possibly suit him better than his luxury car of choice, a Ford station wagon, and he would eagerly pack up his wife, 8 kids, and the family dog, making frequent trips to New York, Pennsylvania, and places all up and down the east coast to visit family and attend his children' s sporting events. His beloved car bearing the "KIDS 8" license plate never failed to catch the eye of travelers as they passed by, and the car became a rolling symbol of togetherness. Throughout his life, whether it was in the rain, snow, sleet or hail, Thaddeus would attend all of his children's, grandchildren's, and great-grandchildren's sporting events. No matter the conditions, he was in his bleacher
seat, the stands, or on the sidelines cheering them on, creating irreplaceable memories in their lives to cherish forever.
Together, Thaddeus and his beloved wife Margaret fed absolutely everybody. They loved cooking Sunday breakfast for the family, their friends, and their neighbors. The Pritchard family was known for being welcoming, and especially, for helping those in need. Thaddeus and Margaret were married for 52 years until her passing on June 20, 2005.
Thaddeus was an avid sports fan and he loved watching and playing baseball. He was, of course, a die hard Red Sox fan, and for many years he played fast-pitch softball in the Boston Park League. His opponents knew he was a fast force to be reckoned with, and his children spent countless weekends watching him hook slide and bunt the ball to get on base. There wasn't a day that went by where Thaddeus didn't read the newspaper. He had a very unique way of folding the paper in order to read the sports box scores, with the Record American as his publication of choice.
Thaddeus was preceded in death by his wife Margaret (Wilson) Pritchard, his daughter Margaret E. Pritchard, II, his sons, Dennis Pritchard and Thaddeus Pritchard, Jr., his brother James C. Pritchard, and sisters, Lillian Pritchard and Leona (Pritchard) Diggs.
Left to cherish his memory are his daughters Corrine (Billy) McCollum, Denise Pritchard, Myra (Jeffery) Pritchard, Susan (Esau) Reid, his son Kenneth (Beverly) Pritchard, 23 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, and his Godson, Dennis White.
As we lay the beloved patriarch of our family to rest in the sweetest peace, we thank God for blessing us with such an incredible man to have loved us all so unconditionally. May his beautiful spirit continue to live on in all of us who meant the world to him in his life.