Thomas T. WALSH

1929 - 2018

WALSH, Thomas T. On October 6, 2018, Thomas Timothy Walsh, loving husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, and founder of Ocean Properties Hotels Resorts & Affiliates, passed away peacefully at the age of 88, surrounded by his family. Mr. Walsh was born on October 8, 1929 in Bangor, Maine to Frances "Paddy" and Beatrice (Elliott) Walsh. Tom's father, Paddy, was born in County Laois, Ireland and in 1899 stowed away on a boat to Canada, eventually making his way to the United States. Over the years, the family remained close to and often visited their relatives in Ireland. The Emerald Isle held a special place in Tom's heart and soul. As a boy, Tom loved sports and was a good athlete. He graduated from Bangor High School, and worked with his father, Paddy, as a traveling salesmen selling door-to-door. In the early 1960s they opened Bangor/Brewer Bedding Company on Wilson Street in Brewer and in 1969, Tom opened his first hotel in Brewer, Maine -- the start of what would be a long and illustrious career in the hospitality business. From there he continued his passion to build hotels across North America -- from Key West, Florida to Bar Harbor, Maine, from Montreal, Québec to Victoria, British Columbia and throughout the Southwest U.S. -- creating what is now Ocean Properties Hotels Resorts & Affiliates. Today the portfolio includes over 110 hotels in North America and remains family owned and operated by his children. Ocean Properties was Tom's lifeblood and he loved working with his family every day, building a company that valued long-term employees, and dear friends. He remained working in his office until his last days. Tom had a tireless work ethic, an uncanny knack for business, and a unique creative insight and vision for the hospitality industry. He had a quick smile, a great laugh, and loved to kid around. He had a wonderfully charitable spirit, helping so many people over his long life in so many incredible ways. He cherished his time with family and friends and loved animals. Tom loved relaxing by the water with his wife Linda, and his dogs and cat in New Hampshire and Florida, or wherever their many travels took them. Tom was preceded in death by his daughter Mary, his father, Paddy, his mother, Beatrice, and his brother Patrick and Patrick's wife Marion. He is survived by his wife Linda Walsh of Key West, Florida, and his children: Michael Walsh of Delray Beach, Florida, Mark and Rebecca Walsh of Gulfstream, Florida, Billy Walsh of Delray Beach, Florida, Joseph and Suzanne (Walsh) Lanigan of Gulfstream, Florida, Patrick and Karen Walsh of Rye, New Hampshire, and Thomas and Heidi (Walsh) Varley of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Tom also is survived by nine nieces and nephews, his 18 grandchildren: Michael, Jenna, Tricia, Michelle, Anna, Kathleen, Thomas, Caroline, Camden, Camron, John-Patrick, Sean, Emma, Erin, Erica, Neale, Tess, and Mitchel, as well as two great-grandchildren Tess and Enzo. Relatives and friends are invited to call 4:00PM to 7:30PM Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, Maine. A Funeral Mass will be held 11:00AM Wednesday October 10, 2018 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John's Catholic Church, 217 York St. Bangor, followed by the Rite of Committal at Mt. Pleasant Catholic Cemetery, Bangor, Maine. Those wishing to remember Tom in a special way may make donations in his memory to the Florida Keys SPCA Inc. animal shelter, 5230 College Rd., Key West, Florida 33040 or The Mitchell Institute in Maine, 75 Washington Ave., Suite 2E, Portland, Maine 04101. Condolences to the family may be expressed at (BrookingsSmith.com).