Thomas A. Cahir Jr.

CAHIR, THOMAS A. JR., 'PORKY', 73, of Eagle Run, Warwick, formerly of Providence, died Sunday at Philip Hulitar Hospice Center, Providence. He was the husband of Lucy D. (Noble) Cahir. They had been married 47 years.

Born in Providence, a son of the late Thomas A. and Margaret V. (Egan) Cahir, he had been raised in the Old North End, and later lived in the Elmhurst section of the city for many years before moving to Warwick in 2000. For 40 years Mr. Cahir had been employed by the City of Providence, starting in the Highway Dept. as a steamroller operator before moving to the Providence Redevelopment Agency, where he retired after more than 25 years. During that time he had also been a member of Laborers International Union, Local 1033.

A lifelong sports enthusiast, after giving up playing softball for Ace hardware and hanging up his hockey skates, he turned to officiating the sports he loved. In 1973 when Providence College built Schneider Arena for its hockey team, it was on the recommendation of friends that Mr. Cahir was chosen to man one of the goal judge booths. He remained at PC for over a quarter century, even when the Providence Bruins moved into the Civic Center and tried to lure him away. He had also umpired softball games for the American Softball Association for over 20 years and worked Little League games for several years. When not working on the baseball or softball diamonds or behind the glass at PC, he had worked as a funeral home assistant for many years. First at the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home in Providence and later at the Maceroni & Son Funeral Home in North Providence.

Growing up in a political family, his father had been a city councilman, Mr. Cahir worked behind the scenes on many campaigns, had been called upon by many candidates for endorsements, and had served on the Rhode Island Senatorial District 1 Committee for Senator Mary Ellen Goodwin. Mr. Cahir was a communicant of St. Mary Church in Crompton, and a former communicant of St. Pius V Church, and the Old Immaculate Conception Church, both in Providence. At St. Pius he had been treasurer of the Holy Name Society, a member of Club Dominicana, collected for the Catholic Charity Fund Appeal, an usher, and had played in its bowling league. As a young man he had been president of the Immaculate Conception Holy Name Society, and on two occasions acted as treasurer of its Reunion Committee.

He was an Army veteran of the Korean War, serving in Germany. He was also a member of the Mount Pleasant Senior Citizens. A lifelong Red Sox fan, he had been thrilled to see his team win the World Series in 2004, and was a fan of the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, PC Hockey Friars and Notre Dame Fighting Irish football.

Besides his wife, he leaves two sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas A. Cahir III and Ann Cahir of Cranston, and Timothy N. and Wendy Cahir of Crystal Lake, IL, two daughters and a son-in-law, Marylou Cahir and Phil Kumpis of Hermosa Beach, CA, and Dianne Cahir of Duarte, CA; a brother, Robert J. Cahir of Warwick; six grandchildren, Ian, Dylan, Katie and Michael Cahir, and Kelly and Ryan Kumpis; and two nieces and a nephew.

The funeral will be held Friday at 8:15 a.m. from the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 142 Centerville Road, Warwick. Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. Gregory the Great Church, 360 Cowesett Rd. Burial, with military honors, will follow in R.I. Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. Visitation Thursday 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Michael J. Gonsalves Scholarship Fund at Rhode Island College, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Prov., RI 02908 or St. Mary Church, 66 Church St., West Warwick, RI 02893, in his memory, will be appreciated.