Lifelong resident and former Mayor of Newton Thomas Concannon Jr., passed away on July 28, 2018. After graduating from Newton High School in 1957, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Boston College in 1961. He later received a master’s degree in elementary education from UMass Boston. He taught fifth grade for three years in Maynard, MA before returning to Suffolk University, where he earned his law degree in 1969. He went on to practice family law for over 40 years. He loved the City of Newton where he spent his entire life. He used to joke that he hadn’t moved 1,000 yards from where he was born, raising his family just a block away from his childhood home. The son of a Newton Police Sergeant and secretary for the Newton School system, he embraced his role in public service. He served as the Mayor of Newton from 1994-1997, prior to that he spent five terms on the city’s Board of Alderman. He was the former board President of NewTV and the Newton Cultural Alliance, and he also served on the boards of the Newton Schools Foundation, Newton Council on Aging, and the Newton PTA Board of Directors. He volunteered his time as an attorney helping seniors as well as survivors of domestic violence. A devoted father, loving grandfather, beloved friend and neighbor, he was known for his warm sense of humor and love of reading and quotes. He used an index card as a bookmark so that he could keep track of any quote that caught his eye. He later put together a collection of quotes that he delighted in distributing to all his friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, August 3rd at 10:30 AM in Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, 573 Washington St., Newton, followed by interment in Newton Cemetery. Visiting hours Thursday from 4-8 PM in the Burke & Blackington Funeral Home, 1479 Washington St., WEST NEWTON. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Newton Cultural Alliance at http://www.newtonculture.org/ or the Boys and Girls Club of Newton. https://www.newtonbgc.com/donate-1. Burke & Blackington Funeral Home BurkeFamilyFuneralHomes.com (excerpted from Boston Globe obituary)
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I spent a great deal of time talking all things Newton with Mayor Concannon when I ran for his former office in 2005. He was always personally engaging, a wonderful source of advice, and extraordinarily generous with his time. Tom truly loved the city of Newton. RIP
RIP Tom. You were a wonderful friend.
I was a Mayor Concannon fan since we met when he was campaigning for re-election outside Rosenfeld’s. RIP.
Tom Concannon always put Newton before politics. He along with Peg Hannigan gave me a start in Newton politics.
For those in city politics today and those thinking about joining should look at Tom and learn from him, his values, and commitment to Newton. With his passing and that of Peg, I believe the mold has been broken. Good bye to both!
What a great guy — and a true gentleman — who served at an interesting time in our city’s history, sandwiched between Mayors Mann and Cohen. I wasn’t involved in city politics and the time but did have the honor of serving with Mayor Concannon on NewTV’s board. I’m really pleased to have had that opportunity.