ATTORNEY CHARLES W. TROMBLY, SR., 93
Attorney Charles W. Trombly, Sr., died on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 after a brief illness. He was born in North Andover in 1915, the son of J. Louis and Elizabeth (Donovan) Trombly. He attended the North Andover Public Schools. After graduating from Johnson High School class of 1932, during the height of the depression, he worked at several jobs, including transporting the U.S. Mail between railroad crossing and the North Andover Post Office. In the mid-1930s, he began working at the newly created Unemployment Office, where he met a co-worker who would become his wife of 66 years, the late Margaret (Shannon) Trombly.
Later in the decade, he founded the Trombly Brothers service station in North Andover and operated it with his brothers Francis J. and Harold W. Trombly. He was the sole survivor of his siblings, who also included the late Joseph L. Trombly and Rita V. Markey. While running Trombly Brothers by day, Charles attended Suffolk University Law School at night and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1943. He practiced law in Lawrence for well over 50 years. He was a member and past president of the Lawrence Bar Association. He was also a member of the Massachusetts Bar and the Essex County Bar Associations.
Attorney Trombly always recognized the importance of education. In the 1940s, he, together with the late Judge John Fenton, Richard Cardinal Cushing and members of the Augustinian Order, was instrumental in raising funds and founding Merrimack College in North Andover. In addition, he was a member of the North Andover School Committee for 30 years.
He was a lifelong Democrat, a past member of the Democratic Town Committee, served as a delegate at many conventions, and was honored by the town committee as Democrat of the Year.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Bon Secours Hospital Men's Guild and was active in St. Michael's Parish in North Andover. He was a Knight in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a Catholic organization dedicated to justice for all and peace in the Holy Land so that Christian, Jew and Muslim may live side by side in the love of God and each other.
Attorney Trombly loved the outdoors. He loved the beach and he and his family enjoyed spending time at Seabrook Beach as well as at Crescent Beach, Siesta Key, Florida. He learned to ski at age 52. He chopped his own firewood and loved to work in his gardens. He still golfed three times a week a the Portsmouth Country Club with the same friends he has golfed and skied with for decades.
He was the widower of the late Margaret (Shannon) whom he married in 1940. They were the parents of 7 children: Hon. Charles W. Trombly, Jr. and his wife Mary (Johannesen); Attorneys Joseph S. Trombly and his wife Elaine Farrell, all of North Andover; Robert M. Trombly of Peachtree City, Georgia; Dr. Kevin L. Trombly and his wife Maureen (Scott) of Springfield; Attorney Margaret S. Trombly of Methuen; Attorneys Mary T. DeFrancisco and her husband Mark of Andover; and Ellen M. Gold and her husband Dr. Samuel Gold of Manchester, New Hampshire. They also opened their home to 3 brothers who lost their parents at a young age: the late Dennis M. O'Neil; Peter T. O'Neil and his wife Nancy (Parks) of New York City; and Barry F. O'Neil and his wife Deborah (Ladre) of Topsham, Maine. Charles and Margaret had 23 Grandchildren and 5 Great Grandchildren.
His funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, June 16th, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in Saint Michaels Church in North Andover, MA.
Burial will follow at the Ridgewood Cemetery in North Andover, MA.
Family and friends may call on Sunday, June 15th, 2008 from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 35 Merrimack Street, North Andover, MA. For online condolences and other information, please go to www.breenfuneralhome.com.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Lazarus House Ministries., 260 Park Street, Lawrence, MA 01841.