…Silvertone’s Band Founder and Manager; 80
TEWKSBURY - Thomas G. MacPherson, age 80, a well-known member of the Tewksbury Senior Community, died peacefully on Thursday morning, February 20, at his Tewksbury home, following a nine-month battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of Janice A. (Crowley) MacPherson, with whom he had celebrated a 53rd wedding anniversary this past October 11th.
Tom was born and raised in Medford, one of seven children of the late John A. and Eleanor “Marguerite” (Tombino) MacPherson. He was the last of his siblings to survive.
During the Korean War, he served in Korea as a L.S.T. 88 crewman, aboard the USS Lawrence County. Tom was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the Korean Service with one star Medal.
Tom began his working career at the production plant for Whitings Milk, worked as a machinist in Aerospace production in Melrose, later as a Precision Machinist at the Harvey Lobdell Machine Shop, and retired from the M.B.T.A. as a machinist supervisor in the Everett and Charlestown rail yards.
In his early years as a father, he founded the “Teddy’s,” the first Girls Softball Team in Tewksbury.
In his retirement, Tom founded the Silvertone’s Orchestra, and enjoyed his position as musician and manager for the Silvertone’s, a popular swing style band based at the Tewksbury Senior Center. The band was featured each Memorial Day on a parade float in Tewksbury. He also was Past President of the Tewksbury Golden Age Club, and a member of the Senior Men’s Softball League in Tewksbury.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Cathy Lynn MacPherson and her spouse, Irene Haley of Melrose; a son, John A. MacPherson and his wife Diane of Washington, VA; a grandson, Finn Alexander MacPherson of VA; and many nieces and nephews.
At Tom’s request, following cremation, a private Coast Guard Memorial Service will be conducted at sea. At Tom’s insistence, there will not be a Memorial Service. A Silvertone’s Dance to Celebrate his life will be April 11, at 7:00 p.m. at the Tewksbury Senior Center. In lieu of flowers, Tom asked that memorials in his remembrance be given to the Joslin Diabetes Center, 1 Joslin Pl, Boston, MA 02215 or visit www.joslin.org, or the Tewksbury Friends of the Elderly, c/o Tewksbury Senior Center, 175 Chandler St. Tewksbury, MA 0876.