LOWELL: Thomas Aquinas Breen, age 47, died Thursday, April 26, 2007 at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston of complications from a heart attack he suffered on April 10th.
He was born December 11, 1959 in Lowell, the son of Kathleen (Niles) Breen of Tewksbury and the late Wilfred P. Breen. His survivors include his wife Katherine W. (Quinlan) Breen and their children John Thomas Breen, Quinn Thomas Breen and Juliah Katherine Breen all of Lowell.
A devout Catholic, Tom was a faithful parishioner and supporter of the Immaculate Conception Church in Lowell.
He was educated at St. Peter’s Grammar School and Tewksbury Memorial High School. Tom was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he earned his B.S. degree in Business/Economics.
Tom was currently employed as a sales representative for the MacLellan Concrete Company. He previously enjoyed a career for many years in the high tech industry, which included a stint in Atlanta, Georgia for several years, where he worked as a salesman for Lotus, Inc. He was proficient in the area of computers.
An accomplished athlete, Tom played varsity hockey for three years in high school and enjoyed the sport up until his illness befell him. Tom managed Adult Thursday Night Hockey at Phillips Academy in Andover for years and never once missed a chance to go out and skate, no matter how frigid the weather. Tom was also a talented golfer, more than once playing with a scratch handicap. Last golfing season Tom enjoyed attaining a handicap in the low 70s. On at least two (2) separate occasions, Tom also achieved the elusive hole-in-one.
Tom was a member of the Longmeadow Golf Club of Lowell and qualified a dozen times representing Longmeadow Golf Club in the Lowell City Golf Tournament, the nation’s oldest amateur gold tournament.
Tom also coached his sons’ little league baseball games and more recently became certified to coach their lacrosse games as well.
Tom was instrumental in implementing the instructional golf program that has begun this spring at his children’s school, the Immaculate Conception.
Tom was thoroughly a loving and devoted husband to his wife and doting and adoring father to his three children. He was a consummate family man and nothing made him happier than nights at home with his wife and children.
He will be sorely missed by many family members and countless friends who admired him for his excellent sense of humor, intelligence and ability to make those around him comfortable. All who knew Tom were proud to call him friend.
In addition to his wife, children and mother, he is survived by two sisters and one brother-in-law, Kathleen Kinsella of Tewksbury, MA and Patricia Breen-Howes, R.N. and David Howes of Weymouth and Lake Winnipesaukee, NH; six brothers and five sisters-in-law, William Breen and his wife Peggy of Andover, Michael Breen of Tewksbury, MA, Dennis Breen and his wife Barb of Raymond, NH, Timmy Breen and his wife Diane of Pittsfield, MA, John Breen and his companion Lynn Kelleher of Lowell, MA and Eddie Breen and his wife Katie of Salem, NH.
He is also the brother-in-law of Francis Xavier Quinlan, Jr., Michael H.W. Quinlan, Mary Margaret Ahearn, Vera Gallagher, Laurie Ellen Quinlan, Patrick Quinlan, Rosemary Brewster and his wife’s twin sister, Kerry A. Deveau. Tom also leaves many nieces and nephews as well as several grandnieces and grandnephews.
Tom was also predeceased by his late brother James Breen, his brother-in-law Edmund Kinsella, Sr., his father-in-law Francis Xavier Quinlan, Sr. and his mother-in-law Vera (Cadigan) Quinlan.
Calling hours Tuesday, May 1st , from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Funeral Wednesday, May 2nd , at 10 a.m., from the funeral home, followed by his Funeral Mass at 11 a.m., at the Immaculate Conception Church, 144 East Merrimack St., Lowell. Interment at St. Mary Cemetery, Tewksbury. At the request of the family kindly OMIT FLOWERS. Memorial contributions to the Education Fund for the Children of Thomas A. Breen, c/o Washington Savings Bank, 100 Broadway Rd., Dracut, MA 01826 are requested.