Thomas E. "Skinso" Byrne, a lifelong resident of Charlestown, entered into eternal life on Friday, January 22, 2021 at his home in Charlestown surrounded by his loving family. He was 91 years of age.
Tom was born in Boston on August 19, 1929, a son of the late Thomas D. Byrne and Mary (Lyons) Byrne. He grew up in Charlestown where he was educated in the Boston Public School system and graduated from Charlestown High School.
Tom began working as an apprentice jockey at Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park Race Tracks in 1957 and it was there that he met and married the love of his life, Mary A. Meo. He often said "he went from a 100 pound Jockey to a Longshoreman and that he never thought he would make it." Tom worked as a Longshoreman on the Boston waterfront for 33 years and was a member of the International Longshoreman's Association Local # 799. In the late 1970's, Tom's "15 minutes of fame" was his role as a Brinks guard in the movie The Brinks Job which he had the role of "The Stork". He revised this role every time a camera was pointed at him and with both hands up, he would say, "stick em up". He loved and cherished his family and time spent with them, especially around the holidays and the annual summer pilgrimage to Rockland for Byrne Day at Bobby's. He will be greatly missed.
Tom is the beloved husband of the late Mary A. (Meo) Byrne. He is the devoted father of Marian Callahan, Joann Byrne, Robert "Bobby" Byrne and his wife Rosemary, and Kathleen "Kathy" Doherty and her husband Joe. He is the loving Grandpa to Nicole, Brian, Meaghan, Nolan and Jolie. He is the beloved brother of the late Robert Byrne USMC, Dorothy Hanson and Loraine Ditter. He is also survived by his many loving nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Tom's visiting hours on Saturday, February 6, 2021 from 9 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. in The Carr Funeral Home, 220 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown followed by his Funeral Mass in St. Mary's Church, 55 Warren St. Charlestown at 11 A.M. His burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. (FACIAL COVERINGS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING IS REQUIRED INSIDE FUNERAL HOME AND CHURCH).
In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in Tom's name to The Ryan Morrissey Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 290009, Charlestown, Mass. 02129