SALEM- Leslie Thomas “Tommy” Turner, 55, husband of Kimberly A. Russell, of Salem, died Sunday, March 9, 2003 in the Salem Hospital after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born in Wakefield, son of Margery (Morgan) Turner of Wakefield and the late H. Stetson Turner, Tommy grew up in Wakefield and on the coast of Maine. He studied painting and metal work art at Boston’s museum school, The Art Institute of Boston and at Mass College of Art in the 1960's.
During the 1970's, he apprenticed and designed jewelry at Shreve, Crump & Lowe; designed jewelry at Old Newbury Crafters: and was the owner of River City Silver Co. at market Square in Newburyport. In the 1980's, Tommy took time to serve at Convent House in New York and at Bridge Over Troubled Waters in Boston, both Catholic Charities shelters for teenagers. During the 80's, he also worked for VanDell Jewelers of Marblehead and Barmakian’s Jewelers of Boston. He returned to the Mass College of Art during the 1990's to study Art Education while enjoying life as an at-home Dad.
He had a life-long passion for art, antiques, history and travel. He was one of the fortunate North Shore residents who was an “extra” in the film, “The Crucible,” filmed at Hog Island and Beverly in 1995.
Besides his mother, and his wife Kimberly, Mr. Turner is survived by their children Tim and Katie Turner of Salem, a son Sean Turner and a grandson, Austin Turner, both of Rumney, NH, a sister and brother-in-law, Gail and Bob Peterson of Maine, a brother Hugh Turner and his family of Maryland, and an aunt, Barbara Morgan of Wakefield. He is predeceased by an uncle, Hugh J. Morgan.
His funeral Mass will be held Saturday, March 15, 2003 at 11 am at St James Church, Salem, with a dear family friend, Rev. Mark E. Ballard, of St Bridget’s Parish, Framingham, as celebrant. (St James church is located at 156 Federal Street in Salem, at the corner of Flint Street.) Burial is in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Stoneham. There are no visiting hours. Please omit flowers. For those who desire, expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory by the donation of funds, or books on art or history, to the Salem Public Library, 370 Essex St., Salem, MA 01970. Funeral arrangements are by the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem. For guest book and other information, visit www.SalemFuneral.com.