Thomas J. Long, 78 of New Bedford and West Island passed away Tuesday May 19, 2009 after a heroic battle with Multiple Myeloma. He was the husband of Joanne P. (Burke) Long, with whom he celebrated 51 years of marriage on May 17th.
Born and raised in Fall River, the son of the late William F. and Susannah (Daley) Long, he moved to New Bedford upon his marriage.
Tom graduated from B.M.C. Durfee High School, where he was an outstanding offensive and defensive lineman, having been named to the All-Bristol County team in 1947, and in 1948, he was named to the All-State and All-Bristol County teams as well. In 2000, the entire 1947 State Championship Football team was enrolled in the Durfee Hall of Fame. He also attended the New Bedford Institute of Technology, which later became U.Mass Dartmouth.
He was a member of the National Guard during the Korean War and attained the rank of Sergeant.
Tom joined New England Telephone and Telegraph working locally and in Boston. Upon divestiture, he worked for A.T.&T. in both Boston and Providence as a communications consultant and ultimately as an account executive. He became a member of the Grand Slam Club, which was an honor bestowed on the highest sales producers in the nation. He opted for early retirement in 1990 and truly enjoyed these leisure years.
He was a Past President of the West Island Improvement Association. He was also a member of the A.T.&T. Pioneers, the B.M.C. Durfee Alumni Association, and the New Bedford Whaling Museum, where he was a donor to the Blue Whale Project in the names of his two cherished grandchildren.
Tom participated in a Cursillo weekend at Stonehill College and was a Fourth Degree member of the Humberto Cardinal Medeiros Assembly of the Knights of Columbus. He also was honored to become a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and last Fall was elevated to the rank of Knight Commander with Star by Sean Cardinal O'Malley.
He enjoyed meeting other telephone retirees on a monthly basis for breakfast in Buzzards Bay. His monthly luncheons with the "Over the Hill Gang" were enjoyable pastimes also.
Tom had a passion for travel. From Indonesia through much of Europe, he could recount all the sights and sounds, but his true love was cruising, whether it be to the Caribbean, Scandinavia and Russia, the maiden Trans-Atlantic voyage on the Queen Mary II, or last year's 50th Anniversary cruise with his family to the Eastern Mediterranean with a magnificent trip to Mary's House and Ephesus in the footsteps of St. Paul and a stay in Venice.
Although he was a very modest and unassuming person, he enjoyed being with family and friends. His laughter was so infectious that it brought joy to us all. He was kind and supportive of all his extended family and friends who returned their love in abundance.
Besides his wife, he leaves his devoted children, Thomas J. Long Jr. and his wife Zofia of Nashua and Meredith, NH, and Mary Margaret Raczka and her husband Andrew of Mansfield and West Island. He also leaves the lights of his life, a grandson T.J. Long III and a granddaughter, Lexie G. Raczka, and several nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late State Rep. John J. Long and the Honorable William F. Long, Jr.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 AM at St. Julie Billiart Church, North Dartmouth. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Friday from 3-7 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 9 Erie Drive, Natick, MA 01760. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.