Newspaper Reporter, Tewksbury Town Auditor, World War II Pilot
Thomas J. Berube, age 88, a longtime Tewksbury town auditor and Boston Herald editor died Wednesday August 19, 2009.
He was the beloved husband of Theresa G. (Mackey) Berube, with whom he celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on September 20, 2008.
Mr. Berube was a former assistant managing editor and news reporter at the Boston Herald before his retirement in 1988. His newspaper career began as a copy boy in 1938 and spanned 50 years at the Boston Record American, Herald American and Boston Herald. He became a court house reporter in 1945 in Cambridge and over the next three decades covered many well known news events including the Great Brinks Robbery, Boston Strangler and the Kennedy Chappaquiddick incident. He also served as president of the editorial workers union AFL-CIO during the 1970s and was as comfortable dealing with Governors, Senators and Judges as he was speaking with a detective, patrolman, cab driver, or man on the street. He was promoted to city editor in 1973 and appointed assistant managing editor in 1976.
He served as Tewksbury Town Auditor for 47 years. First elected in 1950, he had many resident friends and had his share of political battles as watchdog of the town’s finances. He was also the first commander of the Tewksbury VFW Post 8164, and was a founding member of the Tewksbury Veterans Association.
He was born in Boston in 1921, the son of Louis and Mary (Cahill) Berube. His parents moved to Tewksbury shortly after 1921 and Mr. Berube resided in So. Tewksbury for his entire life. In his youth he spent many days at Silver Lake in Wilmington and was a former altar boy at St. Williams Church. In 1940, he followed the path of many young Americans and joined the service. As a U.S. Air Force Captain, he began flying combat in 1943 and flew more than 50 missions in a P-38 long range fighter-bomber aircraft as part of the 82 fighter group in the European/Mediterranean theatre operations. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross among numerous decorations and citations for valor.
Upon his release from the service he married Theresa Mackey, and they built a home in the neighborhood where they both grew up. Together they raised seven children.
Later in life, he bought a small lot at Lake Winnipesaukee in West Alton, NH where he loved to spend weekends and vacations with his large extended family. He was the proud owner of a vintage lake boat and taught many how to take the helm on the big lake. He was a long time Bruins and Red Sox fan and enjoyed telling tales of seeing the legends play at Fenway and the old Boston Garden.
In addition to his wife Theresa, he leaves his daughters Anne and Russell Davis of Litchfield, NH; Nancy and Richard Eisenstaedt of Wynnewood, PA; Mary Jo and Kevin Krugh of Merrimac, MA, and Kathleen and Alan Rosemond of Tewksbury, MA; sons Thomas and Diane of Georgetown, MA, Robert and Sandra of Tewksbury, and John and Hollandra of Tewksbury. Grandchildren include: Katie (Davis) and Thomas Noury; Matthew, Michael and his wife Kristin, and Jonathan Davis; Jocelyn, Colin and Nolan Eisenstaedt; Sean Symanski; Thomas, Daniel, RaeMarie, Ryan, Rachel, and Amanda Berube; Molly and Jeremy Krugh; and Matthew and Patrick Rosemond. Great grandchildren are Julia and Jack Noury; Lyla, Ella and Charlie Davis; and Abigail Symanski. He is the brother of Mary Lou Katz of Jay, NY; and the late Donald, Leo and Richard Berube. He leaves many nieces, nephews and in-laws.
Calling hours Sunday, August 23rd, from 3-8 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. His funeral will be held Monday, August 24th, at 9 a.m., from the funeral home, followed by his Funeral Mass at 10 a.m., at St. William's Church, 1351 Main St., Rte. 38, Tewksbury. Interment at Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Dept. of Nephrology, Attn: Philanthropy, c/o Lahey Clinic , 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805.