Thomas J. King was born in Manchester NH to the parents of Bridget O’Malley and Thomas King. Thomas King was first generation Irish, both his parents immigrated from the west of Ireland. He was one of seven children whose strong family roots were firmly planted in south Manchester. After finishing high school, Central High, he enlisted into the US Navy and stationed in Boston.
While he was in the Navy he met his wife Barbara Lee from Jamaica Plain Mass. They married and together brought seven children into the world. Early on Tom was trained in the trades, until his mother Bridget O’Malley, led Tom to a dramatic change in his life. As the story goes in 1950 it was his mother who walked him straight into the doors of Manchester Police department, with the instructions to get the job as a policeman.
Although he was reluctant, he complied and what followed was a legendary 40 year career with the Manchester Police force. Tom joined the Manchester Police Department in 1950 and as a patrolman walked downtown beats, making friends and developing life-long relationships along the way. He rose through the ranks and was appointed Chief of Police in 1975. He held the position of Chief for 16 years, before retiring in 1991 after 40 years of loyal service to the City and Department that he loved so well. Tom was proud of his profession and believed that law enforcement was truly about helping people . His policing style emphasized "community policing' before it was accepted as a national best-practice.
Tom's career was characterized by fairness and respect. Under his leadership the Manchester Police Department became the first police department in the state to achieve professional accreditation, only one of the many achievements that helped develop the Manchester Police Department into the professional, well-respected department that it is today. A particular professional joy was his long standing affiliation with the International Association of Chiefs of Police which broadened his relationships beyond, local, state and national contacts. He was particular proud of his friendship with the constables and officials of Northern Ireland.
His successful career was closely tied with the strength to his unique capacity to build respectful relationships with people – from all walks of life. He often used a shamrock as a metaphor for the values he held to his heart; faith, family and friends.
He was a devoted husband and father. When his children were young he spent many years camping from Nova Scotia to Florida and long weekends in New England. Central to his life was his precious Beach House in Hampton NH. Where he spent hours upon end renovating his beloved Beach House. This became a central gathering place over the years for his children and grandchildren. For those who had ventured off to other parts it was a cherished place to come home to.
Tom and Barbara lost a son, Thomas Jr. at the age of 18 and when his wife passed away in 1993, at what seemed too early in his life, he was a model of resiliency for his children. He showed them how to pick up the pieces and carry on in a meaningful life. In his retirement ,Tom was able to follow his passion – Democratic Politics at both local and national levels. Tom was a self proclaimed “Irish, Catholic, Democrat”. He was most proud of his involvement in resurrecting Manchester’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. Tom loved to travel, visiting his children in California, Russia and England. Tom enjoyed riding his bike at the beach, listening to Irish music, golfing with friends and most of all dancing his way through his later years as he had done most of his life.
The family includes six children, Linda Lee King of Portsmouth, Coleen Ney of Palo Alto, CA, Barbara Childs of Richmond, England, Colin King of Manchester, John King of Woodstock, VT and Christopher King of Boston, MA; seven grandchildren, Connor Ney, Alexander King, Isabella Childs, Hunter Ney, Max King, Thomas King and Emma King; two brothers, Peter King and John King both of Manchester; a sister, Irene Smestad of Manchester; and cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a brother, Frank King; and two sisters, Patricia Demers and Esther Amsden
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Friday, May 21, 2010 at Blessed Sacrament Church, 14 Elm St., Manchester. Committal prayers followed at St. Joseph Cemetery, 448 Donald St., Bedford.
In lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Thomas and Barbara Lee King Scholarship Fund, c/o The Manchester Policeman's Wives Association, 351 Chestnut St., Manchester, NH 03101, or Alzheimer's Association, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472