Thomas L. McGrath- age 84, passed peacefully on March 13, 2011. Tom was born July 20, 1926 and raised in West Roxbury. He graduated from Boston English High School in 1944 and upon graduation he volunteered for the Marine Corp and served in the Pacific Theater, mostly stationed in China, for three and one half years. On returning home, he entered Syracuse University and later completed his undergraduate education at Babson College in Wellesley in 1952.

His first position was with Columbia Gas System, a New York firm. Personal reasons brought Tom back to Massachusetts and Tom returned to Babson College and earned his Master's Degree in Marketing in 1957. He then took a position with the Boston Chamber of Commerce as the Director of Research and Development. His work with the Chamber required being closely involved with both City and State officials. One of his many successes was working with Mr. Stevenson of the Arthur D. Little Co. and General McCormack of MIT. Together, the three were successful in bringing a NASA facility to Boston.

Tom loved tennis and boating and was a member of both the Cohasset Tennis Club for more than 20 years and the Cohasset Sailing Club for 38 years. Tom retired from the Chamber of Commerce and worked part time for the Boston Tourist and Convention Bureau and was instrumental in sponsoring the first Career Boston Expo. After Tom retired, he joined with three of his friends and formed a small company, General Navigation, which made sailing charts for ports from Maine to Rhode Island. The charts were marketed at Boat Shows and Gift shops in the New England area and the company was a very successful enterprise. Tom's family loved him very much and was proud of him and he will be very much missed. Tom was a good and gentle man.

Tom was the beloved husband of Adeline (Mariani) McGrath. He was the brother of the late Major General William B. McGrath, Retired, and his wife, Regina M. (Patyk) McGrath, and was the uncle of Elizabeth and Bob McLean, their children Bobby and Maggie McLean, and the uncle of Kathleen and Quan Ma and their daughter, Lydia. Son of the late Mary E. McGrath and W. Beverly McGrath.

Visiting hours

Visiting hours Thursday, March 17, 2011 from 9AM-10:30 AM in McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home, 1 Summer St. (across from St. Anthony's Church), Cohasset.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom's memory may be made to the Cohasset Food Pantry, C/O St. Anthony Parish, 10 Summer Street, Cohasset, MA. 02025.

Service Information

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 10:30AM in St. Anthony's Church, Cohasset.

Interment Mount Benedict Cemetery, West Roxbury.