Obituary of Thomas McGuinness

Thomas F. McGuinness, owner and founder of TRI-COM Associates, passed away after a brief illness with his family at his bedside on Monday night, January 25, 2010. He was 76 years old. Tom was born in Boston. He was the son of the late James and Ruth McGuinness. He grew up and was educated in Needham. After graduating from Needham High School Tom went on to receive his Associates Degree from Franklin Institute in Electrical Engineering. He later furthered his education at Boston University. Tom served in the Air Force as a Staff Sergeant for 4 years during the Korean War. He served on the B-19 Aircraft as a radio operator. He flew missions in Iceland, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, Greenland, Canada, and Hawaii. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal, and United Nations Service Medal. He was extremely proud of his service in the Air Force and was even prouder of his son Tom, who served in the Navy and achieved the honor of becoming a - Top Gun - pilot. Tom owned his own company called TRI-COM Associates located in Burlington for over 30 years. His company represented manufacturers in the electronics industry, selling electronics primarily to the defense industries in and around Boston. He loved his work; which gave him the opportunity to provide for his family, travel the country, and be close to home for his family. Some of his favorite memories involved coaching his son and other boys for the Burlington Little League for a number of years. He continued his devoted support for Burlington athletics by frequently attending his grandchildren's soccer, baseball, and basketball games and marching band and concert band performances. He especially enjoyed boating with his wife and family and was a member of the Danversport Yacht Club for 25 years. He was a member of the Burlington Knights of Columbus. Tom's family and faith were the most important part of his life. He was devoted to his wife of 51 years, Edie. They were always together. He was a devoted and supportive father and a very proud grandfather. He was never happier than when his daughter Catherine, with whom he had a very special bond, moved to the same neighborhood and his home and pool became the location of family cookouts, holiday celebrations, and hot summer days. He was a very active member of Saint Margaret's Church where he served as an usher at the 7:30 a.m. Sunday Mass for over 3 decades. He enjoyed the weekly Sunday tradition of Breakfast with special friends including Fr. John Crispo. His faith supported him during his illness, times of loss, and during his son's tragic death in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks where he was serving as co-pilot of American Flight 11. He will be lovingly remembered. Tom was the beloved husband of Edith -Edie - (Gray) McGuinness of Burlington. He was the loving father of Catherine M. Dutton & her husband Peter of Burlington and the late Thomas F. McGuinness, Jr. He was the devoted grandfather of Jennifer McQueen & her husband Seth of Greenland, NH, Ens. Stephen Dutton, U.S. Navy serving in Japan on board U.S.S. Cowpens, Thomas M. McGuinness of Dallas, TX, and Rachel and Trevor Dutton both of Burlington. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Friday. Jan. 29 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret's Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Thursday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery. Memorials in Tom's name may be made to People Helping People, P.O. Box 343, Burlington, MA 01803.