Obituary of Toshi Piro

Toshi T. Piro, a retired supervisor in the electronics industry, passed away after an extended illness on Saturday night, January 20, 2024.  She was 93 years old.  Toshi was born in Aomori, Japan.  She was the daughter of Tsuniazo and Toyo Tanaka.  She married the late Harold Thornton who was stationed in Japan as a United States serviceman.  They married and when he was discharged the couple moved to Burlington, Massachusetts to raise their two daughters. 

She was employed for 30 years at Millipore Corporation in Bedford as a Supervisor and then spent the following 10 years at Olympic Systems in Winchester.  She had an incredible work ethic, took great pride in her work, and was well respected by her coworkers and superiors.

Toshi was a very strong, proud, and independent woman. She worked hard in her career, but also in raising her family.  She was an inspiring role model and wanted the best for her daughters.  She wanted the American dream for her children, but wanted to hold onto part of the traditions and values she was raised with in Japan.  She always had large flower and vegetable gardens.  She always grew too much for her own needs and happily shared her harvest with family and friends.  She was extremely kind and generous to her family.  Her grandchildren cherished their time with her, especially special overnight visits.  They enjoyed time spent in the kitchen with Toshi cooking Japanese dishes that she had learned from her mother.  She even cooked wonderful food and brought  it to the BC football game tailgating parties. Toshi was an avid Red Sox fan and knew all the players and positions (birthday included) by heart. Toshi enjoyed her daily walks and enthusiastically participated in the Melrose Mother’s Day Road race for several years. She was quite proud being the first place winner in her age category the year she turned 80. Toshi lived a remarkable and very honorable life.  Her memory will live on through her family.

Toshi was the beloved wife of the late Phillip A. Piro.  She was the loving mother of Ann Marie Klein of Reading, MA and Mary Ellen O’Connor & her husband, Mark, of Hebron, NH, formerly of Tewksbury, MA.  Toshi was the very proud grandmother of Mitchell O’Connor & his partner, Sarah McInturff, of Malden, MA, Jacqueline O’Connor & her husband, Eric Lundin, of Medford, MA, Spencer O’Connor & her husband, Steve Horn, of Portland, ME, and Harrison Klein & his wife, Melanie, of Reading, MA.  She was the great-grandmother of Theodore Klein.  She was pre-deceased by her son-in-law, Scott Klein. Funeral services will be private.  Memorials in Toshi’s name may be made to the Burlington Community Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 1205, Burlington, MA 01803