Obituary of Thomas Heise

Thomas J. Heise, late owner of PATCO Transmission in Wakefield, passed away at the E.N. Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital after an extended illness on Wednesday October 16, 2013. He was 84 years old. Tom was born in Somerville, the son of the late William and Margaret Heise. He grew up in Cambridge and was a graduate of Rindge Tech. In high school he excelled in athletics, especially football and track, and was nicknamed “The Huntington Hurricane”. He was awarded a track scholarship to Boston University. He proudly served his country as a Corporal in the US Marines for 3 years during the Korean War. He then settled in the Plymouth area where he worked as an automobile mechanic, specializing in transmissions. Later he opened his own shop, Plymouth Automatic Transmissions, located across the street from the Mayflower. As a boy Tom was an active Boy Scout, later he found great joy sharing his experiences as a Scout Leader for the youth in the Halifax, Plymouth, and Hanover area. Tom’s life changed when he went to a wedding and met his future wife, Shirley. So in December of 1967, he became both a newlywed and a father of four young children. He moved his business first to Stoneham and then to Wakefield, where he renamed it PATCO Transmission, which he owned and operated for several decades. Sometimes it was difficult to distinguish between “Tom the Parent” and “Tom the Kid at Heart”. Tom enjoyed at least one fun activity or sport each season. He loved boating, fishing, snowmobiling, hunting, canoeing, and camping. His camping evolved from tent, to camper, to RV, with Southport Island, Maine the destination for almost 42 years. He embraced life, lived it to the fullest, and brightened the lives of everyone around him. His children, and later his grandchildren, grew up with so many fun-filled and exciting experiences shared with Tom that his spirit will continue to thrive in each and every one of them. Tom was the loving husband of Shirley L. (Poingdester) for 46 years. He was the loving father of Stephen Cabral of Mesa, AZ, Robert Cabral & his wife Julia of Kennebunk, ME, Sandra McNutt of Lowell, and Karen Sheehan & her husband Dennis of Chelmsford and Father-in-law to the late Donald McNutt. He was the brother of Frances McKenna of Halifax, MA, and the late John Heise. Tom is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. A Memorial Mass will be held at the Chapel of the E.N. Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Building 81, 200 Springs Road, Bedford, MA on Wednesday, October 23 at 11:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Memorials in Tom’s name may be made to the VA Medical Center, Voluntary Services, 200 Springs Road, Bedford, MA 01730, please note in memo line: To be used for residents of 4C for comfort and relaxation. For directions, obituary, & online guestbook see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net or www.bedford.va.gov.