Thomas J. Canty

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Thomas John Canty, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and grandfather, after a courageous battle with ALS. He was surrounded by his family, bathed in sunlight, wrapped in love, with a chorus of tears and laughter heralding his exit.

His final moments mirrored the life he lived: a life filled with joy and laughter. A life lived with purpose and intent. A life lived with good jokes and not taking yourself that seriously. A life with good food, good movies, and good company. A life well lived, indeed. 

Thomas was born to Virginia Louise and John George Canty in 1955. He was the oldest of five siblings: Richard, James, Patricia, and Joanne. He often spoke of one of two major inflection points in his life: the first being his father's sudden death in 1974. As he did innumerable times throughout his life, Tom set aside his needs to help his mother raise their young family. His unwavering dedication to his family never once made him resent the sacrifices he made. For Tom, sacrificing for his loved ones wasn’t just a duty—it was woven into the very fabric of who he was. It was in his DNA.

The second major inflection point in his life was when he met Jane, the woman to whom he devoted his life for almost 50 years. Their origin story is the stuff of legends. A random encounter at a Brighton area bar may have only been a random encounter had they not crossed paths again the very next day at an entirely different bar in an entirely different part of Boston. She was the love of his life, the one who filled his days with joy and his heart with love. Everything he ever did was for her. He devoted his life to her. In the end, every decision he made was for her. He left this world holding the hand of the person who changed his world forever. 

Tom was an accomplished man, holding various “dad jobs” (as his children describe them) throughout the years. And yet, of all his jobs and titles, the ones most important to him were “Dad” and “Grandpa.” Tom’s four boys, Dennis, Brendan, Ryan, and Colin, were his pride and joy. He spent many, many, many hours on the sidelines of football and lacrosse games. Hours inside hockey rinks. And dark theaters. Twenty-five years ago, he bought his family a home in Frye Island, a place that would become one of the emotional epicenters of his life. Nothing filled his heart more than spending weekends in Maine with his children and his growing roster of grandchildren: Aidan, Joe, AJ, Rory, and Cece. He felt his work building a family was his most successful venture, so much so that at one of his final meals, he declared that “sitting at the head of this table is the evidence I’ll submit to God when I get to heaven.” 

He is survived by his wife, Jane, of Westford; his four boys, their spouses, and children: Dennis, his husband Steven, and their son Aidan; Brendan, his husband Tom, and their children Joe and AJ; Ryan, his wife Melissa, and their children Rory and Cameron; Colin, his wife Bridgette, and their soon-to-born baby. He is also survived by his siblings and their spouses and children: Richard and his wife Marie; James and his wife Nancy; Patricia and her husband Daniel; and Joanne and her husband Scott. He also had countless nieces, nephews, and cousins, including the legendary Robinson family, to whom he ascribes some of his wildest adventures as a young person.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Compassionate Care ALS organization P.O. Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA. 02574, ccals.org

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Tom for a period of visitation on Thursday, November 21, 2024, from 4:00 pm until 8:00pm at Badger Funeral Home, 45 School St. Groton, MA. A funeral service will take place Friday, November 22, 2024, at 10:00 am at First Parish Church United, 48 Main St, Westford, MA 01886. 

Arrangements are under the care of Badger Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, Groton, MA.