Thomas Cronin

Thomas E. Cronin, a longtime resident of Nashua, passed away Thursday, July 20, 2017.  He will be greatly missed and his passing leaves a void in the lives of those he has left behind.

Tom was born May 10,1928 on a farm in Minden Nebraska. He served in the United States Air Force from 1946 to 1949. While stationed at Griffis AFB, he met Elizabeth Mastrangelo and on October 20,1951, they were married at St. John the Baptist church in Rome, NY.  An Irishman with a good sense of humor, he quickly became a beloved member of Elizabeth’s large Italian family and found employment with Griffis’ Rome Air Development Center (RADC).  

While in Rome, Tom developed an interest in general home repair and over the years became quite adept at wiring, plumbing and carpentry. For years to come he shared these skills with family, friends and neighbors. He also enjoyed hunting and was introduced to Jack Abbott in the early 1950’s. They became close friends and hunting partners, with Tom periodically returning to Rome for outings with Jack over the next 25 years.

In 1960, the DOD’s Base Realignment and Closure Commission included RADC on its list of 33 military facilities to be phased out, and as a result, Tom transferred to Hanscom Air Force Base, Bedford, MA in 1964. During his years at Hanscom, he was well liked and respected by both civil service and military personnel receiving various accolades and recognition including Outstanding Performance Awards from SPO directors and Superior Performance Awards from Raytheon. While supporting the Cobra Dane and Cobra Judy radar programs, Tom had the opportunity to travel to Shemya Alaska and witnessed the culmination of years of hard work by the government and Raytheon teams; the installation of the ship’s radar. Tom retired in 1991 as a GS-14. A retirement party was held at the Officer’s Club with a diverse attendance of civil service coworkers, military personnel, Raytheon employees, friends, family and retired personnel all wishing to pay their respects to Tom.

Upon his transfer to Hanscom, Tom had settled his family in Nashua along with a large number of other transferees from Rome and Utica, NY.  These men and women became an extended family referred to as “the Romans” and shared over 40 years of friendship.

During Tom’s retirement, he spent time with friends, enjoyed being a grandfather, maintained the home and property he took such pride in, went trap shooting and hunting and took a road trip through the Midwest.  Tom slowed down in the last ten years, staying close to home and finally hanging up his handyman hat.

A dedicated family man, a loving husband and a very special father Tom gifted his family with warm memories and many humorous stories over the years. He relished his role as a grandfather and had a special relationship with each child.  He boasted endlessly when becoming a great grandfather and was quite honored the youngest was given the middle name “Cronin”.

Faith was important to Tom and he truly was the shepherd of his family.  He was a communicant of St. Kathryn church in Hudson, NH and served as both a lector and an usher.  He set an excellent example for others by the way he lived; with honesty, integrity, hard work, humor and compassion for his fellow beings.  He supported and donated to various causes while often requesting anonymity.

Tom was predeceased in death by his wife of 58 years, Elizabeth “Betty” Cronin, and his grandson, Justin St. Onge. Also, three brothers, Jack, William and Leo Cronin all of Nebraska and a sister, Cleo Walsh, of Colorado.

He is survived by his daughters Jacqueline Cronin and Susan (Cronin) St.Onge and her husband Russell all of Nashua. Two grandchildren; Jessica Withey of Nashua and Jason St.Onge and his wife Darcie of Athens GA.  Three great grandchildren; Grant, Audrey and Nathaniel St.Onge of Athens GA. A sister, Margaret Cox of Mt. Home, Idaho and a godson, Joseph P. Mastrangelo of Rome NY. Also, several nieces and nephews.

Thomas’ family would like to extend a special ‘Thank you’ to the staff at Nashua Crossing as well as the nurses with Care and Compassion Hospice for their care and compassion provided to their father.

SERVICES: Visiting hours will be held on Monday July 24, 2017 from 4 to 7 PM in the ANCTIL-ROCHETTE & SON FUNERAL HOME, 21 Kinsley St., Nashua. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday July 25, 2017 at 10:00 AM in St. Kathryn Church, 4 Dracut Rd., Hudson.  Burial will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery, Hudson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be considered to the National Parkinson Foundation.

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