Thomas J. Conry

The funeral will be held Tuesday, February 17, 2015 from Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd. with a Mass at 12 noon in Saint Anthony di Padua Church, 84 Salem St. Burial will follow in Saint Bernard’s Cemetery. Calling hours are Monday from 3-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pan Mass Challenge at www.pmc.org account TC0014 or may be mailed c/o Tim Conry, 2 Timber Lane, North Reading, MA 01864.



Thomas J. Conry, Jr. Former Fitchburg City Councilor; 78

Thomas J. Conry, Jr., passed away Friday, February 13, 2015 in Henry Heywood Hospital in Gardner.

He was born October 6, 1936, in Fitchburg, the son of Thomas J. and Mary (Keenan) Conry. He graduated from Fitchburg High School in 1954 and from Leland Powers School of Radio, Television and Theatre in Boston in 1958.

His wife, Linda (Moynihan) Conry, died in 2002.

He is survived by his daughter, Maura A. Conry of Fitchburg; his son, Thomas G. Conry and his wife, Holly, of Leominster; his grandson, Kyle and granddaughter, Erin, both of Leominster; two brothers, Michael K. and James R. Conry, both of Fitchburg; his sister, Ann Cormier, of Fitchburg; and his very special companion, Paulette Collette of Fitchburg, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother, John P. Conry. His children, daughter-in-law and grandchildren meant everything to him.

Tom was an avid Red Sox and Ted Williams fan.

He retired from Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Co. in 1996, after 24 years of service where he served as Vice President, Clerk of the Corporation and Director of External Affairs. For many years, he was a well known local broadcaster serving as news director of WEIM and WFGL radio stations. In the early 1960’s, he served as the central Massachusetts correspondent for WBZ Radio,Boston. He also was a play-by-play announcer for local high schools sports. Earlier in his career, Mr. Conry served as Administrative Assistant to Fitchburg Mayor William G. Flynn and later was on the staff of former Democratic Massachusetts Congressman Robert F. Drinan.

Active in the community, Mayor Mary Whitney appointed him as a member of the Fitchburg Fire Department Ambulance study committee in 2001. Mr. Conry, in 2002, was appointed by Mayor Dan Mylott to serve as the chairperson of the City of Fitchburg Police Chief Search Committee and was also the chairperson of the City of Fitchburg Fire Department Station Site Selection committee and, in 2003, was appointed by Mayor Dan Mylott to chair the search committee for a commissioner of the Department of Public Works.

A longtime member of the Fitchburg City Council, he was elected President in 2008 and was elected to the council for a third term as a councilor at large in November 2009. He served on the finance, legislative affairs, public safety, appointments and city property committees. He was a former member of the Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School District.

He was a member of the Friends of Coggshall, Retired Men’s Club, Friends of the Fitchburg Public Library, and Friends of the Senior Center. Additionally, he was a former board member of the Fitchburg Historical Society and served on the initial Fitchburg Riverfront Park fundraising committee. Mr. Conry served on, and was chairman, of the Fitchburg Industrial Development Commission for many years and formerly was the state appointed member of the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority.

He was a former registered lobbyist in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mr. Conry formerly was a charter member of the Fitchburg East Rotary Club and also a former member of the Fitchburg Rotary Club, having served on the Board of Directors of both clubs. For many years, he served on the Board of Directors and was Vice President of the Central Massachusetts Chapter of the National Safety Council. He previously served on the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Electric and Gas Association. He was a former member of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and chaired the government affairs committee and was a former member of the Gardner Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Conry was formerly a board member of the Fitchburg Chapter of the American Red Cross, Electric Council of New England, New England Gas Association, New England Power Pool public relations committee and the board of directors, and charter member, of the Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development. He was also a former member of the U.S. Postal Advisory Committee in Westminster.

For many years, he was a Eucharistic minister and lector at Sacred Heart Church in West Fitchburg and, recently, a lector at St. Anthony di Padua Church in Fitchburg.