Obituary: Thomas J. Gilligan, Retired North Andover Police Lieutenant

Obituary from Conte Funeral Homes.

Thomas J. Gilligan, 77, of North Andover, MA, died Monday January 5, 2015 with his family by his side. He was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on April 15, 1937 to Thomas E. Gilligan & Helen (Maloney) Gilligan. Raised in Lawrence, he was a 1950 graduate of Saint Patrick’s Grammar School, attended Central Catholic and graduated from Lawrence High School in 1954.

Tom was a graduate of the US army Officer Candidate School and proudly served his country as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and National Guard. He had the honor and privilege to march in President JFK’s inaugural parade in January of 1961.

He was employed as a shop steward at Western Electric in North Andover before he began his true calling as a police officer for the Town of North Andover. He was sworn in as a patrolman in 1975, became a sergeant in 1982 and served his last 14 years as Lieutenant before retiring in 2002 on his 65th birthday. Tom loved being a police officer, especially the camaraderie he enjoyed with his fellow officers. He was extremely proud when his son Michael became a fellow officer in 1987 and worked with him for 16 years.

Upon retirement, Tom was able to fulfill a life-long dream to visit Galway, Ireland and his mother’s house where she was born and raised prior to immigrating to the United States and settling in Lawrence. Tom loved playing 45’s at the Parker Tavern in South Lawrence. His biggest joy was spending time with his family, especially in retirement.

He leaves Judy Gilligan of North Andover and children Ann Gilligan Mangano and her husband, Lenny of Salisbury, Thomas Gilligan and his girlfriend, Kelly Connors of Seabrook, New Hampshire, Michael Gilligan and fiancée, Jennifer Shaddox of Haverhill, Gregg Gilligan and wife, Caitlin of North Andover and Julie Gilligan and her husband, Aaron Blais of North Andover. He cherished his grandchildren: Andrea and Natalie Mangano, Jack, Ryan and Kerri Gilligan, Kendra Morey and Kelsey Gilligan, Catherine and Michael Gilligan and Austyn and Jameson Blais and his great-grandchildren, Arianna, Quintin, Travis, Kimber & Kylie. He also leaves behind close family friend, Jason Hicks.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association, MA, In Memory of Thomas Gilligan, 460 Totten Pond Rd, Suite 400, Waltham, MA 02451, Attn Susan Hewitt. Family and friends may call on Thursday from 4 to 8 PM at St. Michael’s Church, 196 Main Street, North Andover, MA 01845. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday 11:00 AM also at the church.