John "Jack" Twomey, WWII Vet, Caddy for Eisenhower, Dies

John Michael “Jack” Twomey died on Friday, June 27, 2014 at Newport Hospital, just one month away from his 90th birthday.  John was also known as “Gipper”.

Jack was born to Alice Flynn Twomey and Joseph Twomey.  He was proud to be what he called a native Fifth Warder – as he was born at home on Morgan Street.  Jack graduated from Rogers High School in 1942.  He and his best friend, Jack Tilley entered the US Navy during WW II as torpedo men.

Jack traveled across North Africa to join a PT outfit.  Although quite young, he took to the job and figured out a way to rig 2 torpedoes on each side of the boat where they had previously had only one torpedo on each side.  In later years, he and good friend Gen Mathison had long talks about different kinds of torpedoes. 

At the end of WWII, Jack’s parents decided to go back to the Westerly area, where they had come from.  Jack did not go as he said he was a Newporter and was staying here. 

Jack was still very friendly with his relatives from Westerly.  Some were from his Flynn side – Jack and Tom Wright and their families.  Charles ‘Jimmy” Smith and family David Hopwood and family, the late Judge M. Walter Flynn and family. He had one first cousin left, Oliver Hembree of Arizona, he also had McCormick cousins left – of the McCormick Department Store and Paragon mail order. After WWII the government paid businesses to hire Veterans for a year.  So Jack and his good friend Jack Tilley worked for the telephone company in Boston putting in the first long distance dialing.  They enjoyed the cheap dinners and the fresh older waitresses at Durgin Park.  At the end of the year, the job was over so Twomey and Tilley went to join the Newport Police Department.  Over the years, Jack Twomey had caddied at the Newport Country Club. He worked for many famous people, including the Duke of Windsor. 

He was also asked to caddy for President Eisenhower because he knew the course well and as an extra was a policeman and could carry a gun. Jack was called back into the US Navy for the Korean War.  He liked all his jobs – the Navy where he served in the US Navy Reserves, the Police and the Post Office. As a policeman he was often seen in newspapers across the country in what we called the picture of the “3 Jacks”. His head was seen standing between Jack Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy in front of St. Mary’s Church at their wedding.  There was another picture showing the bride and groom with a semi-circle of 8 cops. Of the two (Jackie and Jack Kennedy) and the 8 cops Jack Twomey was the last one alive.  

Jack loved music and art, as an Irish American it was rather strange to some people that he liked opera. But his father was an opera buff – so Jack heard it in his house growing up. Through the kindness of Joe Palumbo and Bud Cicciline, he received tickets to the opera nights at the festival for the Columbus event.

When he was in better health, Jack belonged to many civic groups, Forum Lodge –Sons of Italy, and at one parade he carried the Italian flag.  He belonged to the Point Association and sat with Captain and Mrs. Rommel, he was at Herb Rommel’s last IYRS showing. 

During Christmas in Newport on the Point, he always helped Mrs. Robert Covel make and serving the cocoa. As a member of the Hill Association, he made his famous rum punch and made and served refreshments at Trinity Church for 17 years. With Ann he attended music at Newport Beach and music at the Art Association.  They always went with the late Mrs. Eddy Callahan, he had many good memories in his life.  He was grateful to all those who helped him in the past few years. 

Visiting hours will be held from 8:30 am – 9:30 am on Saturday July 5th, 2014 at the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring Street in Newport.  Immediately following, A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am St. Mary’s Church in Newport, RI.  Burial will be private, later in the year there will be a celebration of his life. For online condolences, please visit www.onhfh.com.