Thomas F. Army
Thomas F. Army died at home in East Providence on September 29th, surrounded by his loving family. Tom was born 5/15/1930 in Bridgeport, CT to George and Dorothy Army. The family soon moved to Providence where Tom grew up. He played ice hockey and baseball at Providence College and was one of the first captains of ice hockey at PC. He served his country in the Army during the Korean conflict. On 12/7/1952, Tom married the love of his life, Betty Ann Theroux. Together, they raised a family of four. Most of his career was spent working for the Providence Gas Company, culminating in his work as the Vice President of Marketing. When his children were still relatively young, he and several friends started the East Providence Youth Hockey Association. He coached local youth for decades, building innovative programs that produced “some of RI and the US’s most talented players and coaches.” He also worked for more than twenty years as a head off ice official for the American Hockey League, with the P-Bruins. In August of this year, Tom was awarded the Malcolm Greene Chace Award by the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame in recognition “of achievement and outstanding service by a Rhode Islander to the game of hockey.”
As much as Tom loved the game of hockey, he loved his family far more. He was a fiercely loyal and an exceedingly friendly, outgoing man. He possessed boundless energy and a huge heart. He cherished and adored Betty and the life they built together, he was an engaged, proud, and dedicated father and a doting and devoted “Papa.” He took his children on several cross country family vacation trips, built an ice hockey rink in the backyard every winter, never missed a ballet if his daughter was dancing, coached his sons and attended literally thousands of games, shows, concerts, and theater productions to watch his children and then grandchildren, play or perform. Tom was artistically gifted and was the architect and master builder of large scale, vintage, model baseball parks for which he designed a way to play a baseball game using wooden bats, cardboard pitchers, and ball bearings. His game was played and enjoyed by so many family members and friends. Tom brought joy and laughter to every gathering with his gift of storytelling and great sense of humor.
Tom is survived by his wife of more than 70 years, Betty; his four children and their spouses; Tom, Jr. and Virginia Army, Bill and Elaine Army, Tim and Sue Army, Beth and David Crowley; and his fifteen adoring Grandchildren; Hannah Army, Rachel Army, Bill Jr. (and Jess) Army, Joey Army, Priscilla (and Selvin) Elliott, Jeff (and Ali Russo) Church, Madeleine (and Lauren) Army, Elizabeth Army, Catherine Army, Derek (and Jenn) Army, Matt Church, Travis Army, Maddie Crowley, Ben Church, Rachael Crowley, and six great grandchildren; RéLee and Virginia Elliott, Stella and Elsa Army, and Boone and Adelina Army. Tom is also survived by his sister, Sharon DiNapoli, of Orange CT, two local sisters-in-law; Joan Theroux and Susan Lewis, and many nieces and nephews.
Tom’s funeral will be held on Monday, October 9th, at 9:00 AM from the PERRY-MCSTAY FUNERAL HOME, 2555 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 118 Taunton Ave., East Providence. Burial with Military Honors will be private for the family only. Calling hours on Sunday, October 8th from 4-8 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in honor of Tom to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html.
