A Lowell institution passed away this week, ‘Tommy’ McKay, after an ongoing fight with cancer. Tom McKay ran the Lowell Memorial Auditorium for years, with partners Terry McCarthy and Leo Creegan. Three awesome guys, three great friends. I always loved going to the auditorium, as much to see those guys, as a show. That’s no lie. They really always made me feel as though I had entered their home–with a capacity of nearly 3,000 guests. Gentle handshakes for the gentleman, gentlemanly hugs for the ladies. Always a smile. Class acts, 24/7.
One of the things I loved about Tommy is how many times I knew he had an opinion, when someone at a meeting perhaps would say something stupid, but he would hold his tongue– publicly anyway. (Something I continue to struggle with personally! I’ll try to be more like you Tom)
Tommy was the consummate nice guy, every time I ever dealt with him–whether as a guest, or when we ran the concessions at LMA many years ago. I caught him many a time with a raised eyebrow and that smirk of his–KNOWING he wanted to say something–share an opinion that might have been controversial, but instead, he would shake his head ever so slightly, maybe mutter an “oh brother”, and that’s all I ever heard from him, having known him for the better part of 20 years.
He will be missed by his beautiful family, and so very many, many people, who had the good fortune of knowing him.
The priest at Tommy’s funeral shared one of the most touching things I have heard in a long time; That in his last days, Tom expressed how glad he was that he was finally going to see his mother–who died when he was only (3) years old.
Rest in peace Tommy. (We know you are)
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.