Thomas F.

"Tom" Birmingham

Tom passed away in Boston on January 20th, surrounded by family, after an illness. He was 73.  Tom Birmingham's was a life well lived.  Born in Boston, he was raised in Chelsea, the son of the late John J. and Agnes I. Birmingham.  Tom attended the Shurtleff School in Chelsea and Austin Preparatory School in Reading, where he captained the football and basketball teams.  In recent years, Austin Prep established a sports hall of fame, and Tom was the first alum elected in 3 sports - football, basketball, and baseball.

Tom continued his education at Harvard University, earning a degree in Social Studies in 1972 and winning a Rhodes Scholarship.  Through the Rhodes, Tom studied English Literature at Exeter College at Oxford University.  After returning to Massachusetts, he earned a law degree at Harvard Law School.  He dedicated his life to advancing the lives of working people, first as a union labor lawyer and then as a Massachusetts State Senator.  He was a passionate advocate for the highest quality education for children in Massachusetts, co-authoring the landmark 1993 Education Reform Act with Representative Mark Roosevelt.  This Act provided increased funding to schools and statewide standards for students and educators, leading to student success locally and nationally.

In 1996, Tom was elected by his peers to serve as Senate President.  While he had many accomplishments in that role, he is perhaps best known for two.  In 1999, he negotiated the deal to keep the New England Patriots in Massachusetts.  Later, in 2001, he became an unexpected champion for LGBTQ rights by repeatedly blocking the Defense of Marriage Act.  This was one step on the way to Massachusetts becoming the first state to allow same-sex civil unions.  Like other former Senate Presidents, his portrait now hangs in the Massachusetts State House, painted by his favorite artist, George Nick.  Since that time, he continued to advocate for, and write about, education quality.

He leaves behind his wife and childhood sweetheart, Selma Botman, and their daughters Erica of New York City, and Megan Wolf and son in law Stewart Wolf of New York City, and grandchildren Madeline and Asher.  He also leaves his devoted sister Nancy Birmingham of Charlestown.  His brother, Jim Birmingham, predeceased him, and Tom leaves behind his nephews and niece Jack, Adam, and Allie, along with his sister-in-law Jennifer.  He also leaves many faithful cousins and extended family members throughout Massachusetts, from Charlestown to Cape Cod.

ARRANGEMENTS:  Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend his Memorial Funeral Mass at St. Francis de Sales Church, 313 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown on Saturday January 28th at 10:00 A.M.   Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Tom's name may be made to Austin Preparatory School, – Austin Scholars Program in memory of Thomas F. Birmingham '67 –, 101 Willow St., Reading, MA 01867. Austin Prep-donate