Thomas A. McAvoy, Sr.
June 25, 1916 - June 23, 2016
        

McAvoy, Thomas A.” Tom, or Mc” was born to eternal life on June 23, 2016 at Alexian Village in Milwaukee, WI at the age of 100. Tom was the quintessential, old school, Catholic, Irish man. He was “a mixture of intellect, flaming ego, hot temper, stubbornness, great personal charm and warmth, and a wit that shines through adversity…an irrepressible buoyancy, a vivacious spirit, a kindliness, and tolerance for the common frailties of man and a feeling that it is time enough to bid the devil good morning when you meet him.” Tom was a devout Catholic and a member of Gesu Church but truly any Catholic Church was home for him.

Preceding him in death are his wife, Phyllis (nee Haas) after 40 years of marriage, grandson Thomas III, parents Rose and Joseph Sr. and siblings Joseph Jr., George, Fr. Ambrose, Mary, and Robert McAvoy. Tom is survived by his children, Thomas Jr., (Sandy), Maureen (James Konkel), and Mary Tagliavia; grandfather of Maggie Cannon (Ross), Andrew Kilgust (Paige Wilcoxson-Kilgust), Anthony Tagliavia, and Talana (Paul Grunert); and great grandchildren, Joel Grunert and Violet Wilcoxson-Kilgust.

Tom was born on June 25, 1916 in Dubuque, IA. Graduated from Loras College with an undergraduate degree in Theology and obtained a master’s degree in Education from Loyola, Chicago. For over 30 years was a juvenile probation and parole agent at Milwaukee County Children’s Court dedicated to the rehabilitation of youth. Parents of his adolescent clients would often bring gifts to our childhood home grateful that Mr. McAvoy turned their children in the right direction.  He was also an adjunct instructor at Marquette University. Tom followed the message of St. Ignatius Loyola. “Teach us a way to give and not count the cost.”  He worked two jobs to pay for tuition at Holy Angels HS--his day job at Children’s Court and in the evening and on weekends at UPS or Muskego Beach. He saved the money his children made from their part time jobs in high school and college and gave it back to them when it came time to purchase their first homes. If someone outside the family were in need, he would find a way to assist by delivering food and family hand-me-down clothing to parishioners, driving others to their appointments, meeting parents of clients outside of office hours, and always giving to the weekly collection at Mass and sending generous contributions to his Catholic grade school in Iowa. He enjoyed ballroom dancing, golf, and bridge, Notre Dame Football, and traveled to Egypt, Israel, Ireland, and England, all over the US and was especially fond of Chicago & CA.

Visitation is from 3-4 PM and Memorial Mass at 4PM on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at the Alexian Village chapel 9301 N 76th St, Milwaukee, WI 53223. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Alexian Village Employee Fund. The family would like to thank all of Tom’s caregivers at Alexian Village for their compassionate care over the past 15 years especially Dot, Lucy, Antoinette, Robin, and Theresa; chaplains, Jessi Smedl and Daria Hermann; Melissa Nenning, activity therapist and Maria Multerer, RN from Horizon Hospice.